Resolution in Support of Assembly Bill 557 (Muratsuchi and Chiu), Statewide Hate Crimes Hotline

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the May 20, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, According to recent data from the Southern Poverty Law Center, there are more than 72 hate groups currently operating in California. In 2018, hate crimes involving bias against someone who is Jewish increased by 21.2 percent and against someone who is Latino by 18.3 percent. Also in that year, hate crimes with an anti-black or African American bias accounted for 25.9 percent and with a sexual orientation bias accounted for 22.3 percent of hate crimes reported in 2018; and

WHEREAS, Anti-Asian rhetoric surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic spike in verbal and physical assaults against Asian Americans in the past year. According to Stop AAPI Hate, over 2,800 anti-Asian hate incidents have occurred nationwide since February 2020 with over 1,200 of those occurring in California; and

WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 557 would require the California Department of Justice to create and maintain an accessible toll-free hotline number and an online form so people can report hate crimes and hate incidents more easily and in a way that overcomes the possible hesitancy victims and witnesses may feel if they distrust or fear local law enforcement officials, and would help victims receive referrals to local agencies, resources, and support services;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County supports the passage of Assembly Bill 557 (Muratsuchi and Chiu), as amended on March 25, 2021, and urges the Democratic supermajority in the California State Legislature to pass the legislation and the Democratic Governor to sign the bill into law;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County shall communicate this resolution to Contra Costa County Democrats, the California Democratic Party, members of the State Senate and State Assembly representing any part of Contra Costa County, members of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, and the Governor of the State of California.

Submitted by: Craig Cheslog, Associate Member, District 2

Resolution in Support of Assembly Bill 525, (Chiu, Cunningham, Friedman) – Offshore Wind Generation

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DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the May 20, 2021 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, California has set ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Commission, in coordination with specified agencies, found that California will need to build at least 34 gigawatts of new renewable energy and energy storage developments by 2030 and at least 140 gigawatts of new renewable energy and energy storage developments by 2045 to achieve the goals; and

WHEREAS, California has found that wind and solar power on land will not be able meet that strategic goal, but that offshore wind generation could provide many new jobs and at least 10 gigawatts installed off the California coast by 2040, with an interim target of 3,000 megawatts installed by 2030; and the Energy Commission, in consultation with relevant state and local agencies, would need to start developing a plan on or before June 1, 2022 to improve existing waterfront facilities, seaports, and workforce.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County supports the passage of Assembly Bill 525, Offshore Wind Generation to begin this planning, and urges the Democratic supermajority in the California State Legislature to pass the legislation and the Democratic Governor to sign the bill into law;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County shall communicate this resolution to members of the State Senate and State Assembly representing any part of Contra Costa County and the Governor of the State of California.

Submitted by Brodie Hilp, Elected Member, District 2

The DPCCC FUNraiser Auction is open for bidding!

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Link – bit.ly/2021FUNraiser

Many of our members have donated items, ranging from treasured memorabilia to a chance to get back out in the world on a vacation or just enjoy a meal on a leisurely afternoon in a lovely backyard! And wine, so much wine…..

Our Democratic elected officeholders have created opportunities for those social outings we’ve all missed –

Sharing a coffee or a meal in a restaurant with a host guaranteed to provide interesting conversation,

A champagne brunch after a hike and a wine tasting at a top-notch winery!

Or, join a small group in an outdoor home setting to relax, watch a movie and learn a few things.

And much more – check out the website! Link – bit.ly/2021FUNraiser

The funds raised will help the DPCCC recruit, support and promote Democratic candidates as we head into the 2022 mid-terms. And right now, we’ll be joining the fight to Stop the Recall!

It’s not too late to donate items, contact Marilynn Schuyler at 703-675-8782 or Schuyler@SchuylerAAP.com to make arrangements for collection.

And it’s never too late to make a cash donation to the 2022 Campaign Unity Fund at this link. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2022campaignunityfund

A final thought -The Auction Committee wants to emphasize how grateful we are for the many creative, thoughtful donations to this year’s fundraiser. Take note bidders – the best thank you is to bid high!

Valley Blue in 22

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Update! Speaker Pelosi will be joining us!

Purchase your tickets today at bit.ly/valleyblue22. Join us on Thursday, May 27, 7:00 pm for a fun-filled evening hosted by comedian, writer, actress and podcaster Leighann Lord, and featuring

  • Rep. Katie Porter and Josh Harder
  • Senator Alex Padilla
  • CDP Vice-chair Betty Yee
  • Other House and Central Valley Democrats

Let’s provide the support, phone banks, and most importantly money to win in the Central Valley in 2022.  In CA21, TJ Cox flipped the seat with 862 votes in 2018, and lost the seat in 2020 by 1,522 votes. These are small margins, and your efforts make a difference.

Purchase a ticket or donate to the Valley Blue in 22 fundraiser on May 27, 7:00 pm.  Our work will register and engage voters to defend and retake House seats in the Central Valley … electing Democrats up and down the ballot.  Purchase your tickets today at bit.ly/valleyblue22.

May District 3 Report Out

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From DPCCC’s District 3 Director Carolina Villaseca:

Congressman Jerry McNerney

Co-Sponsored the Elijah Cummings Lower Drug Cost Now Act

  • Puts a cap on excessive Medicare costs.
  • Puts a cap on Medicare D costs.
  • Sets Fair prices for generic drugs.

Co-sponsored HR 20730 which amends the Higher Education Act of 1955

  • Ensures higher education for all.

Hosted 2 Town Halls

  • Disparity in Latino Health Care
  • IRS Tax Updates/Help

Asking for help to put pressure on Senators Kirsten Sinema and Joe Manchin.

  • SB1 John Lewis Voting Rights Bills and DC Statehood which cannot go through budget reconciliation.
  • Infrastructure budget (which is in committee right now but should come out in a couple of weeks)
  • The filibuster

County

  • The Board of Health is hosting pop-up walk-in clinics in an effort to get more people vaccinated. 
    • One very successful pop clinic was held in conjunction with Hijas del Campo where over 100 campesinos received vaccines.
  • Seated the Measure X Commission and began having meetings about the disbursal of funds.
  • BoE looking at LCAP goals, going through budget updates and graduations in May/June.

Local

  • Brentwood City Council is setting up a districting commission in anticipation of the census data. 
  • This process is being driven by Council member Jovita Mendoza.
  • Brentwood Union School District and most other TK-8 as well as High School Districts are all looking at how they will find students who have fallen through the cracks and help all students catch up next year.
  • All are expecting to go back full time in person.
  • Antioch is continuing their police reform work.
    • And celebrating Antioch High School Grad Najee Harris on his first-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  • Oakley is busy looking for a new city manager as Mr. Montgomery went to Indio (their city council is questioning how he got the job) and a new Superintendent for the school as Mr. Hetrick has announced his retirement. 
  • Oakley Residents are putting the pressure on City Council to not approve a 2nd drive thru for a McDonald’s across the street from Laurel Elementary School

Clubs

  • Marsh Creek Democratic Club is planning on: 
    • an education campaign for advertisers who support Mike Burkholder’s website and racist blog, so they understand what the effect the blog is having including generating death threats against city council members. This includes BPD and PPD.
    • Call to action phone campaign to put the pressure on Senators Joe Manchin and Kirsten Sinema to vote with Democrats on the John Lewis Voting Rights Bill and the Infrastructure Bill.

Organizations

I introduced Hijas del Campo to Congressman McNerney. He and his campaign were looking to help out campesinos in Stockton. Hijas have been looking to start a chapter in Stockton to expand the work of vaccinating, bringing food, water, masks, etc. to campesinos. Value proposition!

Our Revolution Contra Costa has merged with Our Revolution East Bay and the new will be Our Revolution East Bay.

They held a virtual meeting/event on May 2 featuring several of the candidates for AD 18 to replace new CA AG Rob Bonta’s vacated seat.

Greenbelt Alliance is looking for input from Oakley residents to put pressure on city council not to approve up zoning (increasing population density) neighborhoods in their general plan. All input should be sent to Paul Seger. 

Committee report from the CADEM Virtual Convention

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The California Democratic Party (CDP, a.k.a. CADEM) held its spring 2021 convention virtually from April 29 to May 2. Here is a report of the recommended resolutions, legislative positions, and rules that came to the general delegate assembly from the Resolutions, Legislation, and Rules Committees.

Please note that although this report mostly reflects what CDP delegates ultimately approved at the conclusion of the convention, delegates did make a few changes. DPCCC will post the final decisions from the Convention when we are able to obtain them from CADEM.

District 4 Report May 2 to May 9

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From DPCCC’s District 4 Director Colleen Awad:

Upcoming Meetings

  • Concord City Council – May 4, 2021 at 6:30pm 
    • The Council is being requested to approve a resolution to replace the Rainbow (Pride) Flag at the Civic Center with a more expansive version, the “Progress Pride Flag,” to be flown throughout June. The resolution will declare June 2021 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Plus (LGBTQI+) month in the City of Concord and direct staff to fly the Progress Pride Flag at the Civic Center throughout June.
  • Walnut Creek City Council – May 4, 2021, at 6 pm
    • The Walnut Creek City Council will be examining the priority of Capital Improvement Projects for the next 10 years. They will also review the CDBG Action plan and the future support to provide to down businesses slated to reopen on June 15th. 
  • Clayton City Council will be meeting on May 4 at 7 pm
    • The City Council will be examining their outdoor cannabis cultivation ordinance.

2021 DPCCC FUNraiser Auction (May 14-23)

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Posted on behalf of Auction Chair Marilynn Schuyler:

Dear DPCCC Friends:

Last year’s auction was a great success, thanks to all of you.  It was so much fun, that we are doing it again!

The 2021 DPCCC FUNraiser Auction will run May 14-23, but before we begin, we need donations (see below) and volunteers to help deliver items at the close of the auction.

We will be accepting auction items through April 30.  

We welcome any donation that will fit in an envelope – gift certificates, posters, etc.  We will also accept books, bottles of wine & spirits, and other items that would be of interest to our community.  Other ideas include:

  • Vacation home rental
  • Homemade meal or dessert delivery
  • Boat ride on the Delta
  • Meal or Coffee with Elected Officials
  • A basket of items donated by a group (i.e. Marsh Creek Dems)
  • Airline or hotel points
  • Political Memorabilia 
  • Certificate for computer assistance, home repair, item assembly, or any other skill you have to offer
  • Anything else that you can be provided in certificate form (i.e. donated restaurant or activity certificate)

Please keep in mind that the opening bid on donated items will be set at half of the value of the item, and bidding often stops below the value of the item.

To donate an item(s), please contact Marilynn Schuyler at 703-675-8782 or Schuyler@SchuylerAAP.com to make arrangements for collection.  Please don’t hesitate to contact Marilynn with any questions regarding potential auction item(s).

Finally if you don’t wish to participate in the auction but would like to make a contribution to the DPCCC 2022 Campaign Unity Fund, the ActBlue link is: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2022campaignunityfund. 
The funds raised will be used to expand our efforts to ensure DEMOCRAT VICTORIES in our 2022 local and county elections!! Consider this as an investment in your Community, State and this Country!!

Marilynn at 703-675-8782 or Schuyler@SchuylerAAP.com
The link to the auction site is:
https://www.32auctions.com/DPCCC2021
(To see last year’s auction, please visit:  https://www.32auctions.com/DPCCC.)

As always, Stay Safe and Wear a Mask in Public!!
Marilynn Schuyler, Auction Chair

Resolution in support of Assembly Bill 20, The Corporate-Free Elections Act

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

WHEREAS, Current California law allows corporations and business entities to make direct campaign contributions to state and local candidates, a practice prohibited for federal candidates and in 22 other states, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign contributions by them in each election cycle throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, In order to curb actual corruption and the appearance of corruption of our government by corporate contributions, it is incumbent upon the Legislature to prohibit direct contributions by corporations and business entities to state and local political candidates; and

WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 20 would further the purposes of the Political Reform Act of 1974 by amending it to bar all corporate special interests from contributing directly to candidates running for state or local elective office; 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County supports the passage of Assembly Bill 20, the Corporate-Free Elections Act, as amended on March 1, 2020, and urges the Democratic supermajority in the California State Legislature to pass the legislation and the Democratic Governor to sign the bill into law;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County shall communicate this resolution to members of the State Senate and State Assembly representing any part of Contra Costa County and the Governor of the State of California. 

Submitted by: Craig Cheslog, Associate Member, District 2