DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the October 21, 2021 regular meeting.
WHEREAS, although a California Democratic Party (CDP) ad hoc committee unanimously recommended the end of fossil fuel contributions in March 2020, and the CDP Finance Committee recommended to end law enforcement contributions in July 2020, these recommendations have, over a year later, not been adopted by the CDP, nor given an opportunity to be voted on by the CDP Executive Board or CDP Delegates; and motions made by the African American and Environmental Caucus Chairs to end the acceptance of these contributions were both ruled out of order at the August 2021 CDP Executive Board meeting; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the gravity of these issues, the CDP Platform clearly states: “Climate change is an existential threat to humanity,” calls on both Congress and the California Legislature to “[transition] away from extraction and refining of fossil fuels,” and further asserts that “[c]riminal justice reform must incorporate every aspect of the criminal justice system, including … the practices and behavior of law enforcement professionals”; and
WHEREAS, on September 25, 2021, a petition signed by 7 CDP Caucus Chairs (later signed on by an eighth) and 56 CDP Executive Board members, was duly and timely submitted calling for a Special Meeting of the Executive Board at Laney College in Oakland, CA on October 24, 2021, to finally take action on both proposals.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County (DPCCC) supports the immediate formalization of a current cessation of the practice by the CDP to accept contributions from entities associated with the extraction and/or refining of fossil fuels and law enforcement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, while hoping that the need for a Special Meeting to vote on formalizing the practice listed above can be avoided, the DPCCC welcomes the CDP Executive Board and Party members to Oakland, Contra Costa County’s neighboring city, later this month in the event that it cannot.
Respectfully submitted by:
Marisol Rubio, Director, San Ramon Services District, DPCCC Associate Member, District 2
Approved by:
Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, October 21, 2021