Author Archive: DPCCC Secretary

Resolution in Honor of Veterans Day, November 11th, 2021

Posted on by

DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the August 19, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, the 11th of November has been chosen as a National Holiday to recognize those who have served in the armed forces of the United States, first as Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War on November 11th, 1918, and subsequently as Veterans Day, in recognition of service in all of this nation’s conflicts; and

WHEREAS, there are over 55,000 veterans living in Contra Costa County, and many more people who are the family members of those who have served. These, our fellow citizens, have sacrificed much in the defense of our nation, and the freedoms that we honor. Many have suffered physical and mental harm, and struggle to return fully to the life of peace that they left when their nation and fellow citizens called; and 

WHEREAS, we recognize the achievements of our veterans, in all of their endeavors, and renew our commitment to supporting them and their families. We commit to ensure that no veteran shall lack for the opportunity for affordable housing, employment, education, and health care due to their service to the nation. We shall make sure that their wounds are healed, and they are welcomed back into their communities with honor and respect;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County celebrates November 11th, 2021 as “Veterans Day”, and shall spend it in solemn remembrance of those who have sacrificed all in the service of our country, and in grateful recognition of those who have returned to our community, and their families.

Saturday canvass against the recall with Diablo Valley Dems

Posted on by

From Jamie Salcido, president of Diablo Valley Democratic Club (a local club chartered by DPCCC). To sign up, please email info@dvdems.org.

Hello Fellow Democrats!

Thank you for signing up to help drop off door hangers at Democratic households in Walnut Creek to Vote NO on the Recall, hosted by the Diablo Valley Democratic Club, the Democrats of Rossmoor, and the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County. Let’s make sure we keep Gavin Newsom in the Governor’s office, and squash this attempted power grab by Trump Republicans!

Before Saturday

Kathleen Van Winckel will be setting you up with PDI access prior to Saturday. Please download the “PDI Mobile Connect” app, available on both Apple and Android devices:

You will sign in using the email you used for registration and a password that Kathleen will be texting to you. Please watch this training video on how to use the app:
https://vimeo.com/293010201

On Saturday, August 21

You will be able to stop by my house to pick up the door hangers to drop off to your list, starting at 8:30am for anyone who wants to get off to an early start, and we’ll be around until 10am. Here is the address:

Home of Jamie Salcido
233 Las Lomas Way
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
mobile: (925) 718-6354

There is plenty of street parking on Las Lomas Way and San Carlos Drive.

Please wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status, as we do have a 5-year-old child on the property. Thank you!

We already have a great group, but we’d love to get more volunteers — please help us spread the word to encourage others to sign up, and we welcome you to bring a friend or family member to walk with you.

Thank you so much for your enthusiasm to support this effort! Please reach out with any questions.

Vote NO on the Republican Recall September 14th

Posted on by

National Republicans have found their latest scheme, recalling Governor Gavin Newsom. The Republican Recall is a partisan power grab and an attempt by national Republicans and the far-right to force a costly re-election for taxpayers and seize control in California, the nation’s largest Democratic state.  

What’s at stake? The consequences of a Republican Governor will have a dire impact on the daily lives of Californians that are already living in an environment frought with many challenges – a global pandemic and rising COVID cases; an economic recession, racial injustices and a climate crisis. The leaders of the Republican Recall seek to repeal clean air protections, roll back gun safety laws, strip migrant workers of their protections, and take away critical access to healthcare during a pandemic. 

GET INVOLVED AND TAKE ACTION!  Help Stop the Recall by participating in any of the activities below.  For more information on volunteering, contact Cecilia at volunteer@contracostadems.com or call 510-693-4259!

Learn more about the Recall HERE!

Join our Contra Costa Democrats team! 

Take action with Contra Costa Democrats in the fight against this Recall!

DPCCC District 5 Director vacancy and election

Posted on by

As announced at yesterday’s regular Membership meeting, DPCCC’s District 5 Director Danial Leahy has resigned his position. Under our bylaws, this position must be “filled by election of a qualified candidate at a regular meeting no later than sixty (60) days after the official notice of vacancy.”

Election procedure

This election will be held immediately before our regular Membership meeting on Thursday, August 19, at 6:30pm, on Zoom (email secretary@contracostadems.com for the link). Please sign in by 6:15pm so you can be credentialed for voting.

If you are registered to vote with Democratic party preference in District 5, have paid current dues to DPCCC as a registered Democrat by August 18, and have not lost your standing, then you will be entitled to vote in this election.

The election will follow the substance of the procedures approved at the January 21, 2021 reorganizational meeting. (The portion of these procedures about DSCC delegates is not relevant to this upcoming election.) In summary: Qualified voters in D5 will gather and elect the new D5 Director.

Anyone may attend and observe the election, but only DPCCC members in good standing in D5 may vote.

Candidacy

Eligibility to run and serve as D5 Director is the same as eligibility to vote in this election: DPCCC member (including Associate) in good standing, registered to vote in D5.

August 11 is the deadline to submit your candidacy. Please email your candidate statement to secretary@contracostadems.com. You may include whatever information you find relevant. Candidate statements will be sent to DPCCC members by email on August 12, one week before the election.

Background information

DPCCC has a Director for each of the five Supervisorial districts (map) in Contra Costa. The Directors gather information, coordinate action, and maintain DPCCC’s relationships with residents, activists, and Democratic candidates and elected officials in their respective districts.

Along with DPCCC’s officers, the District Directors are elected every two years at our January reorganizational meeting. They are voting members of the Executive Committee, and are Regular Members (i.e. Voting Members) of DPCCC by virtue of their District Director positions, even if they were not Regular Members otherwise.

Unlike the officers, the District Directors are elected by the DPCCC members in good standing in their respective districts, including Associate Members, rather than by the Voting Members from across the county.

District 5 covers northern Contra Costa from Hercules, through Martinez and Pittsburg, to northern Antioch.

Resolution on Redistricting: Cities in Contra Costa County Are to Be Undivided

Posted on by

DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the July 15, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, the unity of cities is a major contributor to the development of political and social communities of interest in accordance with Democratic values;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County requests and encourages the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County to direct staff and abide by a policy that, in the redistricting of Supervisorial Districts, no city shall be divided, unless there is a prior vote of the City’s Council to accept a division; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County will communicate this resolution to elected officials on the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County.

Submitted by Honorable Edi Birsan, District 4

Resolution Regarding Opposition to Mount Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) School Board Recall

Posted on by

DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the July 15, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, each MDUSD School Board Trustee has been duly elected in a proper election; each MDUSD School Board Trustee has faithfully performed the duties of their positions and made decisions and voted in the best interests of students over their term; and  

WHEREAS, the current proposed recall is motivated by anger and is destructive to the body politic; and 

WHEREAS, if the recall is required, the special election process will require the district to spend up to $1.9 Million of district funds on ballots and processing fees; and this frivolous recall will siphon hundreds of thousands from student programs; and this unnecessary recall will absorb management and board attention and effort, which would be better used ensuring the safe, secure and efficient return to in-person learning district wide;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County hereby states our firm opposition to the current efforts to recall the MDUSD School Board Trustees.

Submitted by Colleen Awad, Associate Member, District Director, District 4

Resolution in Support of Eliminating the United States Senate Filibuster

Posted on by

DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the July 15, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, the Constitution’s authors intended legislation to be passed by a simple majority vote, mandating a supermajority vote for only a few specific reasons, with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton arguing for simple majority rule in Federalist Nos. 10, 22, and 58; and

WHEREAS, the filibuster was created unintentionally in 1806 by a rule drafting error with the genesis of its modern version created by slave-owning Senator and Vice President John C. Calhoun to preserve slavery prior to the Civil War before it was subsequently used to block voting rights for Black citizens during Reconstruction, then in the Jim Crow era to deny minorities and, in particular Black citizens, their voting rights, and in recent decades its use has increased to the point where the filibuster is now used to routinely require 60 votes to pass any legislation; and

WHEREAS, that bipartisan majorities of the American people want the 117th Congress to address such matters as the reestablishment of voting rights for all citizens, a livable wage for all American workers, sensible gun legislation, affordable quality healthcare for all, effective greenhouse gas reductions, a commission to investigate the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and more, requires the abolition of the filibuster because 41 Republican Senators representing just 21 percent of the country can block any bill no matter how popular;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County declares our support for the immediate elimination of the Senate Filibuster, extends its thanks to U.S. Senator Alex Padilla for stating his commitment to eliminating or reforming the filibuster, and calls upon U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein to publicly acknowledge that our democracy is in danger and that she will do whatever is necessary to pass urgent legislation through the abolishment or reform of the filibuster; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County shall communicate this resolution to Contra Costa County Democrats and members of the United States House of Representatives representing any part of Contra Costa County. 

Submitted by:

Renee Zeimer, Elected Member, District 2
Harry Wiener, Associate Member, District 1
Craig Cheslog, Associate Member, District 2