Author Archive: DPCCC Secretary

District 4 update

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From DPCCC’s District 4 Director Colleen Awad:

Deputy District Directors – Openings – As we move into next year with elections, I will need some assistance in staying connected and with elections and such. If you live in District 4 and are interested in getting more involved with the DPCCC, please let me know and email me at Colleenawad@gmail.com

Around the district
• Attended the Young Democrats meeting last night and touched based with some of our LAMBDA Dems as well
Contra Costa County
• Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will have their 5th redistricting hearing on Tuesday, November 23
• Everyone 5 and up is eligible for the COVID-19 Vaccines in our County

Concord
• The City of Concord has kicked off its redistricting process: http://www.cityofconcord.org/951/Redistricting
• The City Council recently passed an ordinance that adds a social worker to the CORE team
• They also added a position within their Housing Department to work on homeless issues

Walnut Creek
• The Walnut Creek City Council will be considering a protected buffer zone near Planned Parenthood. There have been repeated clashes at the planned parenthood in Walnut Creek
• Back in September the Walnut Creek Police Department swore in a new Police Chief Jaime Knox
• https://www.walnut-creek.org/Home/Components/News/News/2904/1851

Pleasant Hill
• Pleasant Hill turned 60 years old
• Pleasant Hill City Council has passed a resolution recognizing United Against Hate Week
• https://www.pleasanthillca.org/1484/United-Against-Hate-Week#liveEditTab_widgets
• It stands against hatred, racism, xenophobia, and homophobia, etc.

Resolution Calling On Democrats to Refrain from Making Early Endorsements of Non-Democratic Candidates

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the November 18, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, The Democratic Party of Contra Costa County’s (DPCCC) volunteer members “work hard to champion progressive policies, elect strong Democrats, and build a cohesive community that works together to solve challenging problems”; and

WHEREAS, it undermines the ability of the Democratic Party to motivate our members and recruit Democrats to run for countywide offices, city councils, school boards, and other special district boards when Democrats and Democratic elected officials make early endorsements of non-Democrats in nonpartisan and partisan races; and

WHEREAS, in March 2021 the DPCCC adopted a resolution regarding the importance of Public Office Members to Support the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidates, and builds on the California Democratic Party’s By-Law in Article 2 Membership; Section 9b (Removal from Membership) which states that a DSCCC member “who publicly gives support to or avows a preference for a candidate registered other than Party Preference Democrat in the voter-nominated top-two open primary, or violates the Code of Conduct may be removed from membership”; 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the DPCCC calls on Democrats to support fellow Democrats for election or appointment to partisan and nonpartisan offices and particularly to avoid making endorsements of non-Democrats prior to the filing deadline for any office; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DPCCC’s Chair shall communicate this resolution to Contra Costa County Democrats and to previously endorsed Democratic elected officials with an explanation about how vital it is that we work in partnership to recruit, train, and help Democratic candidates during an election cycle where many of our local candidates could face coordinated regional and nationally funded efforts to defeat them. 

Submitted by:

Craig Cheslog, Associate Member, District 5

Proclamation Recognizing December 10, 2021, as Human Rights Day

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the November 18, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948, and is the first agreement among countries around the world identifying the rights and freedoms that belong to every one of us as human beings; and

WHEREAS,  December 10 of each year is celebrated around the world as “Human Rights Day”; and

WHEREAS, the Declaration stipulates universal values and a shared standard of achievement for everyone in every country; and 

WHEREAS, despite the efforts to protect human rights, the hostility toward human rights and those who defend them continues to rise; and 

WHEREAS, Human Rights Day advocates for everyone to stand up for their rights and those of others civil, economic, political and cultural rights; and

WHEREAS, Human Rights Day aims to enlighten us about how our rights are a foundation of sustainable development and peaceful societies and acknowledges the advocates and defenders of human rights around the world; and

WHEREAS, many residents of Contra Costa County are not aware of their universal rights as enshrined in the Declaration, do not know that the United States is a signatory to this Declaration, and do not know how to obtain redress if their rights are violated; 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County hereby recognizes December 10, 2021, as Human Rights Day and commits to bring forward resolutions in support of human rights issues and to uphold and defend freedom, democracy, and human rights in our own county, in our country, and around the world; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County shall communicate this resolution to Contra Costa County Democrats and Contra Costa Democratic Clubs to increase awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and encourage discussion of the rights and freedoms that belong to every one of us.

Submitted by Susan Hildreth, elected member, District 2

Resolution to end existing oil and gas drilling in Contra Costa County and phasing out existing oil and gas extraction infrastructure

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the November 18, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, In the summer of 2019, County planners approved exploratory oil drilling on Deer Valley Road just outside of Antioch, a half-mile from Dozier-Libbey Medical High School and Kaiser Antioch, and close to several residences, despite the well-documented dangers which this drilling poses to air quality and public health, and its contribution to a rapidly accelerating climate crisis. 

WHEREAS, a second permit application for oil drilling came their way in spring 2020, for a site just a few hundred feet from Brentwood homes.  The planners declared there were no negative environmental impacts.  It took a massive public outcry before they even agreed to perform an environmental review, now currently underway. 

WHEREAS, only a year after County planners rubber-stamped that first permit—which enabled the revival of oil drilling in Contra Costa County after a thirty-year hiatus—our Board of Supervisors passed a Climate Emergency Resolution invoking the serious threats of climate change and pledging to phase out fossil fuel dependence in the county.  But in the meantime, in unincorporated Antioch, those Deer Valley Road pump jacks continue to pump, despite being a mere several yards from an adjacent future senior housing development being planned by the City of Antioch.

WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an international energy agency, recently warned that to maintain a livable planet, all fossil fuel production must end before the end of the decade.   

WHEREAS, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recently voted unanimously, on September 15, 2021, to end new permitting of oil and gas drilling and to phase out existing drilling, despite oil and gas drilling being a much larger part of their economy and having a far longer fossil fuel extraction history in Los Angeles than in Contra Costa. Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the nation, has committed to phasing out 1,600 active and inactive wells.  Similarly, our neighbor to the south, Alameda County banned fracking in 2016, and in July of 2018 it revoked a conditional use permit for its operating wells, effectively banning oil drilling. And yet, Contra Costa County decision-makers and planners continue to waffle, instead talking “mitigation” instead of a clean break with the destructive extractive practices of our past.

WHEREAS, on October 26, 2021, the City of Antioch voted to ban oil drilling within their city limits. The Board of Directors of the Diablo Water District also voted, on October 27, 2021, to unanimously oppose all new (and refurbished) oil and gas well projects in East Contra Costa County; and have signed onto a currently circulating petition to ban new oil and gas drilling in Contra Costa County.

THEREFORE, Contra Costa County needs to protect the health and safety of its residents and join the ranks of those other governmental climate decision-makers to also help blaze a path into an equitable clean energy future; and include within its new revised County General Plan, (which spells out policy directives for all County rule-making, including those concerning oil and gas infrastructure), a ban on all new oil and gas drilling, and the phasing out of existing oil and gas extraction infrastructure.

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution shall be sent to all State Senators and Assembly members representing Contra Costa County, to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and the director of the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development.

Submitted by:  Nadine Peyrucain, District 5

Resolution Saluting School Board Members for Supporting Inclusive and Historically Accurate Instruction for our Students Despite a Coordinated Misinformation Campaign

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the November 18, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, the California Democratic Party’s platform calls upon Democrats to “ensure that schoolchildren have current textbooks, including history books that are inclusive and historically accurate” and to “support and fully fund ethnic studies as a required public secondary school course with a curriculum that requires students to critically analyze the impact of all forms of discrimination against vulnerable communities, indigenous communities, and communities of color, while also analyzing social movements to challenge racism, sexism, antisemitism, islamophobia, and all other forms of oppression”; and 

WHEREAS, school board members in Contra Costa County, and around the country, have been targeted for harassment, bullying, and threats of violence by members of the public who have been misled by a coordinated, national effort to conflate Critical Race Theory with culturally relevant teaching or pedagogy, which the California School Boards Association explains aims to nurture students’ intellectual growth, moral development, ability to reason, appreciation of their culture of origin while developing fluency in at least one other culture, and the ability to identify, analyze and solve real-world problems, especially those that result in societal inequalities; and 

WHEREAS, members of the public have also been misled by a coordinated, national effort to conflate Critical Race Theory with ethnic studies, which the California School Boards Association explains, “is designed to highlight the often-overlooked history, experiences, and cultures of underrepresented groups, and to build respect and appreciation between students of different backgrounds,” and Governor Gavin Newsom on October 8, 2021, signed into law Assembly Bill 101 to require California students starting with the Class of 2030 to complete an ethnic studies requirement even while our school board members are facing what the Associated Press has called coordinated efforts by a “network of conservative groups with ties to major Republican donors and party-aligned think tanks” to engage in culture war fights designed to intimidate school board members so they can be replaced by radical conservatives;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County salutes school board members for their courage shown in striving to provide our children with a historically and culturally accurate and comprehensive history education; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DPCCC will organize an action plan to urge Democrats to fight the spread of misinformation about ethnic studies requirements and to support our school board members by attending school board meetings, participating in public comment periods, sending e-mail comments, and/or posting on social media expressions of support of our school board members.

Submitted by:

Craig Cheslog, Associate Member, District 5

Resolution Calling Upon Public Agencies to Allow the Public to Participate in Meetings Remotely

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the November 18, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, working under Emergency Executive Orders signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, many city councils, school boards, special district boards, and commissions have successfully permitted members of the public to participate in meetings via a call-in option or an internet-based service option; 

WHEREAS, on September 16, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 361, which permits public agencies to continue to hold virtual or hybrid meetings after finding that they can meet technical requirements for public attendance and real-time comment, have a plan for how to handle technical disruptions, and determining that social distancing is either required or recommended to protect the health and safety of the public; and 

WHEREAS, allowing members of the public to participate in public agency meetings via a call-in option or an internet-based service option not only protects against the spread of COVID-19, but also allows members of the public to fully participate in the decisions made by their government agencies despite fearing retaliation from those making threats or despite facing accessibility, childcare, work schedule, and/or transportation challenges to attending in-person agency meetings;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County encourages all city councils, school boards, special district boards, and other commissions to continue to allow the public to participate in their meetings via a call-in option or an internet-based service option; 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DPCCC encourages the Governor and State Legislature to ensure the public can continue to participate remotely even after the conclusion of the current pandemic state of emergency.

Submitted by:

Craig Cheslog, Associate Member, District 5

DPCCC new candidate training in November – Register by Nov 12

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On November 13 and 20, DPCCC is offering trainings for Democrats aspiring to run for office or manage a campaign. All participants are asked to read and agree to support the California Democratic Party platform: https://cadem.org/our-platform/

Candidate Basics Training

Are you a community leader with strong democratic values? We want to help you run for office! Join the Democratic Party of Contra Costa Saturday, November 13 from 1:00- 2:30 pm PST for a free virtual introduction on how to prepare to run. Hear from elected officials about what it takes to win. Don’t miss out on this opportunity- Register today! When choosing applicants to join our program, we prioritize leaders who are women, people of color, and transgender and non-binary people. (The last day to register is Nov 12!)
Register via Mobilize: https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/event/425674/

Campaign Management 101

Are you ready to learn the skills needed to run a political campaign? Whether you’re wanting to support a democratic candidate or just learn how to become more involved in campaigns this training is for you. Join the Democratic Party of Contra Costa Saturday, November 20 from 1:00- 2:30 pm PST for a free virtual introduction to running a winning political campaign. Hear from local campaign managers who have done the work. Don’t miss out on this opportunity- Register today! When choosing applicants to join our program, we prioritize leaders who are women, people of color, and transgender and non-binary people. (The last day to register is Nov 19!)
Register via Mobilize: https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/event/425672/

Resolution In Celebration of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, November 1 – 30, 2021; California Native American Day, September 24, 2021; National Day of Recognition of Native American Heritage, October 11, 2021

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the October 21, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, California comprises the following federally recognized Native American tribes: The Western Region has 27 federally recognized tribes, the Southern Region has 30 federally recognized tribes, the Northern Region has 19 federally recognized tribes and the Eastern Region has 28 federally recognized tribes and these federally recognized tribes are hosts of the lands in California that have more federally recognized tribes than any other state in the US; and

WHEREAS, Native American history spans thousands of years throughout our continent, pre-dating the establishment of the United State of America,  and the contributions of the Indigenous tribes to our way of living are vast, from food, spiritual practices, healing practices, government and political contributions, protection of land rights, keepers of the climate, writers, athletes, thespians, political pioneers, veterans, artists, scientists, knowledge keepers of the Native Universe past and present and developers and contributors of the National Museum of the American Indian; and

WHEREAS, the diversity that exists within the tribes of California Native Americans are committed to contributing to new and improved educational resources and curriculum that is provided by the State’s History-Social Studies frameworks for K-12 public schools to include updated and broad information on the history and culture of the original inhabitants of California; and

WHEREAS, we can never undo the wrongs that were inflicted on the people who lived on these lands known as the state of California, but we can work together to build peaceful coalitions and to speak the truth about California’s past to begin to heal deep trauma and grief, and  

WHEREAS, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order apologizing for the violence, mistreatment and neglect inflicted upon California Native Americans throughout the State’s history, and established a Truth and Healing Council to clarify the historical records in California of Native Americans; and

WHEREAS, California designated the fourth Friday of every September as California Native American Day; and

THEREFORE Be it resolved that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County recognizes and fully supports the California Native American Day on the fourth Friday of September, the National Day of Recognition of Native American heritage on the second Monday of October and American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, in the month of November.

Respectfully submitted by:

Debra Vinson, Choctaw, CADEM, Finance Committee Member, AD11, DPCCC, District III Elected Representative, ECCDC Founder and Chair

Resolution Saluting School Board Members for their Leadership on Supporting Sensible Public Health Measures to Protect Students, Teachers, and School Staff

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the October 21, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County is concerned about the welfare of vulnerable children who remain exposed to COVID-19, and its Delta variant, and believes that public health measures can help control the spread of this deadly virus; and 

WHEREAS, school board members in Contra Costa County, and around the country, have been targeted for harassment, bullying, and threats of violence because they have rightly decided to prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of their students, faculty, and staff during this pandemic; and

WHEREAS, these threats and anti-science demonstrations are part of what the Associated Press has called coordinated efforts by a “network of conservative groups with ties to major Republican donors and party-aligned think tanks” to engage in culture war fights designed to intimidate school board members so they can be replaced by radical conservatives;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County salutes school board members for their courage shown in striving to keep our children, teachers, and school staff safe as our schools open for in-person instruction by following CDC guidelines and working with teachers and staff to implement sensible public health measures, including but not limited to: universal masking policies, social distancing inside and outside of classrooms, vaccination of all eligible staff in schools and children over 12, regular COVID-19 testing and contact tracing in schools, and ensuring improved air ventilation in school buildings; 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DPCCC will organize an action plan to urge Democrats to fight the spread of misinformation and support our school board members by attending school board meetings, participating in public comment periods, sending e-mail comments, and/or posting on social media expressions of support of our school board members.

Submitted by:

Craig Cheslog, Associate Member, District 5

Approved by:

Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, October 21, 2021