1 . 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.
Tentative agenda includes a panel discussion on the Health Care for All Californians Bill (SB 840). Confirmed speakers include Rachel Richman of Assemblywoman Wilma Chan's office and Don Bechler with Health Care for All. This is your chance to learn the ins and outs of Universal Health Care. This panel discussion is co-sponsored by the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club.
Meetings are held at :
Temescal Oakland Library
5205 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA
Directions
Wheelchair accessible. The Oakland Public Library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of meetings or meeting room users. For more information, contact Sara.
2. 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.
3. 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. . .
4. Health Care for All Californians / SB 840, (GOOD NEWS)
Senator Sheila Kuehl's bill (Health Care for All Californians, California Bill SB 840), passed out of its first committee and has moved on to the Senate Health Committee. Thanks to all who sent letters, emails, and attended the committee meetings! The bill now moves to the next committee. Actions you can take:
Attend the May 7 general meeting of Progressive Democrats–East Bay to hear a panel discuss the Health Care for All Californians Bill (SB 840).
Write letters to the Senate Health Committee chair Deborah Ortiz (D) at State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.
5. 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 should happen soon. 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. . .
6. 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. . .
7. Stop Arnold From Holding An Expensive, Unnecessary, Unverifiable, Special Election! (Sign Petition)
Stop Arnold! Visit www.ContestTheVote.org and sign the petition to Stop Arnold's Special Election (an election for his Special Corporate Interests!) While there, you can send a message to your friends to sign, too. More. . .
8. PDLA Has Endorsed Antonio Villaraigosa for Mayor of Los Angeles (Phone Bank Help Needed)
Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles has endorsed Antonio Villaraigosa for Mayor of Los Angeles. The mayoral run-off election is May 17. Phone-banking help is needed for Antonio. If you can help, please contact Brad Parker or Dan Tamm at the Valley Headquarters for Antonio–(818) 781-7944.
9. Upcoming Events on Social Security (May 9 and May 10)
Two important events for saving Social Security are coming up:
Americans Uniting America Social Security Rally, San Jose (May 9)
AUA has teamed up with the San Jose State College Democrats to hold a non-partisan Social Security Rally on Thursday, May 9 from 12 Noon to 1:00 PM at the Student Union Amphitheater at San Jose State University.
POMBO: Keep your HANDS OFF SOCIAL SECURITY! (May 10)
The Hands Off Social Security Coalition takes the battle to the Stockton office of Rep. Richard Pombo, California torch-bearer for Social Security Privatization. This event is scheduled for May 10 at 10:30 AM.
10. Other Events
The following events were submitted to us for inclusion in this newsletter:
Campus Community Forum on the Future of Social Security (April 14)
Cal Berkeley Democrats present a Campus Community Forum on the Future of Social Security. Berkeley economic professors discuss the Bush administration's efforts to privatize and "reform" Social Security. Speakers include Dr. Alan Auerbach–Professor of Economics and Law, Dr. Ron Lee–Professor of Demography and Economics, and Dr. Daniel McFadden–Nobel Laureate 2000, Professor of Economics.
Details of this event:
Thursday, April 14 at 7:00 PM
University of California
170 Barrows Hall More. . .
Tales of the City: Struggles for Progressive Agendas in Oakland, CA (ISSC Event on April 14)
The Institute for the Study of Social Change has an upcoming event in its New Metropolis Speaker Series:
Thursday, April 14 from 3:30-5:00pm
2420 Bowditch Street (at Haste)
ISSC Conference Room
Tel: (510) 642-0813 More. . .
11. Join PD - East Bay
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
12. Submit Items for this Newsletter and the PD - East Bay Website
If you have items you would like listed in this newsletter or on the PD-East Bay web site at www.PDEastBay.org, submit them to PDEBListAdmin@PDEastBay.org. Events, activities, and action alerts about local progressive causes will be considered for inclusion.