[Re-sent] february 2019 meeting (copy 01)

Democratic Woman's Club-7 pm Monday February 19@Elijah's

February 11, 2019

Monday, February 18

Please join us for our first annual Galentine's day celebration! Bring your own valentines or write a quick note of appreciation on the funny, goofy, sweet valentines we will provide. Let's all recognize and honor the amazing women we love and admire, women who nourish us and inspire us. Not quite sure what Galentine's Day is all about?  https://parksandrecreation.fandom.com/wiki/Galentine%27s_Day

Vice President Becca Miller will also share the results of our survey and discuss how this should guide us in planning our future activities, programming and meetings.

_______________________________________________________________

At our January meeting, we had a forum to question the two candidates for Chair of the San Diego Democratic Party. We congratulate the newly elected Chair, William Rodriguez-Kennedy and welcome him back anytime!

Our club member, Oren Robinson, has been elected Secretary of the San Diego Democratic Party. Congratulations to Oren!

______________________________________________________________

We will be presenting you with a resolution to support the Western Service Workers in their fight against water shutoffs. Here is information for you to preview to become familiar with this issue:Join WSWA’s fight to stop water shutoffs

Facts:

  • 16,000 households had their water shut off in San Diego in 2016 due to inability to pay.

  • Water shutoffs pose a deadly public health risk. Twenty people died in San Diego in 2017 from the worst Hepatitis A outbreak in state history, a disease that spreads through lack of sanitation.

  • Last year the State of California had the largest budget surplus in history, while it gave out billions in tax breaks to the likes of Facebook, Google, Apple and Northrup Grumman.

  • The United Nations recommends a household should pay no more than 3% of its income on water – in California, low-income families pay one-third of their income.What state laws promised:

  • AB 685 (2012) states “Every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable and accessible water.”

  • AB 401 (2015) directs that the State Water Resources Control Board “shall develop a plan for the funding and implementation of the Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program,” (LIRA), “no later than” February 1, 2018.

  • SB 998 (2018) established some regulations on water shutoffs (but prohibits shutoffs only in extreme cases) following years of WSWA’s organizing to stop water shutoffs and San Diego Workers Benefit Council (WBC) speaking at hearings.And the results are:

  • The UCLA study commissioned by the Water Board proposes grossly insufficient assistance to low-income families, and that the assistance comes from increased taxes or rates on all other ratepayers.

  • As of October 1, 2018, the Board has violated AB 401 by not producing the LIRA, despite ratepayer requests, demands and a Public Records Act Request

  • In San Diego 10,000s of residents still suffer from lack of water and inability to pay bills. What you can do:

  • Send your letter to the state calling for the Water Board to complete the LIRA plan NOW and include the following demands of the San Diego WBC:

    • Install an immediate moratorium on water shutoffs statewide.

    • Limit the cost of water to 3% of household income.

    • Fund LIRA through CA budget surplus or cutting some of the billions in corporate tax breaks – not on the backs of working people!

  • Learn to be an advocate to prevent water shutoffs for low-income families.

  • Learn about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted unanimously in 2015 by all member nations of the U.N., including Goal #6, “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”WESTERN SERVICE WORKERS ASSOCIATION 3014 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA 92102  (619) 238-9763

_______________________________________________________________

CONGRATULATIONS RAMLA!

We are excited to announce that, Ramla Sahid, PANA’s Executive Director, and Democratic Woman's Club Vice President External, has been selected as a 2019-2021 Leading Edge Fund fellow. Ramla will join eight other bold leaders who are building movements to fundamentally change the odds for, and with, the most disenfranchised Californians.

The most innovative solutions often come from those closest to the problem, and Ramla and the 2019-2021 group share a particular focus on organizing people directly impacted by the criminal justice, immigration, and other systems that harm communities across California. Ramla’s Leading Edge idea is developing and supporting authentic community leaders, defining a strong community-driven agenda through organizing, integrated civic engagement, and biennial house meeting and leadership programs. Ramla will lead PANA to advance significant policy at the county and state level to ensure newly resettled refugees have equal access to family-sustaining jobs, quality and healthy homes, and meaningful education that translates to employability.

Launched in 2016 by the Rosenberg Foundation in partnership with the Hellman Foundation, the Leading Edge Fund was created to seed, incubate and accelerate bold ideas from the next generation of progressive movement leaders in California. Each fellow receives $250,000 in unrestricted, general support over three years; individualized technical assistance in program development, fundraising and strategic communications; executive coaching; and annual convenings and networking opportunities. The fund is supported by NoVo Foundation, Akonadi Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation and Heising-Simons Foundation.

To learn more about Ramla Sahid and her idea as well as the rest of the 2019- 2021 Leading Edge Fund fellows and the range of the ideas represented by the group, visit LeadingEdge.Rosenbergfound.org.

_______________________________________________________________

And a HUGE congratulations to our Club member Angela de Joseph for the outstanding success of Women of Color Roar Forum. Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber, Council President Georgette Gomez and Councilmember Monica Montgomery are definitions of our Galentines - they inspire us every day to push ourselves to be better leaders- to lead from service, not from ego and to "stand for something."

Congressmember Maxine Waters was honored at this event. Although she was not able to attend, she sent the following video to acknowledge the event and recognition.

_____________________________________________________________________

Our Vice President Internal Dr Becca Miller is at Uniswa Kwaluseni Community College in Kwaluseni, Swaziland, assisitng 26 women complete a two day women's self-defense training funded by SVRI and the World Bank.

WhenMonday February 18 – Social Time from 6:30pm, Club business at 7:00pm.

Social TimeMembers are encouraged to get together from 6:30pm just before the meeting starts.

Order dinner or a drink to sustain you, and the restaurant!

Where

Elijah's Restaurant, 7061 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92111 (map).MTS routes 44, 60