|
VOTER newsletter
|
February 2018-Volume 70, Issue No.6
|
|
| League of Women Voters San Jose / Santa Clara P. O. Box 5374
San Jose, California 95150 |
|
|
President's Message
 |
|
|
Mary Collins President,
LWV SJ/SC
|
Happy Birthday, League of Women Voters. We celebrate the League's birthday February 14th, and look forward to the 100th anniversary coming up. O
ur core mission of educating and protecting voters, providing an environment for civil and informed discourse, and creating a more perfect democracy is as relevant today as it was before suffrage for women was achieved.
With this historic background, I reflect on the Women's March January 20th. Our group was 15 stalwart members of the League of Women Voters Southwest and our League marching and another eight volunteers organizing voter registration. We proudly marched for democracy, equality and respect for all.
I understand that some of you think the march was too partisan; there were definitely some 'unLeague-like' signs.
However, with the march's stated goals of encouraging voter registration, participation in government and running for office, I believe the event aligned with the League's goals and principles, and warranted our participation and cooperation. Personally, I found the event uplifting and encouraging, particularly the enthusiasm of those registering to vote. All in all it was a very good day, and I look forward to next year.
Other important events coming in the next few months are program planning February 24th and the consensus meeting on the Coyote Valley study March 17th. Through both these meetings we set objectives and the foundation for our future actions.
Our fund raiser officially ends January 31. If you inadvertently missed the deadline, later contributions will be gratefully accepted!
Thank you for all your support and contributions to our League.
And Happy Birthday,
|
|
|
|
Membership
|
Welcome
to our newest
Members:
Rachelle Gehant, Annika McClure, Vickie Mueller Olvera
|
|
LWV San Jose/Santa Clara Annual Fundraising Campaign
Raises Over $5,800, Exceeding Our Fundraising Goal
|
We want to express our gratitude with a most sincere thank you to all our members and loyal non-members for your generous donations to LWV SJ/SC. And we also want to share our great appreciation to the Funding Development Committee with a 'thanks so much' following the resounding success of our annual donation campaign.
We succeeded in raising more than $5,800, exceeding our fundraising goal of $5,500. As you all know, we cautiously use every penny of your donations for essential expenses that support the important work of our League.
The end of year Campaign ran from late November until January 31st with 48 donations.
As a reminder: Your donation is completely tax deductible under our 501(c)3 Tax ID #68-0061260.
Thanks,
Karen Warner Nelson, Funding Development Chair
Addendum from your treasurer: Remember that not only are your donations tax-deductible, but also your dues under our 501(c)3 organization!
|
 |
|
Lunch with League - February 15th, 11am-1pm
Speaker: LaDoris H. Cordell. Independence of the Judiciary
|
LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, a 1974 graduate of Stanford Law School, was the first lawyer to open a law practice in East Palo Alto. In 1978, she was appointed Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at Stanford Law School, where she implemented a successful minority admissions program.
In 1982, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Ms. Cordell to the Municipal Court of Santa Clara County. In 1988, Judge Cordell won election to the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, making her the first African American woman to sit on the Superior Court in northern California.
After 19 years on the bench, she retired and began employment at Stanford University as Vice Provost & Special Counselor to the President for Campus Relations. After eight years, she retired from that position in 2009.
In November 2003, Judge Cordell, accepting no monetary donations, ran a grassroots campaign and won a 4-year term on the Palo Alto City Council. Judge Cordell has been an on-camera legal analyst for CBS-5 television and a guest commentator on Court TV. Judge Cordell was the Independent Police Auditor for the City of San Jose for five years (2010-2015), having been appointed to that position after a national search, in April 2010. Under her leadership, the office gained national prominence.
Judge Cordell is a mother, grandmother (of five), and lives in Palo Alto with Florence Keller, her partner of 30 years. In her spare time, she is a pianist, vocalist, portrait artist, cartoonist, and is writing a memoir about her 20 years on the bench.
LaDoris H. Cordell
Lawyer, Judge, Artist, Mother, Commentator
Topic: Independence of the Judiciary
Thursday, February 15th, 11am to 1pm
Please RSVP by Monday, February 12 by going to
lwvsjsc.org/lwlregister.html and filling out the form, including your choice of entree.
Beverages include coffee, tea, or soda. Select entree: Fish/Cod Tacos (three tacos); Chinese Chicken Salad; Patty Melt with French Fries; Garden Burger with French Fries; Rookie's Burger with French Fries.
Or you may send an email to
lwl@lwvsjsc.org or call Marie Arnold,
629-5340.
We meet at 11:00am and are served lunch at 11:30am. The guest speaker begins her talk at noon for 15-20 minutes and then invites attendees to ask questions and give comments. LwL ends at 1pm.
The price of lunch is $20 payable in cash at the door or, if you don't want to worry about having cash, you can prepay just after you register by using PayPal which will take a credit card or a personal PayPal account. We charge slightly more to cover our small PayPal fee.
|
|
LEAGUE MEETINGS AND OUTREACH
|
|
|
League of Women Voters - January 20, 2018 Women's March
By Suzanne Sikora, Voter Service Chair
|
The San Jose/Santa Clara League of Women Voters participated in the 2018 Women's March in San Jose. The organizing team for the Women's March gave our League booth num
ber one, which was a fantastic location to be able to attract and interact with march participants. Bobbie and Lisa, on the organizing committee, were enthusiastic and very supportive of our participating in the event and we formed a great partnership with them.
|
|
|
| I Vote |
|
We were able to register 54 people and provide registration forms for 20 additional participants. Additionally, we received numerous requests for people to join us in future volunteer opportunities, to join our League, and assist other organizations in their voter registration activities. It was an inspirational day filled with great energy and hope for increased and sustained civic involvement.
|
|
|
Every Vote Counts |
League participants were: Mary Collins, Lorraine Myers, Martha Be
attie, Lora Kerr, Suzanne Sikora, Robin Hayr, Liz Bogatin-Starr, Gloria Chun Hoo.
Friends of the League: Olivia Nelson, Merralee Retallick, and Cathy McAbee.
Visitors from other Leagues: Southwest Santa Clara Valley and Mountain View/Los Altos.
Please let me know if you would like to volunteer to register voters,
Suzanne Sikora
|
|
|
LWV Bay Area League Day Explores Bay Area Regional Governance
Saturday, February 3, 9am-3pm, Laney College, Oakland
|
|
|
|
T
he League of Women Voters Bay Area's signature event will be held on Saturday, February 3 in Oakland, hosted by Laney College from 9 am to 3 pm. We will explore Bay Area Regional Governance, a topic which covers developing and implementing regional policies on land use, transportation, housing, environment, and more - Intersection and Interconnection.
We will share a historical perspective on regionalism and League's role since the 1960's, as well as present panels introducing the most current thinking about forming new regional government in the Bay Area, and a regional roundtable with commissions, agencies, and nonprofits serving the region.
You will hear from such speakers as California State Senator Bob Wieckowski, ABAG
President/Councilmember Julie Pierce, Bay Area Regional Collaborative (BARC) Executive Director Allison Brooks, Bay Area Council Senior Vice President Matt Regan, Greenbelt Alliance Deputy Director Matt Vander Sluis, Regional Planning and Policy Manager Pedro Galvao, as well as representatives from the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), Bay Area Air Quality Management, Regional Water Quality Board, Working Partnerships USA, and more invited.
You will experience a robust lineup of agencies, commissions, organizations,
and nonprofits making a difference in the Bay Area speaking about the microclimate of
regionalism, regional governance and today's "head winds and cross winds" in regional
governance and policy.
League Day 2018 - Winds of Change
9:00am: Networking and Continental Breakfast
9:30am - 3:00pm: Program
Impact of Regional Government on Local Government and Community
Intersection and Interconnection
Panel I: Cross Currents of Local Government, Community, Urban and Regional Planning
Panel II: Today's Microclimate and Head Winds: Micro-Climate of Regionalism, Regional Governance, and Today's Head Winds
Regional Roundtable: Regional Climate Forecast - Today and Tomorrow
Pre-Registration: $35 with Lunch| $30 without Lunch
Day-of registration: $40 with lunch l $35 without Lunch
Laney College is in downtown Oakland, east of I-880, 0.3 miles from Lake Merritt BART station.
|
|
Feb 24th - San Jose/Santa Clara Annual Program Planning Meeting
By Roma Dawson, Program Chair
|
I
s LWV a truly grassroots organization? The answer is a resounding yes! Once a year Leagues across the United States gather to determine what priorities align with our mission and adopted policies and positions. Don't miss the opportunity for your voice to be heard at all levels of League.
Saturday, February 24, 2018
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Home of Alice Thorn
1711 Harte Drive, San Jose
LWVUS board recommends no new studies or reviews for 2018-2020, but instead asks Local Leagues to focus on our Campaign for Making Democracy Work. The first questions we will tackle on February 24 are: Do we want to continue with the Campaign, and/or do we want to suggest a new study or review to the national Convention? At the local, state and federal level, League's work on the Campaign includes voter protection and mobilization, election reform, money in politics/campaign finance reform and redistricting. All are at the heart of the League's mission and its future. We are asked to share how our work will impact the Campaign for Making Democracy Work as well as identify LWVUS positions that we intend to use or have used in education and lobbying.
LWVUS is undertaking a transformational journey to strengthen our brand and establish a continuum of new and future engaged activists around the League's core issues.
Do we want to retain our existing Local priorities--climate change, affordable housing and transportation--for a third year? What should we do to affect change in these areas? Are there new opportunities for action and education that you are interested in pursuing? For example, LWV California (LWVC) is supporting an initiative to close a loophole in Prop. 13 that would result in an additional $11 billion per year in property tax revenue for the state. County Council of the Leagues of Santa Clara County is forming a countywide affordable housing committee to increase oversight and advocacy. Are there other Santa Clara County or regional issues that merit our attention? Links to all local, regional, state and national positions can be found on our website at http://www.lwvsjsc.org/LeaguePositions.html.
Think about how we can engage and empower our newer members and inspire inactive members to take action. The LWV SJ/SC board values the opinions of each and every member. Please attend and bring a guest. Program Planning is a great opportunity to introduce interested individuals to the League.
The link below is to the
entire program planning guide developed by LWVUS. Watch for an e-blast in mid February with a complete agenda.
Send questions or comments to Roma Dawson.
Many thanks to Alice for hosting this important meeting.
|
|
Status of Coyote Valley Position Update Study
By Trixie Johnson
|
At last year's Annual Meeting we adopted an update study of our long-standing Coyote Valley position, in part because we have other related positions and wanted to be sure they would work together - no internal conflicts - and also because we wanted to be sure that our position was indeed where our members wanted it to be. There have been substantive discussions in the past year or so, and studies by other (environmental) groups that differ from ours.
We began our study by combing through our league's current position literally word by word. That resulted in some changes -- one large content change and other more editing level changes. We have cross-referenced with our positions on urban lands surrounding rural areas, state and local positions on climate change, and new considerations of water storage and wildlife linkages in the Valley. The results are coming together in a somewhat changed Coyote Valley position that will be presented at our consensus meeting, currently scheduled for March 17, 9:30am, place to be determined. The proposed position will be available on the website well in advance of the meeting for your review.
If you joined us on the bus tour of Coyote Valley, you will have some idea about the resources we have there: the potential for agriculture, the flood protection values, the open space and recreational opportunities. The study committee hopes you will review our proposal and come ready to discuss and hopefully reach a new consensus for our League to use in future action which is bound to occur as the Coyote Valley continues to be a topic for planning and "development" in the coming years.
This reading list is in preparation for discussion on Coyote Valley and provides background on changing conditions and actions taken by the county and San Jose. Please read what would be most helpful to you to provide a well rounded picture of the current situation.
Sibella Kraus, Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE)
Healthy Lands Healthy Economy, page 40
|
|
Learn How Food Production Has a Major Impact on Climate Change
By Karen Warner Nelson, Member of the LWVC Climate Change Task Force
LWV California Climate Change Task Force and
LWV Palo Alto present:
|
|
Food Production and Greenhouse Gases: Counting Carb Emissions
Attend via webinar or
join the live audience at the Peninsula Conservation Center,
3921 E Bayshore Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Featured Speaker: Chris Field, Director of Stanford Woods Institute
March 6, 2018: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. Presentation begins promptly at noon.
Chris Field's presentation focuses on how food production impacts greenhouse gas emission levels with the ultimate climate change consequences. This topic is significant to the League members in California now that part of Governor Brown's climate change initiative includes addressing the impact of food production.
More About Chris Field: See
Director Field's full bio
.
Stanford Woods Institute
is one of the most well-respected institutes in the world and is comprised of over 148 fellows and affiliated faculty members from Stanford's seven schools including, business, earth sciences, education, engineering, humanities and sciences, law and medicine.
For in-person attendance: Please RSVP at: lwvpaoffice@gmail.com or 650-903-0600.
Optional Lunch: In your rsvp please select from a vegetarian burrito or vegetarian bowl from Chipotle and indicate dairy or nondairy. Bring $10 in cash or check, payable to the LWVPA.Submit questions in advance to: lwvpaoffice@gmail.com, Attn: Natural Resources Committee or come prepared to ask in person. Arrive early to check-in. Street and lot parking are available.
Webinar spaces are limited, so please reserve early.
|
|
Voter's Edge California - Volunteers to Provide Election Information
By Judy Conner, Voter's Edge (formerly Smart Voter)
|
Voter's Edge, formerly known as Smart Voter, is an integral education program of the League of Women Voters. To continue providing unbiased and comprehensive election information this coming election, we need computer data entry and content management volunteers.
Computer data entry volunteers are needed to send out emails, manage the content submitted by candidates, resize photographs, and monitor the site. We could use at least three of these volunteers for our Local League, and California as well could use a few floating volunteers to fill in for other counties as needed.
There is a training for the Voter's Edge Data Entry system happening on March 10, 2018. The training in Palo Alto will be located at the LWV Palo Alto's office, 3921 East Bayshore Rd. Volunteers will need to bring their own laptop computers.
This is specific training on how to use the Data Entry System.
The computer data entry can be done in the comfort of your home, at any time of the day and, after the training, continual support will be offered throughout the election season.
The candidate filing deadline is early March, so we should expect to receive candidate lists during the first or second week of March.
If you have questions about volunteering for Voter's Edge, please contact
Judy Conner or call Judy, 408-476-8056.
|
|
LOCAL CITY/COUNTY/STATE/UNITED STATES ISSUES
|
|
League Positions on the June 5, 2018 Election Ballot Measures
By League of Women Voters of California |
1/23/2018
The LWVC board took final positions on State Ballot Measures scheduled for the June ballot. These are League positions. The League Recommends
flyer (a.k.a. Vote With the League) will be in your email box by early April.
Here's a quick summary of the League position on each measure:
PROPOSITION 68 - California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act (SB 5) - SUPPORT
PROPOSITION 69 - Motor Vehicle Fees and Taxes (ACA 5) - SUPPORT
PROPOSITION 70- Greenhouse Gas Reduction Reserve Fund (ACA 1) - OPPOSE
PROPOSITION 71 - Effective Date of Initiatives (ACA 17) - SUPPORT
Vote with the League on June 5, 2018!
|
|
Legislation
Bill Status Report - LWV California
|
Based on
our positions, League of Women Voters California (LWVC) periodically reviews bills before the California State Legislature and makes recommendations.
2017-2018
Need help with legislative terms? Try this useful
glossary
.
|
|
League and Community Activities
|
|
|
LWV Presents: Insights and Perspectives
Comcast Channel 30, Mon, 7:30pm and Sun, 4:30pm; Ch 27, Wed, 5:30pm
|
|
The best way to describe Channel 30 and Bay Voice Channel 27 is TV "by the community for the community." Channels 30 and 27 air non-commercial, member-produced videos that educate, express views, and expose talents to the San Jose community and beyond.
Connect to our League Web Site for current and archived Insights and Perspectives broadcasts:
Schedule of Airings
Channel 30, Mon, 7:30pm, Sun, 4:30pm
Channel 27, Wed, 5:30pm
|
|
|
Kerrie Romanow, Rita Norton |
February Airings with Kerrie Romanow, Director of Environmental Services, City of San Jose.
Interviewed by Rita Norton, Chair of Climate Change Committee, LWV SJ/SC.
Mon, February 5, and Feb 19
Clean Energy - City of San Jose
Mon, Feb 12, and Feb 26
San Jose's Energy Sustainability Plan
Watch CREATV Channel 30 shows on your computer with an internet connection.
|
|
Calendar
|
Information on many of these events is available in this newsletter. See our
website calendar
for current listings and more information. If you'd like more information but don't have web access, contact the League at (408) 271-7163.
| February 3 |
Bay Area League Day |
| February 10 |
Board Meeting |
| February 15 |
Lunch with League |
| February 24 |
Program Planning Meeting |
| March 3 |
Board Meeting |
|
March 6
|
Climate Change Task Force Webinar |
|
March 10
|
Voter's Edge Training |
| March 15 |
Lunch with League |
| March 17 |
Coyote Valley Position Study Consensus Meeting |
| June 5 |
Primary Elections |
|
|
Address / Email Change
|
To keep our records current please send any changes to your address, email address, or phone number, to our
Dues Secretary, Sandy Remmers. The only updates she receives are on the renewal form which is only sent once a year.
|
|
The Voter
Submissions due the 20th of the month
|
The LWV SJ/SC Voter is distributed monthly. Article deadline is the 20th of the month. If you have questions or comments, contact
Liz Bogatin-Starr
,
the Voter Editor.
|
|
Democracy is not a spectator sport! Educate! Advocate!
|
|
Join Our League
|
Visit our
website to join and/or donate to our League.
|
|
|
|
|
