Progressive Democrats Sonoma County

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May 15, 2013
Petaluma, CA

Donna Norton and Stan Gold deliver the May Letter to Rep. Huffman’s (CA-2) District Office in Petaluma, as part of PDA’s Educate Congress Campaign. Accepting the letter is District Office staff person, Kelly Meeker. Today, the Educate Congress Campaign delivered letters to over 200 Congressional offices, including District Offices around the country and Offices on Congressional Hill in D.C.

Click Here to read the May Letter to Rep. Huffman

To: Rep. Mike Thompson
From: Constituents of Congressional District 5

Re: Social Security, Tax, and Healthcare
May 15, 2013

Representative Thompson,

We are voters in your Congressional District, writing to urge you to oppose cuts to essential programs, as well as support common sense tax policies and job creation, as well as expanded, improved healthcare. Specifically, we ask you to:

Sign on to the Grayson/Takano “Line in the Sand” dear colleague letter pledging to vote against any cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits.

Cosponsor H.R. 1579: The Inclusive Prosperity Act — also known as the Financial Speculation Tax (FST) or Robin Hood Tax (RHT)—which would generate hundreds of $billions to fund job creation, jumpstart the economy, and protect essential programs. Lead sponsor: Rep. Keith Ellison.

To: Rep. Huffman
From: Constituents of Congressional District 2

Re: Social Security, Tax, and Healthcare
May 15, 2013

Representative Huffman,

We are voters in your Congressional District, writing to urge you to oppose cuts to essential programs, as well as support common sense tax policies and job creation, as well as expanded, improved healthcare. Specifically, we ask you to:

Sign on to the Grayson/Takano “Line in the Sand” dear colleague letter pledging to vote against any cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits. Your pledge to vote against ‘chained CPI’ benefit cuts is appropriate and we strongly urge you to make a similar commitment to vote against any legislation or measure which would cut Medicare or Medicaid benefits.

BILL FLETCHER JR. will speak about the future of the labor movement and his new book: They’re Bankrupting Us and 20 Other Myths About Unions

Labor and human rights activist Bill Fletcher Jr. will discuss his new book, “They’re Bankrupting Us, and 20 Other Myths about Unions,” and reflect upon the state of the American labor movement. He will be joined by young organizers who will describe current union and immigrant rights organizing campaigns in the North Bay and a dialogue will follow.

The event is free and wheelchair accessible. Coffee and dessert will be provided. Please call 707-623-7395 for more information.

Presented by The Living Wage Coalition / Jobs With Justice Organizing Committee & CoSponsored by: SEIU 1021, North Bay Labor Council, North Bay Organizing Project, Project Censored, Progressive Democrats Sonoma County, MoveOn, UNITE HERE 2850, Graton Day Labor Center, Committee on Immigrant Rights, Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County, and California Healthy Communities Network

Bill Fletcher, Jr., is a longtime labor, racial justice and international activist. He is an Editorial Board member and columnist for BlackCommentator.com and a Senior Scholar for the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC. He is the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum and a founder of the Black Radical Congress and is an Advisory Board member of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA).

Fletcher is the co-author (with Fernando Gapasin) of Solidarity Divided, The Crisis in Organized Labor and A New Path Toward Social Justice (University of California Press). He was formerly the Vice President for International Trade Union Development Programs for the George Meany Center of the AFL-CIO. Prior the George Meany Center, Fletcher served as Education Director and later Assistant to the President of the AFL-CIO.

Fletcher got his start in the labor movement as a rank and file member of the Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America. Combining labor and community work, he was also involved in ongoing efforts to desegregate the Boston building trades. He later served in leadership and staff positions in District 65-United Auto Workers, National Postal Mail Handlers Union and Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Fletcher is a graduate of Harvard University and has authored numerous articles and speaks widely on domestic and international topics, racial justice and labor issues.

To: Representative Huffman
From: Constituents of CD-2

Fairness and Prosperity, Not Austerity
April 17, 2013

Representative Huffman,

Many of our members are voters in your District, and supporters of Progressive Democrats of America. We’re writing to urge your support for legislation to promote economic growth and lower the deficit through fair budget policies and job creation, as well as to protect voting rights and end the War in Afghanistan.

Specifically, we call upon you to:

Sign the Grayson/Takano Letter: a “dear colleague” letter pledging to vote against any legislation or measure which would cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits. Your recent press release, pledging to vote against ‘chained CPI’ cuts to Social Security benefits, though delayed, was appreciated. We call upon you to make a similar commitment to vote against any legislation or measure which would cut Medicare or Medicaid benefits.

To: Representative Mike Thompson
From: Constituents of CD-5

Fairness and Prosperity, Not Austerity
April 17, 2013

Representative Thompson,

We are voters in your Congressional District, and supporters of Progressive Democrats of America. We’re writing to urge your support for legislation to promote economic growth and lower the deficit through fair budget policies and job creation, as well as to protect voting rights and end the War in Afghanistan.

Specifically, we call upon you to:

Sign the Grayson/Takano Letter: a “dear colleague” letter pledging to vote against any legislation or measure which would cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits.

Note: Highlighted posts may stay at the top of the website for relatively long periods. After catching up with recent green ‘sticky posts’, please scroll down to view updated blog posts.

Why isn’t Rep. Jared Huffman promising to defend Social Security and Medicare?

by Alice Chan
Bohemian.com – Open Mic
March 27, 2013

Last week, a Press Democrat editorial praised Rep. Jared Huffman for refusing to join colleagues who have promised to “vote against any and every cut to Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits—including raising the retirement age or cutting the cost of living adjustments that our constituents earned and need.”

What’s going on here? On Feb. 28, I joined a group of a dozen constituents meeting with Huffman’s district director, urging the congressmember to sign a letter initiated by Representatives Alan Grayson and Mark Takano. That letter includes a promise to vote against any cuts to benefits in those three vital programs.

Why did we request that our congressmember sign this letter? Republicans and some Democrats in Washington are pushing for cuts to Social Security benefits in cost of living adjustments, as well as raising the Medicare eligibility age. Those changes would directly affect the most vulnerable among us—the elderly and others with low and moderate income, who rely on these earned benefits to provide the basic necessities of life.

What was Huffman’s response? On his Facebook page a few days later, he stated: “I won’t be bullied from the left or the right into signing Norquistian vote pledges to outside groups.”

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Sonoma County Democratic Party Crab Feed
February 22, 2013

Lynn Hamilton, Recipient of the Roberta Hollowell Award “In Recognition of her Dedicated Service to Issues of Importance for All Women and Democratic Party Values.”

Prepared remarks. Award presented by former Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey.

Thank you Lynn Woolsey. I have always admired you and held you up as an example of an elected official who stuck to your values the entire time you served as our Congresswoman. I urge all of the elected officials who were endorsed by the Democratic Central Committee to follow Lynn’s example and stick to your values and the values set forth in the Democratic Party Platform even though you might be tempted to betray your principles for personal gain, power or advancement.

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Balance for Our Families and Our Economy
February 20, 2013

Dear Representative Huffman,

We are writing in support of legislation to promote economic growth, protect voting rights, end the war, and lower the deficit.

The Balancing Act (H.R. 505) proposed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus would provide relief to American families, and reduce the long-term Federal deficit in a fair and balanced way by balancing budget cuts and revenues—closing loopholes and making sure the Pentagon and the nation’s biggest corporations do their part—and by putting $800 in the pockets of every family this year. It would create more than 1 million jobs by investing in infrastructure, and by keeping 280,000 teachers in our classrooms.

Healthcare NOT Warfare! Members of Progressive Democrats Sonoma County out on the sidewalk with the Nurses, January 17, 2013.
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CLICK HERE to view more pictures from the event.

January 13, 2012

All of the candidates who ran on the Progressive Slate, www.ProgressiveSlate.org , in our local California Democratic Party AD Delegate Elections, were elected! These newly elected CDP AD Delegates will represent us on the Democratic Party State Central Committee:

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Joe Louis Wildman (E-Board)
Lasara Allen
Phil Baldwin
Caroline Banuelos
Shane Brinton
Susan Brinton
Kathryn Donahue
Phil Harlan
Kenny Jowers
Maggi Koren
Mel Kreb

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Mayme Hubert (E-Board)
Nick Carlin
Ruth Carter
Alice Chan
Jason Davies
Maureen De Nieva
Elizabeth Escalante
Paul Fenn
Blake Hooper
Ken Jones
Dan Mullen
Donna Norton

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PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS SONOMA COUNTY
Candidate and California Proposition Endorsements
General Election, November 6, 2012

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CANDIDATES

CA State Assembly District 10
Michael Allen

Sonoma County Supervisor, District 1
Susan Gorin

Santa Rosa City Council
Julie Combs
Caroline Banuelos
Gary Wysocky
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Founder of the media watch group FAIR, Director of the Park Center for Independent Media at Ithaca College, Author of Cable News Confidential,
JEFF COHEN will speak on: U.S. News Media, the Occupy Movement and the 2012 Election. The event is sponsored by the Healdsburg High Progressive Club.

Thursday, March 15
7:30 p.m.

Healdsburg High School
Room 67
Healdsburg, CA

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA presents an evening with:

JOHN NICHOLS, Washington correspondent for The Nation magazine,

MICHAEL LIGHTY, Policy Director of the California Nurses Association,

and NORMAN SOLOMON, Co-chair of the national Healthcare NOT Warfare Campaign.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:30.

WHERE: Guzman Hall, Dominican University; 50 Acacia Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901.

Go here for a campus map

This is a rare opportunity to see these three dynamic leaders and speakers together in one room. Join us for an evening of community and celebration in support of Healthcare NOT Warfare!

No entry charge. Donations accepted. Wheel-chair accessible.

Cosponsored by the Expressions Program of the Humanities Department, Dominican University.

An Evening with:

JOHN NICHOLS
Washington correspondent for
The Nation Magazine

MICHAEL LIGHTY
Policy Director of the California
Nurses Association

and
NORMAN SOLOMON
Co-Chair of the national
Healthcare Not Warfare Campaign

On September 1, 2011, at a special meeting in Sebastopol, Progressive Democrats Sonoma County voted to endorse Norman Solomon for Congress.

Solomon expressed deep gratitude for the endorsement, calling it “a big boost for our grassroots campaign to ensure that this region continues to have strong progressive representation in Congress. The Sonoma County chapter of PDA is known for its strength of commitment and depth of community roots. I feel honored by the county chapter’s support, and I look forward to working together as our campaign keeps gaining momentum.”

May 11, 2011

Letter delivered to Rep. Woolsey’s staff at May18 Brown Bag Lunch Vigil

Dear Representative Woolsey:

On behalf of the undersigned members of the Progressive Democrats of America, Sonoma County, we are writing to express our adamant opposition to the proposed free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama. Contrary to President Obama’s campaign pledge to overhaul President Bush’s failed trade policies, he is now proposing three disastrous NAFTA-style agreements on which you may soon be asked to cast a vote. We strongly urge you to oppose these deals.

April 18, 2011

Dear Representative Woolsey,

It is time to begin the “safe and orderly withdrawal” of troops and contractors in Afghanistan. The best way to effect this is by enacting HR 780, Rep. Barbara Lee’s “Responsible End to the War in Afghanistan Act.”

This is legislation whose time has come, and your cosponsorship can lead to the end of America’s longest war, with its tragic loss of life and debilitating loss of money that can better be spent here at home. Thank you for cosponsoring this vital legislation.

Progressive Democrats Sonoma County
Press Release
May 16, 2011

Santa Rosa, CA – Members of Progressive Democrats of America have been petitioning congressional members to enact a jobs bill that will help the millions of unemployed workers across the country. Progressive Democrats, Sonoma County chapter is pleased to see Representative Lynn Woolsey’s announcement that she is cosponsoring H.R. 870, the Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act, introduced by Representative John Conyers, Jr., D (MI-14) in the House of Representatives on March 2, 2011. As of today, there are a total of 15 cosponsors, all Democratic Congress members.

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Join local PDA members as we welcome PDA Advisory Board member and honored guest Lynn Woolsey, Healthcare NOT Warfare co-chair Norman Solomon, PDA Advisory Board member and Director of Administration and Public Policy for the California Nurses Association (CNA)/National Nurses United (NNU) Michael Lighty, along with Tim Carpenter, Conor Boylan, and Dr. Bill Honigman of the PDA National team for the last leg of the PDA California Healthcare NOT Warfare Tour. Celebrate with us as we honor Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and her six years with PDA.

Read the Rest Here & RSVP

UPDATE: Michael Lighty WILL be with us in Santa Rosa on April 28. Along with Rep. Lynn Woolsey, he will be joined by Norman Solomon, Co-Chair of the Healthcare Not Warfare Campaign and Tim Carpenter, Conor Boylan, Dr. Bill Honigman and Steve Cobble of the PDA national team. Space is limited. RSVP required: http://www.pdamerica.org/events/view/pda-roadshow-is-coming-to-santa-rosa

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March 16, 2011
Santa Rosa, CA

Dear Representative Woolsey,

Since January 2010, the Brown Bag Lunch Vigils have been out in front of our representatives’ and senators’ offices, on street corners, and in parks to get the word out to our community that this country can give everyone access to healthcare, make jobs available to those who need them, stem the increase of carbon in our air, and correct the balance of power and wealth between those who have and those who have not. The common thread among many of our goals is that naysayers must be able to step out of their comfort zones and understand the terrible effects these problems have on ordinary people.

That’s no easy task, even for the most enlightened of us. Something that helps people see the importance of making sure that others in our country can take care of themselves—or receive help when they can’t—is seeing a goal laid out in print in a piece of simple legislation.

**********************BBLV gets a thumbs up!*********************

CLICK HERE to view photo album.