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THE VOTER
LWV San Jose/Santa Clara Newsletter
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Making Democracy Work
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October 2017-Volume 70, Issue No.2
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| League of Women Voters San Jose / Santa Clara P. O. Box 5374
San Jose, California 95150 |
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President's Message
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Mary Collins President,
LWV SJSC
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Our league has been busy since summer. The Voter Service committee spearheaded National Voter Registration Day, September 26th at two community colleges, Evergreen and San Jose City, and three high schools, Lincoln, Yerba Buena and Notre Dame. Plans call for additional meetings throughout the year. Let us know if you would like to participate.
The Coyote Valley Update Committee has scheduled a tour of Coyote Valley as part of our update study. Andrea MacKenzie, general manager of the Open Space Authority, will be leading us. There are a few spaces available if you would like to attend. Contact
Virginia Holtz.
Members monitor the Santa Clara Valley Water District's consideration to support opposition to the California Waterfix plan.The LWV California state president wrote an editorial explaining League opposition,
Read More. Remember to write your district director as an individual, not League, to vote no on the plan. Your action is needed before the District Board decides on October 21st.
We attend the City of Santa Clara Charter Revision Committee's meetings and are following its recommendation to the City Council for district elections starting in 2018 (after a vote on Charter Revision). We have also worked successfully on the Santa Clara affordable housing ordinance which will be reviewed by the City Council October 24th at 7pm at the City Council Chambers (1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara). Observers are welcome. More information
HERE
The Palo Alto League is sponsoring a talk about the current state of immigration with Ali Noorani and Evelyn Rengal-Medina, and moderated by Raj Mathai on October 18th. We are a co-sponsor and hope league members interested in the topic will attend. Additional information is in this Voter.
On a historical note:
October is United Nations Month, and I think it is timely to review our history with the United Nations. From its inception in 1920, The League of Women Voters called for an international organization to secure international cooperation and a lasting peace.
During World War II the League, aware of the isolationist tendencies of the American people, launched a campaign--Take It to the People--to mobilize public opinion to support United States participation in the United Nations. The League trained more than 5,000 speakers across the country to present forums; published more than a million brochures and questionnaires; encouraged lobbying of Congress. Over a six-month period, thousands of letters a day arrived from members to their senators in support of the United Nations.
At the United Nations Charter conference in San Francisco in 1945, the League was invited by President Truman as one of the consultants to the United States delegation. Also, the League was one of the first groups to receive the status of a nongovernmental organization (NGO) representative to the United Nations. It still maintains official observer status and has special consultant status with the Economic and Social Council. You can view a four minute video of this history on YouTube: 'The League of Women Voters and the United Nations.'
VIDEO
As we carry out the League mission in our local communities, we can be proud of the wide range and influence of our predecessors.
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MEMBERSHIP
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Thank you to the following members
for contributions for our League:
Janet Hagquist, Paula Radzinski, Cecilie Schulze, Sandy Serpa, Rosaleen Zisch
and, thanks to
Santa Clara County Council of Social Studies
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Lunch with League - October 19th, 11am-1pm (New Starting time)
Speaker:Maricela Gutiérrez, CEO,Services, Immigration Rights, Education Network
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Maricela is CEO of SIREN,
Services, Immigration Rights, Education Network. She
has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley, is a Shannon Leadership Program Fellow and Blue Shield Foundation Clinic Leadership Executive Management graduate. Maricela has extensive training in grassroots organizing and racial equity strategies for engaging disenfranchised communities. Recently, Maricela chaired the statewide Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project, and is founder of an intergenerational traditional Aztec Dance Program, Grupo Cemanahuac.
Founded in 1987, SIREN began as an ad hoc coalition of immigrant rights activists and advocates under the name, Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Services, to develop a Santa Clara County response to the 1986 legalization program. Over 30 years, SIREN has grown to include policy analysis and advocacy, community organizing, community education and immigration legal services. In the past two years, SIREN has charted a vision to transform the Northern and Central California region to one that is intersectional, pro-immigrant/refugee, and a national leader for the rights of all people.
Maricela Gutiérrez, CEO
Thursday, October 19th, New time
: 11am to 1pm
MAGGIANO'S
(Drive in from Winchester and Olin Street, turn right into garage)
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| Maggiano Parking in on OLIN (not Olsen) |
Enter Olin Street and parking is on the right side; after parking, cross the street to Maggiano's.
PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE: We'll meet/greet at 11:00, eat at 11:30, our speaker will present at 12 noon for 15-20 minutes with Q/A to follow. We'll be finished by 1:00pm so that people can return to work, etc.
Maggiano's family style luncheon is a set menu:
The Menu: Freshly baked ciabatta rolls, classic bruschetta, Maggiano's salad, Rigatoni with marinara sauce, and Chicken piccata. Vera's lemon cookies for dessert. Choice of drinks: coffee, hot or iced tea, and sodas.
Cost for Lunch is $23 which includes an entree, beverage, and dessert cookies.
Check-in is 11am. Please come prepared to pay cash.
(No shows may be charged for their lunch.)
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LEAGUE MEETINGS AND OUTREACH
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League Registers Students to Vote, Involves Schools
By Suzanne Sikora
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National Voter Registration Day
Cheryl Fuelleman, Clarice Dent |
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On Tuesday, September 26, The League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara joined the National League and other regional leagues in The National Voter Registration Day Holiday event, celebrating Democracy. National Voter Registration Day was first observed in 2012. The holiday has been endorsed by the National Association of Secretaries of State and is further supported by the National Association of State Election Directors. Since the first National Voter Registration Day, over 1.4 million voters have been registered as a result. In 2017, the League hosted more than 300 local voter registration drives across the country.
Our activities were conducted on the campuses of Yerba Buena High School, Lincoln High School, San Jose City College, and Evergreen Valley College to register students to vote. We were able to register 35 students!
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| I Vote |
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I Vote |
Additionally, Anna Fox and I had a meeting at Notre Dame High School where we met with a newly formed leadership group whose focus is on civic engagement including registering their fellow students to vote. We will continue to support the group in their continued activities to expand the voting franchise.
Thank you to the voter service committee members for their many hours of preparation and for making our National Voter Registration Program a success.
Committee members are: Maryann Haggerty, Suzanne Malone, Clarice Dent, Sandra Mory, Anna Fox, Cheryl Fuelleman, Trudy LaFrance, Kelli Parmley, Rosaleen Zisch, and Suzanne Sikora.
In addition to the committee members who represented our League at the events, we also were supported by many members of our local League. Thank you to the volunteers who included: Paula Radzinski, Shelley Smith, Marie Arnold, Judy Chamberlin, Martha Hull, Sandy Remmers, and Roma Dawson.
We also had volunteers from Lincoln High School: Kim Roby, Fernando Barrientos, and five students.
Next steps: The committee will continue to expand our involvement with other local high schools, including: Presentation, Leland, Gunderson, and Branham.
Additionally, we will return to the campuses throughout the school year to register students and provide educational materials to support their being engaged voters.
Suzanne Sikora
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State Senator Wieckowski Honors LWV-SJSC as Community Partner
By Judy Chamberlin
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State Senator Bob Wieckowski (SD10) has honored the League of Women Voters as his Community Partner of the Year at the recent State of the 10th Senate District Address and Awards Ceremony in Santa Clara. The senator also honored the Leagues of Eden and Fremont-Newark-Union City.
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| Sen. Wieckowski 10th District Awards - League honored as Community Partner of the Year |
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The three Leagues were introduced by Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez who cited our long history of registering voters, studying issues, and advocacy. In particular, she mentioned San Jose/Santa Clara's support of city council elections by district in San Jose and affordable housing impact fees in both San Jose and Santa Clara, and last year's support of County Measure A for Affordable Housing, which won by a small margin. She also mentioned our current interest in San Jose's Sustainability Plan.
Representing San Jose-Santa Clara were President Mary Collins, Roma Dawson, Martha Hull, Judy Chamberlin and Pam Vavra, holding the plaque with Senator Wieckowski.
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LWV-SJSC 2017-2018 Board Officers, Directors, Committee Chairs
Participate, Educate, Advocate!
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The League Board and committee chairs meet monthly and welcome members to participate in Board meetings held the first Saturday of the month. Committee meetings are mostly held on weekdays.The League annual calendar is posted on the League website and in monthly updates in the Voter. Please call committee chairs to participate on committees. Board meetings are open to members and the public. If you are interested in attending a board meeting, contact Mary Collins, president, for location as Board meeting venues change monthly.
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| LWV-SJSC Board and Committee Chairs |
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(L-R) Back row: Suzanne Sikora, Voter Service Committee Chair; Leslie Hallenbeck, Board Secretary; Lorraine Myers, Membership Chair; Mary Collins, Board President; Patricia Reardon, Public Relations and Communications Director; Marie Arnold, Lunch with League Director; Maryann Haggerty, Board Vice President.
(L-R) Front row: Karen Nelson, Major Donor Fundraising Committee Chair; Martha Beattie, Board Treasurer; Roma Dawson, Program Director; Carol Lathrop, Director.
Not pictured: Rita Norton, Natural Resources and Climate Change Committee Chair; Liz Bogatin-Starr, Voter editor; Carol Watts, Director; Nominating Committee:
Virginia Holtz, Sandy Remmers, Sharon Sweeney.
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Celebrate Trudy Schafer and Her 25 Years Shaping Public Policy
League of Women Voters California
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| Trudy Schafer |
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It is with mixed emotions we are announcing the retirement of Trudy Schafer later this year. Trudy has served as our LWVC Senior Director for Program and lobbyist for 25 transformative years. She is our voice in the Capitol and our most passionate advocate for the power of our grassroots membership to shape California's future.
Trudy's work has spanned the full spectrum of League positions, including such diverse victories as defending the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), championing good education and budget policies, and leading the successful fight for redistricting reform in California. In 2001, she represented the League as a member of the Speaker's Commission on the California Initiative Process. Since the passage of Prop 11-redistricting reform-Trudy has worked to ensure the successful implementation of the measure. More recently, she has represented the League in our fights for voting rights, including DMV compliance with the Motor Voter Act and rights for incarcerated people.
Trudy has been the longtime face of the League. She is a one-person institutional memory, our historian, our touchstone, and a mentor for many League leaders.
Prior to joining the state League staff in 1992, Trudy had already been an active League member for nearly 15 years, serving as president of the Sacramento League and LWVC legislation director.
While Trudy will be missed at the League office and at the Capitol, we are grateful for this opportunity to celebrate her remarkable contributions to public policy in California. We hope you will join us in thanking Trudy for her work by signing her online guestbook and sharing photos at
https://congratstrudy.wordpress.com.
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LOCAL CITY/COUNTY ISSUES
Panel Discussions
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Immigration Today:A Conversation with Ali Noorani & Rangel-Medina Moderated by Raj Mathai
LWV of Palo Alto, Wednesday, October 18, 7:30-9:00pm |
LWV of Palo Alto is hosting an in-depth look at immigration in our nation today. All Leagues and the public are invited to this free event.
This timely discussion will cover the latest on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and explore a constructive dialogue on immigration policy solutions that serve the interests of America, especially its workers and their families.
Congregation Beth Am Rabbi Heath Watenmaker & LWVPA Board Member Aisha Piracha-Zakariya will provide introductory remarks.
Immigration Today: A Conversation with Ali Noorani and Rangel-Medina
Moderated by Raj Mathai
Raj Mathai, Bay Area Lead News Anchor at NBC-affiliate KNTV, San Francisco Bay Area
Doors open at 7:00 pm
Please submit questions to: [email protected] and include "Immigration" in the subject line. We will also take questions from the audience at the event.
*Ali Noorani's book will be available for purchase and signing.
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An Impartial Judiciary: A Cornerstone of Democracy
Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County
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An Impartial Judiciary: A Cornerstone of Democracy.
Our Constitution designed a government based on three equal branches: the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary. The news often covers the first two branches and rarely discusses the Judiciary beyond court decisions. This educational forum will explore the meaning of judicial impartiality and independence, as well as some of the rules that govern how judges work.
Panelists:
- Honorable Carol A. Corrigan, Associate Justice, California Supreme Court
- Honorable Rise J. Pichon, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge
- Attorney John Steele, Expert on Judicial Conduct
October 24, 2017
Reception 6:00-6:45
Forum 7:00-8:30
Quinlan Community Center
Cupertino Room
10185 N. Stelling Road, Cupertino, CA 95014
Sponsored by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County.
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Santa Clara County Officials Move Ahead on Bail Reform
Mercury News - Wednesday, October 4, Tracey Kaplan, Eric Kurhi
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Santa Clara County on Tuesday moved to drop bail requirements for hundreds of inmates awaiting trial, making it a statewide leader in a national reform movement.
The board of supervisors' unanimous vote had support from civil rights groups as well as police chiefs who argue that bail has become an unfair burden on the poor, allowing moneyed defendants to stay free while those who can't afford bond languish behind bars awaiting their day in court. If all elements of the plan are implemented, Santa Clara County will have the most extensive bail reforms in the state
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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.
2017-2018
- Bill Status Report for 2017: Bills on which the LWVC has taken a position and recommends action.
- Bills of Interest:This report includes bills being "followed" by the League, on which no formal position of support or opposition has been taken, as well as bills on which the LWVC has taken a position and recommends action.
Need help with legislative terms? Try this useful
glossary
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Sign up for Action Alerts - League of Women Voters California
League of Women Voters California (LWVC) grassroots action network
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Join the League of Women Voters California (LWVC) grassroots action network to advocate on the issues you care about in your community. Action Alerts provide up-to-date information on bills and legislation: Voting Rights and Elections, Money in Politics, Immigration, Education, Housing, Transportation, Climate Change, Health and more...
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League and Community Activities
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LWV Presents: Insights and Perspectives
Comcast Channel 30, Mon, 7:30pm and Sun, 4:30pm; Ch 27, Wed, 5:30pm
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The best way to describe Channel 30 and Bay Voice Channel 27 is TV "by the community for the community." Channels 30 and 27 air non-commercial, member-produced videos that educate, express views, and expose talents to the San Jose community and beyond.
Schedule of Airings
Channel 30, Mon, 7:30pm, Sun, 4:30pm
Channel 27, Wed, 5:30pm
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Tanis Crosby, Gloria Chun Hoo |
October Airings
Gloria Hoo interviews Tanis Crosby, Executive Director, YWCA Silicon Valley
Monday, Oct 9 and Oct 30
Rosaleen Zisch interviews, Ben Field, Executive Officer
for the South Bay AFL-CIO, San Jose
Monday, October 23
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Deb Kramer, Imelda Rodriguez, Gloria Chun Hoo |
Gloria Chun Hoo interviews Deb Kramer, Executive Director, Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful; Imelda Rodriguez, Communications Director, CommUniverCity San Jose and Coyote Meadows Coalition
Monday, Oct 16
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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.
| Oct 7 |
Board Meeting |
| Oct 18 |
LWV Palo Alto: Panel - Immigration Today |
| Oct 19 |
Lunch with League |
| Oct 21 |
Coyote Valley Tour with OSA |
| Oct 24 |
Leagues of Women Voters, SC County: Panel - An Impartial Judiciary |
| Nov 4 |
Board Meeting |
| Nov 16 |
Lunch with League |
| Dec 2 |
Board Meeting |
| Dec 5 |
Holiday Party |
| Jan 20, 2018 |
Program Planning |
| Feb 3, 2018 |
Bay Area League Day |
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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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Democracy is not a spectator sport! Educate! Advocate!
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Join Our League
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Visit our
website to join and/or donate to our League.
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