Progressive Democrats - East Bay
Newsletter for December 21, 2005

Welcome to the December 21, 2005 edition of the Progressive Democrats of the East Bay Newsletter. In this newsletter, we highlight the California Clean Money campaign.

The PD–East Bay General Meeting on Saturday, January 7 is a gathering following the Town Hall meeting on the Clean Money Campaign. Attend the Town Hall meeting and join the follow-up discussion with PDEB members. Also highlighted below, a fund raiser for the campaign, which takes place on January 6.

If You Only Have Time To Do One Thing...

  1. Attend the Town Hall in Support of Clean Money Bill (Jan 7)

Featured Events for This Newsletter

  1. PD–East Bay General Meeting for Jan 7
  2. California Coming Clean Reception (Fri, Jan 6)
  3. Help Defeat Pombo (Act Now!)
  4. Berkeley Honda Strike (Update)
  5. Join Bay Area Grandmothers Against the War in Anti-War Action (Valentine's Day)

If You Only Have Time To Do One Thing...

  1. Attend the Town Hall in Support of Clean Money Bill (Jan 7)

    The California Clean Money and Fair Elections Bill (AB 583) will be debated in committee and come to a vote in the California Assembly THIS JANUARY. Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, the author of the bill, is holding a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the bill the weekend before it goes to the Elections Committee. So let's all get out and show that we want to get big money out of California politics through publically financed election campaigns.

    Clean Money will be a priority for PD–East Bay in 2006, so this is a perfect opportunity to come up to speed on this exciting campaign, which can really change the political landscape in California.

    Town Hall details:

    Loni Hancock's Community Forum
    When: Sat, January 7, 11am–2pm
    Where: Oakland City Hall, Council Chambers
    1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
    Oakland, bet. 14th and 15th Sts. at Clay St.
    Directions
    For more information call (510) 559-1406.

    For information on gathering with PD–East Bay members afterward, contact Bill Lawler at (510) 524-4244. (Note, we should be easy to find after the forum as we gather together.)

    Here are three ways to get involved:

    1. Join other PD–East Bay members at the Town Hall Meeting

    2. Our local Assemblymembers – Hancock, Chan, and Klehs – are all co-authors of AB 583. The Clean Money Campaign is asking us to write to President Pro Tem Don Perata and Speaker Fabian Nunez, urging them to support the bill.

      See http://www.caclean.org/getinvolved/takeaction.php for their addresses and suggested talking points.

    3. Check out the East Bay Clean Money workgroup, which meets the third Saturday of every month. Meeting details.

    For more information about the California Clean Money campaign go to www.caclean.org.

New and Featured Events for This Newsletter

  1. PD–East Bay General Meeting for Jan 7

    The January 7 general meeting of Progressive Democrats of the East Bay is a gathering following the Town Hall meeting on the Clean Money Campaign. Attend the Town Hall meeting and join the follow-up discussion with PDEB members. This forum will discuss overhauling California's elections and instituting a publicly financed election system through the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act of 2006.

    After the forum, PD–East Bay members (and others) will gather at a Chinatown restaurant to assess the forum and plan future actions.

    Loni Hancock's Community Forum
    When: Sat, January 7, 11am–2pm
    Where: Oakland City Hall, Council Chambers
    1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
    Oakland, bet. 14th and 15th Sts. at Clay St.
    Directions
    For more information call (510) 559-1406.

    For information on gathering with PD–East Bay members afterward, contact Bill Lawler at (510) 524-4244. (Note, we should be easy to find after the forum as we gather together.)

    Here's more information about the Town Hall.

  2. California Coming Clean Reception (Fri, Jan 6)

    What is Clean Money and what will it mean for California?

    The California Clean Money Campaign and the League of Women Voters of Piedmont & Oakland invite you to find out how Clean Money full public funding of election campaigns puts voters in control!

    Friday, January 6th at 6:00-8:00pm at a lovely Piedmont home.

    A Conversation with Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (D - Berkeley) Sponsor, AB 583, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act, with special guests:

    Meg Burton-Cahill (D-Tempe)
    Cleanly-elected member of the Arizona House of Representatives

    Susan Lerner
    Executive Director, California Clean Money Campaign

    On the eve of the Northern California Town Hall meeting on AB 583, come meet Clean Money champions and legislators, and be inspired by the difference Clean Money full public funding can make!

    Wine and hors d'oeuvres

    Tickets are $25 per person.

    This event is a fundraiser to support the work of the California Clean Money Campaign and full public funding of election campaigns in California.

    Please RSVP early Space is limited Email: Moira.Brennan@CAclean.org or tel: 800.566.3780 (The event address will be provided upon receipt of your RSVP.)

    Clean Money: the reform that makes all other reforms possible!

    Please forward this invitation to your friends who are concerned about the impact of money on politics.

  3. Help Defeat Pombo (Act Now!)

    Help defeat the corrupt Congressman Richard Pombo (R-Tracy) and take back the House of Representatives in 2006.

    One of the most conservative, corrupt politicians in Congress, Richard Pombo, is in a neighboring red district. The impact of Richard Pombo's environmental policies, including the gutting of the Endangered Species Act, harms all of us.

    Jerry McNerney is a true grassroots candidate challenging Pombo. Visit Mcnerney4congress.com to read more about this Jerry McNerney.

    Pombo is vulnerable in 2006, but PDEB help is needed to defeat him. Please consider volunteering or contributing to the McNerney campaign. Contact Jody Ginsberg, 510-636-4149, jody@idiom.com for details on how you can help.

  4. Berkeley Honda Strike (Update)

    Berkeley Honda has finally begun negotiating with the union! This is a tremendous and hard-won accomplishment. It's tempting to think that we can slack off now, since they're finally doing what we've asked for. But it's actually the other way around: We have to reinforce their willingness to bargain by maintaining the pressure, or even increasing it, if possible. That will disabuse them of any second thoughts they may have.

    Please join us for the following rallies:

    Thurs. Dec. 22, 4:30-6:00pm
    Sat. Dec 24, 1-2:30pm (Yes! Christmas Eve day)
    Parker & Shattuck, Berkeley

    Last Saturday, about 50 people showed up at the dealership in rainy, blustery weather to sing labor carols. When people come out in that kind of weather, you're talking dedication. Thanks to all of you, and special thanks to the Rocking Solidarity Labor Chorus for their help with this event.

    Negotiations are quiet right now. We're not really sure what's happening. We know that they're losing money, and that they can't continue this way indefinitely, but they are one stubborn group of people.

    For more information on how you can help, please contact Judy Shelton:

    Judy Shelton
    Bay Area Labor & Community Coalition
    beactive@sbcglobal.net
    510-548-9334

  5. Join Bay Area Grandmothers Against the War in Anti-War Action (Valentine's Day)

    Inspired by Tucson's Raging Grannies, New York's Grandmothers Against the War and other groups, the first action of the recently formed San Francisco Bay Area Grandmothers Against the War will be a mass "enlistment" at our local military recruiting station on Valentine's Day. The group will insist that they take "us old folks" so that the young men and women now in Iraq can come home. Women For Peace and other anti-war groups in our area will join this anti-war action.

    You are also invited to participate. If your group and others across the country join together with like-minded local people (regardless of gender or age) and conduct similar actions on February 14, we can create a large, newsworthy, nationwide event.

    Please respond as soon as possible–by January 31 at the latest–if you will stage an action in your area so that you can be included in the press release that will be sent out to the national media.

    You can contact Bay Area Grandmothers Against the War at: bayareagrandmothers@yahoo.com

    At the recruiting station, some plan to wear military caps. Many of the women will attempt to enter the station and enlist while others will remain outside carrying posters and distributing leaflets that include the statement read by the New York Grandmothers Against the War at their October protest. Anticipating that the group may be asked to leave, they are working with a lawyer to advise us of our rights.

    Getting media attention is crucial, especially if we succeed in coordinating our actions nation-wide. We suggest that each participating group contact its local media. Any group with access to the national media should stay in touch with Bay Area Grandmothers Against the War so as to get a complete list of participating cities/groups.

    Read more about the New York group.

About PD–East Bay and This Newsletter

  1. About Progressive Democrats of the East Bay

    Progressive Democrats of the East Bay is a growing chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, a national organization and Political Action Committee (PAC), started by supporters of Kucinich, Dean, and various social justice groups. It is not affiliated with the Democratic party but is dedicated to restoring to the Democratic party its progressive vision by engaging local support for national and local progressive causes.

    Progressive Democrats of the East Bay will support progressive candidates for elected office from the small local boards to national offices. It dialogues and networks with a broad-based coalition of likeminded groups and people in our community to create a common agenda and an agreed-upon plan by which to realize our goals.

  2. Join Progressive Democrats of the East Bay

    We realize that many who support our causes and endeavors cannot attend all our meetings or are too busy with other activities to be involved in an Action Group.

    Please, if you support our work, become a member. Funds make it possible for us to create flyers, literature, and banners, rent the meeting room, and mail notices about events. These are all essential activities to our functioning as a progressive voice.

    Dues are on a sliding scale: $10–$100 per year or a minimum of 2 hours of volunteer work a year.

    Make checks payable to PD-EB, and send to:
    Moria Lawlor
    336 Wayne Avenue, #3
    Oakland, CA. 94606

    Please provide the following:
    Name: _______________________________________
    Address: _____________________________________
    _____________________________________________
    _____________________________________________
    E-mail and phone: ______________________________
    _____________________________________________
    Interest and skills: ______________________________

  3. Submit Items for This Newsletter

    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. Note: All submissions subject to editing to fit the style and content of our organization.

    Check out www.pdeastbay.org regularly for updated information on progressive politics!