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Serving the people of San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Morgan Hill & Gilroy
May 2023
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Message from the President
Who is "qualified" to vote?
I recently read an opinion column asserting that not everyone should vote. While the author prefaced that no one should be prohibited from voting by legislation, he urged people who are "uninformed, undecided, mentally infirm or cult members" to stay away from the ballot box. Talk about a slippery slope!!
It wasn't that long ago that it was thought that qualified to vote meant you were a landowner, white, and male. Everyone else was proclaimed to not having the intelligence, experience or emotional temperament to make wise voting decisions.
Sure, in a perfect scenario, every voter has done the homework on issues and candidates and is making a careful, thoughtful decision. The League does what it can to help voters access information through our Candidate Forums, Pros & Cons presentations, and Voter's Edge. But to put it out there that only those who are fully prepared (however that is defined) are qualified to vote is providing an excuse to not vote -- a reason to abdicate their most significant responsibility as a citizen.
Let's stay focused on how we can do an even better job of educating and encouraging voters and dismiss the notion that only some meet an unspecified standard that makes them qualified to vote.
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Election year coming up fast
As of May 1, we are 554 days away from the 2024 Presidential Election. There is much to do now so that the League is ready to provide Voter Service activities when the Primary and General Election roll around. If you are not already a member, please JOIN. Also, DONATIONS are welcome from anyone who wants to support our efforts to empower voters and defend democracy.
Diane McNutt
Diane.McNutt@lwvsjsc.org
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Virtual Lunch With League
"The Big Opportunities
at Coyote Creek"
Thursday, May 18, 2023
12 noon-1 p.m. via Zoom
Coyote Creek is the largest watershed in the South Bay. It runs 64 miles from Henry Coe in the south along the Diablo Range and north through Coyote Valley, past downtown San Jose and through Milpitas to San Francisco Bay. Deb Kramer, Executive Director and founder of Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, will describe some of the changes happening along the Coyote Creek. She will also talk about her organization's activities including creek and trail cleanup events, community-science activities, recreation, and education.
As a community organizer, Deb has drawn thousands of people to Coyote Creek cleanup events, worked closely with many community organizations and agencies, such as Audubon, Open Space Authority, City of San José, and Save Our Trails. For most of her career, she was a project manager in environmentally-related fields, from water, energy, and waste to now watersheds. Deb is a former board member of Save the Bay, and an alumnus of Cal Berkeley with a degree in environmental science.
REGISTER HERE
Virtual Lunch With League events are FREE and open to all members of the community. Please invite people you know to attend.
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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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Assemblymember Gail Pellerin
will keynote Annual Meeting
Our League's Annual Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 8, 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Zoom. We are thrilled to announce that California State Assemblymember Gail Pellerin will be our keynote speaker at 3:30 p.m., followed by our business meeting which will include adoption of the budget and program priorities for 2023-2024, and election of officers, board members and next year's Nominating Committee. Watch for an e-blast later this month with more details and how to register to attend.
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Convention
registration closes
May 15
Online registration for the 69th State Convention of the League of Women Voters of California closes on Monday, May 15. Our League will be sending four delegates (Martha Butzier, Raeena Lari, Sandy Mory, Carol Watts) to represent us at the business meeting that will elect officers and directors and adopt a budget and program priorities for 2023-2025. Other League members may want to attend one or more days on their own to learn more about what the League is doing and to meet League members from throughout California. Learn more about the schedule, workshops and special activities HERE.
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Update from Climate Change Committee
The City of San José Department of Transportation and Environment Committee will hear the annual report of the Community Forest Management Plan on Thursday, June1 at 1:30 pm. For more information read the City Auditor’s Report. Contact Virginia Holtz for meeting link.
The Climate Change Committee is also monitoring several other projects:
- Breeze of Innovation is an artistic lighting structure proposed for Cezar Chavez Park. Location within park and final design have yet to be determined.
- Sargent Ranch EIR has yet to be made public and we are watching other proposals for development in Coyote Valley.
Congratulations to the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority that is celebrating its 30th Anniversary on May 6.
For more information about the Climate Change / Natural Resources Committee, please contact Judy Chamberlin or Virginia Holtz. The next Climate Change Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 11, 2 p.m. via Zoom.
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Senate vote on ERA falls short
On April 27, the U.S. Senate failed to pass legislation addressing the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). LWV CEO Virginia Kase Solomon issued the following statement in response:
“Today is a disappointing day for women. Our nation’s elected leaders have failed yet again to see us as equal members of this democracy.
“It is shameful that despite the significant advances made in recent history, Americans continue to face discrimination on the basis of sex and lack equal rights in the Constitution. Inequality hurts everyone, and we must not continue to be a nation that harmfully excludes and marginalizes women.
“We believe in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy, and that includes equal rights under the law, first and foremost.
“A strong democracy doesn’t discriminate against women but empowers women. We will keep fighting, and we will keep showing up to hold our legislators accountable. Equality is essential to our democracy."
Learn more about the 100 year history of the Equal Rights Amendment HERE.
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Legislative interview notes posted on website
Earlier this year, League members met with State Senators and Assemblymembers who represent the communities served by our League. Interview questions covered a wide variety of issues including voter participation, school facilities funding, and water resources. Notes from these conversations are now posted on the League website HERE.
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League Bay Area Biennial Council set for June 17
The LWV Bay Area Council is scheduled for Saturday, June 17, 1-2:30 p.m. on Zoom. The Council is held in odd-numbered years with each local League eligible to send two voting delegates. The meeting – open to all members and guests – will include an update on our Regional Government and Land Use Study, discussion and follow up from the State Convention in May and an open forum. An agenda will be available in a few weeks. Send any suggestions to lwvbayarea@gmail.com
LWV Bay Area publishes Bay Area Monitor and Monitor Notes
with information on regional issues and events.
Sign up to subscribe on the Bay Area Monitor webpage.
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Former Membership Chair Marie Arnold and Treasurer Anita Romero were among several members who staffed a League table at this event.
League participates in
Women's Leadership and Policy Summit
More than 600 people attended the sixth Santa Clara County Women's Leadership and Policy Summit held April 29 on the campus of West Valley College. Our League participated in the Resource Fair part of the program, providing information to attendees about how to register to vote, the League's Voter Service activities, and League membership information. A special thank you to Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez for hosting the event along with the Valley Medical Center Foundation.
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