July 15 to August 9th is the filing period for positions open in Contra Costa County on the November 5th ballot. For a list of these positions as well as where you need to file if you want to run for office, go to https://www.contracostavote.gov/wp-content/uploads/24Nov5_PositionsUpForElection.pdf
Category Archives: newsletter
May 2024 Jewish American Heritage Month
PROCLAMATION
Declaring May 2024 as Jewish American Heritage Month
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 and diverse 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 bigotry, hostility and unprovoked violence; and
WHEREAS, antisemitism in the U.S., already on the rise before, has increased over 300% from 2022 to 2023 after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023, where educational, religious, political and community institutions are being targeted,[1] and seeing a similar and unprecedented rise of antisemitic incidents in the Bay Area before the attack, also surging after October 7th, and with more than half of Bay Areas Jews surveyed between November 21 and December 6, 2023 mentioning antisemitism, discrimination or safety as the most important problem facing Jews today, compared with 37 percent from last year.[2]
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we share the obligation and responsibility to condemn and combat rising 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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County recognizes May 2024 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 all diversity is respected, valued and protected.
Renee Zeimer, Elected representative, District 2
Joy Pinsky, Alternate representative, District 4
Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, April 18, 2024
[1] U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Skyrocketed 360% in Aftermath of Attack in Israel, according to Latest ADL Data, Published: 01.09.2024, Updated: 01.17.2024
[2] Most Bay Area Jews are more fearful since Oct. 7, survey finds, by Maya Mirsky, December 21, 2023, The Jewish News of Northern California
March 2023 DPCCC Newsletter
MARCH 2023 |
CHAIR’S MESSAGE I am humbled to have received overwhelming support to continue as Chair of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County. I am very proud to serve with a great group of Officers and District Directors who were also elected in January at our Organizational meeting. I am excited to continue to lead and serve my fellow Democrats for another two years and build on the successes we enjoyed in the 2022 elections. I have been working with our Leadership team to plan our activities and priorities leading up to the 2024 elections. I want us to work together to figure out the issues and elections we want to prioritize. Where can we have the most impact? How can we help the most people? We all have been shocked and angered by the continuing number of people injured and killed in mass shootings or incidents involving law enforcement. Tyre Nichols should have had the opportunity to build on his legacy as a loving father who enjoyed skateboarding, photography, and his family. Instead, Tyre’s name is now on the too-long list of people of color who did not survive an interaction with law enforcement. There have been so many mass shootings that it often is challenging to keep up with the latest communities in mourning. We know that too many people cannot find an affordable place to live in the community in which they work. The climate emergency continues to intensify. Our democracy remains at risk from authoritarians who want to reverse the progress our society has made to ensure the rights of women and people of color. I look forward to having an opportunity soon to share more details about our strategic planning work and a new initiative to focus our efforts on equity, anti-racism, and justice. I also hope you’ll share your ideas and priorities with me at chair@contracostadems.com. Stay healthy and engaged, Katie Ricklefs Chair, Democratic Party of Contra Costa County DPCCC ELECTS OFFICERS FOR 2023-24 CYCLE The Democratic Party of Contra Costa County (DPCCC) re-elected Katie Ricklefs as its Chair for the 2023-24 term during its Organizational Meeting held on January 19, 2023. Ricklefs’ election was one of several votes held at the DPCCC 2023 Organizational Meeting. The DPCCC held its biennial organization meeting following a successful election cycle that saw more than 70 percent of its endorsed candidates win their elections in 2022. “I appreciate the opportunity to continue my work as the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County’s chair,” said Ricklefs. “Our success would not have been possible without a huge amount of teamwork and collaboration. I look forward to working with our members, volunteers, and elected officials to advance our shared agenda. We have a great deal of work ahead of us, and I hope more Democrats will volunteer, consider joining one or more of our committees, and help us continue moving forward.” Over 100 members participated in the meeting via Zoom to elect the DPCCC’s Officers and District Directors. Katie Ricklefs was re-elected as the DPCCC’s Chair. Susana Williams was re-elected as the DPCCC’s First Vice Chair. Joey Smith was re-elected as the DPCCC’s Second Vice Chair. Floy Andrews was elected to her first term as the DPCCC’s Controller. She succeeds Marshall Lewis, who did not seek re-election. Craig Cheslog was elected to his first term as the DPCCC’s Secretary. He succeeds Kenji Yamada, who did not seek re-election. “I look forward to working with our team to elect Democrats and support our priority issues,” said Ricklefs. “I also want to thank Marshall Lewis and Kenji Yamada for all of their incredible work over the past two years. These volunteer jobs can be challenging and time consuming, and their efforts were a key part of our success in last year’s elections.” DPCCC members also elected District Directors for each County Supervisorial District. The DPCCC’s District Directors for 2023-24 are: District 1: Michael Nye District 2: Katha Hartley District 3: Carolina Villaseca District 4: Ady Olvera District 5: Dan Reynolds (who was elected at a district caucus on February 16, 2023) FEBRUARY 2023 DPCCC REGULAR MEETING REPORT EXPRESS INTEREST IN JOINING DPCCC COMMITTEES The DPCCC’s February 16, 2023, Regular Membership Meeting featured elections for California Democratic Party Executive Board representatives (see California Democratic Party Delegates Elected story above), the confirmation of nominations for Standing and Special Committee Chairs, a preliminary budget report from our Controller, and a review of Volunteer Activism opportunities. The Committee Chairs confirmed for the 2023-24 cycle include: Rules Committee: Jeff Koertzen Complaint and Discipline Review Committee: Courtney Masella O’Brien Parliamentarian: Robyn Kuslits Endorsements Special Committee: Tamela Hawley MOE Coordinator: Kathleen Van Winckel Issues Committee: Susan Hildreth Club Development Committee: Renee Zeimer Recruitment Committee: Cody Keller Training Committee: Cheryl Sudduth Fundraising Committee: Rebecca Barrett Infrastructure and Communications Committee: Jan Bell Ad Hoc Committee on Volunteer Activism: Cecilia Minalga Ad Hoc Committee on Partnership, Engagement, and Accountability: Craig Cheslog If you are interested in joining one or more of the DPCCC’s Standing Committees, please complete our Committee Interest Form or get in touch with the committee chair directly by using the email links above. Regular and Associate Members of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County are eligible to apply for membership in one or more of our Standing Committees. New members can join the DPCCC as Associate Members at any time if they are registered Democrats. Dues for Associate Members are $24/year, and you can click here to sign up! Would you like to learn more? Under DPCCC’s file access policy, access to all non-confidential DPCCC files is available to any DPCCC member (including Associates) upon request by emailing the Secretary. You can pay your dues by clicking here! If you are not a DPCCC member and wish to attend the monthly membership meeting, which is typically held on the third Thursday of the month, please RSVP to the DPCCC Secretary at secretary@contracostadems.com. If you are a DPCCC member, you should receive an email with details for the meeting about seven days in advance. If you do not, please email the DPCCC Secretary at secretary@contracostadems.com.CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY DELEGATES ELECTEDRegular and Associate Members of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County and Contra Costa Democrats elected delegates in two different election processes to represent them as members of the California Democratic Party’s State Central Committee. REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED BY THE DPCCC The DPCCC elected 42 state party delegates, based on a formula that allows each county four base delegates and adds one additional delegate for every 10,000 registered Democrats (or a fraction more). Based on a previously enacted procedure, most of the delegates were elected in caucuses for each County Supervisorial District, with the rest elected on an At Large basis. The Delegates elected include: District 1: Maria Alegria, Champagne Brown, Michael Nye, Gabe Quinto, Cameron Sasai, Joey D. Smith, Cheryl Sudduth, Cesar Zepeda District 2: Sarah Butler, Diddo Clark, Peter Ericson, Susan Hildreth, Katie Ricklefs, Marisol Rubio, Alexandria Rubio-Talavera, Renee Zeimer District 3: Tamela Hawley, Paschal Iwuh, Yolanda Pena Mendrek, Addison Peterson, Debra Vinson, Susana Williams District 4: Chuck Carpenter, Roxanne Carrillo Garza, Jeff Koertzen, Marshall Lewis, Gordon Miller, Ady Olvera, Laura Patch, Jamie Salcido District 5: Tom Lawson, Courtney Masella O’Brien, Nadine Peyrucain, John Stevens, Ben Therriault At Large: Harry Baker, Jonathan Bash, Edi Birsan, Sue Hamill, Irene Tait, Harry Wiener, De’shawn WoolridgeThe DPCCC also elected four members of the CADEM Executive Board based on a formula allowing for one representative for every 100,000 registered Democrats (or a fraction more). To ensure regional representation, the county was divided into four regions based on a previously enacted procedure. The DPCCC’s Executive Board representatives include: Marisol Rubio (South)Susana Williams (East)Michael Nye (West)Jonathan Bash (Central) ASSEMBLY DISTRICT DELEGATES Each January of odd-numbered years, California Democrats participate in Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMs) to elect approximately one-third of the delegates of the California Democratic Party. Any Democrat registered in the assembly district is eligible to run and/or to vote. Each Assembly District elects seven people who are self-identified females and seven people who are other than self-identified females. From these 14, one person is elected to represent the Assembly District on the CADEM Executive Board (E-Board). Here are the people elected in Assembly Districts that include all of or a part of Contra Costa County (with the E-Board representative indicated with an *): ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 11 Self-Identified Female Cassandra Jones Tiffanee Jones * Julia Routson-Thomas Verneal D Brumfield Audrey Jacques Tazamisha Alexander Justine A. Fout ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 11 Other than Self-Identified Female Ricky Gjertsen Jr Carlos E Flores Danny Bernardini Garfield Samuels Michael Tebo Chuck Leonard Jr Justin N Brown ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 14 Self-Identified Female Cecilia Lunaparra Ana Vasudeo Kate Harrison Dyana Delfin Polk La Trena Robinson Sadia Khan Carol Coyote Cook ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 14 Other than Self-Identified Female Alfred Twu * Dan Kalb Jamin Pursell Zac Unger Devin T. Murphy Jonah Gottlieb Keane N Chukwuneta ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 15 Self-Identified Female Amy Scott-Slovick * Stacie Hinton Carolyn Bowden Amy D Hines-Shaikh Keisha Nzewi Jane L Baulch-Enloe Anamarie Avila FariasA ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 15 Other than Self-Identified Female Satinder S. Malhi Victor Benedict Tiglao Lucas J Stuartchilcote Cody J Keller Dominic A Lucero Mark Plubell Jason L Lindsey ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 16 Self-Identified Female Michelle Sinnott Petersen Marilyn Cachola Lucey * Brodie Hilp Cecilia Minalga Latika Malkani Deepa Sharma Katha Hartley ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 16 Other than Self-Identified Female Richard Adler Patrick Vanier Iman Novin Tom Duckworth Aram Hodess Dan Torres Kevin Pereau VOLUNTEER ACTIVISM OPPORTUNITIES “We must be the nation we have always been when we are at our best: Optimistic. Hopeful. Forward-looking. A nation that embraces light over darkness, hope over fear, and unity over division. Stability over chaos.”—President Biden YOUR ACTIONS CAN MOVE WISCONSIN FORWARD! Join Contra Costa Democrats and the Bay Area Coalition to get out the vote for the April 4th Wisconsin state Supreme Court election. This is an all-hands-on-deck effort to flip the state Supreme Court—with abortion, voting rights, and redistricting all up for grabs. https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/event/551801/Join us every Wednesday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. until the election on April 4th. Whether you are an experienced phone banker or this is your first time, join us to make calls. Wisconsin Needs Your Help! REGISTERING VOTERS MAKES A DIFFERENCE! Sign up for one of these voter registration actions with Field Team 6…phone banks, social storming, and postcarding! Making sure people are registered to vote is the #1 most effective way to make a difference.https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/event/547486/https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/event/458035/https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/event/429841/ GET INVOLVED AND TAKE ACTION! For more information on volunteering, contact Cecilia at volunteer@contracostadems.com or call 510-693-4259! RESOLUTIONS AND LEGISLATION The DPCCC adopted the following proclamations and resolutions at its February 16, 2023, meeting: Proclamation Supporting 2023 Women’s History Month Resolution Stop the Privatization of Traditional Medicare via the ACO-REACH Program You can learn more about the Issues Committee’s process for reviewing legislation, resolutions, and proclamations by reading its submission guidelines and application for consideration. You can review an index and full text of the Resolutions adopted by the DPCCC since 2020 and Legislative Trackers including all of the bills on which the DPCCC has taken a position since 2021 in this Google Drive folder. CADEM DELEGATE TRAINING DPCCC District 4 Director Ady Olvera is hosting a Progressive Delegates 411 workshop. Did you recently get elected as a delegate for ADEM via a ballot, and/or the DSCC at a DPCCC meeting? Join this upcoming workshop on Saturday, March 11th, to learn how to maximize your role as a delegate within the California Democratic Party at the convention and more. In honor of Women’s History Month, come learn from amazing leaders and delegates Marisol Rubio, Amy Scott Slovick, Keisha Nzewi, and Susana Williams. Register at: bit.ly/delegates411to receive zoom link information. ANNOUNCEMENTS Supervisor Ken Carlson invites you to the James Moriarty St. Patrick’s Day Fundraiser Dinner on Friday, March 17, from 6-9 p.m. at UA Local 342, 935 Detroit Ave., Concord, CA 94518. This will be an evening for fun and networking with a traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner. Dinner will start at 7 p.m. Click here to get your tickets! Join Rep. Mark DeSaulnier for his Birthday Celebration Reception on March 25 from 2-4 p.m. at UA Local 342, 935 Detroit Ave., Concord, CA 94518. Click here to purchase your event tickets! DPCCC EVENT CALENDAR Click here to see the DPCCC Event Calendar, including events to which all DPCCC members are invited. To request the addition of an item to the calendar, please email secretary@contracostadems.com. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK Do you have any questions or feedback about this DPCCC Newsletter? We would love to hear from you! Please send your comments to commsdir@contracostadems.com. |
Copyright © 2023 secretary@contracostadems.com, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a paid member of the DPCCC. Our mailing address is: secretary@contracostadems.com Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Martinez, CA 94553 |
Governor Newsom’s 2023 Inaugural Address
Governor Newsom’s Inaugural Address as Prepared for Delivery (Click HERE to watch video of Inaugural Address)
Time has done its usual trick on me.
It says it has been four years since I stood in the shadow of this Capitol and delivered my first inaugural address.
Four years, disaster and plague, they bend the clock in strange ways.
It feels like both a flash, and an eternity.
In the longest hours of my first term, trying to plot a course through pandemic, wildfire, mass shootings, and social unrest … I found myself looking backward, as much as I was looking forward.
I recalled the late-1970s, when I was 10 or 11 years old, a child of divorce and dyslexia, trying to find my bearings.
I was a kid, traveling back and forth across the Golden Gate Bridge, between the two very different lives of my mother and father.
I couldn’t read, and was looking for any way to ditch classes. I’d fake stomach aches and dizziness. I’d bite down on the thermometer in the nurse’s office trying to make the temperature rise past 100.
My mom, busy juggling three jobs, had no patience for a truant.
My father, the judge, guilty because he had left us, was an easier touch.
I remember one time during the middle of school, when he picked me up in his Volkswagen bug, and took me to San Francisco’s Chinatown.
On its face, this was a mission for food.
But I didn’t understand back then, it was also HIS mission, to give me a slice of San Francisco, our place, and the story of California.
We crossed one of the many demarcations in the city, and suddenly we had entered another realm.
Through the gate at the intersection of Bush and Grant, my eyes and nose took it all in.
Pagoda-style storefronts. Red lanterns hanging from above. Giant statues of Buddha in the windows. Roasted duck. Fresh baked cookies.
My father wasn’t content with just showing me the unfamiliar. He wanted me to see past the façade, to the people themselves.
The humble entrepreneurs and immigrant parents, building better lives for their kids. To the journey that had brought them to enrich our city – and our state.
This was the same California that drew my great, great grandparents from County Cork in Ireland to start a new life during the first years of California’s statehood.
William Newsom the first, became a beat cop in San Francisco. And the Newsoms began to plant roots as working-class Irish, in a land where anything was possible.
The journey from policeman to politician took 150 years.
My wife Jennifer, the First Partner, is the second in her family to be born in the Golden State.
My children – Montana, Hunter, Brooklyn, and Dutch – now 5th generation Californians.
And all of you here today. No two California origin stories are the same, but we share aspirations, and ambitions.
These ties bind us, sometimes unknowingly, to our state’s past – and to each other.
I remember hot summer days with my dad, riding a raft down wild stretches of the American River. Those cold waters were the same ones where James Marshall found gold nuggets that would sell the California Dream to the world, and alter the course of American history.
But I’m mindful that there’s another side to that story, not the fairytale.
California’s statehood, after all, was also sealed with a brutal genocide against native people.
Reconciling that complexity has always guided my own understanding of myself, and of the state that I love so deeply.
The shameful chapters of our history do not lessen my love for my home state. They make it more complicated, yes, deeper, richer, and serve as a reminder that we can always become better.
The California that beckoned my forebears 170 years ago had a population of 93,000. Today, we’re nearly 40 million strong, each with our own California story.
I hear the echoes of my own family’s story in those who are still coming to California to pursue their dreams, drawn by the myth and magic of this place.
I hear the echoes in the stories of migrants that cross our southern border seeking something better.
In people who come from every continent on earth to flee political persecution, or from other states to educate themselves in our world-class universities, to start businesses that support their families, or change the world.
Whether your family came here for work, or for safety, California offered freedom to access it, not contingent on you looking a certain way, talking a certain way, thinking a certain way.
And that’s what makes California special – it’s in our genes. We’re a state of dreamers and doers. Bound by our live-and-let-live embrace of personal freedom.
But like I’ve said, we’ve made mistakes … Lord knows we’ve made our share.
Let’s not forget, the Chinatown I visited as a boy is a remnant of the bigotry of agitator Denis Kearney, and the Chinese Exclusion Act of the 1880s.
Tens of thousands of Japanese Americans were interned right here during World War II.
In the post-war era, as California’s suburbs grew, the racist practice of exclusionary zoning took hold, denying Black, Asian, Armenian and Latino residents the right to live on the good side of town and build wealth.
This planted the seeds of the housing and homeless crisis we face today.
Even California indulged homophobic hate at the ballot box, with the Briggs Initiative – the 1970s version of “Don’t Say Gay.”
And of course, the 1990s brought a wave of anti-immigrant xenophobia, manifesting in Proposition 187.
These are dark moments in California’s journey. But in the end, we confronted our errors with humility and conviction, paving the way for rights and freedom to prevail.
Every day, California commits itself to the process of getting it right for the next generation.
In nearly 30 years in politics, I have had the opportunity to see this process firsthand, learning as we go, and etching these learnings on the consciousness of a country that perhaps hasn’t yet caught up.
When we started issuing same-sex marriage licenses in San Francisco in 2004, it felt as if history moved at light-speed, in the right direction, decades of advocacy culminating in that beautiful Winter of Love.
But that victory, to expand rights and freedom to marry, was snatched away by a backlash that resulted in Proposition 8.
Eventually, after many setbacks, and many steps forward, just a few weeks ago, President Biden signed legislation enshrining the freedom to marry.
That has been the story of progress throughout our history.
It is not always easy, and not always linear.
But in the end, the verdict is clear – expanding rights is always the right thing to do.
And yet, there are still forces in America that want to take the nation backward.
We saw that two years ago, on this day, when the unthinkable happened at a place most Americans assumed was invincible.
An insurrectionist mob ransacking a sacred pillar of our democracy, violently clashing with sworn officers upholding the rule of law.
Just like the brave men and women whose heroism we inscribe, here on our own Peace Officers’ Memorial.
Since that terrible day, we’ve wrestled with what those events say about us as a country.
The ugliness that overflowed on January 6th, 2021, was in fact decades in the making. Fomented by people who have a very different vision of America’s future.
Red state politicians, and the media empire behind them, selling regression as progress, oppression as freedom.
And as we know too well, there is nothing original about their demagoguery.
All across the nation, anxiety about social change has awakened long-dormant authoritarian impulses.
Calling into question what America is to become, freer and fairer … or reverting to a darker past.
Instead of finding solutions, these politicians void of any new ideas, pursuing power at any cost, prey upon our fears and paranoias.
“The struggle to be who we ought to be,” as a nation is difficult and demanding.
And that’s why we should be clear-eyed about their aims.
They’re promoting grievance and victimhood, in an attempt to erase so much of the progress you and I have witnessed in our lifetimes.
They make it harder to vote and easier to buy illegal guns.
They silence speech, fire teachers, kidnap migrants, subjugate women, attack the Special Olympics, and even demonize Mickey Mouse.
All camouflaged under a hijacking of the word “freedom.”
But what they really want is more control – intrusive government, command over your most intimate decisions – when to have a family, how you raise your kids, how you love.
While they cry freedom, they dictate the choices people are allowed to make. Fanning the flames of these exhausting culture wars. Banning abortion, banning books, banning free speech in the classroom, and in the boardroom.
They sell fear and panic when it comes to crime and immigration.
But they sell calm and indifference when the threat is greenhouse gases destroying our planet, or big oil raking in windfall profits at your expense.
But California offers reason for hope.
“There is no soil better adapted” to liberty and opportunity – the sense of possibility, than here in our home state.
Now, the fourth largest economy in the world.
The most venture capital and startups in America.
Leading the world in the transition to a low-carbon, green growth future.
An advanced industrial economy in biotherapeutics, genomics. Aerospace and battery storage.
High-speed internet connecting the Central Valley to the Central Coast.
Rebuilding roads from Yreka to San Ysidro.
Providing clean water from Colusa to Coachella.
A new Cal Poly in Humboldt, conveying more scientists, engineers, researchers, Nobel laureates than any other state.
Debt free college for hundreds of thousands of students…
And the largest state volunteer corps in America.
I am mindful, though, that California, like the nation, is two rivers at once, a mix of light and shadows.
So as we go forward, we must continue our quest for an honest accounting of where we’ve fallen short: on affordability, on housing, on homelessness.
In our pursuit of belonging, and equal justice, California must be the enduring proof of concept.
We must reconcile our shortcomings. Bring everyone along in our prosperity.
After all, a healthy democracy must be inclusive.
Government by the people and for the people, requires people willing to fight to protect and advance it.
Just like Californians did last year, when we overwhelmingly voted to enshrine reproductive rights into our State Constitution.
We chose choice.
In our finest hours, California has been freedom’s force multiplier. Protecting liberty from a rising tide of oppression taking root in statehouses.
Weakness, masquerading as strength. Small men in big offices.
More than any people, in any place, California has bridged the historic expanse between freedom for some, and freedom for all.
We open our arms not clench our fists. We turn our gaze upward, not inward.
Freedom is our essence, our brand name – the abiding idea that right here, anyone from anywhere can accomplish anything.
We’ve overcome the destructive impulses of extremism, racism, and nativism.
And shown the rest of America it’s not only achievable – it’s undeniable.
Going forward, California will continue to lead out loud, by advancing a far-reaching freedom agenda.
A full-throated answer to those demagogues of division, determined to regress and oppress.
Freedom for teachers to teach, free of litmus tests about their political party, or the person they love.
Freedom to access health care for all Californians, regardless of their immigration status.
Freedom from Big Pharma’s grip, competing head-on by manufacturing our own life-saving drugs.
Freedom to vote without intimidation, with results decided by the people, not the politicians.
The battle lines are drawn. And yes, once again, it’s time for choosing.
Let’s not forget that policies that started here that were once considered nothing more than romantic possibilities have now become commonplace across the other 49 states.
California “lights out the territory for the rest.”
That’s what we do best. Giving shape to the future – molding the character of the nation.
Just like those rivers that sculpted so many of California’s deepest valleys.
The places of my childhood memories. Those rafting and camping trips with my dad. Falling in love with California. Over and over again.
My father died shortly after I was elected governor in 2018. He never got to see his son assume the office.
Nor did my mother Tessa, who died just before I became Mayor of San Francisco.
Their dreams, their spirit, their love of California, is with me every day.
Just as they were last year, when I found myself with the leaders of California’s most populous tribe, the Yurok. Floating down another great river, the Klamath, in a traditional dugout canoe.
We stopped for dinner on the riverbank and prepared salmon smoked on redwood, over a traditional firepit.
The bark infused flavor into the fish, imparting a taste familiar to the Yurok people stretching back to their earliest ancestors.
Just a few weeks ago, I returned to the Klamath and met with Yurok, Karuk, and Klamath tribal leaders.
This time, to celebrate the removal of four dams … America’s largest dam removal project in history.
Setting the river free once more, restoring natural salmon runs and in so doing, righting a historical wrong.
Because this is what California does. And it’s what I’ve dedicated my life to.
Standing up for ideals, striking out against injustice.
After all, history reminds us that each of us will be judged … and ultimately judge ourselves, to the extent we contribute, as Bobby Kennedy said, to the life of our cities, our state, our nation, and the world we are trying to build.
That brings me back to time.
Time is undefeated, it is relentless.
So in our fleeting moment, we must fight against our worst impulses, and find our better angels.
Because at the end of the day, our lives are just too short, our wisdom too limited, to win fleeting victories at other people’s expense.
We must all triumph together.
Thank you.
November 2022 Newsletter
NOVEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER |
CHAIR’S MESSAGE I want to thank each and every one of you who walked neighborhoods, distributed door hangers, phone banked, texted, donated, and supported our endorsed candidates during this election. Contra Costa Democrats and Chartered Clubs worked hard to help elect great candidates across the county. We walked neighborhoods and distributed over 100,000 door hangers, mailed 84,000 slate cards, sent over 270,000 texts to voters, and phone banked for hours. I am also happy to share that our newly designed website received over 48,000 unique user visits focusing on our 2022 election pages. We may be exhausted, but I think we all have a right to feel very proud of our work. We are still waiting for the final results in a few races, but so far we know we helped elect 44 of our 68 endorsed candidates, a win ratio of 65 percent. There were many close elections, proving once again that our work is vital because every vote counts! Finally, please plan to celebrate all of our efforts on Friday, December 16, when our DPCCC Holiday Party will be held at the UA Local 342 Union Hall at 935 Detroit Avenue in Concord starting at 6:30 p.m. More details about the Holiday Party are included below in this newsletter, and early-bird tickets are available now! Stay healthy and enjoy your holidays, Katie Ricklefs Chair, Democratic Party of Contra Costa County DPCCC HOLIDAY PARTY IN CONCORD ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16 Join us in Concord at UA Local 342 for an indoor, festive, and fun Holiday Party starting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, December 16! Click here to get your tickets or get a sponsorship now! Early-bird prices are available through 11:59 p.m. on December 2! The Union Hall is located at 935 Detroit Avenue in Concord. We will provide food and drinks and present some fun awards! The party will run from 6:30-9:30 p.m. We are asking our attendees to bring nonperishable food items for a Concord & Solano Food Bank Donation Bin. Donations are down, and so we want to give back while we celebrate. Masks will be encouraged, and we will have a health check at the door. So dress your best for photos, come to socialize, and celebrate with friends, new members, and our candidates who ran for office this year! We’ll hear briefly from our club leaders on our 2022 annual report and from electeds. We’ll finish off with some club awards as we look ahead to 2023. NOVEMBER MEETING REPORT The DPCCC’s November 17 Membership Meeting featured a review of our activities to help our candidates and get out the vote for the November election in Contra Costa County and the Central Valley. We will have a summary of all of this work in our next newsletter, including details about specific efforts to combat misinformation impacting one of our endorsed candidates. DPCCC members deliberated and passed a revised procedure for electing Central Committee delegates to the California Democratic Party. This election will happen at our January 2023 Organizational Meeting. More details will be posted on the DPCCC website soon. Chair Katie Ricklefs reminded everyone that the end of the year brings the end of the term for our current officers and committee leaders. So this is the time for people to start thinking about the possible roles they may wish to have in January 2023. All of our members should pay their dues now so they won’t have to worry about the deadline to be a member in good standing to vote during our January 19, 2023, biennial Organizational Meeting. More details about these elections will also be posted on the DPCCC website soon. Finally, there will not be a regular Membership Meeting in December, so join us for our Holiday Party in Concord on Friday, December 16! Would you like to learn more? Under DPCCC’s file access policy, access to all non-confidential DPCCC files is available to any DPCCC member (including Associates) upon request by emailing the Secretary. You can pay your dues by clicking here! If you are not a DPCCC member and wish to attend the monthly membership meeting, which is typically held on the third Thursday of the month, please RSVP to the DPCCC Secretary at secretary@contracostadems.com. If you are a DPCCC member, you should receive an email with details for the meeting about seven days in advance. If you do not, please email the DPCCC Secretary at secretary@contracostadems.com. AN APPRECIATION FOR REPRESENTATIVE JERRY MCNERNEY You are cordially invited to attend the Appreciation Celebration for Representative Jerry McNerney on Sunday, December 4th, from 2–5 pm at Brentwood’s Co.Co. County Wine Company at 633 1st Street in Brentwood. This event is sponsored by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, the Marsh Creek Democratic Club, and the San Joaquin County Democratic Party. To reserve your space, please RSVP to mcvillaseca@yahoo.com. We hope to see you there! CONSIDER RUNNING TO BECOME A CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ASSEMBLY DISTRICT DELEGATE Do you want to have more influence in the California Democratic Party (CADEM)? Then consider running to become an Assembly District Delegate or Executive Board Member! Assembly District Delegates are elected at CADEM Assembly District Elections Meetings held in each of the state’s 80 Assembly Districts in January of each odd-numbered year. So the next election is coming up in January 2023! Click here to learn more about these positions and the voting process on the CADEM website. Each Assembly District will elect seven “self-identified female” and seven “other than self-identified female” delegates and one Executive Board member. To run for Assembly District Delegate, you must register as a candidate by noon on Friday, December 9. Click here to register! Becoming an Assembly District Delegate gives you the opportunity to: Increase your political impact by voting for the endorsements of the California Democratic Party for partisan legislative and statewide office in California, vote for positions CADEM takes on the Ballot Propositions, build a community with passionate and diverse California Democrats, take on greater responsibility as a voice for your local district when establishing the official California Democratic State Platform (in even-numbered years), and elect 16-25 CADEM Regional Directors who function as your liaison between the California Democratic Party, County Central Committees, and Democratic Party Clubs. All California Democrats can run to become an Assembly District Delegate or vote in this Assembly District Election. Registration to vote by mail or in person in these elections will open at noon on Monday, December 12, at this website. More details will be shared in December. RESOLUTIONS AND LEGISLATION The DPCCC adopted the following proclamations and resolutions at its November 17, 2022, meeting: Proclamation Recognizing February 2023 as Black History Month Resolution Supporting the Rights of the People of Iran to Free Expression and Standing in Solidarity with the Women and People of Iran Resolution in Support of a State Windfall Profits Tax on Oil Corporations You can learn more about the Issues Committee’s process for reviewing legislation, resolutions, and proclamations by reading its submission guidelines and application for consideration. You can review an index of the Resolutions adopted by the DPCCC since 2022 and a Legislative Tracker of all the bills on which the DPCCC has taken a position during the 2021-22 session. DPCCC EVENT CALENDAR This calendar is for DPCCC and other Democratic Party events to which all DPCCC members are invited. To request the addition of an item to the calendar, please email secretary@contracostadems.com. Click on the DPCCC EVENT CALENDAR to get more details! LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK Do you have any questions or feedback about this DPCCC Newsletter? We would love to hear from you! Please send your comments to commsdir@contracostadems.com. |
September 2022 DPCCC Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER |
CHAIR’S MESSAGE The election is almost here—voters will start to receive their 2022 general election ballots in just over two weeks. I hope you will join me in working every day to help elect our candidates. The Democratic Party of Contra Costa County has endorsed 68 candidates for offices ranging from Ken Carlson for the County Board of Supervisors to the city councils, school boards, and special districts throughout the county. Our candidates represent the diversity of our county, with 21 being first-time candidates. Each one needs our support to win and make a difference for their community. You can see more about these candidates in a story later in this newsletter. Getting Ken Carlson elected to the Board of Supervisors is one of our top priorities. His election could change the board’s balance for many years to come. If Ken wins, our priority issues and values have a chance to be realized. If Ken loses, our push for housing, healthcare, social justice, climate sustainability, and economic equity will all suffer. This is a race with generational importance. Please add your energy and voice. I want to urge you to join me in picking a few key races at the local level to get involved in and help us Get Out the Vote! In addition to Ken’s campaign for the Board of Supervisors, other local candidates are facing coordinated efforts to get MAGA Republicans elected to our school boards. Please pick a few campaigns to help by knocking on doors, making phone calls, sending texts, or making contributions. A few hours a week will help us elect our 68 locally endorsed candidates and our statewide and Congressional officials. You also will see later in this newsletter how you can take action to help Democrats win close elections in the Central Valley and keep our House majority. It is a lot of work. But I believe electing Democrats is the reason we are here. Let me know if you have any questions. You can email me at chair@contracostadems.com. I hope to see you on the campaign trail! Stay healthy and strong, Katie Ricklefs Chair, Democratic Party of Contra Costa County SEPTEMBER MEETING REPORT The DPCCC’s September 15 Membership Meeting featured the wrap-up of our endorsement process, a report from our Issues Committee (see report later in this newsletter), and updates from our committees on the work they are doing to prepare for election day. Chair Katie Ricklefs thanked Tamela Hawley and Irene Tait for their excellent handling of the endorsement process, working with our District Directors and endorsement committee members. Chair Ricklefs also announced that she was appointing Jeff Koertzen and Robyn Kuslits as the Ad-Hoc Transition Committee for the January 19, 2023, DPCCC Organizational Meeting. First Chair Susana Williams announced that Rebecca Barrett was appointed to co-chair our Elections Committee, joining Chuck Carpenter. The two co-chairs have talked with the District Directors and endorsed candidates, especially new candidates and have received input on what our priority races should be from them and our club leadership. We learned more about what all of our members can do to help elect our endorsed candidates. DPCCC members discussed and approved a revised budget for the rest of the year. Communications Director Jan Bell reported on updates to the DPCCC website to showcase endorsed candidates and encouraged people to provide feedback about this newsletter at commsdir@contracostadems.com. Would you like to learn more? Under DPCCC’s file access policy, access to all non-confidential DPCCC files is available to any DPCCC member (including Associates) upon request by emailing the Secretary. You can pay your dues by clicking here! If you are not a DPCCC member and wish to attend the monthly membership meeting, which is typically held on the third Thursday of the month, please RSVP to the DPCCC Secretary at secretary@contracostadems.com. If you are a DPCCC member, you should receive an email with details for the meeting about seven days in advance. If you do not, please email the DPCCC Secretary at secretary@contracostadems.com. DPCCC ENDORSES 68 CANDIDATES FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION The Democratic Party of Contra Costa County has endorsed 68 candidates for local offices. These endorsements include the County Board of Supervisors, city councils, school boards, and special districts. The DPCCC’s website has the full list of these endorsed candidates, grouped by east, central/south, and west county. Our endorsement website includes candidate questionnaires, campaign videos, and other useful information. The DPCCC has also endorsed Measure K, a Martinez Unified School District Bond, and Measure Q, a Voter Protected Open Space Initiative for the City of Brentwood. You can also see the California Democratic Party’s endorsements for federal and statewide offices and the statewide propositions on the November ballot. Most importantly, remember to VOTE by November 8th and donate or volunteer for Democrats running for office! TAKE ACTION – Calling all volunteers, phone bankers, and canvassers! The path to the next House majority goes through California Join Contra Costa Democrats for a one-day bus trip to work some canvassing magic in Tulare on Saturday, October 15. https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/event/514161/ Join Contra Costa Democrats as we turn voices into votes…calling voters in Kern and Kings counties on Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m., Wednesdays at 5 p.m., Saturdays at 10 a.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/event/439762/ Knock doors every Saturday in Hanford, Kings County, through election day! https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/event/445111 Knock doors on Fridays through Sundays, beginning on September 30 in Bakersfield, Kern County, through election day! https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/event/494449 For more information on volunteering, contact Cecilia at volunteer@contracostadems.comor call 510-693-4259. RESOLUTIONS AND LEGISLATION The DPCCC adopted the following proclamations and resolutions at its September 15, 2022, meeting: Proclamation in Support of Veteran’s Day 2022 Proclamation In Celebration of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, November 1 – 30, 2022; California Native American Day, September 23, 2022; and National Day of Recognition of Native American Heritage, November 25, 2022 Resolution Urging that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors conduct Open Study Sessions on Critical Contra Costa County Sheriff Department Functions Related to the Internal Investigations Process from an Equity Lens, Including Potential Oversight Mechanisms Resolution Re-Committing to Core Principles of Our Democracy—Free & Fair Elections The DPCCC voted at its September 15, 2022, meeting to take positions on the following statewide and local measures on the November 2022 general election ballot: SUPPORT Proposition 1 (Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment to the California State Constitution). Click here to read the Issues Committee Application. SUPPORT Measure K, Martinez Unified School District Bond. Click here to read the Issues Committee Application. SUPPORT Measure Q, City of Brentwood Voter-Protected Open-Space Initiative. Click here to read the Issues Committee Application. You can learn more about the Issues Committee’s process for reviewing legislation, resolutions, and proclamations by reading its submission guidelines and application for consideration. You can review an index of the Resolutions adopted by the DPCCC since 2022 and a Legislative Tracker of all the bills on which the DPCCC has taken a position during the 2021-22 session.SUPPORT OUR ENDORSED CANDIDATES Our Communications team is posting canvassing and fundraising events for our endorsed candidates on the DPCCC website and the DPCCC’s event calendar. There are events all around Contra Costa County. Please support as many of our endorsed candidates as you can as Democrats work to get them elected this November! ANNOUNCEMENTS The Alameda County Democratic Party is hosting its 50th Anniversary Democratic Unity Dinner at the Oakland Airport Hilton on Saturday, September 24, at 6 p.m. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. If you have an announcement you would like us to consider including in next month’s newsletter, please email commsdir@contracostadems.com. DPCCC EVENT CALENDAR This calendar is for DPCCC and other Democratic Party events to which all DPCCC members are invited. To request the addition of an item to the calendar, please email secretary@contracostadems.com. Please click HERE to go to the DPCCC Calendar. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK Do you have any questions or feedback about this DPCCC Newsletter? We would love to hear from you! Please send your comments to commsdir@contracostadems.com. |