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Serving the people of San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Morgan Hill & Gilroy
January 2021
The VOTER
President's Message from Carol Watts

Happy New Year!!! Let's find the Silver Linings@
We are all hoping that the coronavirus will be tamed soon so that we can resume meeting in person. Until then, we are continuing to Zoom!  
 
We have several major events scheduled. Read about them below in this VOTER and add them to your calendar!  You will find:
Lunch with League on the third Thursday of each month. On Jan. 21 our guest speaker is Rick Callender speaking on “Why Environmental Justice Matters.”
Program Planning meeting on Feb. 20. This is the best opportunity for you to let us know what you think our local and state Leagues should be working on during the next year or so. We value your input!! This process shows how the League of Women Voters is a true grassroots organization. 
 
Watch for a later announcement of our Local Government Consensus meeting on April 24 which is the time for you to tell us how you think San Jose should be governed. The hard-working study committee led by Vicki Alexander and Virginia Holtz meets every two weeks to find materials and develop questions to be asked of all members who attend the consensus meeting. 
 
Are you interested in Bay Area or California issues? You can sign up for newsletters to keep you up to date on League activities at those levels. Use these links to subscribe:
 
See you on Thursday, Jan. 21 at Lunch with League!
 
Carol 
Virtual Lunch With League
"Why Environmental Justice Matters"
Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, 12 noon
A Zoom Online Event

Rick Callender, Chief Executive Officer of Valley Water and President of the California-Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP, will discuss environmental justice at the first Lunch With League event in 2021. He has been with Valley Water since 1996, primarily working on strategic external communications and government relations until his appointment as CEO in May 2020. He holds a J.D. from Northwestern California University School of Law and is a member of the California State Bar.

REGISTER HERE for Virtual Lunch With League.
What is San Jose doing to "stay cool" through carbon sequestration?

Learn more on Thursday, Jan. 7, 11 a.m.
The Climate Change / Natural Resources Committee is meeting Thursday, Jan. 7, at 11 a.m.  Helen Chapman will join our Zoom conversation to talk about the status of San Jose parks and transportation policies that help San Jose keep cool, improve the soil, and ensure that we have a robust tree canopy. Helen is Policy & Legislative Advisor to San Jose Councilmember Sergio Jimenez, a former Parks Commissioner, and a newly-elected Board Member for the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. We will also share committee reports on the current status of carbon sequestration policies in San Jose. 

For additional information, or to join the meeting, contact Vicki Alexander
Help us define the League's agenda for the next two years
The League is a grassroots organization that sets its agenda through the “Program Planning” process. This is your chance to help choose our priorities for action and determine what we want for the future of the League of Women Voters California and our local League.

Join us on Saturday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m., when we will discuss League issues for the next two years. Where should the State League focus its energy? Also, what are the issues of concern here in our community? Where is there need for legislative activity and other types of advocacy? Are there areas we have not taken a position on that you think we should?

You voted in November because you care about our political future; now make your opinions heard and help set the agenda for the next years. Note on your calendar and REGISTER NOW HERE.
Sign up to participate in interviews with State Assembly and Senate members
Our League will be scheduling virtual meetings in the next two months with eight state legislators representing our area. This is an opportunity to share with our elected state representatives some of our top League priorities and also to gather information from them about their legislative priorities. Meetings will be set with:

State Senators: Bob Wieckowski (District 10), Dave Cortese (District 15) and John Laird (District 17) 

Assemblymembers: Alex Lee (District 25), Ash Kalra (District 27), Evan Low (District 28) Mark Stone (District 29) and Robert Rivas (District 30)

If you have some interest in learning more and possibly participating in these legislative interviews, please contact Gloria Chun Hoo.
LWV Bay Area 2021 -- Focus on Equity

Saturday, March 6, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

In 2020, League of Women Voters of the Bay Area used its annual education day to celebrate the League’s 100th anniversary and reflect on our past. League Day 2021 features a topic the national League names as central to our current and future success in creating a more perfect democracy – Equity. Speakers will focus on specific examples of how equity can be implemented and measured. 
 
If you have questions, please contact Roma Dawson There is no charge since it is a virtual meeting. Registration information and more details will be available in early February.      
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