PALERMO's
791 Auzerais Ave, San José, CA 95126 

Free Parking is across the street from the restaurant.

Please RSVP by Tuesday, April 16th by going to  https://lwvsjsc.org/lwl-registration and filling out the form, including your choice of entree. Beverages include coffee, ice tea, and soda. Select entree: Grilled Chicken Salad; Sausage, Mushroom, and Peppers Sandwich; Minestrone Soup and half Italian Combo on Roll (Capicollo, provolone, vinaigrette, lettuce and tomatoes); Siciliana Salad (Mixed Green Salad, Oranges, Tomatoes, Onion, Anchovies, Olives); Burger (w/cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, with fries); Penne Palermo. You may also RSVP by sending an email with your choice of entree  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. 

Our annual program planning meeting was held on January 26 at the home of Alice Thorn with 16 members attending. In odd numbered years, local Leagues make recommendations to the LWV of California board that lead to adoption of a statewide program. Delegates to the LWV United States convention last June re-adopted a national Campaign for Making Democracy Work (MDW) program with a focus on: voter protection and mobilization; election reform; and money in politics, constitutional amendment process and redistricting. Notes on Ongoing Work and Opportunities provided background on what the League will be doing to implement MDW in California: expanding the electorate, election reform, money in politics, redistricting, and the 2020 Census.

 

Traditionally, LWVC asks each League to chose our top three priorities for inclusion in Issues for Emphasis 2019-2021. Those in attendance selected housing/homelessness, climate change/natural resources and immigration. There were no adopted positions recommended for revision. Two proposals for new positions were supported by concurrence for inclusion in the state convention program: Criminal Justice Reform and Voter Representation/Election Process. However, the group added a comment to Voter Representation/Election Process as follows: A State study should be done prior to the State recommending a specific voter system or process.

 

In addition to selecting what priorities we want to recommend to the State board, members discussed where LWV SJ/SC should focus for July 2019 through June 2020. Five priorities were selected: Affordable Housing; Climate Change/Natural Resources; Schools and Communities First (Prop 13 reform); Making Democracy Work; and, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Two proposed positions for concurrence on Homelessness and Civil Discourse arrived after our January 26 meeting.    

 

LWVC board members carefully consider the input from Leagues as they formulate a recommended program. The program planning process culminates in the delegates' adoption of the statewide program during the Convention to be held May 30 - June 2 in Pasadena. The hands-on work of members that attended our LWV SJ/SC program planning meeting along with others throughout the State matters. It impacts what the LWVC board recommends for adoption as our 2019-2021 California priorities. Please send me requests for more information and any suggestions to make program planning more engaging in 2020, Roma Dawson .

The March for Our Lives movement that began in 2018 made it clear that the youth of this nation have a voice and won't stop until that voice is heard. Nothing showcased this better than the 2018 midterm elections, when eligible youth cast their vote, demonstrating their participation in our political system. CIRCLE estimated that 31% of citizens from ages 18-29 voted in the Midterms, marking a 10% rise from 2014 turnout and the highest participation in the last quarter century. A Brookings survey found top priorities of youth when voting included gun reform, access to higher education, and healthcare reform. This rise in youth turnout, coupled with a desire for social reform, influenced several close races across the nation that determined which party gained control of Congress.

Pew Research finds that the midterms marked a clear age divide, with youth often favoring the Democratic candidate. Among first time voters, 62% voted Democratic, compared to 36% who voted Republican. This divide was showcased in many state elections. In traditionally Republican-state Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams almost upset Republican Brian Kemp, in large part because counties with high youth populations voted for Abrams 7% more than the state average, and counties with high percentages of youth and people of color voted for Abrams 22% more. Similarly in Montana, Democratic Senator Jon Tester almost gained victory due to a doubling in youth turnout, and in Nevada, the 20% rise in voter turnout provided Democrat Jacky Rosen a large enough margin to gain victory and flip the Senate seat.

High youth turnout in the 2018 Midterms played a key factor in the Democrats gaining control of the House. Consequently, it would be wise for all of us to keep our eyes on our teens, who have gone from marching on the streets to voting at the polls.

At lunch with League in March, we relearned the tremendous problem of homelessness. One member, Robin Hayr shared what one person could do to improve the situation by direct action. Her suggestions for successful advocacy:

Things to consider when reaching out to a homeless person:

  

2019-2020

• Bill Status Report: Bills on which the LWVC has taken a position and recommends action.

Need help with legislative terms? Try this useful  glossary.