Progressive Democrats - East Bay
Newsletter for March 8, 2006

Welcome to the March 8, 2006 edition of the Progressive Democrats of the East Bay Newsletter.

General Meeting, Saturday, March 11 at 2:00 PM, and More...

We have an exciting agenda for our General Meeting, this Saturday, Mar 11 at 2:00pm at the Temescal Oakland Library, 5205 Telegraph Ave., Oakland.

The death penalty is in the news again, and we've invited Stephanie Faucher from Death Penalty Focus to speak to us about the current state of affairs, the proposed moratorium on the death penalty, and what we can do to support the moratorium. We also have updates on the peace marches planned for both Walnut Creek and San Francisco on March 18, updates on progressive candidates in the upcoming elections, and reports from our action groups.

Read details about the General Meeting on our website or below.

Additionally, mark your calendars for March 30 when we sponsor a talk at the Grand Lake Theater by David Ray Griffin: 9/11–The Myth and the Reality. Visit www.pdeastbay.org/911MythReality/ for details.

The "One Thing..." item still revolves around Diebold certification in California. Please act now on this issue!

And thanks to all of you for your response to our fundraiser letter! Your contributions help tremendously!

Vince (PD-East Bay List Administrator)

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

  1. Say NO to Diebold! (Act Now!)

Featured Events for This Newsletter

  1. PD-EB Sponsors David Ray Griffin Talk on 9/11 (Thu, Mar 30)
  2. Meet Sen. Debra Bowen (Mon, Mar 20)
  3. Support Jerry McNerney for Congress (Act Now!)
  4. Support SB 840, Universal Health Care (Act Now!)

About PD–East Bay and This Newsletter

  1. About Progressive Democrats of the East Bay
  2. Join Progressive Democrats of the East Bay
  3. Submit Items for This Newsletter
  4. PD–East Bay General Meeting for Sat, Mar 11
  5. PD–East Bay Steering Committee Meeting (Wed, Mar 22)

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

  1. Say NO to Diebold! (Act Now!)

    We reported in our last newsletter that Secretary of State Bruce McPherson has certified Diebold's TSx voting system for use in California. This is despite its not meeting the requirements of the California Elections Code)

    Please visit BlackBoxVoting.org for details on actions you can take.

    We still recommend the following actions, which we previously reported:

    • Say NO to Diebold in Alameda County
      Visit Alameda County Website for information on how you can contact your Alameda County Supervisor to reject Diebold voting machines.

    • Help State Senator Debra Bowen Subpoena the Voting System Vendors and Test Labs
      Senator Debra Bowen, chair of the California Senate Elections Committee, is holding hearings investigating the problems with electronic voting systems. However, the vendors (Diebold, ES&S, Sequoia, and Hart InterCivic), will not come to the hearings. Neither will the testing labs (Wyle and Ciber). So Senator Bowen wants to subpoena them to force them to appear and testify.

      The California Senate almost never subpoenas witnesses. To do so, first Senator Bowen must get the agreement of the California Senate Rules Committee. We need your help to convince the members of the Rules Committee to issue the subpoena.

      Visit BlackBoxVoting.org for information on how you can contact Senators to issue the subpoena.

New and Featured Events for This Newsletter

  1. PD-EB Sponsors David Ray Griffin Talk on 9/11 (Thu, Mar 30)

    On Thursday, March 30th, the Progressive Democrats of the East Bay presents, with other sponsors, a talk by David Ray Griffin: 9/11–The Myth & the Reality.

    Dr. Griffin, a theologian and philosopher of religion, is one of a growing list of prominent scholars and others in the United States and the world to step forward and openly challenge the official account of 9/11.

    Operating from the principle that all suspects who had the means, motive, and opportunity should be investigated, Dr. Griffin brings to the light of day many omissions and distortions of fact in the official document of the official story–The 9/11 Commission Report.

    Join us in this important event:

    When: Thu, Mar 30 at 7:00pm

    Where: Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Lake Avenue, Oakland

    Tickets $10 (no one turned away at the door for lack of funds)

    For event details, including how to purchase tickets in advance, visit: www.pdeastbay.org/911MythReality

  2. Meet Sen. Debra Bowen (Mon, Mar 20)

    Debra Bowen, Our Lady on the Senate Elections Committee and candidate for Secretary of State is speaking at East Bay for Democracy's (EB4D) March 20 meeting in Oakland. It would be nice to get a healthy contingent of Clean Money supporters there to cheer her on (she is a strong AB 583 co-author) and to give AB 583 a prominent place in whatever discussion develops at this meetup.

    With the bill now in the Elections Committee and Perata making positive supportive Clean Money noises, our focus will undoubtedly be turning to the Senate Elections Committee, which Bowen chairs. So this is a strategic time for us to be getting together with her to get some pointers about next steps.

    If you can attend the meetup, please RSVP:

    If you are not a DFA member: RSVP (non-members)
    If you are a DFA member: RSVP (members)

    When: Mon, Mar 20 (6:30pm–Pizza Social, 7:00pm Program)
    Where: Redwood Gardens, 2951 Derby, Berkeley

    Directions

    For those planning to attend, if you have some kind of Clean Money apparel – t-shirt, button, cap – this would be a good place to wear it!

    For more information contact:

    Lynn Davidson
    East Bay Area Coordinator
    California Clean Money Campaign
    www.CAclean.org (510) 527-4299

  3. Support Jerry McNerney for Congress (Act Now!)

    You can help Take Back Red California in our own East Bay!

    Support Jerry McNerney who is attempting to unseat Congressman Richard Pombo (R-Tracy). Pombo, one of the most conservative, corrupt politicians in Congress, is in a neighboring red district.

    Pombo, named one of the 13 most corrupt members of Congress, is a close associate of indicted Rep. Tom DeLay. Pombo is working vigorously to overturn environmental laws (including the Endangered Species Act) and destroy our natural heritage. Pombo is a right-wing zealot in charge of the House Resources Committee.

    Progressive Democrats of the East Bay has endorsed Jerry McNerney in his bid to unseat Pombo.

    There are many ways to help the campaign of Jerry McNerney including:

    • Hosting a houseparty or helping to plan fundraising events
    • Helping with phone banking and precinct walking
    • Volunteering your computer and organizational skills

    Phonebanking has started in Dublin at IBEW Hall 2nd flr, 6250 Village Pkwy, Dublin.

    For more information call the campaign headquarters: 925.833.0643 or contact PD-EB member, Jody Ginsberg, 510-636-4149. Visit www.jerrymcnerney.org and volunteer.

  4. Support SB 840, Universal Health Care (Act Now!)

    The Health Care Committee of Progressive Democrats of the East Bay is working together with the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club Health Committee, primarily on SB 840. SB 840 is Senator Kuehl's bill for universal health care in California.

    Currently, we are developing a network of support with other democratic clubs around the state for the bill through a new interactive website www.caldems.net. We are also developing a speaker's bureau to speak on SB 840 around the Bay Area.

    VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! If you would like to get involved, send an email to Moria Lawlor at moriala@hotmail.com. Moria will be glad to inform you about Health Care Committee meetings and help you plug into our work.

    Let's get health care for all!

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!

  4. PD–East Bay General Meeting for Sat, Mar 11

    Because of recent events regarding the ethics of a scheduled execution, California has a de facto moratorium on the death penalty until May.

    Please join us at our next PD-East Bay General Meeting featuring:

    Stefanie Faucher
    Program Director of Death Penalty Focus
    (www.deathpenalty.org)

    Saturday March 11th at 2pm
    Temescal Oakland Library
    5205 Telegraph Ave.
    Oakland

    Directions

    Wheelchair accessible. – The Oakland Public Library does not advocate or endorse the viewpoints of meetings or meeting room users. – For more information, contact Vince.

    It is becoming more and more obvious that the death penalty is indeed “cruel and unusual punishment,” flying in the face of our constitutional protection under the Bill of Rights. Join us in a discussion of how to persuade voters and legislators to approve a moratorium on the death penalty. A moratorium would halt all executions while a thorough study of the state’s criminal justice procedures is being conducted.

    Agenda for the PD-East Bay General Meeting

    1. Welcome and Introductions

    2. Death Penalty Focus w/Stefanie Faucher
      (See Above)

    3. Preparations for Anti-War March on March 18
      We're making plans for San Francisco and Walnut Creek marches.

    4. Overview of Upcoming California Democratic Convention and Primary Races
      We'll provide news on the convention and updates on the Governor's race, Debra Bowen's bid for Secretary of State, and other races.

    5. Action Group reports
      • Announcement: David Ray Griffin talk, 9/11: Myth & Reality
      • McNerney for Congress campaign
      • Charlie Brown for Congress campaign
      • California Clean Money campaign

    6. General Announcements

    Note: Due to scheduling conflicts, we were not able to get a speaker for SB 840, Universal Health Care. We regret the inconvenence and hope to schedule a speaker on this topic for an upcoming meeting.

  5. PD–East Bay Steering Committee Meeting (Wed, March 22)

    The next meeting for the PD–East Bay Steering Committee is Wednesday, March 22 from 7:00–9:00 pm. The agenda and location to be determined.

    If you are not on the steering committee, but would like to attend, please RSVP to Sara Shumer at shumer3@comcast.net.

    You must join PD–East Bay to participate in the steering committee.