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Serving the people of San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Morgan Hill & Gilroy
September 2022
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Message from the Co-Presidents
Do you hear
the beat of the drums?
Labor Day is upon us -- the traditional kick off to election season. We've already been bombarded with TV ads for several weeks, and the political mailers are starting to flow in the door. The pace will only continue to accelerate as we get closer to Nov. 8.
It's a high pressure time for the League, too, as we work hard to register voters, organize Candidate Forums, update Voter's Edge and prepare for Pros & Cons presentations. And, as always, we are on the look out for actions that might interfere with voting rights and fair elections.
As you'll read in this newsletter, there are several educational programs coming up in the next few weeks including our special Lunch with League on Sept. 15 focused on "Don't get duped by misinformation!" With partisan rhetoric at an all time high, the League is pleased to offer our members and supporters information on how to recognize the tactics used by those who try to obscure the truth or distract voters with outrageous stories --- sometimes in support of a candidate or cause and sometimes just to stir up trouble. We hope you'll be able to attend this event and to invite others who want to learn more about when and how to take on "bad actors" who threaten our democratic process.
We need more help with all of our activities.
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Please carve out some time this fall to participate, especially to support Voter Service. If you have some time, please email Sandy Mory, Voter Service Chair. We welcome you.
Taryn Upchurch
Taryn.Upchurch@lwvsjsc.org
Diane McNutt
Diane.McNutt@lwvsjsc.org
P.S.We have included excerpts from a recent message from LWV of California Executive Director Stephanie Doute at the end of this newsletter. It's a powerful statement about the League that all members should read.
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Virtual Lunch With League
"Don't Get Duped
By Misinformation"
Learn about the key tactics, the reasons it works, and how to respond effectively
Thursday, Sept 15, 2022
12 noon-1 p.m. via Zoom
Every day, our communities are bombarded with mis- and dis-information that continues to divide us, and undermines community power and our ability to effectively govern through a representative democracy.
In this interactive session Cameron Hickey, Project Director for Algorithmic Transparency at the National Conference on Citizenship will explain how to recognize a wide range of misleading messages that appear online, describe the tactics and techniques used to distribute and amplify this content, and provide key recommendations for effectively addressing the harms created. While there is no one silver bullet, together we can empower our communities to actively become more resilient to mis- and disinformation.
Cameron was formerly a research fellow at the Shorenstein Center for Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School where he investigated the spread of mis- and dis-information on social media through the development of tools to identify and analyze problematic content. His work has appeared on the PBS NewsHour, NOVA, Bill Moyers, American Experience, WNET, and The New York Times
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 UP
On Oct. 20, Scott Knies, CEO of the San Jose Downtown Association, will talk on "Reflections on Downtown San Jose: Past, Present, Future" with a guest appearance by Alex Stettinski, who will take over as the new CEO when Scott retires later this fall.
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Meet Gloria Loventhal
New Membership Co-Chair
Benjamin Franklin once said “if you want something done, ask a busy person.” That is certainly true of Gloria Loventhal who has a very full plate of commitments, but fortunately found room to serve on the League’s Board of Directors and as Co-chair of the Membership Committee with Carol Watts.
“I have always been a busy person,” said Gloria who grew up in Willow Glen and attended San Jose State University to earn both her undergraduate and master’s degree. She started her career as a classroom teacher and went on to become a vice principal, principal, and many administrative leadership roles in the Alum Rock School District. In 1993, she and a partner formed Leadership Connection, a consulting firm that helped organizations with team and leadership development, executive coaching and strategic planning.
Since winding down her business, Gloria has offered her skills as a volunteer in the community. She serves on the Board of the Silicon Valley Capital Club and heads up its Dynamic Women’s Council. She is a “Top 10 Ambassador” national fundraiser on behalf of American Cancer Society’s ResearcHERS program that funds innovative women-led cancer research.
Gloria’s personal life is equally as busy. She has traveled to 65 countries and spends one month a year at an old village home in France she co-owns with long-time friends. She takes her 43-foot sailboat out from Santa Cruz as frequently as her schedule allows and took on the challenging role of adopting a puppy, a shih tzu poodle mix named Bisous (kisses in French), earlier this year. A high priority is also spending time with family and friends, old and new.
But Gloria had always been aware of the League of Women Voters and was impressed by presentations from League representatives at two professional meetings. She decided it was time to join and become an active member of the group that has “an outstanding reputation for its integrity and nonpartisan opinions.”
“When I was a middle school principal, I borrowed voting booths from the Registrar of Voters to set up mock election days for students could experience democracy,” she said. “I am very interested in creating in people the desire to vote and in ensuring that they have that opportunity.”
She is concerned about recent actions that endanger voting rights and women’s rights and supports the League’s efforts to protect them. “No one is free until all are free,” she said.
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The Candidate Forums schedule is subject to change and updates will be posted on the League website.
Virtual Candidate Forums will be recorded and posted on the League website.
VIRTUAL CANDIDATE FORUMS
San Jose City Council District 7
Bien Doan, Maya Esparza
Wednesday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
San Jose City Council District 3
Omar Torres, Irene Smith
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Santa Clara County Sheriff
Kevin Jensen, Robert Jonsen
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 6 p.m.
Santa Clara Valley Water District 6 Director
Diego Barragan, Chuck Cantrell, Antonio "Tony" Estremera
Tuesday, Sept. 27, 6 p.m.
Santa Clara County Supervisor District 1
Johnny Khamis, Sylvia Arenas
Wednesday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m
State Assembly District 28
Liz Lawler, Gail Pellerin
Thursday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m.
U.S. Congress District 16
Rishi Kumar, Anna Eshoo
Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m.
San Jose Mayor
Matt Mahon, Cindy Chavez
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m.
Sign up to attend any or all of these virtual events and submit questions.
IN PERSON CANDIDATE FORUMS: CITY OF SANTA CLARA
Thursday, Sept. 29
Council Chambers, Santa Clara City Hall, 1500 Warburton Ave., Santa Clara
6-6:30 p.m. City of Santa Clara Council District2
Larry McColloch, Raj Chahal
6:45-7:15 p.m. City of Santa Clara Council District 3
Karen Hardy, Christian Pellecchia
7:30-8:15 p.m. City of Santa Clara Mayor
Lisa Gillmor, Anthony Becker
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Have you signed up to register voters on Sept. 20?
The League will have voter registration tables in several public libraries on Tuesday, Sept. 20, National Voter Registration Day. If you haven't yet signed up for a 2 or 4 hour shift, please add you name to the growing list of volunteers by filling out the volunteer survey for HERE.
You will be provided with all materials and FAQs on voter registration and the League so that you can answer any questions.
Empower Voters. Defend Democracy. The first step is getting everyone who is eligible to register prior to the Nov. 8 election and then encouraging them to vote.
Voter’s Edge
It is anticipated that by next week, Voter’s Edge will be up and running with information on candidates and measures on the Nov. 8 ballot. This invaluable online service allows voter to enter their address to get in-depth information about what’s on their personalized ballot. Candidates provide their biographies, top priorities and names of supporters. The voter guide also includes descriptions of California ballot measures and who is spending money for and against each measure. It is a convenient way to get nonpartisan election information from one website.
Pros & Cons
Several Pros & Cons presentations are scheduled for local community groups and organizations this fall, and a written analysis of ballot measures will be posted on the League website and on Voter’s Edge. If you are interested in scheduling a Pros & Cons session, contact Chair Martha Beattie.
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How To Maintain the Public's Rights and Its Safety
Saturday, Sept. 10, 2:30-4 p.m.
A panel of local experts on the challenges of policing and ensuring fair treatment will discuss these topics at an online event sponsored by the LWV of Santa Clara County. Panelists include: Manuel Herrera, President, Board of Trustees, Eastside Union High School District; Phan Ngo, Chief, City of Sunnyvale Public Safety; Shivaun Nurre, Independent Police Auditor, City of San Jose; and Ashley Raveche, Volunteer Deputy Area Director of Social Policy, LWV of California. Register HERE
The panel will discuss:
- Scope of law enforcement responsibility
- Accountability and transparency challenges
- Unique U.S. armed environment;
- "Protect and Serve" vs. tendency toward militarization
- What are community responsibilities?
- What is a better way going forward?
A Climate-Resilient and Equitable Water Future for California
Thursday, Sept. 22, 6p.m.
Dr. Newsha Ajami, Chief Strategy and Development Research in the Earth and Environmentl Sciences Area of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, will discuss the history of water systems and infrastructure in California, current demand and what needs to change, and visions for responding to future water use and needs. She will be joined by a member of LWV of California Water Committee who will review the League's positions on water resources, what issues are being monitored and what the League is doing to support its positions.
This virtual event is presented by LWV of San Francisco and will be followed by a second educational program on water later in the fall. Register HERE
Launch of Bay Area Regional Government & Planning Study
Monday, Sept. 26, 6p.m.
LWV of the Bay Area will launch a two-year study that will define League positions to be presented at the LWVBA Biennial Convention 2024.
The study will explore the concept of regional government, the changes and formation of so many new agencies, and their implications for local governments and communities. It will focus on the impact of ABAG/MTC integration, issues around water, conservation, climate impacts, equity issues and overall governance issues.
More details will be posted soon on the LWV of the Bay Area website.
State of the Nation: U.S. Election Systems and How We Can Better Engage Voters
Saturday, Oct.8, 10 a.m.-12 noon
The LWV of Southwest Silicon Valley is presenting a two-part webinar in October on what the League and individuals can do to improve our elections. This first program features Kim Alexander, President of the California Voter Foundation (CVF), who will explore what some major election problems are and offer possible solutions. The CVF is leading a nationwide, nonpartisan network of leaders across multiple sectors working to support and protect election officials and election administration. Current priorities include improving election workers’ safety and security, curtailing election mis- and disinformation, increasing funding, and support for election administration. REGISTER HERE.
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League considers Sargent Ranch quarry proposal
The Action/Advocacy and Climate Change Committees have been following a proposed quarry at the Sargent Ranch property, four miles south of Gilroy (county jurisdiction). The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) was recently released, and our League is in the process of looking at our positions, including our focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, to determine if we’ll take action on this project.
The proposal is for an open pit sand and gravel mine that would operate for 30 years and then be reclaimed. There are various environmental concerns, including that the site is one of the two primary wildlife corridors between the Santa Cruz and the Diablo and Gabilan ranges, there are federally listed threatened species on the site, more than 70,000 gallons of groundwater would be used on a daily basis, and there would be hundreds of daily truck trips. There are also concerns because the proposed quarry is on a sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.
For League members who would like to take action on the project as an individual, a complete description of the project, its impacts, and possible mitigations can be found in the DEIR. The document is quite lengthy, but there’s a good overview in the summary section. Additional project information can be found at Protect Juristac and at Green Foothills. Comments on the DEIR need to be sent to the County Planning Commission by Sept. 26. For more information contact Action/Advocacy Chair Vicki Alexander.
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MORE LEAGUE UPDATES
Draft Housing Element Letter
The League sent a letter to the City of San Jose Planning Department and Housing Department commenting on the Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element that was released for public review this summer. Framed by the League's positions and action policies predicated on the conviction that "every person and family should have decent, safe, and affordable housing," the letter provided several recommendations to improve the Housing Element. An emphasis was placed on more transparency, engagement with stakeholder organizations and more prioritization and specificity on timelines.
Support for Ranked Choice Voting
Our League joined with the other four Leagues in Santa Clara County to send a letter of support for the use of Ranked Choice Voting in County elections (Board of Supervisors, District Attorney, Sheriff, and Assessor). The letter reflected a League position adopted in 2005 that supports voting systems that (a partial list):
- Encourage those with minority opinions to participate, including under-represented communities
- Maximize effective votes/minimize “wasted” votes
- Promote sincere voting over strategic voting
- Are verifiable and auditable
It also noted that a significant program to educate voters on that system would be needed to be successful.
League serves as Inspector of Election
Sandy Mory, Robin Hayr and Paula Radzinski from the League’s Voter Service team traveled to Morgan Hill last week to serve as the Inspector of Election for the Woodland Estates Association when homeowners voted on the installation of water meters. The team was responsible for verifying ballots against the Association’s polling list, and opening ballots and tallying the votes. The League’s reputation for professionalism, integrity and non-partisanship reassures voters in a contentious election that it is being conducted honestly and fairly.
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LEAGUE RESOURCES
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The LWV of California has several email discussion groups for members on several topics. They include Advocacy, Communications, Voter Service, Climate Change, Criminal Justice Reform, Healthcare, Homeless, Immigration, Money in Politics, Program Planning, Redistricting, Schools and Communities First, and Water. For details see the Join an Online Discussion Group. Any League member can join.
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Message from LWV of California Executive Director Stephanie Doute
"Power hates progress"
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Sometimes people think of the League as being a quiet, unassuming group with clipboards, smiling and quietly registering voters and helping people get to the polls. Registering voters and getting people to the polls is very much a part of who we are. But, quiet? Unassuming?
We have over 100 years of people fighting to build a better democracy and we have a revitalized commitment to making that American democracy equitable for all people. The power and impact of the League has shifted and grown.
Change doesn’t come with quietly accepting the place we are told we should occupy. The 19th amendment didn’t come from women knowing and staying in “their place.”
It came from the Night of Terror. It came from the bravery of women willing to define and demand their own place. It came from the strength and power of women being willing to endure violence and verbal abuse and attempts to silence them. It came from women in the streets demanding access to our democracy. Women who would not back down. Women who stepped out of line. Women who took up space - because justice demanded that they not quietly stay “in their place.”
People trying to hold on to power and tear down our democracy would love to see the League quietly cease our fights for equity, racial justice, climate justice, criminal justice - and our fight to empower voters and defend our democracy. We are making progress and power hates progress.
Whether our fights are for reproductive justice, climate justice, racial justice, human rights, access to the ballot, or to get every voter to show up and be heard - the legacy is ours to carry forward and we must do it together.
It is our place. It is our time. It is our democracy. And it is our League.
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