Curious about solarizing but haven't gotten rolling?
•
Home
Renew your membership for 2023 if you haven't yet: simply click here, with our great thanks.
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Thanks to the 130 of you who RSVPed to this year's Annual Meeting!
Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, 2 – 4 PM
(free and open to all, in person or online)
State Sen. Ben Allen • Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin
Supervisor District 3 Lindsey Horvath
City Councilmember Traci Park • City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto
with video appearance by Rep. Brad Sherman (which you can click here to watch)
Alas, no recording of the full event this time, technical difficulties. So we're especially glad so many of you attended!
Missed it? Here are some pics, courtesy of Maryam Zar and Tamara Levinson
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Our hearts go out to the victims of February's earthquake centered in Turkey and Syria. Here's one nonprofit recommended by a board member at February's meeting — but we encourage you to give to whatever orgs you find reliable and effective!
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Open letter to Mayor Karen Bass, City Councilmember Traci Park, County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath, County Sheriff Robert Luna, and L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore regarding violent police tactics
•
Statement on the latest spate of gun violence
We are heartbroken by news of yet more mass shootings, including the tragedies in Monterey Park and Morro Bay, California. Our hearts and thoughts — and more, our actions — are dedicated to the victims and their friends and families and, in the above cases, to the entire AAPI community. PPDC will continue working tirelessly with our members and allies toward an America free of gun violence.
We are heartbroken by news of yet more mass shootings, including the tragedies in Monterey Park and Morro Bay, California. Our hearts and thoughts — and more, our actions — are dedicated to the victims and their friends and families and, in the above cases, to the entire AAPI community. PPDC will continue working tirelessly with our members and allies toward an America free of gun violence.
•
Statement on revelations about George Santos
Investigations into freshman Republican Representative George Santos have revealed a pattern of lying and possible criminal activity, yet Republican leaders in Congress are willing to seat Santos, and have no plans to sanction or subject him to ethics inquiries. PPDC believes such behavior is unacceptable. We urge Republicans to take appropriate action against Santos on behalf of his constituents and all other Americans, who deserve honorable representation in Congress.
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Oh wow, did we really get through the November 2022 elections?
Heartfelt thanks to every PPDC supporter and volunteer —
you all played a part in dashing, nay, crushing Republican hopes for a "red wave"
Because of you we were able to target almost $15,000 in donations to candidates across the country most in need and funnel thousands of volunteer hours to our sister GOTV orgs, the Westside Dem HQ and Grassroots Dems
•
WDHQ 2022 highlights:
The HQ was part of a coalition of 14 Dem clubs that made over 11 million calls, sent millions of texts, sent over a hundred thousand postcards, and knocked on tens of thousands of doors. The crew helped win vital Senate seats by organizing trips to Phoenix, Vegas, and Atlanta, picking up expenses for volunteers who couldn't afford them
Grassroots Dems 2022 highlights:
•
Our holding the line as well as we did could not be more consequential for the country. Don't for a second underestimate the outsized, vital impact of your participation in the process
•
Visit our Elections page for the latest L.A. County results and info on future elections
Check out Westside Dem HQ and Grassroots Dems for ongoing GOTV ops, now year-round, not just during high-profile elections!
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Click here to read PPDC's condemnation of the behavior of L.A. city councilors revealed via an audio recording in October 2022
•
Click here for a statement on hate speech from the WDHQ, which PPDC is an affiliate and founding member of
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
PPDC Stands with Ukraine
... for democracy
... against war
|
People ever ask you about President Biden's accomplishments? Here's a handy list.
No one's asking? Tell them anyway!
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Advocates Sound Alarm Over Quiet Trump Era Move That Could Further Privatize Medicare
"The Biden administration should immediately kill this toxic legacy of the former president."
A little-noticed scheme hatched in the late stages of the Trump presidency has consumer advocates and universal healthcare proponents warning about a creeping attempt to further privatize Medicare—an effort the Biden administration is being urged to stop in its tracks
Read more at CommonDreams.org — click here
Article a few months old but the problem is only growing, and most people aren't aware!
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
The “Medicare Advantage” Plan to Kill Real Medicare
If they can move more than half of Americans off traditional Medicare and onto these corporate plans, it’ll provide the political cover to kill off Medicare altogether — and they’re nearly there now
https://hartmannreport.com/p/the-medicare-advantage-plan-to-kill
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Are you as upset as we are over Texas's Taliban-esque anti-choice law, passed in September?
Click here to learn — and do — more: https://www.palisadesdemclub.org/take_action
Our Take Action page also proposes reforming the filibuster to pass the For the People and John Lewis Voting Rights Acts to fight TX's and other states' antidemocratic, anti-American voter suppression laws
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Click the image below to read PPDC's letter of sincerest thanks
to our devoted firefighters
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
** PREVIOUS EVENTS ** and ANNOUNCEMENTS, FYI
ACTION ALERT — Can you help elect two PPDC board members to be ADEM delegates?
Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, and Bel Air got redistricted into a majority-Valley Congressional and Assembly District. We now share an Assemblymember with people as far away as the Central Coast
To ensure representation, two members of the PPDC Board, Jennifer Miner and Jonathan Zasloff, are running to be ADEM delegates. (Great explanation of what the ADEMs are about here: https://ademelections.com/home.) They seem to be the ONLY TWO candidates running for AD42 who live south of Mulholland
TIME CRUNCH: If you didn't register to vote by mail you can still vote in person!
Last day to register 1/22; last day to vote 1/31
Registration link: https://www.adem.cadem.org
☆•☆•☆•☆•☆•☆•☆•☆•☆•☆•☆
Jennifer Miner and Jonathan Zasloff are running with 12 other candidates on a slate. Unite 42 is made of the following people (you can vote for the whole slate): Jennifer Miner, Jonthan Zasloff, Murtaza Mogri, Karen Sher, Francesca Truncale Adams, Jodie Cooper, Gina Muscatel, Martha Martina-Bravo, Ashley Orozco, Sean Weisman, Jeremy Duran, Phil Loos, and Jordan Roberts
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Resilient Palisades Rallies Opposition as California Seeks to Charge Residential Solar Users
Credit and props to Sue Pascoe of Circling the News!
Share Story
Even as more residents are installing solar panels and fab eco org Resilient Palisades is trying to establish a solar microgrid in Pacific Palisades, there are storm clouds brewing:
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which governs investor-owned utilities like Southern California Edison and PG&E, is contemplating rules changes to charge solar users and otherwise disincentivize(!) installation
Although the proposals don’t apply to municipal-owned utilities like LADWP, if these rules are implemented, investor-owned utilities will be able to make rooftop solar more costly and less appealing, when we desperately need exactly the opposite!
Read more on our TAKE ACTION page
2023 update: The CPUC passed the new rules. It remains to be seen what effect they'll have, and whether the Democrats' national climate change legislation will help lessen any blow Californians might bear
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Check out the HQs for opportunities to fight for victory in the Georgia Senate runoff
scheduled for December 6, 2022
between the brilliant, caring, effective Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock
and inscrutable, mendacious Trump toady Herschel Walker
Here's a handy link for GOTV calling on Election Day, 12/6/22:
https://www.mobilize.us/grassrootsdemocratslahq/event/543900/?refcode=PPDC
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Postcarding in person in the Palisades
Wednesdays, 5 to 7 PM
So you want to see Dem victories across the country in November
but aren't quite ready to make calls or knock on doors...
What could be more fun and satisfying than writing postcards to voters in key areas?
A PPDC board member is hosting casual sessions at her lovely home Wednesday eves : )
Contact us at [email protected] to join or learn more!
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
From PPDC fave Robert Reich: a reminder of what's at stake and what's in play in the L.A. mayoral race
Brief powerful piece but even if you don't read/listen to it, consider the bottom line: $2.2M in spending from a progressive public servant vs. $62(!) million from a man who, while honorable, wasn't a Democrat until this year
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/buying-a-mayor
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
If consistency on the right to choose is an issue for you, here's an independent expenditure campaign to help Karen Bass win the race for L.A. mayor — against a formidable foe who, until recently, was a Republican, with a record of being anti-choice. Especially important to consider in 2022, when women's right to control their own bodies and protect their lives is on the chopping block (and has been sliced and diced already)
•
Click to see the hard-hitting ad and donate so it gets seen
•
For our friends who support Caruso, no hard feelings — ours is a big tent!
Caruso now says he's pro choice, which is much appreciated. The ad shines a light on his past actions so that voters can decide how they feel about the candidate's past vs. current views
•
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Great seeing people in person and online for our most recent event,
a candidates forum for the November 2022 elections
for which 140 of you signed up, thank you!
Missed the forum? Watch a recording here
(with great thanks to the inexhaustible Maryam Zar)
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
2022's PaliDems Garden Party
was Sunday, August 21, 2 - 4 PM
and wildly successful, with 120+ in attendance!
in person at a beautiful home in the Palisades Riviera as well as on Zoom, with vaccinated & boosted friends and masking as needed
CONFIRMED VIPs
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
A word about the June 7 primary. OK, a few words:
First, thank you for voting!
Next, a few deep thoughts from our friends at the Bass for Mayor campaign. Please read and spread word to friends...
The media has begun buying into the narrative that Rick Caruso's "law and order" platform resonated with L.A. voters.
In reality, all the platform did was consolidate the Republican and conservative vote. The Democratic and progressive bloc was well over 50% of the vote. All Caruso [himself a Republican until recently] did was spend $1 million for every one percent of the vote he got (he outspent Rep. Bass 13-1).
- The primary proves that the people of Los Angeles remain committed to progressive values … and that they’re interested in substance, not distracted by 30-second attack ads that skirt the real issues.
- Bass was competing with other candidates in her lane like KDL. Caruso was alone in his lane. She picks up support of other candidates for November
- Karen Bass was outspent 13:1 in this race. She had to face down endless misleading attack ads for months from a billionaire who poured $40 million into smearing her record. But she still came out on top
- That tells us one thing: Progressive, Democratic values continue to drive Angeleno voters.
- It tells us that Angelenos want to rebuild our social safety net instead of criminalizing poverty … that they want an affordable city, not one that only the very rich can afford … they want accountability at City Hall, not more developers using big money to shape policy.
- It’s a lesson Democrats in other parts of the country can learn from: When we stand by the principles that define us as a party … when we fight tirelessly to close the gap between the rich and everyone else … when we commit to end homelessness, not just manage it … when we guarantee that we won’t just stop crime when it happens, we’ll get to the very roots of violence in our city … we win.
- It’s easy for the media to push a narrative around the Democratic Party caving to right-wing talking points, moving to tough-on-crime talk … but we’ve demonstrated what voters crave: real leadership from someone who believes in the power of the people to make meaningful change for Los Angeles.
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
PaliDems supports SB 914 (Rubio) – The HELP (“Homeless Equity for Left Behind Populations”) Act
PPDC sent a letter to all relevant parties involved with this important bill. It reads as follows:
We write to you today, on behalf of the PPDC, in support of SB 914 (Rubio). This important legislation will reduce gender bias and disparities in outcomes in California’s response to homelessness by embedding a focus on domestic violence survivors and other vulnerable populations into local homelessness plans.
Domestic violence is one of the leading drivers of homelessness for women. Nationally, 57% of unhoused women reported domestic violence was an immediate cause of their homelessness. [...]
[Click here to read the rest. If you're in agreement, contact your State Senator in support!]
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
PPDC endorsements for the November 2022 election are in
Click here for our Endorsements page
.
PaliDems supports two sister orgs to get our members organized to Get Out The Vote. GOTV hustling is the most important work we can do between now and November to
KEEP CONGRESS BLUE!
Click here to check them out and join the action
ELECTION DAY FINAL GOTV ACTIVITIES
Final Pop Up HQ
Brentwood/West L.A.
Tuesday (TODAY), 8 AM till 8 PM+: RSVPNumerous campaigns tell us margins are RAZOR THIN and they need AS MANY phone bankers as possible.
Join us TODAY for an in-person phone bank. Our first shift at 10 AM may have a special guest — we want to start off Election Day as strong as possible!
Shifts through the day until 8 PM. Bring your fully charged computer and cell phone. When you sign up we will send you the address. Please help!
Who does more for consumers and the average American than Rep. KATIE PORTER, known for standing up to the biggest corporate offenders with data and clarity and laying down the law on MSNBC?
Because of redistricting, she's neck-and-neck with her Republican opponent. Not good...
Can you even imagine Congress without her?
Let's save Katie's seat!
Click here (https://katieporter.com/)
for final GOTV ops
Want to pitch in virtually today?
Phonebank from home with the Grassroots Dems!
Click to learn more & start calling
Or Phonebank for Dems in Battleground States
with the DNC Call Crew
Join the DNC Call Crew
for our Zoom-based phone bank
to Get Out The Vote for Democrats!
We're turning out voters in key states & races the last day of the election
NEW TO CALLING WITH US? No worries! The Zoom phone bank includes a brief training so all new callers will be talking to voters in no time!
MADE CALLS BEFORE? Great! This is a great time to meet other Call Crew members, mods, and staff. Join us to hear updates and make calls together!
https://events.democrats.org/event/538342/?refcode=PaliDems
•
Want to see even more Grassroots Dems HQ volunteer info & ops? Click here or here
or
Click here for other Westside Dem HQ info & events
.
A MILLION ELECTION GOTV ACTIVITIES
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Wine & Conversation w/ Karen Bass!
Sun., 10/30, 4 – 5:30 PM
(Beverly Glen address on RSVP)
Perfect opportunity to hear from Karen directly and learn more about her plans for Los Angeles. Bass is on track to make history as the first Black female mayor of Los Angeles, but she can't do it alone. Grassroots donors like you are the backbone of this movement!
Hosted by
Tamara Melzer Levenson (PPDC board member), Melissa Grant (PPDC board member and president emerita), Pastors William & Thembekila Smart, Susy Marks, Nancee & Steve Cron (current PPDC president), Amy Wiwuga, Cathy Salser, Christian D. Green, Pacific Palisades Democratic Club, Heart of L.A. Democratic Club
https://act.karenbass.com/a/103022levenson?refcode=PPDC
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Wed., 9/7/22, 6 PM
Reception in support of the National Democratic Training Committee
Co-hosted by PPDC board member and president emerita Melissa Grant
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Grassroots Dems event:Empowering Our Youth: Supporting Our Next Generation of Policy & Change MakersAugust 21, 2022, 6 PM in Brentwood
This event will support the HQ’s programming to build the “young voter to young organizer” pipeline. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres served!
Sandra Fluke, social justice advocate and public interest attorney, will be joining as a special guest. Sandra will speak about pressing issues young voters are concerned about, including access to reproductive healthcare and environmental justiceAdditionally, the youth who power the GDHQ will be sharing which causes and experiences motivate them to be the next generation of change makers
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Click here or above to RSVP
Co-hosted by a PPDC board member and one of our sister Dem clubs:
Click above or here to RSVP: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/lc080622
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Thursday, July 28, 5 PM
Join the fight with political constitutional superstar Rep. Jamie Raskin!
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Saturday, June 11, right in the neighborhood — come and together we'll show strength in numbers!
•
The Montana Ave. March for Our Lives–organized event a few years back was a huge success,
well attended without feeling overly crowded, friendly faces everywhere
•
The more people go, the more attention people, the press, and politicians pay...
•
The carnage must stop.
•
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
June 7, 2022 Primary Election
8 PM Tuesday, 6/7
is your last chance to drop off your ballot!
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Election volunteering opportunities — your help is needed
•
Karen Bass for Mayor canvassing & phone bank ops
Sign up here to door knock in neighborhoods across the city
Satellite locations in various communities that launch neighborhood canvassing operations and provide campaign materials and swag for local voters. Find a site near you, or one you'd like to visit:
- Saturdays (10am – 2pm): Baldwin Hills (HQ), Northridge, Little Ethiopia
- Saturdays (9:30am – 1:30pm): Highland Park, South Park, Hollywood
- Sundays (1pm – 5pm): Boyle Heights, Van Nuys, Beverlywood, Mar Vista
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
attend wear orange 2022 — find an event
People around the country are coming together virtually with a simple message: There's more we can do to end gun violence. Join the movement by signing up to attend an event during Wear Orange Weekend, June 3 – 5
For more information about events in your area, contact [email protected]
In light of the horrific school shooting in Texas,
supermarket shooting in Buffalo, and countless other horrors,
please consider joining and taking action with Wear Orange
and other anti-gun-violence groups in whatever ways you can
to stop these ongoing, insane tragedies
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
|
|
|
|
** CLICK HERE TO RSVP **
| . |
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Happy to host so many supporters at May's in-person Karen Bass event!
•
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Supreme Court Leak:
Our Worst Fears Confirmed
Abortion is still legal. It's still your right. But the Supreme Court is prepared to end your constitutional right to abortion. Our country is facing an abortion access crisis.
By this summer, 26 states could move to ban abortion — affecting 36 million women, plus more people who can become pregnant. This is personal.
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
From womensmarch.com
SHOW UP to Protect Roe & Abortion Rights
On May 2nd, we learned that at least five unelected and unaccountable Supreme Court justices decided they just don’t care about women, precedent, the Constitution, or about the institution they ostensibly serve
On May 3rd we mobilize to protect Roe and abortion rights
Show up!
Washington DC: 8AM to 8PM at the steps of the Supreme Court
Nationwide: 5PM local time at federal courthouses, federal buildings (the Westside's is at 11000 Wilshire just east of the 405), town halls, and town squares across the country
We’re showing up for abortion rights, saying bans off our bodies, and demanding that elected officials take action before the Court gets the chance to overturn abortion
https://www.womensmarch.com/initiatives/show-up-to-protect-roe-and-abortion-rights
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
In person: Adam Schiff, Mike Levin, Betty Yee, Jay Chen, Rusty Hicks...
Spring into the Blue Wave, the GDHQ's big fundraiser, co-sponsored by PPDC, is less than two weeks away!
Evening of Sunday, May 1 at a home in Pacific Palisades [location updated]
We are thrilled Reps Adam Schiff and Mike Levin, CA State Controller and CDP Vice Chair Betty Yee, CDP Chair Rusty Hicks, and CA-45 Congressional candidate Jay Chen will join as keynote speakers! Hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be served
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/springintothebluewave?refcode=PacificPalisadesDemClub
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
|
|
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Thanks to all who attended our
March Candidate Forums
OPEN to ALL, via ZOOM
First we heard from candidates for mayor & city council. Then from
Candidates for Supervisor, Sheriff, & State Controller
Sun., 3/27, 1 PM
L.A. County Board of Supervisors District 3: West Hollywood City Councilmember Lindsey Horvath, State Senator Henry Stern
L.A. County Sheriff: Sheriff Alex Villaneuva (to be confirmed), Chief of LAX Police Cecil Rhambo, former Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna, L.A. County Sheriff's Chief Eliezer Vera
California State Controller: L.A. City Controller Ron Galperin, State Board of Equalization member Malia M. Cohen, Mayor of Monterey Park Yvonne Yui
Click here to watch the video recording on our new YouTube channel
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Thanks to the 150+ who signed up for last week's Candidates Forum
with
Mayoral: Rep. Karen Bass, L.A. City CM Joe Buscaino, L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer
City Council District 11: Erin Darling, Greg Good, Jim Murez, Mike Newhouse, Traci Park, Allison Holdorff Polhill
Don't worry if you missed it — for the next few weeks
you should be able to watch it by clicking here
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Valentine's Day political love: Two US Senate candidates come to the Palisades (home of a PPDC board member) on 2/14 at 1 PM — join in person or by Zoom!
Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, candidate for US Senate in NC
Congressman Tim Ryan, candidate for US Senate in OH
It is imperative to maintain our Senate majority and to add 2 seats so we don’t have to rely on Manchin & Sinema. Looking at the landscape, Tim and Cheri both have a real shot. Come meet and support them and consider donating regardless!
TIM RYAN has won in a purple district for many years and has spent his career fighting for Ohio workers. He has been endorsed by Senator Sherrod Brown and the more you know him, the more he will restore your confidence that there are great people in Congress.
In addition to making history as the first African American woman to serve as Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, Cheri is the only candidate in the North Carolina Senate race that has won statewide election twice. Chief Justice CHERI BEASLEY has won statewide election twice and picked up endorsements from the AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, over 200 leaders in North Carolina including Governor Roy Cooper, and was the first non-incumbent candidate endorsed by EMILY’s List this cycle. She has consistently led every candidate in the race in fundraising, and she is polling competitively with both leading Republican candidates.
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
For the first time in Los Angeles history and only the second time in NFL history,
Our great city hosted a Super Bowl featuring L.A.'s home team, the L.A. Rams.
The game, played in SoFi Stadium on February 13, could be a once-in-a-lifetime event for L.A. and the Rams.
PPDC, though not officially endorsing one team, does more or less officially love L.A., and so are happy to congratulate the Rams for winning the Super Bowl at home! : )
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Thanks to the 150 who signed up for our Annual Meeting with electeds
•
Missed it?
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Jan. 6, the anniversary of Trump's mind-blowingly execrable attempt to subvert American democracy, is tomorrow. We must not forget, and we have to act fast to fix what's broken. VIGIL
5 – 7 PM, 1/6/22
at the Federal Bldg., 11000 Wilshire — come if you safely can, candle or candle app in hand!
Click here to sign up or see more info
•
Or go deeper and join our sister orgs, the Westside Dem HQ and Grassroots Dems HQ, in taking action
AT YOUR CONVENIENCE and SAFELY FROM HOME to
Maintain our democracy
Defeat Republicans and elect Democrats
Be the change you want to see!
GRASSROOTS DEMS HQ info and signups here
Lots of different options for pitching in, either in virtual groups or on your own from home, or in person when safe!
.
••••••••••••••••••••••••>>
.
Archives of previous home-page posts can be found here:
2021
2020 & 2019
2018
2017 – 2012
-
What's New
Open letter re police violence
Continue reading →An open letter from the Board of the Pacific Palisades Democratic Club to Mayor Karen Bass, City Councilmember Traci Park, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, and Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore:
In our council district on January 3, 2023, a group of LAPD officers immobilized and pinned a 31-year-old father and high school English teacher named Keenan Anderson after a hit-and-run incident. Claiming Anderson resisted efforts to detain him, officers administered six 50,000-volt Taser shocks. Anderson was evacuated from the scene unconscious and died in custody at a local hospital.
LAPD policy states that officers "may use the Taser as a reasonable force option to control a suspect when the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officer or others." By all available evidence Anderson’s actions do not appear to meet that standard.
"The gaps between pulses were so brief that [Anderson] could get out only a
few words — including 'Help me, please' — as he repeatedly cried out in agony."
Los Angeles Times
We need to name this for what it appears to be: an unwarranted and excessive use of force by LAPD officers, which led to an unnecessary tragedy.
The police work for all of us. We need officers who will demonstrate nonviolence and good neighborliness. When the community lacks confidence in police officers’ calm professionalism, it is an emergency of the most urgent sort.
We request that Mayor Bass, the City Council, the Board of Supervisors, the County Sheriff’s Department, and the Los Angeles Police Department immediately take all steps needed to ensure that the police employ patience and de-escalation, exemplifying nonviolence to our whole city. Specifically, we request that law enforcement adhere to proper procedures when employing potentially lethal or debilitating force. We further ask that each of you participate in public meetings before community councils or other local organizations over the next three months to report on your progress and field questions.
Sincerely,
Pacific Palisades Democratic Club Board
-
Statement of condemnation of city councilors
Continue reading →October 12, 2022
The Pacific Palisades Democratic Club joins the chorus of appalled Angelenos who have now heard the vulgar conversation between elected city officials of the highest rank, revealing how they violated the public trust.
The statements — made chiefly by former Council President Nury Martinez, who has now resigned, along with other councilmembers — are despicable and unequivocally deserve condemnation.
Kevin de Léon and Gill Cedillo, who both engaged in appalling conversation replete with exploitative politics and derisive narratives at a meeting where they believed they couldn’t be heard, both must join Ms. Martinez and resign. We must condemn the sentiments, freely exchanged between elected officials who have violated the public trust in the most daunting way, and hold these councilmembers accountable for their conduct.
It is truly a matter of great dismay to think that trusted elected officials would allow themselves to conduct the work of the people in this universally offensive manner — when they believed no one was listening. Writer C.S. Lewis echoed Charles Marshall, who said, “Integrity is doing the right thing when you don’t have to — when no one else is looking or will ever know....“ Rarely is that more true than when holding the public trust, and this recording lays bare that all three of these councilmembers lack integrity.
Having breached the public trust in the most vile of ways, the two councilmembers who have elected to remain in office must also resign.
The PPDC Board of Directors
-
No to Caruso
Continue reading →If consistency on the right to choose is an issue for you, here's an independent expenditure campaign to help Karen Bass win the race for L.A. mayor — against a formidable foe who, until recently, was a Republican, with a record of being anti-choice. Especially important to consider in 2022, when women's right to control their own bodies and protect their lives is on the chopping block (and has been sliced and diced already)•Click to see the hard-hitting ad and donate so it gets seen•For our friends who support Caruso, no hard feelings — ours is a big tent!Caruso now says he's pro choice, which is much appreciated. The ad shines a light on his past actions so that voters can decide how they feel about the candidate's past vs. current views•
See all posts