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| THE VOTER |
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Making Democracy Work
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October
2016-Volume 69, Issue No.2
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| League of Women Voters San Jose / Santa Clara P. O. Box 5374
San Jose, California 95150 |
Learn about all 17 state ballot measures from members of LWV San Jose/Santa Clara. The Pro/Con discussions are broadcast this month on CreaTV and are pre-recorded.
Listen Here.
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President's Message
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Mary Collins President,
LWV SJSC
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September was a busy month in this year's important election. With our focus this fall on November's election, we are providing information to our community members to ensure an educated and informed electorate.
We have sponsored candidate forums, providing a civil discussion by all candidates of community concerns. We have also provided pro/con sessions on ballot propositions to assist voters' navigation of our complicated ballot, taped 'Valley Politics' on CreaTV, and participated in National Registration Day at the county Naturalization Ceremony on September 27th. Learn about all 17 state ballot measures from members of our local league in 'Insights and Perspectives' -
Listen here.
Needless to say, in the next month, there will be even more requests and opportunities for League involvement. Should you want to participate in these exciting times, contact
Sandy Mory
for opportunities.
In addition to forums and pro/con activities you can participate on election afternoon and/or night at the Registrar of Voters helping to process ballots as they come in from the polls. Besides being a revealing view of the election process, it is also a fund raiser for our League. This is organized by Eve Orton, who may be calling you to volunteer. If you would like to experience this activity, contact me at
Mary Collins
and I'll give your name to Eve.
At the same time, we are expanding outreach to engage new members. Marie Arnold and Lorraine Myers represented our League at San Jose State's Community Connection, and participated in Supervisor Dave Cortese's 'Day on the Bay' on October 9th in Alviso. Marie and Lorraine have also represented us at many of the forums and pro/con sessions. A reminder, you too can invite colleagues and friends to join our League.
While our main energies and focus are on this election season and membership development, our climate group continues to meet and are studying the San Jose Clean Energy/ Community Choice study. As the city moves forward, we are monitoring the program.
Thank you for all your support of our activities and efforts to Make Democracy Work for all.
Mary
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Lunch with League - Thursday, October 20th
Joseph Deviney, SC County Commissioner: Medical Cannabis and Regulations
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Our guest speaker is Joseph Deviney, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures for Santa Clara County. His talk, Medical Cannabis in Santa Clara County, will cover the previous bills that passed and are currently in place and how regulations are evolving.
This certainly interests our membership, as we peek into the work that goes into setting up a program affecting our County and for many of us, our lives or those of our loved ones!
Joe Deviney has been the Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures for Santa Clara County since 2012 and an agricultural biologist in the Commissioner's office since 1990. He started his agricultural career in Brentwood, the agricultural core of Contra Costa, where he gained experience and knowledge in the field of pesticide regulation and production agriculture.
DeViney has a passion for science in general and biology, entomology, botany, agriculture, politics and environment topics. He enjoys family time, activities with the kids, playing music, and getting outside away from the computer.
Thursday, October 20, 11:45am
The cost is $21 per person.
You may choose from the following delicious menu items:
1)
Albacore Tuna Melt
with your choice of fruit, cucumber salad or fries
2) Market Burger with crisp bacon and cheddar cheese, and your choice of fruit, cucumber salad or fries
3)
Liteaters Plate with Fresh Pacific Rockfish and two sides
4)
Caesar Salad with Bay Shrimp
Please let us know of any food allergies.
Cost for lunch is $21.00 per person
which includes your choice of coffee, iced tea or soft drink, tax and tip.
Check in will start at 11:45am. Please come prepared to pay cash. (No shows may be charged for their lunch.)
See you on Thursday, October 20th,
Paula Radzinski
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Membership
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Welcome to our newest members:
Stephanie Leveene, Shelley Smith
Thank you to the following members for their donations to the League:
Sandy Mory, Paula Radzinski, Sandy Serpa
Alice and Rod Thorn
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VOTE WITH LEAGUE!!!
LWV California Ballot Recommendations for Nov 8th General Election
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| I Vote with the League |
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Visit Voter's Edge California for more on the funding of these measures: Voter's Edge.
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FIND YOUR BALLOT - Get the Facts Before You Vote
Voter's Edge California: Smart Voter update, new and improved!
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Ballot Measures:
Candidates:
THANK YOU to CECILIE SCHULZE AND JUDY CONNER for their months of research, outreach, creativity, stamina, and smarts in producing the Voter's Edge elections guide.
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Valley Politics for CreaTV, Forum: D2, D6, D8
Every Wednesday in October, 8pm
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Every Wednesday in October, 'Valley Politics' departs from the usual format to bring you a special presentation of our 2016 San Jose Council Candidates Forum, co-sponsored by
CreaTV San Jose and League of Women Voters San Jose/Santa Clara, and taped live in council chambers.
Featured guests are the runoff candidates for San Jose districts 2, 6 and 8. As Terry Christensen, moderator, says, you may not live in one of those districts, but the winners of these races could shift the balance on the city council. Don't miss it!
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT
Action, Events, Voter Education
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ACTION COMMITTEE - Be part of the Action team. Join League members and meet with California elected officials, observe City Council meetings, engage in League advocacy.
Contact
Judy Chamberlin.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, Measure A phone banking on Tuesday, October 18, 5pm.
Join League members to Get out the Vote and support for affordable housing. Contact Judy Chamberlin.
Are you looking for a way to be involved in this political season? We are involved in
Candidate Forums, in doing Pro/Con Presentations and in Voter Registration. For Candidate Forums we need people to be greeters and question gatherers, timers, question sorters and moderators. Training and support will be provided. Our Pro/Con teams are under way and we always need more people.
Please contact
Sandy Mory if you would like to join in with Voter Service!
Volunteer on Election Day in the afternoon or night at the Registrar of Voters. We process ballots and anxiously await results, while having a blast with League and friends. Contact
Mary Collins.
VOTER REGISTRATION
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Volunteer and help coordinate registration at the Naturalization Ceremony several times each year and Get the Vote out registering Voters. Contact Sandy Mory.
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YES on A for Affordable Housing
The Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County Supports Measure A
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The Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County has endorsed the county Affordable Housing Bond measure.
This November, Santa Clara County voters will have the opportunity to make history by voting YES on A for Affordable Housing, a $950 million ballot measure that will create thousands of affordable homes for hardworking families and vulnerable communities across Santa Clara County.
Read about Measure A
HERE.
The $950 million bond will provide affordable housing for thousands of our community members, including: $700 million for our most vulnerable populations, including Supportive Housing for our homeless residents; $100 million for low-income families; $150 million for working families and first-time Homebuyer programs.
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Envision Silicon Valley - Economic Impacts of Infrastructure Investment
The Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County Supports Measure B
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| Measure B Sales Tax and the Economic Impacts of Infrastructure Investment |
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VTA launched Envision Silicon Valley to engage community leaders and county residents in a dynamic visioning process to discuss current and future transportation needs, identify solutions and craft funding priorities.
This process has helped us prepare for Measure B, a countywide sales tax measure to be placed on the November 2016 ballot to enhance transit, highways, expressways and active transportation (bicycles, pedestrians and complete streets).
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Ballot Measures: American Direct Democracy at Work
By Josh Altic and Geoff Pallay, Ballotpedia for the New York Times
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Middleton, Wis. - Throughout our nation's history, citizens and legislators alike have used ballot measures to shape public policy and public opinion in the states. This process of direct democracy has often proved more effective than the customary actions of a party, politician, interest group or deep-pocketed donor at addressing some of the most divisive topics in our history: including suffrage, prohibition, gay rights, the death penalty and marijuana.
Despite their significant and lasting impact, ballot measures and the varied laws governing how they work can be daunting and complex. Which states allow the ballot initiative process? Not all do. Why are initiatives so popular in California, yet unavailable in New York? How do voters get measures placed on the ballot? None of this is simple or straightforward; in fact, many people now find the language used in these measures so confusing that they abstain from voting on them entirely.
This and other articles on the voting process can be read on Voter's Edge.
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Bill Status Reports
League of Women Voters California
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Based on
our positions, League of Women Voters California (LWVC) periodically reviews bills before the California State Legislature and makes recommendations.
2016-2017
Need help with legislative terms? Try this useful
glossary
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LWV Presents: Insights and Perspectives
Comcast Channel 30, Monday nights at 7:30pm, Comcast guide lists re-broadcasts
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The best way to describe Channel 30 is TV "by the community for the community." Channel 30 airs non-commercial, member-produced videos that educate, express views, and expose talents to the San Jose community and beyond.
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Jim Lathrop, Pamela Vavra
Carol Lathrop |
Schedule of Airings in October:
Already shown the week of Oct 3 and to be repeated Mon, Oct 24, 7:30pm
Jim Lathrop and Pamela Vavra discuss CA Ballot Measures with moderator Carol Lathrop:
Prop 52, Prop 56, Prop 60, Prop 61, Prop 65, Prop 67
VIDEO
Mon, Oct 17, 7:30pm
Carol Lathrop interviews Gloria Chun Hoo and Martha
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Gloria Chun Hoo, Martha Beattie,
Carol Lathrop
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Martha Beattie, Rosaleen Zisch
Carol Lathrop
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Beattie in a discussion on CA Ballot Measures:
Prop 62, Prop 66, Prop 57,
Prop 63, Prop 64
VIDEO
Mon, Oct 10 and Oct 31, 7:30pm
Martha Beattie and Rosaleen discuss CA Ballot Measures with moderator Carol Lathrop:
Prop 51, Prop 53, Prop 55, Prop 54, Prop 59, Prop 58 VIDEO
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Events: Lunch with League, and Getting out the Vote
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Barbara Keegan, SC Valley Water District
LwL talk on drought survival and new Advanced Water Purification Center -
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Gloria Chun Hoo, Judy Chamberlin, Roma Dawson, Trudy La France, Liz BogatinStarr Roberta Holliman, Chair, LWV of
Santa Clara County
Get out the Vote
Affordable Housing
Measure A
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Calendar
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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.
| October 20 |
Lunch with League, Fish Market, Blossom Hill Rd. |
| October 24 |
Last Day to Register to Vote
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| November 5 |
Board Meeting |
November 8
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General Election |
| Dec 6 or 8 |
Holiday Party |
| January 7 |
Board Meeting |
| January 28 |
Bay Area League Day |
| June 1 |
State Convention begins |
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Address / Email Change
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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.
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The Voter
Submissions due the 20th of the month
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The LWVSJ/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.
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Join Our League
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Visit our website to join and donate to our League.
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Democracy is not a spectator sport! Educate! Advocate!
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