Author Archive: DPCCC Secretary

Proclamation in Support of National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15, 2022 – October 15, 2022

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the August 18, 2022 regular meeting.

WHEREAS President George H. W. Bush declared September 15 through October 15 “National Hispanic Heritage Month” on September 14, 1989; and 

WHEREAS Hispanics/Latino(x)s comprise 27.9 percent of Contra Costa County residents, 39.4 percent of Californians, therein becoming the largest racial or ethnic group in California, and 18.7 percent of U.S. residents and the second largest racial or ethnic group in the nation; and

WHEREAS Hispanic/Latino(x) Americans made an enduring impression on our history, leading hard-fought progress for our country and bravely committing themselves to defending our nation and its most treasured ideals at home and overseas with heroic determination and perseverance embedded into our nation’s character; and

WHEREAS Hispanics/Latino(x)s writers, artists, chefs, and musicians enrich our humanities, arts, gastronomy, and culture; innovative entrepreneurs drive our economy; pioneering scientists and engineers make discoveries that revolutionize our lives; and advocates lead sociopolitical change; and

WHEREAS labor leaders and civil rights activists César Chavez and Dolores Huerta created more just working conditions for many Latino(x)s and organizations such as Hijas del Campo, United Latino Voices, and Concilio Latino today give visibility to the needs of our community and to the many brave Latino(x) essential and frontline workers who kept our economy, food delivery, and health services operating during COVID-19, despite being the most impacted ethnic group in Contra Costa County; and 

WHEREAS the ever-present participation of Democratic Hispanic/Latino(x) Americans in politics and our justice system help create a more equitable society for all, including the first U.S. Senator, Alex Padilla; Secretary of Health and Human Service, Javier Becerra; Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona; first Supreme Court Justice, Justice Sonia Sotomayor; U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th Congressional District, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond; and

WHEREAS Contra Costa County is home to twenty-six elected Hispanic/Latino(x) Democratic elected officials: sixteen in District 1, one in District 2, six in District 3, two in District 5, one serving both Districts 3 and 5, and none in District 4; and

WHEREAS within the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County we have five publicly elected Latino(x) members, including Maria Alegria, Genoveva Calloway, Tony Tiscareno, Anamaria Avila Farias, and César Zepeda; Carolina Villaseca serving as District 3 Director; and both Anamarie Avila Farias and Marisol Rubio, representing our county as elected public officials and as California Democratic Party (CDP) E-Board Members with the latter also serving as Co-Chair of the CDP Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Standing Committee, all paving the way for greater minority and Hispanic/Latino(x) representation across Contra Costa County and California; and 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County hereby proclaims September 15 through October 15, 2022, as National Hispanic Heritage Month and commits itself to serving as a center for the collection and dissemination of information relating to and/or impacting the Latino community and to continuing the fight for fair wages, safe working conditions, good schools, a clean environment, access to health care, and equal treatment under the law for all; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County calls upon public officials, our Party leadership, and all Americans to observe this month by encouraging, elevating, and empowering Democratic Latino(x) leaders through engagement in the political process, community events, and internship/fellowship opportunities; by endorsing meaningful legislation and policies that directly impact all Latino(x)s; by amplifying the visibility and participation of Latino(x)s in state government and providing new role models through the advancement of qualified candidates across California; and by discovering exemplary Latino(x)s to fill vacant positions within the state judiciary and other elected offices.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the following called vote this 18th day of August 2022.

Authored by Marisol Rubio, Carolina Villaseca, and María Alegría.

Proclamation Recognizing and Commemorating the 77th Anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, October 2022

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the August 18, 2022 regular meeting.

WHEREAS under the Employment First Policy adopted in 2013, the State of California has committed to competitive integrated employment for youth and adults with disabilities as the highest priority for working-age individuals, a significant aspect of anyone’s life and identity, as a framework for Californians with disabilities to achieve financial stability, self-fulfillment, connection with their community, and a way to contribute their talents to build a more inclusive economy and society, when given the opportunity; and

WHEREAS despite the State of California’s best efforts, Californians with disabilities including those with developmental disabilities, continue to suffer disproportionately from high rates of unemployment, untenably low wages, and myriad barriers to screening, interviewing, and hiring as indicated by the 2018 American Community Survey where the employment rate of working-age people with disabilities was 37.5 percent compared to 77.8 percent of working-age people without disabilities as well as data from the Regional Center of the East Bay, serving individuals with developmental disabilities in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, which reports that only 22% of its working-age adults are currently employed; and 

WHEREAS, the pandemic, has worsened the employment environment for persons with disabilities despite the current shortage of workers, and sadly, inflationary pressures have only exacerbated the situation; and

WHEREAS the Disabilities Caucus of the California Democratic Party, Democratic County Central Committees and Democratic Clubs, which include contributing members with disabilities as well as service providers, advocates and allies of the disabled who use their voices to promote the welfare of the Disability community ensuring that issues affecting it, such as employment disparities, are included in the Democratic Party platform;

NOW THEREFORE, the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County recognizes and commemorates the 77th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and call upon employers, schools, and community organizations in Contra Costa County to observe October with appropriate programs and activities to advance its important message that people with disabilities add value and talent to our workplaces and communities; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County pledges to work with disability rights members and allies to collaborate with organizations which seek to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities and take action to promote policies and practices that support the living-wage employment of people with disabilities in integrated settings, and use its platform to educate employers and the public regarding the contributions that people with disabilities, when given the opportunity, can bring to the workplace. 

Resolution in Support of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s Resolution SJR 13

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the June 16, 2022 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, on March 07, 2022, a Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 13) was introduced by Senator Cortese and Coauthors Senator Wieckowski, Assembly Members Kalra, Lee, Low, and Robert Rivas, which would urge the United States Congress and the Department of the Interior and its Bureau of Indian Affairs to reaffirm and restore the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe as a federally recognized tribe and include the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe in the Federal Register as a recognized tribe; and 

WHEREAS, several California counties and elected officials have officially supported the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe in its efforts for recognition through legislation commending their efforts and historical and social accomplishments, supporting requests for historical claim by the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, and urging the federal government to reaffirm and restore the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe as a federally recognized tribe; and 

WHEREAS, part of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s aboriginal and ethnohistoric territory includes Contra Costa County; 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County supports the adoption of SJR 13 and calls on the Department of the Interior and the federal government to officially recognize the historical and social history of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe by restoring the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe as a federally recognized tribe; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution will be sent to Chairman Dodd and the members of the Senate Committee on Governmental Organization urging the committee to hear and vote to pass SJR 13 onto the full Senate for debate and, at the discretion of the Chair and Executive Board, to any subsequent legislative committee assigned to consider and act on SJR 13. 

Submitted by Susan Hildreth, Elected Member, District 2, May 31, 2022