Serving the people of San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Morgan Hill & Gilroy
March 2022
The VOTER
President's Message from Carol Watts

What would you put on the line
for democracy?

We are thinking a lot about democracy these days as we watch everyday citizens in a relatively new democracy literally standing up in the streets to ward off a tank attack. Their love of country and bravery have captivated people all over the world.

I ask myself: Would I do that? It’s always hard to know what one would do in a real, rather than hypothetical, situation, but I’d like to think I would be as courageous as the people of Ukraine.

Fortunately, we are not facing that actual decision in our country today, but it brings home the idea that we must take to heart the League's motto -- “Make Democracy Work.”

The League, through its active members, fights for free and fair elections, open government, free public education, and more. It’s why we educate voters before an election about the candidates and issues on their ballot so they can make an informed decision. It’s why we write letters to our elected officials advocating for laws and policies for all people. And it's why we try to never forget how fragile democracy is if we don't all work together to protect it.

Invite new members
One step all of us can take to strengthen the League's ability to "Make Democracy Work" is to identify individuals who are also concerned about the future of the U.S. and ask them to join the League. We have much to do in election year 2022, and more hands on deck will help us expand our reach to more voters.

One good way to introduce the League is to invite potential members to the monthly Lunch With League events, such as the March 17 talk by Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee on our region's mental health crisis.

Congratulations to League member Vicki Alexander for her appointment to the District 5 unexpired seat on the on the Open Space Authority of Santa Clara Valley. We are so proud of you!

Finally, a special thank you to all who attended our Program Planning meeting in February. We had very vital conversations about the priorities we want to focus on in the next years to Make Democracy Work in our communities.

Stay safe and healthy,
Carol
president@lwvsjsc.org
Help needed for Candidate Forums

We need people to volunteer in all areas of Voter Service during this election year. We will be working in high schools to register voters, we will be involved in Candidate Forums and in providing Pros & Cons presentations on local and state ballot measures. 

This plea is for Candidate Forum volunteers for the June Primary Election. We will be doing 8-12 forums, mostly on Zoom. We need moderators, question sorters, technical support and timers. Training will be provided. If you are interested, contact Sandy Mory for more information. We need you!
Virtual Lunch With League

"Healing Our Mental and Emotional
Health in Santa Clara County"

Thursday, March 17, 2022
12:30-1:30 p.m. (NOTE SPECIAL TIME)

Our mental and emotional health has been negatively impacted by isolation, loss and the disruption caused by the pandemic. In January, the Board of Supervisors declared mental health and substance abuse a public health crisis in Santa Clara County. Supervisor Otto Lee will describe at the March 17 Lunch With League how the County plans to expand efforts and programs to help people struggling with mental and behavioral health. He will also discuss the Board's recent actions on the future of the County's mental and behavioral health facilities.

Learn more and REGISTER HERE

Virtual Lunch With League events are FREE and open to all members of the community. Please invite people you know to attend.

Meet Judy Conner

Judy Conner recognized early in her career in public relations that her job was to help people tell their story in a compelling way. In a way, that is what she is doing when she persuades candidates to take advantage of the League’s Voter’s Edge service that provides voters with information about candidates and issues on their ballot.

“Sometimes candidates underestimate the reach of Voter’s Edge and how much voters rely on it,” she said. “It’s a powerful tool for their campaign and I’m always surprised when we have to keep reminding candidates to participate.” (The record is 40 calls to one candidate before he posted his profile!)

Judy has served as the LWVSJ/SC Voter’s Edge Coordinator since 2016 and this year has taken on the added responsibility as the countywide Voter’s Edge Coordinator, making sure that all five Leagues in Santa Clara County have the training and resources to support Voter’s Edge. 

“I hope that someone from our League will step up to be our coordinator,” she said. “They need to be comfortable in working with technology, but it is not a difficult content management system to learn. And you would be doing something quite valuable.”

Judy worked as an in-house public relations manager in several industries including home health, hospice, nanotechnology, computer animation, internet services, film and video. She also offered her skills as a volunteer publicist for San Jose Day Nursery’s annual Willow Glen Lifestyles Home Tour for eight years and Bark in the Park, the largest dog festival in the U.S., for 14 years. 

Now fully retired as both a PR professional and volunteer, Judy balances her commitment to Voter’s Edge work with a newfound interest in watercolor painting, enjoying her historic Naglee Park home, and watching the antics of her three cats and two “smart but bratty” macaws with her husband.

Email Judy Conner if you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities to help support Voter’s Edge.  
Racial Wealth Gap Simulation -- an interactive webinar
to demonstrate the connections among racial inequality, hunger, poverty and health

Saturday, March 12, 2-4 p.m.

This special webinar is designed to provide a deeper understanding of structural inequities in the U.S., including the quantifiable economic impact of federal policies that have widened today's racial, hunger, income and wealth divides.

The simulation guides participants to an understanding of why racial equity is so important to ending hunger and poverty in America by randomly assigning a racial identify to each participant that may be different from their own. It is a program developed by a national group called Bread for the World and is being offered to community organizations throughout the U.S. Watch a short video about the racial wealth gap simulation or REGISTER HERE.

This event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and Sunnyvale Cupertino AAUW.

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What is Voter Service?

Voter Service is the term League uses for its nonpartisan voter information and engagement activities, including voter registration, candidate interviews and forums, ballot measure debates, Pros & Cons presentations, get-out-the vote campaigns, etc.
Voter Service is one of the League's best known and most respected activities.

Volunteers are needed to help our League provide Voter Service for the Primary Election in June. Please contact one of the individuals listed here so you can become involved.

Candidate Forums
The League will sponsor or co-sponsor nonpartisan Candidate Forums for several of the key elections in jurisdictions we serve. If you would like to be part of organizing and running Candidate Forums, please email Voter Services Chair Sandy Mory.

Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons programs present nonpartisan information on ballot propositions and measures to help voters understand what is being proposed and how it will affect their lives. What measures will be on the June ballot will not be known until after March 22, but we are looking for "policy wonks and truth-tellers" who would like to be trained to help present. Contact Pros & Cons Chair Martha Beattie or read a more vivid description of Pros & Cons.

Voter's Edge
Voter'sEdge.org is probably the most valuable election resource because it is easily accessible to all voters with information about candidates and issues on their ballots. Volunteers are needed to contact candidates for office in our service area, managing content and monitoring the site. There will be online training sessions in March. April and May will be the busiest months for volunteers who will work from home on this project. For information, contact Santa Clara County Voter's Edge Coordinator Judy Conner.


Primary Election Calendar

March 11 -- Deadline for candidates to file for office and ballot measures to be filed

May 9 -- First day to begin mailing vote-by-mail ballots

May 23 -- Last day to register to vote for June election

May 28 -- Vote Centers open

June 7 -- Primary Election Day

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League sets Program Priorities for 2022-2023

At the annual Program Planning meeting in February, League members discussed priorities for action/advocacy in the coming year at the national, local and Bay Area levels.

National League Priorities
  • Continue emphasis on Making Democracy Work including voting rights, improving elections, money in politics and redistricting
  • Continue emphasis on climate change
  • Continue emphasis on immigration reform
  • Support the addition of concurrence on national healthcare to the National Convention agenda

Local League Priorities
  • Climate Change/Natural Resources
  • San Jose Governance
  • Affording Housing and Homelessness
  • Effect of Money in Politics
  • Redistricting and Monitoring Local Governments
  • Public education and disparities in low income areas

These proposed priorities will be discussed and decided upon at the Annual Meeting in June.

Bay Area League Priorities
Members recommend that the Bay Area League place an emphasis on ensuring that all public boards/official bodies follow the Americans with Disabilities Action and provide equitable access for all meetings.

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San Jose City Council approves
Community Forest Management Plan

On Feb. 8, the San Jose City Council approved a proposed Community Forest Management Plan (CFMP) that will benefit the City's efforts to combat climate change, capture carbon and rainwater, reduce urban heat, saves energy and improves health. Implementation of the plan will need funding over many years, but first steps will include planting more than 250 trees in East San Jose, hiring additional staff to support urban forestry work, and creating a Community Forest Advisory Committee.

The League recognizes the importance of an urban forest canopy and supported the CFMP with letters and public hearing comments. Learn more about the plan HERE.

Virtual Recyclables Facility Tour
Green Waste offers a 5-minute virtual tour of its Single Stream Facility to show how mixed recyclable materials are separated and baled to send to processors to produce new products. Watch it HERE.

Climate Change/Natural Resource Committee Meeting
The next meeting is Thursday, March 10, 2 p.m. via Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, contact co-chairs Judy Chamberlin or Virginia Holtz.
 
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Video of Bay Area League Day

If you could not attend the Feb. 19 Bay Area League Day focused on "Solving for Housing: The Nexus of Housing Policy and Climate Policy," you can still listen to all the great speakers and panelists discuss a holistic approach to land use planning related to placing housing in the community. Watch HERE.
Quick Links
Join the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara HERE

Donate to the League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara HERE