Join the PaliDems (wherever you live!)

 

YES, IT'S HEARTBREAKING. BUT NOW, MEET CHRISTY SMITH We’re heartbroken -- many of us worked endless hours to elect an amazing Congresswoman, Katie Hill, and unseat Steve Knight. During her time in Congress, Katie worked tirelessly for her constituents and for the first time those constituents knew what it was like to have a fighter on their side, putting their needs first. And now? Steve Knight is back -- announcing that he’s running to regain the seat he felt he owned for so many years. Steve Knight who refused to hold town halls in his district or listen to the needs of his constituents wants his turf back. The constituents of CA 25 once again need our help. A special election will take place next spring/summer to fill the seat -- an all-but-impossible timeline for us to hold CA 25 if it weren’t for Assemblywoman Christy Smith, the presumptive nominee for the CA Democratic Party. Christy has pledges from 63% of the state delegates and dozens of endorsements from elected officials at all levels already ... and her candidacy is only days old!  MEET CHRISTY Monday evening, November 18, 2019  and watch this space for details of how we’ll work with her to hold the 25th! at Senator Jones (Santa Monica's hot new nightclub/lounge) 2020 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica

RSVP HERE (early bird rates apply through Sunday, 11/10)

 

Announcement courtesy of the Westside Dem HQ

 

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RECENT EVENTS:

Join Congressman Ted Lieu for his annual Veterans Appreciation event

this Sunday, November 10, 1:30 to 3 PM

on the West L.A. VA campus in the Rose Garden

(behind Building 220, just past Wadsworth Theater)

Free parking in Lot 10 and Lot 17

 

Ten veterans, including the new Director of West L.A. VA Medical Center, will join the Congressman on stage and tell a story about something they experienced while serving our country.

The stories are great this year. Two were made into movies!

 

RSVP at: https://ca33vettalks.eventbrite.com

For inquiries, email Lieu.Staff@mail.house.gov or call 323-651-1040

 

 

** TWO OVERLAPPING EVENTS on SATURDAY, 11/9 ** 

 

From L.A. City Councilmember Mike Bonin:

I am hosting an informational town hall meeting with the Los Angeles Fire Department this Saturday, November 9, 10 AM to 12:30 PM, at Paul Revere Middle School to discuss this wildfire season, recent fires, and to introduce you and your neighbors to some of the Department's firefighting resources and gear. Please join me there. 
 
We have worked hard to make sure you and your neighbors are prepared for emergencies, and while I believe recent fires are an example of good planning and preparation paying off, there are also lessons we can learn from the experience that will help us keep you safe as the risk of wildfire persists. The community event will begin with a showcase of LAFD equipment on the athletic field at Paul Revere Middle School and will continue in the auditorium with a community debrief on recent fires and a chance for neighbors to ask questions. 
 
Please visit http://bit.ly/Bonin-LAFD-TownHall-Nov2019 to find out more about the event and to RSVP to attend. I hope to see you on Saturday! 

 

and via State Sen. Ben Allen:

Saturday, 11/9, 10 AM – 4 PM

State Sen. Ben Allen is sponsoring "We Are: 25 Years Beyond Prop 187"

It's a campaign to highlight the legacy of Prop 187, connecting leaders from the fight against 187 with the next generation ... shining a light on the importance of being counted in the 2020 Census and registering to vote in advance of California’s 2020 Presidential Primaries.

Come for a day of action as we stand against racism, hatred, and bigotry at the Los Angeles State Historic Park. The rally will feature elected leaders, special performances, food trucks, and more!

2019 Froehlich-Berke Political Courage Awards

Honoring ROBERT REICH for his continual and resolute political courage

introduced by MIKE FARRELL

Emcee PAULA POUNDSTONE

Sunday, November 3, 4 – 7 PM

RSVP HERE

 

 

New Voting & Elections Help
Exploring the new voting system for L.A. County
Wed., 10/30/19

Doors open 6 PM, program 6:30 PM (early start)

Santa Monica Library – MLK Auditorium
601 Santa Monica Blvd., SM

The Santa Monica Dem Club's membership meeting will be open to all and dedicated to exploring the new voting system to be implemented by the L.A. County Registrar's Office for the first time in our March 3 primary election

Hear from ...

Jeff Klein, the Manager of Voter Education Outreach & Community at the L.A. County Registrar/Clerk's Office. Klein will give a detailed presentation about the new voting system

State Sen. Ben Allen, the former Chair of the Elections & Constitutional Amendments Committee of the California State Senate

The Executive Board of the club will be available from 6 – 6:30 PM for an informal meet-and-greet. The main program will start at 6:30 PM

The event is free and open to the public

Light refreshments will be provided. Parking available. Accessible

 

 

 

HEALTH JUSTICE FOR ALL FORUM
Featuring Rep. Pramila Jayapal
with UCLA's Prof. Mark Peterson
and Deborah Burger, RN

Sunday, October 27, 2019 10:15 AM – 1 PM

10:15 – 10:55 AM Coffee Reception
11 AM – 1 PM Program

IMAN Foundation Cultural Center, 3376 Motor Avenue, L.A.

Our WLA Dems friends are excited to present Health Justice for All, headlined by Rep. PRAMILA JAYAPAL, lead sponsor of the Medicare for All Act of 2019!

This will be an informational, public service program, comparing and contrasting the four healthcare plans being proposed by our leading presidential candidates: Medicare for All, Expansion of the ACA, Medicare Buy-in and the Public Option

Street and limited lot parking. Valet lot $5. We encourage walking, biking, ridesharing, carpooling and taking public transit

SUGGESTED DONATION: $10 (No one turned away!)

RSVP

 

SATURDAY, 10/26/19
New SMDC/Westside Dem HQ opportunity, courtesy of
Rep. Adam Schiff

Last month at the Santa Monica Dem Club's Sammy Awards, Congressman Adam Schiff pledged $500 to the club so long as it was used to send the first van of volunteers down to Orange County to protect our important House victories from last fall...

Next Saturday, October 26, SMDC will be taking Rep. Schiff up on his offer and sending out a van of committed volunteers to knock on doors on behalf of the freshman Congressman, Rep. Gil Cisneros.

Click to RSVP: smdemocrats@gmail.com

 

 

 

Round 4 of the Democratic Presidential debates

was Tuesday, 10/15/19, 5 – 8 PM

Rusty's on the SM Pier, 256 Santa Monica Pier

Again we gather at Rusty's to watch the action and cheer on our favorite candidates (and maybe jeer a few gaffes)

Twelve candidates made the cut for this debate, but it's likely this will be the last time some of them will appear onstage...

DNC Chairman Tom Perez is promising to raise the bar in November and December to highlight the party's strongest candidates and eliminate those who haven't "made progress" with voters. So join the HQ team on Oct 15 as we watch the candidates hash out the issues we care about so deeply. So far, we can expect

- Former Vice President Joe Biden
- Sen. Bernie Sanders
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren
- Sen. Kamala Harris
- Sen. Cory Booker
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar
- Representative Tulsi Gabbard
- Mayor Pete Buttigieg
- former Representative Beto O’Rourke
- former Cabinetmember Julian Casto
- businessman Tom Steyer
- entrepreneur Andrew Yang

Expect a boisterous crowd, special guests, and a good time as we take a closer look at the top candidates for the (D) nomination

No RSVP necessary -- just show up!

 

Hosted by the Westside Democratic HQ consortium:
Heart of L.A., Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Stonewall, West L.A., and Westchester-Playa Democratic Clubs

 

 

Our Meet The Candidate series returned

with

Tom Steyer

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Wine and cheese reception 5 PM

Steyer speaks / Q&A 5:30 – 7 PM

 

St. Bede's Episcopal Church, 3590 Grand View Blvd., Mar Vista

(not that far -- west of the 405, near the Santa Monica Airport)

 

Meet the Candidate series hosted by

Malibu Democratic Club • Pacific Palisades Democratic Club • Santa Monica Democratic Club • WLA Democratic Club

 

MEET THE CANDIDATE EVENTS ARE NOT ENDORSEMENTS

Your local clubs are hosting a series of informational candidate events leading up to 2020

 

From the campaign: Tom Steyer is an American billionaire, hedge fund manager, philanthropist, environmentalist, liberal activist, and fundraiser. Tom and his wife Kathryn “Kat” Taylor have donated tens of millions of dollars to charitable projects that advance education, renewable energy, clean air and water, healthy food, sustainable agriculture, self-sustaining communities and more

Tom founded NextGen America in 2013, a nonprofit group that combats climate change, promotes social justice and increases participation in our democracy through voter registration and grassroots organizing. In 2017, Tom became the first major Democrat to rally millions of Americans with a public call to impeach Donald Trump

On his website, Tom states that in order to create a society where everyone has a fair chance at success, we need five fundamental rights to be protected by law. No one — not corporations and their lobbyists — should have the ability to take any of these rights away, just to make a profit

These 5 Rights represent essential freedoms that should be guaranteed for all Americans: voting rights protections, a clean environment, a complete education, a living wage, and good health

 

 

 

SPECIAL FREE TICKETS for PaliDems members

The Great Hack
Screening and discussion with Rep. Adam Schiff

and others

Sunday, October 6, 2019, 2 – 5:30 PM

Harmony Gold Theatre, 7655 Sunset Blvd., L.A.
 

It's going to be a special afternoon, with the timely topic of election security, and a panel that includes both Congressman Schiff and the reporter who broke the story, and Patricia Arquette as moderator

Rep. Schiff's office is pleased to offer some free spots to Pacific Palisades Dem Club members so that you can be part of this moment

See the Eventbrite link for more details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-great-hack-screening-and-discussion-with-adam-schiff-tickets-70553574641

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Use this event code: SCHIFFPARTNERS

 

 

Learn all about L.A. County's new voting setup here

https://lavote.net/home/voting-elections/current-elections/mock-election

or in person Sat., 9/28 at Santa Monica College! Click the link above for more info

 

 

Big congrats to PPDC board member Julia Jaye Posin for receiving the 2019 Eco Star Award by Sustainable Works!

 

Last year, this award went to CA State Sen. Ben Allen, earth-friendly products company ECOS, and human rights advocate Bonnie Nixon. We're thrilled Julia was honored along with these other accomplished change-makers.

From our friends at the Santa Monica Democratic Club

The 2019 Sammy Awards
Sunday, September 22, 4 – 7 PM
Private Residence in Santa Monica
Address: 939 San Vicente Blvd

Members pay $35 now, or $40 on Sunday.
Non-Members pay $50 now, or $55 on Sunday.
Why wait??


SMDC congratulates all of our honorees:
UNITE HERE Local 11
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
Congressman Adam Schiff
Senator Kevin de León
The Democratic Party of Orange County
SMC Boardmember Sion Roy
Lifetime Achievement Award: Dolly Sloan

Tickets: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/smdc

 

 

September debate-watching excitement at the historic Rusty's

on the Santa Monica Pier

Miss June and July's watch parties?
Join us for round three

Thursday, 9/12/19

Doors open 4 PM
Debate 5 – 8 PM Pacific Time

Rusty's, 256 Santa Monica Pier (map)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

 

 

 

 

2nd round of debate-watch gatherings

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NIGHT 1 (Tue., 7/30)

Rusty's on the Santa Monica Pier for Happy Hour drinks and classic American food -- with a welcome from

Rusty Hicks, chair of the California Democratic Party
 Mark Gonzalez, chair of the L.A. County Democratic Party

Also planning to attend were
State Sen. Ben Allen
City Councilmember Mike Bonin (L.A.) and Greg Morena (SM)

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NIGHT 2 (Wed., 7/31)

The Del Monte Speakeasy
52 Windward Avenue, Venice

Special guest: Assemblymember Autumn Burke

Large-screen TV. Plenty of seating. Free admission. Complimentary pizza and desserts!

 

 

Great seeing 2000+ people (!) at the fifth in our Meet the Candidate series,

this one featuring

Sen. Bernie Sanders

Friday, July 26, 2019, 6 PM

Memorial Greek Amphitheater, Santa Monica High School

Sanders is the longest serving independent in U.S. congressional history and a member of the Democratic caucus. A self-described democratic socialist and progressive, Sanders is known for his opposition to economic inequality. On domestic policy, he broadly supports labor rights, and has supported universal and single-payer healthcare, paid parental leave, and tuition-free tertiary education. On foreign policy, he broadly supports reducing military spending, pursuing more diplomacy and international cooperation, and putting greater emphasis on labor rights and environmental concerns when negotiating international trade agreements.

THESE EVENTS ARE NOT ENDORSEMENTS

Your local clubs are hosting a series of informational candidate events leading up to 2020

We want as many people as possible to hear from as many of the presidential candidates as possible! 

Hosted by
Malibu Democratic Club • Pacific Palisades Democratic Club • Santa Monica Democratic Club • WLA Democratic Club

 

 

MONDAY, 7/22, 4:30 PM

Meet the Candidate series #4

 

Governor Jay Inslee (D-WA)

After successful events with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Michael Bennet, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard,

we were pleased to welcome Gov. Inslee and over 250 people in attendance!

Doors open 4:30 PM; event 5 – 6:30 PM
Pacific Palisades Woman's Club, 901 Haverford Ave

Washington state Governor Jay Inslee is running for president with the intent of making climate change the single most important issue in the race. The entire focus of his campaign has been about elevating the existential threat that climate change poses. And he has released multiple, detailed plans which lay out a blueprint for a real Green New Deal. But Inslee doesn't see himself as a single issue candidate. Rather, he sees climate as an umbrella under which all other issues fall.

Free and open to the public • Refreshments and light lunch provided

Hosted by
Malibu Democratic Club • Pacific Palisades Democratic Club • Santa Monica Democratic Club • WLA Democratic Club

 

 

With PPDC's own Gail Matthius Wirth (click to learn more about her awesomeness)

 

Wonderful to see over 100 people in attendance!

With thanks to Gail, the Spolin Players, and all who came

 

 

Thanks to all who marched with us in the Palisades Fourth of July parade!

 

 

SUNDAY, 6/30, 4:30 PM

Meet the Candidate series #3

Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO)

Bennet was the Superintendent of Denver Public Schools when he was appointed to become a US Senator from Colorado. In the decade since, he was an original co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, was a key vote for the Affordable Care Act, participated in Senator Chris Murphy's gun control filibuster, and has been a national leader on cannabis legalization and regulation

The event will be hosted and moderated by screenwriter Billy Ray, known for writing such films as The Hunger Games, Captain Phillips, and Shattered Glass

[NOT AN ENDORSEMENT -- the clubs are hosting a series of informational candidate events leading up to 2020]

 

 

Great turnout at our June Debate Watch Gatherings!

The Santa Monica Dem Club, PPDC, West L.A. Dems, and Malibu Dems co-hosted

at Gramercy, The GasLite, and Earth Wind & Flour in Santa Monica

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Watch this space for info on July's debates!

 

Regret missing it? Hang tight, we'll announce the next one soon.  : )

 

Did you make it to the meeting January 27?

If so, thanks so much for coming!

Of course we'll have many meetings in 2019 -- the PaliDems board of directors meets monthly, and we'll be announcing exciting public events throughout the year ...

but this was our official "Annual Meeting," with as many of your elected officials in attendance as we could gather. (Members in good standing also had the opportunity to ratify our board and officer slate)

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A D E M S  --  Your vote counted, and not one but two PaliDem board members won:

Club President Erika Feresten and Westside Dem HQ co-manager Tamara Levenson!

But what are ADEMS?

ADEMS, or Assembly District Election Meetings, are held every two years to elect seven "self-identified female" and seven "other than self-identified female" to be Assembly District Delegates (ADDs) to represent the Assembly District they are registered as a Democrat in.

AD Delegates to the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) are responsible for planning and attending informational meetings throughout the region and working with other DSCC delegates throughout California to represent their community.

AD Delegates vote on behalf of the community they represent at CDP Regional Meetings, the California Democratic Party Convention, and those who are also elected to serve as an Executive Board member are responsible for voting and representing their community at the semi-annual E-Board meetings

Click here to read about the candidates who ran in AD 50

 

 

Our 2019 membership drive is open!

Click to join or re-up

 

 

 

Tuesday, November 6, 2018 RESULTS

 

State election results are here:

https://vote.sos.ca.gov/

L.A. County results here:

https://lavote.net/home/voting-elections/current-elections/election-results

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Spoiler alert -- thanks to you and people like us across the country, Democrats did phenomenally well. Some pundits initially fretted that there wasn't a big Blue Wave, but there was.

From Salon (full article here):

The 2018 midterms were a blue wave — despite what Fox News hosts blared on Wednesday morning, mimicking the line White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders offered late on election day.[...]

The first affirmation of the wave was the volume of voters. As millions of votes are still being counted (in states like California), the votes cast so far total approximately 100 million, with experts estimating that figure will reach 111 million — a 47.3 percent national turnout. That is the first 100-million voter midterm, and the highest turnout since 1970, according to the University of Florida’s Michael McDonald.[...] As of Wednesday morning, the New York Times’ live (and therefore slowly updating) dashboard of results showed there were 4 million more votes for Democratic House candidates and 12.1 million more votes for Democratic Senate candidates.* That’s a blue wave by any fact-based measure.

-- Excerpted from Salon (full article here)

*11/13 update: tally now 5 million more votes for (D) House candidates, 14 million more for Senate

*January update: final tally 7.5 million more votes for (D) House candidates, 18 million more for Senate!