League launches fundraising campaign with goal
of expanded resources for 2022 election activities
After an extended period of inactivity due to the pandemic, the Fundraising Committee has been revived with strong leadership and a healthy agenda. During its first meeting in early September, the committee agreed on a financial goal and set a timeline for jumpstarting our fundraising campaign. We also identified several potential approaches for reaching that goal and communicating with members, non-members and other interested parties appealing for donations to our local League.
The first action of the fundraising campaign will be an email blast in early November to all current and former members, supporters, and individuals who have attended League events in the past year. The Fundraising Committee is also working on a direct mail appeal targeted for February or March of 2022.
With so many important Federal, State, County, and local elections on the ballot in 2022, as well as an unknown number of ballot issues, the committee members chose the slogan “Election Year Ahead: So Much To Do In 2022.”
The Fundraising Committee is excited about getting started on the campaign. We encourage you to get involved with our committee or any other League of Women Voters of San Jose/Santa Clara committee that may interest you. There really is “So Much To Do In 2022.”
The Fundraising Committee is chaired by Kathleen Muller and includes League members Diane McNutt, Sally Pyle, Paula Radzinski and Carol Watts.
Thank you to our recent donors
Thank you to our members and supporters who made a donation to the League in the past two months. We appreciate your investment in our work!
Soren Borgeson
Mary Collins
Janet Hagquist
Beth Hughes
Sandra Mory
Paula Radzinski
Sandra Serpa
Rodney and Alice Thorn
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San Jose City Council to consider
the future of Coyote Valley on Nov. 16
Join the League in asking for a Yes vote on General Plan changes
The Climate Change and Action Committees ask San Jose residents to encourage their City Councilmember to adopt the recommendations of San Jose's Envision 2040 Update Task Force and city staff to make changes in the General Plan that will help preserve the future of Coyote Valley as open space. The upcoming vote is scheduled for Nov. 16, so the contact should be made as soon as possible. Find everything you need to make this contact in our Action Alert. Consider sending it to your neighbors, family, and friends.
It is crucial for the City Council to hear from the public on this since the Planning Commission, in a close vote on Oct. 27, did NOT approve these recommendations. The League supported these recommendations in a letter to the Planning Commission and in public testimony from League President Carol Watts.
The Envision 2040 Update Task Force and staff recommendations include:
- Changing land use designations of properties in North Coyote that are not already developed from “Industrial Park” to “Agriculture.”
- Changing the designation of properties that have been purchased by the City and Peninsula Open Space Trust/Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority from “Industrial Park” to “Open Space, Parklands and Habitat.”
- Removing the urban reserve designation from Mid-Coyote Valley.
Read the full report of staff recommendations and the past history of Coyote Valley HERE. Staff recommendations start on page 12 and there is a summary of the recommendations on page. 17.
While companies once planned to locate large office campuses in Coyote Valley, only IBM actually built facilities. Now, companies prefer to build closer to transportation hubs and the public is much more aware of the great value of Coyote Valley for local agriculture and open space. City staff has already determined that the 35,000 future jobs once envisioned for Coyote Valley can be relocated to other employment lands in San Jose.
The Planning Commission discussed whether agriculture is viable as an industry there and the points raised in a letter from Louise E. Jackson, Ph.D., Emerita Professor and Cooperative Extension Specialist, U.C. Davis, who summarized research and trends that supports Coyote Valley as “sustainable agriculture, with economic, environmental, and social benefits.”
The League is a longtime supporter of preserving Coyote Valley as open space based on our positions on the environment. LWVUS has declared a climate emergency. We ask for your support of this important vote! Contact your City Councilmember and urge a “yes” vote on Nov. 16.
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Environmental Justice is topic of Community Conversation at Nov. 30 virtual brown bag lunch
The League of Women Voters of the Bay Area invites you to discuss Environmental Justice with leaders from APEN-Asian Pacific Environmental Network and BARHII-Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 12 noon-1 p.m.
This Zoom event will examine the unjust and unavoidable disparities that impact communities of color, the elderly, children, those unable to afford food, quality shelter, fuels for cooling and transportation, or alternatives to contaminated drinking water. What are solutions and how can League members advocate in their communities will be important questions to be discussed and answered. REGISTER HERE.
There will be an optional period from 1-1:30 p.m. for League members to remain on the call to discuss their priorities, talk to each other and to LWV Bay Area leaders about other topics they wish to explore. This is the first of a series of Community Conversations LWV Bay Area will host throughout the 2021-2022 program year.
Share this meeting announcement with fellow LEAGUE members who want to learn more and make a difference in their community.
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League committees invite you to attend
League committees meet virtually via Zoom and all League members are invited to attend from the convenience and comfort of their own home or office. This is a great way to learn more about what committees are working on and to decide if you would like to become more involved.
Ruth Cueto, Supervising Planner and Housing Element Team lead, will speak at the November Housing & Homeless Committee meeting (date TBD). She will discuss how League members can participate in the City of San José's update of its Housing Element and preparation of an Assessment of Fair Housing Plan. She will also describe how the City is conducting pubic outreach and education around the segregation history in San Jose and the need for affirmatively furthering fair housing. Read more about the Housing Element and contact Committee Chair Roma Dawson if you would like to attend.
The Action & Advocacy Committee will also meet in November on a date to be determined. This committee is following the future of Coyote Valley, San Jose's Community Forest Management Plan, redistricting, and affordable housing. If you would like to be notified when the meeting is scheduled, contact Committee Chair Vicki Alexander.
The Membership Committee will meet on Monday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m. to continue discussion of how to recruit and retain members and how to encourage new members to become more active in the League. Final details for the holiday party on Dec. 7 is also on the agenda. If you would like to attend, contact Committee Chair Marie Arnold.
The Public Events Committee will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m. to discuss potential speakers for Lunch With League in 2022. If you would like to attend, or if you have a speaker to suggest, contact Committee Chair Diane McNutt.
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Local Public Agency resource list added to League website
The League has compiled a list of the jurisdictions, school districts, special districts and regional bodies that make decisions about the quality of life and future of the communities we serve -- San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Morgan Hill and Gilroy. The list also includes links to the websites of elected representatives to the State Assembly, State Senate and U.S. Congress. Find the list on the website HERE.
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Upcoming Zoom Events of Interest
San Jose Charter Review Commission Public Hearing
Saturday, Nov. 6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Share your thoughts and concerns about potential changes to the San Jose City Charter such as the role of the mayor, election years and more. Learn more about the Charter Review Commission HERE.
Reimagining Public Safety Community Advisory Committee
Wednesday, Nov. 17, 6:30-8 p.m.
Agendas for these City of San José public meetings can be found HERE. You do not need to register to attend, just click on this Zoom link at the appropriate time.
On the Horizon in 2022
LWV of Bay Area League Day
Saturday, Feb. 19
Housing will be the topic of discussion -- how to solve the housing shortage and where should it go.
Celebrate 102 years of the League
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2-4 p.m.
Postponed from spring of 2020, this festive celebration honors the League's 102nd anniversary. It will be held at Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 70 W. Hedding St., San Jose. Beverages and hors d'oeuvres will be served. And there will be cake! REGISTER HERE.
