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

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

With prior authorization by the Central Committee, DPCCC’s Executive Committee passed the following resolution on October 7, 2021:

WHEREAS, Ms. Betty Reid Soskin was born on September 22, 1921 in Detroit, Michigan, spent her early childhood in New Orleans, Louisiana, and her family subsequently relocated to Oakland, California where she graduated from Castlemont High School; she worked as a file clerk during World War II for the Boilermakers Union A-36 and has continued to be a Labor advocate after leaving that position; Ms. Betty Reid Soskin, and her then husband Mel Reid, opened Reid’s Records on Sacramento Street in Berkeley in 1945, and she and her children kept it successfully in business for nearly 75 years until closing in 2019; they also invested in Contra Costa County through building a home for their family in Walnut Creek in the 1950s and demonstrated grit while encountering racism and death threats during the years of living there, she currently resides in Richmond; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Betty Reid Soskin became a well-known Community Activist and also  served as a Field Representative for two California State Assemblymembers: Dion Aroner and Loni Hancock, where she made significant contributions to the planning stages and development of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park established in 2000, followed by becoming a Park Ranger for the National Park Service in 2007 and gave the introduction for President Barak Obama for the 2015 White House Christmas tree lighting ceremony and is still employed as a Park Ranger today; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Betty Reid Soskin: Woman, Mother, Businesswoman, Singer/Songwriter, Park Ranger and Published Author has regularly demonstrated Communal Leadership, Excellent Representation for women of all ages and Outstanding Citizenship as a resident of Contra Costa County, who is affectionately referred to (by some) as the “Iron Lady” with a heart of gold;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Recognizes and Congratulates Contra Costa County resident Ms. Betty Reid Soskin in Celebration of her 100^th Birthday on September 22, 2021.

Respectfully Submitted by:

Joey D. Smith, DPCCC 2^nd Vice-Chair

Approved by: Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Executive Committee, October 7, 2021