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

What gives you hope?

In January, we were so pleased to host Judge LaDoris H. Cordell at our Lunch with League event where she talked about her experiences on the bench and some of the recommendations she has for improving our judicial system. You can get her book Her Honor from your library or buy a copy. If you missed the event or want to listen again, watch the video in our archives.

At the end, we asked her "What gives you hope?" Her answer was so inspirational (lightly edited): 
There's no reason why anyone who is part of this conversation today should not have hope. We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us; those who fought the battles to open doors, to get us the right to vote.  

My maternal great- and great-great-grandmothers were enslaved. How can I complain when I know that they survived all of that to allow us to be here having this conversation? It would be an insult to everyone who came before us if we just threw up our hands. That is not an option. In history we have always had pushback and then we push forward again. I think the League stands for hope and for knowing that we all must continue to push forward. 

My mantra is from Al ice Walker, the great author, poet, and social activist: "Activism is my rent for living on this planet." Members of the League have always "paid your rent" and I encourage you to continue to do so as long as we live on this planet.

ACTIVISM
What do you want the League to do? What battles should we fight? There are so many issues and we can't do everything. As a true grassroots organization, we meet once a year to discuss and prioritize the issues that are important to us. On Saturday, Feb. 12, we will meet, still virtually, to decide where we will focus our energies locally and what recommendations for activism we will make to the national and Bay Area Leagues. Please join us and help us "pay our rent on this planet"!

Stay safe and healthy,
Carol
president@lwvsjsc.org

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Sign up for Feb. 12 Program Planning

Join our League members as we set our priorities for the coming year. We will review last year's priorities and continue, amend or add new priorities for education and action/advocacy. The meeting will be held via Zoom on Saturday, Feb. 12, 10 a.m.-12 noon.

In addition, we will discuss the League of Women Voters U.S. program for the next two years which will inform the decisions at the National Convention in June. Where should the LWVUS focus its resources? Are there areas that we have not taken a position on that we should? This meeting will help determine our League’s direction through 2022 and the LWVUS through 2024. Set the date on your calendar and register here now.
Virtual Lunch With League

"Public Art in the City of San José"

Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022
12 noon-1 p.m.

Art is the voice of imagination, the visualization of ideas, and the pathway to solutions. It has the power to heal, or the power to divide. Come learn how public art adds to the quality of life in our community, how it is funded, and how it is selected and located. Join Michael Ogilvie, Public Art Director for the City of San José, for a discussion on public art. He will provide a program overview and highlight some of the city’s 400+ works of public art.
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 Kathleen Muller

A lifelong interest in politics and community service has led Kathleen Muller to leadership roles in some of San Jose’s most respected nonprofit organizations. Now, as a League Board member, Secretary, and Chair of the Fundraising Committee, Kathy is hoping her expertise will help the League achieve its voter education goals.

The second of four daughters, Kathy attended Notre Dame High School and majored in political science at Santa Clara University where she worked on her first campaign. She continued her political involvement as a young mother and remembers canvassing neighborhoods pushing a baby stroller in support of San Jose City Council candidate Jerry Estruth. 

She expanded her volunteerism to include activities at schools attended by her three sons and joined the Junior League, chairing its Volunteer Recognition Luncheon and co-chairing the massive Rummage Sale. Through her work as a docent at History San Jose, she became the first employee of an association that supports the museum. She went on to serve as founding Executive Director of what is now the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy and retired from that position after 14 years. Along the way, she also held Board positions with Notre Dame High School, Catholic Charities, San Jose Downtown Association and Santa Clara University Board of Fellows.

“I’ve learned how important it is for nonprofits to partner with other groups and government agencies,” she said. “In every role, I’ve tried to bring the perspective of the community to decision-making.”

“The League is such a valuable resource for citizens in providing real, nonpartisan information that is needed by people, many of whom don’t understand who has responsibility for issues they are concerned about,” she added. “I’m horrified at the lack of knowledge about how government works and I think the League can do a lot to get people more informed and voting.”

Through Kathy’s fundraising leadership and the generosity of League members, our League has received a $5,000 grant and donations totaling more than $6,000 -- funds that will be used to expand the League’s voter services during the 2022 Primary and General Elections.
Bay Area webinar focuses on "Solving for Housing: The Nexus of Housing Policy and Climate Policy"

Saturday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Hear experts discuss critical actions we need to take right now to address climate challenges while increasing housing affordability and availability for all at this year's annual LWV Bay Area Educational Day. Learn how leading environmental and housing advocates are coming together to create a more resilient California with nature-based solutions for how we use our land and equitably grow our cities. Speakers include Thomas Silverstein (Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law), State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (Chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development), and State Senator Dave Cortese (Senate Housing and Transportation Committees).

The panel "Save the Planet with Land Use!—Alliance for Housing and Climate Solutions," features: Sarah Karlinsky, SPUR author of Housing as Infrastructure; Amanda Brown Stevens, Greenbelt Alliance Executive Director and author of Resilience by Design-Resilience Playbook; and Graciela Castillo-Krings, Sacramento Advocates and advisor to Alliance for Housing; moderated by Melissa Breach, COO of YIMBY.

Interactive demonstrations will show you how to calculate your Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by census block and show your carbon footprint.

Recognizing that Bay Area is in the midst of a severe housing shortage and climate crisis underscored by inequities, and that cities and counties must update their Housing Element strategies in 2022, it is an opportune time for League members to learn more about tomorrow’s landscape for resilient housing decision-making and what we can do be part of Solving for Housing.

Register now or learn more on the LWV Bay Area website or by reading Bay Area Monitor.
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Gearing up for June Primary Election -- volunteers needed

The League is actively seeking additional volunteers to help with voter service prior to the June 7 Primary Election. Help is needed for our three main voter education activities.

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 attend the next planning meeting on Monday, Feb. 7, 10:30-11:30 a.m. via Zoom. Email Voter Services Chair Sandy Mory to receive the Zoom link.

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 on the League website.

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 February and 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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Are you ready to step up?

The League's Nominating Committee will soon begin preparing a recommended slate for the Board of Directors for 2022-23 that will be voted on during the annual meeting in June. Are you interested in becoming more involved through a leadership role? If yes, please contact Nominating Committee Chair Rosaleen Zisch to discuss your skills and time availability.

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League awarded Farrington Historical Foundation Grant

We are very pleased to announce the recent award of a $5,000 grant from the Farrington Historical Foundation to support Voter Services in 2022. Providing voter education and promoting active participation in the democratic process are fundamental priorities of the League of Women Voters, and this grant will enable LWVSJ/SC to reach further into the communities we serve. The focus will be on increasing the audiences for Candidate Forums and Pros/Cons presentations prior to the June and November elections. Our Voter Service and Communication committees are exploring greater use of technology and other steps to achieve this goal. We are very grateful to the Farrington Historical Foundation for supporting the League’s efforts to strengthen the communities we serve!

Meanwhile, our 2022 fundraising campaign continues, buoyed by a generous matching grant from an anonymous donor. Every donation made to our local League through April will be matched, up to a total of $10,000. Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to double your impact by including a donation when you renew your membership, or by giving directly online. We also encourage you to ask friends and family members to support our voter education efforts by making a financial investment in LWVSJ/SC during this important election year.

A big thank you to the following individuals who contributed to our campaign in the past month:
Martha Butzier
Trudy LaFrance
Michelle Mann
Kathleen and Peter Muller
Margaret Smith
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No change to food scrap recycling in San Jose

SB 1383, California’s Climate Pollutant Reduction Law, is the statewide organic waste recycling and surplus food recovery mandate that came into effect in Jan. 1, 2022.  Its main purpose is to reduce emissions of methane from food and organic waste in landfills because methane is a major contributor to climate change. Under 1383, the State is required to:
  • Reduce organic waste disposal 75% by 2025.
  • Rescue at least 20% of currently disposed surplus edible food by 2025.
 
For the residents of San Jose, there is no need to do anything differently. San Jose has processed residential garbage from multifamily dwellings since 2008 and from single-family homes since 2014.  Instead of residents sorting out food scraps, garbage is sorted at the GreenWaste materials recovery facility, which removes food and compostable paper from the trash and sends them to a composting facility.

San Jose will not provide containers to collect food scraps. Residents will continue to put food scraps in the usual household garbage. Household garbage should be put in a bag before placing it into the container; there is no need to combine food scraps into a single bag. Residents who want to change the size of a garbage container may call 3-1-1, dial (408) 535-3500 or visit www.sanjoseca.gov/311.

According to a San Jose Spotlight article, some cities have made other arrangements. Recology in Mountain View, which has provided single-family households with carts for yard waste since 2017, is now expanding this to food scraps and food soiled paper. Morgan Hill also started to require businesses to provide three collection bins inside their facilities: trash, recycling and organic waste. 

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February Committee meetings

Climate Change/Natural Resources Committee
The committee will meet on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2 p.m. via Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, contact co-chairs Judy Chamberlin or Virginia Holtz.

Action/Advocacy Committee
The Action/Advocacy Committee will meet via Zoom on Monday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. to discuss the recommendations from the final report of San Jose's Charter Review Commission (CRC), which was recently accepted by the San Jose City Council.The City Council also voted for a ballot measure to consider changing San Jose's mayoral elections to presidential election cycles rather than gubernatorial ones The City Council plans to have a study session about the other Charter Review recommendations plus a study session about allowing non-citizens to vote in municipal elections. LWV San Jose/Santa Clara recently sent a letter supporting moving the mayoral election because we believe such a move will increase voter participation. At our February meeting, we plan to discuss which additional charter review recommendations align with League positions.

The Action committee continues to follow the redistricting process in San Jose. Please contact Vicki Alexander if you'd like additional information about issues that the Action/Advocacy Committee is working on.

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