1. Letter from PD-East Bay Co-chairs
To friends of Progressive Democrats of the East Bay:
We now have a thriving and growing East Bay Chapter of PDA. We have successfully held three monthly general meetings. We have Action Groups busy on many topics: saving social security, providing universal health care, ending the war in Iraq now, public financing of elections and safe balloting, reforming the mass media, and dialoguing with religious progressives. Soon we will start precinct organizing. We have a membership of over fifty and a mailing list of over one hundred twenty five.
Many of you have been to our meetings and are involved in the Action Groups, but many of you are not. We urge you to come to our next meeting (May 7th, from 1-3 at Temescal Library at Telegraph and 52nd St., in Oakland) to join an Action Group or form a new one. (Please see our web page at www.pdeastbay.org and become a member.)
We realize that many who support our cause and endeavors cannot make meetings and are too busy with other activities to be involved in an Action Group. Please, if you support our work become a member. Our funds make it possible to create flyers, literature and banners, rent the meeting room, and enable us to mail notices about events. These are all essential activities to our functioning as a progressive voice.
Dues are on a sliding scale: 2 hours of volunteer work during the year or $10-$100 per year.
Make checks to PDA-EB and send to:
Sara Shumer
1610 Kains Ave
Berkeley, CA. 94702
Include:
Name Address
E-mail Phone
Interests/Skills
Thank you,
Bill Lawler and Sara Shumer
2. Stop John Bolton's Nomination for U.N. Ambassador (Act Now!)
John Bolton represents his own agenda, not the agenda of the American people. Bolton, who has defied orders throughout his career, is a loose cannon. His belief that the international community is led only "when it suits our interests, and when we can get others to go along" would alienate even America's most devoted allies. (1994 Global Structures Convocation, New York, NY.) This appointment could prove disastrous to U.S. national security.
The committee vote for John Bolton's nomination is scheduled for Thursday, April 7. Call or write Barbara Boxer and other Senators now to stop John Bolton's nomination for U.N. Ambassador from getting out of committee. More. . .
3. Stop the "Debt Slavery" Bankruptcy Bill in the House (Act Now!)
The bill will change current law to prevent you from declaring bankruptcy under Chapter 7, which pays off your debts by liquidating your assets, giving you a fresh start financially. Instead, it would force you into Chapter 13 with a rigid 5-year repayment plan. You would no longer be able to protect your car and home, and you would have to pay greater legal fees.
Simply put, you would become a debt slave to the credit card companies.
Call or write your Representative now, urging a No vote on the Bankruptcy Bill. More. . .
4. Angelides Speaks About the Current Crisis in California Politics (Wed, April 6)
Phil Angelides was elected State Treasurer in 1998 and has announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Governor. Come hear Angelides analyze the current crisis in California politics on Wed, April 6 at 7:00 PM. Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland.
This program is co-sponsored by the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, East Bay for Democracy, and Progressive Democrats of the East Bay. More. . .
5. Health Care for All Californians / SB 840, (Wed, April 6)
Health Care for All Californians, California Bill SB 840, has come up to its first obstacle. It is currently being considered in the Insurance Committee headed by State Senator Jackie Speier--if it does not pass out of committee, the bill will be dead.
Carpool to Sacramento to attend the Insurance Committee meeting on Wed, April 6. We need to make a strong presence for our voice to be heard!
This is an all day event. Carpools leave Berkeley at 10:00 AM, return around 6:00 PM. To reserve a space, you must RSVP with Sheila Goldmacher at (510) 666-1351. More. . .
6. Save Social Security – Oakland Town Hall Meeting (Sat, April 9)
Social Security is under attack! Attend a town hall meeting sponsored by California Alliance for Retired Americans to learn how to protect and preserve Social Security.
Sat, April 9th, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
SEIU Local #250-UHW
560 Thomas Berkeley Way (20th Street)
Oakland
You must RSVP to attend. Contact Jacki Fox Ruby, (510) 549-3908 More. . .
7. Department of Peace / Peace Alliance Event (Sunday, April 17)
East Bay Kickoff Briefing / Fund Raiser for the U.S. Department of Peace and the Peace Alliance Foundation on Sunday, April 17, 7:00 - 9:00 PM at First Church of Religious Science, 5000 Clarewood Dr (off Broadway Terrace), Oakland.
This event is co-sponsored by PD-East Bay and the Mt. Diablo Peace Center. More. . .
8. PD - East Bay Steering Committee Meeting (Thursday, April 14)
The next meeting of the PD - East Bay Steering Committee will be on Thursday, April 14 at 7:00 PM. The meeting will be held in a West Berkeley location. If you are interested in attending, send email to PDEastBay@PDEastBay.org.
9. PD - East Bay General Meeting (Saturday, May 7)
The next general meeting for PD-East Bay is Saturday, May 7 from 1:00-3:00 pm. Agenda for the meeting to be announced.
Meetings are held at:
Temescal Oakland Library
5205 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA
Wheelchair accessible. The Oakland Public Library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of meetings or meeting room users. For more information, contact Sara.
10. Update on Website and Calendar
Check out the newly designed PD-East Bay web site at http://PDEastBay.org. We've added navigation links, a section for Action Alerts, and archives of newsletters. We plan to add sections for information on each of the PD-East Bay Action Groups, and also make the calendar operational.
Your feedback and suggestions for the web site are welcome. Send them to PDEBListAdmin@PDEastBay.org.