|
Serving San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Morgan Hill & Gilroy
October 2025
| |
Celebrating 80 years of service!
1945-2025
| | | |
President's Message
Can you speak boldly
and still be nonpartisan?
LWVUS has officially become a national partner of No Kings 2 Day on Saturday, Oct. 18. The decision was based on the League's consistent and long history of speaking up boldly to defend democracy against authoritarianism. This action has prompted questions about whether the League is departing from its nonpartisan status. The answer is no.
The League has always been, and continues to be, 100% committed to its pledge to never endorse or oppose a candidate or political party. That does not mean that the League must be silent when we disagree with the decisions and actions made by elected officials once they are in office. We will ask legislators to protect voter rights. We will criticize administration policies that do not represent our League values and positions. We will hit the alarm bell when we believe that the balance of power in our government is out of whack and endangering the foundation of our democracy.
BUT, our posters and T-shirts will be respectful. There will be no name calling, no offensive graphics, and certainly no support of violence. There may be others at events like No Kings 2 who don't follow these rules, but those who are there to represent the League will be as nonpartisan as possible in expressing our views.
It's not easy because we all have our own personal opinions that are definitely partisan, but when we are wearing our League hat it is imperative to put those feelings aside and stay within the bounds of non-partisanship. We've done it for 105 years, and we can do it now.
Diane
Diane McNutt, President
League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara
Diane.McNutt@lwvsjsc.org
Reminder: All League members are invited to attend the monthly Board business meetings, usually held on Zoom on the first Thursday of the month. If you would like to attend, contact me for agenda, time and link information.
| |
Lunch with League
Emergency Response:
Making Democracy Work
How to deal now with the democracy crisis
How to start bringing the country back together by getting agreement on key points
Special Guest Speaker:
Investigative Journalist Russ Baker
Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sobrato Center for Nonprofits, 1400 Parkmoor Ave., San Jose
Russ Baker earned a political science degree from UCLA and a master's degree in journalism from the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. He has reported for New York Times, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, Village Voice, The Nation, The Guardian, Wired and The Christian Science Monitor. He is the author of an investigative history book, Family of Secrets, about the Bush family dynasty. In 2008 he founded an independent, nonprofit news organization called WhoWhatWhy that covers national and international topics with an emphasis on politics and power, the environment, war and peace.
You may order a boxed lunch from Aqui Restaurant (five options available) for $18 each or register without a lunch at no cost. You are welcome to bring your own lunch and everyone should bring their own beverage. Register HERE with or without lunch.
| |
Santa Clara County Assessor
Candidates Forum
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 7-8:30 p.m.
Quinlan Community Center
10185 N. Stelling Rd., Cupertino
| |
Meet the four candidates for County Assessor and ask questions about their qualifications and priorities for this position. The 90-minute Candidates Forum will be followed by a 30-minute Pros & Cons presentation on State Proposition 50 and Santa Clara County Measure A. The event is presented by the five Leagues of Women Voters in Santa Clara County.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
| |
Pros & Cons presentation
Proposition 50
Measure A
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025
6:30-7:30 p.m. on Zoom
Members of our League's Pros & Cons voter education team will present an unbiased analysis of two items that will be on the Nov. 4 ballot. Questions will be encouraged.
Proposition 50 temporarily requires new congressional district maps, as passed by the Legislature in August 2025, to be used in California's congressional elections through 2030. In addition, it establishes state policy supporting use of fair, independent, and nonpartisan redistricting commissions nationwide, calling for a federal law to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to require redistricting.
Measure A authorized Santa Clara County to increase the general sales tax by 0.625% for five years to help address federal cuts enacted by Congress and the President. Cuts are most severe for Medi-Cal services.
Click HERE to register
| | | |
the League's
Easy Voter Guide
with information on the
Nov. 4 Special Election
and Proposition 50
| |
LWV takes on Election Hero Day
Monday, Nov. 3, 2025le
Election Hero Day is a nonpartisan national celebration recognizing the tremendous contributions that election officials, their staff and poll workers make to ensure a safe, secure voting experience for all Americans. The League announced last week that it is the new managing partner of Election Hero Day.
"The League is proud to take on the stewardship of this important nonpartisan civic holiday to boost election official morale ahead of Election Day," said Celina Stewart, CEO of LWV. "Election heroes are the hardworking public servants and volunteers who power our elections every year, and we are grateful for their dedication to our democracy."
| | |
League was here, there and everywhere
at September community events
Under the leadership of the indefatigable Michelle Fernandez, Voter Service co-chair, our League participated in numerous community events during the month of September to register voters, answer questions about elections, and encourage voters to prepare to vote in the Nov. 4 Special Election.
Events tied in with National Voter Registration events were held at San Jose State University, Gavilan College in Gilroy and Mission College in Santa Clara. In addition, the League had a presence at a second event at San Jose State University and four outdoor music performances in downtown San Jose -- each drawing a distinctly different crowd.
Special thanks to Vernatte Drake and members of the SJSU Delta Signa Theta Sorority, Inc. Alumnae Chapter who participated in multiple events. We are grateful for other volunteers including Olga Aguilar, Shelley Chaney Floyd, Kim Jackson, Pam Johnson, Rosemary Kuhn, Vickie Mueller Olvera, Carol Pavan, Stella Pham, Anita Romero, Tammy Turnipseed, Maureen Wheatley, and Kathy White. We also appreciate the educational and cultural arts organizations who invited us to participate.
| | SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY | | MISSION COLLEGE IN SANTA CLARA | | SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART CITYDANCE | MUSIC IN THE PARK BLUE OYSTER CULT CONCERT | PLAZA DE CESAR CHAVEZ KIDS DAY IN THE PARK | MUSIC IN THE PARK HIP HOP/RAP CONCERT | Giving voice to disenfranchised in our community | |
Sandy Mory, co-chair of the League's Immigration Committee, welcomed
Fr. Jon Pedigo, Executive Director of PACT (People Acting in Community Together) as the September Lunch with League speaker. He was joined by Ruby Ramirez from PACT and together they described their organization's grassroots efforts to help those struggling in our community find their voice in ways that result in positive changes. They invited League members to attend PACT's 40th Anniversary Leadership Luncheon at the Mexican Heritage Plaza on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Learn more and purchase tickets HERE.
| | |
Watch video of excellent panel
on executive power
| | |
The five Leagues of Women Voters in Santa Clara County presented an outstanding program focused on executive power in September, and a video is now available for viewing. Click here to watch.
Two legal experts served on the panel: Pamela S. Karlan, far right, Professor of Public Interest Law and Co-Director, Supreme Court Litigation Clinic at Stanford University, and David L. Sloss, center, the John A. and Elizabeth H. Sutro Professor of Law at Santa Clara University. The discussion was moderated by Elizabeth Ratner, left, of LWV Palo Alto.
| | | |
DONATE TODAY
If you are impressed by the League's broad scope of activities and would like to support our work, please consider making a tax deductible donation. There are three easy ways to give.
1 Click HERE to donate online using PayPal or a credit or debit card.
2 Mail a check payable to LWV San Jose/Santa Clara to: LWVSJSC, PO Box 5374, San Jose, CA 95150.
3 If your employer uses Benevity for donation matching, double your impact by searching for "League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara" to make your donation.
We need and appreciate your support.
Thank you!
| | |
Our League will receive $10 for every ticket sold using the promo code LWVSANJOSE -- plus you get a discount on the purchase price. The promo code is valid for all performances of the San Francisco run, excluding Saturday matinees. Click HERE for more information.
| | | | |
