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Serving the people of San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Morgan Hill & Gilroy
April 2023
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Message from the President
Republican? Democrat? We don't care
The March Lunch with League highlighted the dangers of rhetoric to democracy. Our speaker, San Jose State Professor Ryan Skinnell, did an excellent job in describing the importance of debate to democracy and how to keep those conversations respectful and focused.
The League of Women Voters has always been nonpartisan. We never support or oppose a political party or candidate. However, the issues that the League prioritizes are sometimes categorized as coming from the progressive side of the political spectrum. Is this an obstacle for us to have a membership base that reflects the diverse values of our community? I don't know. We don't ask members what political party (if any) they support, nor do we discuss what candidates they are voting for. It is literally not our business.
What is our business is to empower voters so their voices -- and whatever it is they want to say -- are heard. And we go on the assumption that each of our members wants to defend democracy as our way of government, even if we may differ on how democracy could or should be improved.
This spring we are making a concerted effort to invite more people to join the League. We don't care about their age, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, or their political party. Our goal is to make the League a safe space for sharing differing opinions as we pursue our goals of building citizen participation in the democratic process and engaging communities to help develop solutions to public policy issues through education and advocacy.
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If you are not yet a member, please join us. If you are already a member, please reach out to people you know and encourage them become part of the League.
Diane
Diane McNutt
Diane.McNutt@lwvsjsc.org
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Virtual Lunch With League
San Jose Police Chief Mata
"State of the Department: My Vision and Priorities
Thursday, April 20, 2023
12 noon-1 p.m. via Zoom
San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata joined the department in 1996. He has held numerous positions including as a field training officer and as a detective in the robbery, day, night and homicide units. He was promoted to sergeant in 2005, lieutenant in 2011, and captain in 2015. He became Deputy Chief of Police in 2016 and in 2019 assumed command as the Chief Executive Officer. He was confirmed as the Chief of Police in March 2021.
A native of Chicago, Chief Mata holds a B.A. from the University of Illinois and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from San Jose State University. He is also a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police.
REGISTER HERE
Virtual Lunch With League events are FREE and open to all members of the community. Please invite people you know to attend.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
May 18: Deb Kramer, Executive Director, Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, on "The Big Opportunities at Coyote Creek"
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Did you miss a
Lunch with League program?
Lunch with League is recorded and posted on our website and YouTube channel. The archives include speakers from 2020, 2021, 2022 and this year. Click HERE to find these educational -- and sometimes provocative -- virtual events.
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The U.S. Abortion War in 2023:
A California Perspective
Wednesday, April 19, 12 noon-1 p.m. via Zoom
In addition to the flurry of abortion bans enacted in 2022, the U.S. witnessed the highest number of abortion protections ever passed. Fully one-quarter of these were enacted in California. What does it mean to be an abortion-friendly state in a country where almost half of the states have banned abortion or are likely to do so?
Santa Clara University Professor Michelle Oberman is an international expert on the impact of abortion regulation in countries with widely divergent abortion laws. In this talk, she will share findings from her current research in a state where abortion is banned to explore what changes on the ground when U.S. abortion law changes on the books, and to consider how California’s commitment to reproductive justice does (and does not) alter that landscape.
This event is presented by LWV of Palo Alto. Register HERE.
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Open invitation to League members
All members of our League are invited to attend Board meetings which are held via Zoom on the first Thursday of the month at 3 p.m. You are welcome to be involved in discussions of any agenda item, although voting is limited to Board members. You can also just watch and listen without participating.
If you would like to visit the next Board meeting, it is scheduled for Thursday, April 6, at 3 p.m. Contact President Diane McNutt for the Zoom link and agenda packet.
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City of San José recruiting board/commission members
San Jose residents who would like to get more involved in local government are invited to apply for openings on several boards and commissions. Applications must be received by April 16. For more information and the application form, visit the Boards and Commissions webpage.
Openings include: Airport Commission, Appeals Hearing Board, Arts Commission, Clean Energy Community Advisory Commission, Council Appointment Advisory Commission, Housing and Community Development Commission, Library and Early Education Commission, Measure T Community Oversight Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission, Salary Setting Commission, Senior Commission, and Youth Commission (limited to residents ages 14-20 in Districts 1,4,5,6,7,9, 10).
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Impact of League of Women Voters
on November 2022 election
LWVUS has released its 2022 Election Impact report, highlighting the impact in the national 2022 midterm elections. The League reached more than 27 million voters across the country, the largest voter engagement program to date.
Click HERE to learn more about how this was accomplished.
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Community Forest Management Plan discussed on May 1
Mark your calendar for the May 1 meeting of San Jose City's Department of Transportation and Environment Committee when it will hear the annual report of the Community Forest Management Plan.
Last December the Department of Transportation and Environment approved the Auditor's report of "Tree Removal and Replacement," recommendations which were incorporated in the Urban Forest Strategic Work Plan and will be completed by June. Our League's Climate Change and Action Committees have been following actions related to San Jose’s urban forest, and we were pleased to see that various questions and concerns of the League have been addressed in the recently released City Auditor’s Report. We invite you to review the auditor's report and thank our members who contributed comments to the Department of Transportation and the City Council. Contact Virginia Holtz for meeting link and time.
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Transitioning California and the World to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy and Storage for Everything
Wednesday, April 5, 4 p.m. via Zoom
Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson, a Stanford scientist who has transitioned to fossil-free living personally, will discuss the global technologies and policies that can deliver us from fossil pollution. Presented by LWV of Piedmont.
Free registration HERE
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Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, center, with League members Marie Arnold, Virginia Holtz, Carol Watts, Gloria Chun Hoo, and Gloria Loventhal.
Women's History Month Celebration
with elected officials a huge success
More than 80 people attended the March 15 reception at the Club Capital where League members, elected officials and community leaders celebrated Women's History Month with a wine reception. Special thanks to League members Gloria Loventhal for spearheading the partnership with the Silicon Valley Capital Club and to Carol Watts and Roma Dawson for their liaison work with elected officials. We also want to acknowledge with appreciation the Business Forward, Dynamic Women and the LGBTQ+ Councils of the Silicon Valley Capital Club and the event sponsors who provided the hors d'oeuvres, wine, and complimentary parking.
Elected officials who joined us that evening included Santa Clara County Supervisors Cindy Chavez and Joe Simitian . . . Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone . . . San Jose Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei . . . San Jose City Councilmembers Omar Torres, Domingo Candelas and Arjun Batra . . . Milpitas City Councilmember Hon Lien . . . Morgan Hill City Councilmember Marilyn Librers . . . Gilroy Mayor Fred Tovar . . . Gilroy City Councilmember Rebeca Armendariz . . . and representatives from the offices of State Senator Dave Cortese, State Assemblymember Ash Kalra, State Assemblymember Alex Lee, and State Assemblymember Aisha Wahab.
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City of Milpitas Commendation presented by Councilmember Hon Lien. | |  |
California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition sponsored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra | | | | | |
