Author Archive: DPCCC Secretary

Proclamation in Support of June 2022 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the May 19, 2022 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, Our nation was founded on the principle of equal rights for all people, but the fulfillment of this promise has been long in coming for many Americans. Some of the most inspiring moments in our history have arisen from civil rights movements that have brought one group after another from the margins to the mainstream of American society; and

WHEREAS, In the movement toward equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people, a historic turning point occurred on June 28, 1969, in New York City, with the onset of the Stonewall Riots. During these riots, LGBTQIA+ citizens rose up and fought against the discriminatory criminal laws that have since been declared unconstitutional; and 

WHEREAS, Marsha P. Johnson, a black transgender woman, was an instrumental leader in the Stonewall Inn uprising and we honor her contribution to the LGBTQIA+ rights movement and we also must honor the intersectionality of LBTQIA+ persons of color who still face heightened discrimination to this day. We acknowledge that Pride Month intersects with the Black Liberation celebration known as Juneteenth. It is important to remember that Pride started as a defense on Black queer people 104 years after Juneteenth; and

WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ pride celebrations have taken place around the country every June to commemorate the beginning of the Stonewall Riots; and

WHEREAS, June is celebrated as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month nationwide; and 

WHEREAS, Contra Costa County has a diverse LGBTQIA+ community that includes people of all ethnicities, religions and professions; and

WHEREAS, right-wing legislators around the country are attempting to turn back the clock and are once again targeting LGBTQIA+ individuals with the most heinous legislation stripping rights from trans youth and their families; and

WHEREAS, everyone should be able to live without fear of prejudice, discrimination, violence and hatred based on race, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation. 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County celebrates June 2022 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month and urges Contra Costa residents to respect and honor our diverse community and celebrate and build a culture of inclusiveness and acceptance. 

Proclamation in Support of Juneteenth, Sunday, June 19, 2022

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the May 19, 2022 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, The first enslaved Africans were brought as captives to what is now the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1619 where they were bought and sold as slave labor for 250 years suffering unspeakable acts of violence; and

WHEREAS, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring “that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states are, and henceforward shall be free”; and

WHEREAS, The Emancipation Proclamation was the vehicle used to pass the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishing slavery in this nation on January 31, 1865; and

WHEREAS, On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing General Order Number 3 which ended both the Civil War and slavery; and

WHEREAS, June 19th has become a symbolic date, representing the freedom of African Americans and is recognized by 47 states and the District of Columbia, with Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania recognizing it as an official paid holiday for state employees; and 

WHEREAS, Our nation is facing a new reckoning as the legacy of sharecropping, Jim Crow, redlining and police violence against Black Bodies continues to pervade and permeate our society, institutions, and systems of law; and

WHEREAS, Although the 13th Amendment provided for freedom, it also laid the groundwork for mass incarceration within the African American community by stating “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”; and

WHEREAS, if Black Lives Matter, the Democratic Party of Contra Costa Party must acknowledge the history racism has played and continues to pervade and permeate our society, institutions, and systems of laws fostering many of the current-day disparities in education, health care, housing, and employment. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County hereby recognizes Sunday, June 19, 2022, as Juneteenth to acknowledge the historical significance of the day and commit the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County to working toward the dismantling of institutionalized racism.

Action alert on oil and gas extraction on County land

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Pursuant to DPCCC’s Resolution to end existing oil and gas drilling in Contra Costa County and phasing out existing oil and gas extraction infrastructure (Nov 18, 2021), here is an action alert from Sunflower Alliance.

All Hands on Deck!   On May 11 the County is hearing public comment on the new oil and gas policy for its General Plan, which will dictate land use policy for the next twenty years.   Unfortunately, the new oil and gas policy it’s proposing, just like the old, allows oil and gas extraction on county land.

The only difference is the requirement of 3,200′ setbacks.   This is a step in the right direction, as it acknowledges the health dangers of living near drilling sites.  But recent scientific studies show that 3,200’ setbacks are not the most health-protective approach.  And continuing to permit fossil fuel infrastructure begs the question of climate impacts altogether.

Antioch passed a drilling ban in January, and Brentwood just placed a moratorium on drilling while it works on a permanent ban.  Now the County needs to do the same.  Toxic pollutants and climate emissions from oil and gas production don’t stop at lines on a map. Contra Costa must do better.

The County really needs to hear from us!  Please send in comments or testify at the County Planning Commission hearing on May 11 at 6:30 PM.   The Zoom link for the hearing will be posted here on 5/6.

Use this Guide to craft your own in-person and written testimony.  You can email your comments to planninghearing@dcd.cccounty.us, and testify at the May 11 hearing.

The County Board of Supervisors meets the day before on May 10.  We’ll present the No Drilling petition, speak during public comment on non-agenda items, and hold a press conference outside the County Building at 1025 Escobar in Martinez before the meeting starts. East County residents will be speaking, along with MDs and youth activists.  Come join us if you can.

Tues May 10, 9 AM:  Board of Supervisors Meeting
Comment either via Zoom or in person.  Attend the 8:30 AM press conference or watch the livestream on the Sunflower Alliance facebook page.

Wed May 11, 6:30 PM: County Planning Commission Meeting (“Study Session” on the Conservation Element of the new General Plan)
Via Zoom.   The County won’t release zoom link until May 6.  Check this County page and this Sunflower Alliance post for updated information.

A very big thank you for taking action!

Proclamation in Honor of International Workers’ Day

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the April 21, 2022 regular meeting.

WHEREAS International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, began in the United States and is now recognized around the world as a day to honor and fight for the rights of workers; and 

WHEREAS May First was selected as the date to honor workers and continue the campaign for an eight-hour workday that led to a general strike in 1886 and other actions by workers; and 

WHEREAS International Workers’ Day continues to be a celebration of the efforts of the working class in the United States and around the world to organize for improved workplace conditions and worker rights; and 

WHEREAS during the COVID-19 pandemic, workers have endured adversity and made significant personal sacrifices to fulfill their duties while ensuring the safety of themselves, their families, and the public; and

WHEREAS the gender and racial pay gaps that persist offer a sobering reminder of how far we have yet to go towards achieving equal rights and fair wages for all workers; and

WHEREAS labor unions play a vital role in ensuring a strong middle class by advocating for more equitable wages, humane work conditions, improved benefits, and increased civic engagement by everyday workers; and

WHEREAS Contra Costa County is home to more than 110,000 union members representing more than 85 unions in various trades and industries; 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County joins in the worldwide celebrations of workers’ rights activism taking place on May 1, 2022, and acknowledges how workers are the vital heart of every workplace, industry, and community in Contra Costa County; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County calls upon all elected officials to join the effort to ensure the rights of all workers are protected.

Submitted By: Craig Cheslog, Associate Member, District 5

Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, April 21, 2022

Proclamation of May 2022 as Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the April 21, 2022 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, the month of May was chosen as Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese citizen, Nakahama Manjiro, to the United States on May 7, 1843, but also the anniversary of the May 10, 1869, completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad, built with the back-breaking labor of nearly 20,000 Chinese immigrants; and

WHEREAS, Contra Costa County’s population is more than 18 percent Asian American and Pacific Islander and includes devoted community members who serve as artists, business owners, educators, health care professionals, lawyers and judges, elected officials, clergy members, first responders, military personnel and essential front-line service workers; and 

WHEREAS, in the 1920s and 30s, Filipino immigrants arrived in the United States seeking fortune but facing discrimination as they worked in the vast agricultural fields of California.  These manongs and manangs played a significant role in building the farm workers movement, including leading the Delano Grape Strike in 1965; and


WHEREAS, we celebrate the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders that enrich our history, society and culture, we also must be aware that AAPI history has been whitewashed and significantly erased in American curriculum, including the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Alien Land Acts, the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans, among many other issues. We must also acknowledge a darker aspect of the AAPI experience in America – structural discrimination, prejudice and injustice that most recently manifested itself in racist attacks on Asian Americans related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and 

WHEREAS, an analysis by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, found that overall hate crimes in America’s largest cities decrease by 7 percent in 2020; while hate crimes targeting people of Asian ancestry rose by nearly 150% during the same time period; and

WHEREAS, individual AAPI populations fare very differently when disaggregated. For example, Pacific Islanders and Southeast Asians fare significantly worse in life outcomes in comparison to East and South Asians, and that colorism in AAPI populations also impact treatment and access; and; 

WHEREAS, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have distinguished themselves as leading researchers in science, medicine, and technology; innovative farmers and ranchers; distinguished lawyers, judges and government leaders; in the arts, literature, and sports; as war heroes who defended our country from fascism; and as essential service workers and peacetime healthcare heroes currently on the front lines of the pandemic; and 

WHEREAS, today more than 20 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders live in the United States and through their actions, make America a more vibrant, prosperous, and secure nation.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County celebrates May 2022 as AAPI Heritage Month, and encourages all in our community to learn more about Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage, and work to combat racism and xenophobia as we celebrate this month with cultural events and educational activities.

Susan Hildreth, Elected Representative, District 2, with input from AAPI members

Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, April 21, 2022

Proclamation Declaring May 2022 as Jewish American Heritage Month

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the April 21, 2022 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, from our Nation’s earliest days, Jewish Americans have been an essential part of the American story, greatly contributing to the religious, cultural, political, economic, and intellectual advancement of all people even while in the face of discrimination and adversity, working to realize the American dream; and 

WHEREAS, as we celebrate the rich heritage of the Jewish American community, in Contra Costa County, California and the nation, we recognize that American Jews have worked tirelessly to strengthen the promise of religious freedom and civil rights in the United States by joining together with all faiths to reject ignorance and intolerance, teach empathy and compassion, and root out hatred wherever it exists, and through our understanding and study of the Holocaust, we know the human devastation that can come from systemic prejudice, and are compelled to “never forget”; and 

WHEREAS, May has been recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month by Presidential Proclamation stating that The Jewish American experience is a story of faith, fortitude, and progress, and 

WHEREAS, in spite of the vibrant culture and contributions, we are reminded that the Jewish people have and continue to experience prejudice and discrimination in Contra Costa County, within the State of California, across the United States, and internationally, and continue to confront hostility and bigotry; and 

WHEREAS, we share the obligation and responsibility to condemn and combat anti-Semitism and hatred wherever it exists and honor Jewish Americans — past and present — who have inextricably woven their experience and their accomplishments into the fabric of our national identity.

NOW THEREFORE, the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County recognizes May 2022 as Jewish American Heritage Month. We celebrate the hard-fought progress won through the struggle and sacrifice of Jewish Americans, and we rededicate ourselves to building a world where diversity is cherished and faith is protected. 

Renee Zeimer, Elected representative, District 2 

Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, April 21, 2022