YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
There are so many things you can do. We'll keep things simple.
Bookmark this page, and come back for what you can do NOW
PaliDems supports two sister orgs to get our members organized to Get Out The Vote. Check them out and join the action!
PPDC partners with two local GOTV HQs that coordinate
superb volunteer efforts with national impact.
Unlike the old days, the work now continues year-round!
POSTCARDING/PHONEBANKING/TEXTING/CANVASSING
(closer to Election Days, TRAVEL TO NV OR AZ TO KNOCK DOORS FOR CRITICAL CAMPAIGNS)
** Local and national campaigns, and active YEAR ROUND! **
It's hard to change laws strengthening California's campaign finance, disclosure, and lobbyist laws. But we're trying.
Sen. Ben Allen's SB 681 will make it easier to make crucial amendments to Political Reform Act bills that strengthen disclosure and campaign finance laws
while ensuring the public has time to weigh in on amendments before their final votes.
Can you please sign the petition to ask YOUR legislators to support SB 681?
http://www.yesfairelections.org/petition/sb681.php?refcode=PaliDems
If you sign, with your address, it'll go to your assemblymember. Most of us have Jacqui Irwin, and the more people she sees supporting it, the more it will get her inclined towards supporting this bill.
Cool campaign to defund Fox News
Along similar lines:
Here's a different, novel effort to defund Fox and other right-wing outlets by denying them ad revenues
From our friends at Consumer Watchdog, always fighting the good fight — right in the neighborhood (Santa Monica)
Los Angeles, CA—The true cost to the public of California’s oil and gas production and combustion is estimated to reach $10 trillion by 2045, a new report released today by Consumer Watchdog finds. Californians will be paying more than $400 billion annually in public costs caused by fossil fuels between now and 2045 when the state aims to be carbon neutral.
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The answer to our health care crisis is clear. We propose a publicly financed, non-profit single-payer national health program that would fully cover medical care for all Americans.
PAST EVENTS & ACTIONS (for the record):
We e-blasted to tell you about the urgency of winning in Wisconsin Tuesday, 4/4/23. If you saw that message and/or already know the story, here are some fun-fective — sorry, we couldn't resist combining "fun" and "effective" to coin a cringe-inducing, horrendously clunky new term that we instantly regretted — local volunteering opportunities.
Missed the message or been too busy till now to learn more? Please scroll down to learn why we've got to win this one. Then scroll back up to pick a shift and pitch in!
Thanks for hearing us out, and, not least, for all your support of PPDC.
With deepest apologies again for "fun-fective."
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Saturday 4/1, 10 AM — RSVP
Wisconsin Phone Bank w/ beloved actor/activist Amy Brenneman
Monday 4/3, 3:30 PM — RSVP
Wisconsin Phone Bank w/ the one and only Rep. Ted Lieu
Tuesday 4/4 (Election Day!), 8 AM — RSVP
Youth Phone Bank into Wisconsin
in partnership with Wisconsin Democratic Party and Voters of Tomorrow
Tthis event is intended for young volunteers who identify as Gen Z or Millennial
Mon., 4/3, 4 – 6 PM — RSVP
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More on the election:
PPDC is writing to urge you to sign up to help between now and April 4 if you can. Here's why:
Voting rights, reproductive rights, gerrymandering, and so much more are at stake in a supremely key election coming up for Dems....
Electing Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Judge Janet Protasiewicz on Tue., April 4 would flip the WI court from conservative to liberal — with far-reaching implications for reproductive rights and even the 2024 Presidential race.
If the conservative majority remains in power, they will maintain a draconian 1849 abortion ban making it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy. No!
And the 2024 Presidential election could very well be decided by Wisconsin. If Trump loses in WI and sues his way to the State Supreme Court, the Presidential election could be decided by Wisconsin's seven justices. Our only chance to FLIP the court to a pro-democracy majority is April 4.
[end of info on Wisconsin election]
Thanks for thinking about volunteering or supporting PPDC / GDHQ / WDHQ efforts !
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
From the Grassroots Dems:
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Are you as upset as we are by
The overturning of Roe v. Wade, taking away the rights of women and others able to get pregnant to control their bodies
The paucity of action on gun control in the wake of endless horrific shootings
Trump and other Republicans' attempt to overturn the will of American voters ... and the violent Jan. 6, 2021 coup attempt that killed law enforcement officers and attempted to thwart the peaceful transfer of power ... and the stripping of Americans' voting rights
Republicans' attempts to water down or eliminate Social Security and stand in the way of Medicare for All? And refusal to tax billionaires and giant corporations to redress the worst wealth inequality since the Gilded Age?
An unhinged, right-wing Supreme Court
and so many other injustices that go against American democratic values?
Winning every possible election this November is our BEST way to FIGHT BACK
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
or
Click here for other Westside Dem HQ info & events
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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!
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The Electoral Homestretch with Rudy Salas and Rep. Ted Lieu!Santa Monica, CA
Sunday, October 2, 4pm — RSVP
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NEW: Canvassing Day of Action for Mike Levin
Launching from Cheviot Hills, Los Angeles
in partnership with Mike Levin for Congress and California Democratic Party
Saturday, October 15, 10:30 AM – 5 PM — RSVP
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The Final Countdown Fundraiser with Rep. Adam Schiff and now also Paula Poundstone!
Los Angeles, CA
Tuesday, October 18, 5:30 PM — RSVPSaturday, June 11, right in the neighborhood — come and together we'll show strength in numbers!
Phonebanking in-person right here in the Palisades
Wednesdays, 5 to 7 PM
Tired of virtual volunteering, vaxxed & boosted and craving contact?
A PPDC board member is hosting casual phonebanking sessions at her lovely home!
Contact us at [email protected] to learn more
CA09, CA13, CA22, CA27, CA40, CA41, CA45, CA47, CA49)
Pop Up HQ — Pacific Palisades
Wednesdays, 5 – 7 PM: RSVP / learn more here
Pop Up HQ — Santa Monica
Mondays, 5:15 – 7 PM: RSVP
Pop Up HQ — Brentwood/West L.A.
Tuesdays, 2:30 – 5:30 PM: RSVP•
FINAL DAYS, LAST CHANCE TO HELP SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY!
Thu, Nov 3 @ 6pm
GOTV for Christy Smith in CA27, and CA45 for Jay Chen! ›Fri, Nov 4 @ 9am · Pasadena United Democratic Headquarters
JOIN THE UNITED DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS AND WESTSIDE DEMS IN LAS VEGAS TO KEEP NV BLUE ›Fri, Nov 4 @ 6pm
Millennial Wine & Cheese In Person Phone Bank! ›
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Sat, Nov 5 @ 8am
Canvassing Day of Action for Christy Smith ›Sat, Nov 5 @ 9am
Canvass with Santa Monica Dems for Christy Smith! ›Sat, Nov 5 all day through Election Day
⭐November GOTV: North SFV Canvasses for Christy!⭐ ›
Sat, Nov 5 @ 9am
⭐November GOTV: Santa Clarita Canvasses for Christy!⭐ ›Sat, Nov 5 @ 9:30am
Canvassing Day of Action for Jay Chen! - Take the Bus! ›Sat, Nov 5 @ 11am · California Democratic Party
Canvass on Saturdays with PV Dems ›Sat, Nov 5 @ 12pm
Cypress Canvass for Jay Chen for Congress ›•
Sun, Nov 6 @ 11:30am
GOTV In Person Phone Bank With Billy Ray! ›•
Mon, Nov 7 @ 10:30am
Canvassing Day of Action for Katie Porter! - Take the Bus! ›•
Tue, Nov 8 @ 3pm
Midterm Mitzvah Mondays
in partnership with the Jewish Democratic Council of America
Mondays, 4 – 6 PM — RSVP
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"Masto Monday" Phone Bank with US Senator Cortez-Masto!
in partnership with Nevada Democratic Victory, California Democratic Party, and the California Democratic Party Women's Caucus
Mondays (Oct. 24, Nov. 7), 5 – 7 PM — RSVP
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Virtual phone banking, postcarding, etc.
Phone bank ANYTIME! — Start calling
Hold the Senate majority:
Road trips to Phoenix and Las Vegas!
Reimbursement for mileage and other limited financial assistance available
Primary Election volunteering opportunities — your help is needed
Karen Bass for Mayor canvassing & phone bank ops this weekend,
details TBA!
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
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
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.
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!
** Redistricting Alert **
California's independent redistricting commission recently posted draft maps for State Assembly, State Senate, and Congressional districts.
It's no longer Halloween, but frighteningly, there are proposals to split the Palisades down the middle, using Sunset Blvd. as a dividing line and possibly grouping us with parts of the Valley.
PPDC is joining the Pacific Palisades Community Council in strong opposition to these proposals. Please take a moment to read our letter (below) to the redistricting commissioners.
If you agree and would like to give your own feedback on the district maps, please visit https://airtable.com/shrQDD2ta2emnSzzO and share your thoughts ASAP. The commission wants to finalize the maps very soon.
Use SD_SDSHORELINE_DRAFT for Senate District comments, AD_MALIEVENT_DRAFT for Assembly, and CD_MALIBUSFV_DRAFT for Congressional.
See the maps here:
Congressional District (page 43)
Senate District (page 36)
Assembly District (pp. 56 – 61)
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LETTER FROM PPDC TO THE COMMISSION
Dear Commissioners:
The Pacific Palisades Democratic Club (PPDC) is a prominent, chartered Democratic club representing hundreds of dues-paying members for whom democratic values and the interests of this remarkable community and its environs are paramount. Pacific Palisades has a population of roughly 25,000 and lies between the Santa Monica Mountains range and the shores of the Pacific Ocean in the westernmost point of the City of Los Angeles.
We strongly object to the proposal to divide Pacific Palisades into different Congressional and State Senate and Assembly districts, with Sunset Blvd. as the dividing line. Moreover, combining any portion of our community with areas in the San Fernando Valley does not make sense for reasons of demographics and common interest, as noted below.
Pacific Palisades was formally founded in 1921 and over the decades has become a tight- knit community of residents who are proactive in preserving the unique qualities of the neighborhood. Residents are very involved in local civic matters as well as regional and national politics. We have a keen interest in the redistricting process, as our elected representatives are closely tied with our community. At the Democratic club, specifically, we have monitored the progress of the Commission and are alarmed to hear that there is any plan whatsoever to consider splitting this community into different Congressional, Senate, and Assembly districts.
The Palisades is one connected neighborhood comprised of like-minded residents sharing similar goals, geography, and values in a community that has numerous community organizations and hundreds of volunteers that work hard to keep it connected and unique. What makes the Palisades remarkably tight-knit is that we all come together as one incredibly unified community no matter where we reside in the broader neighborhood. Any attempt to break up this community -- no matter how well-meaning -- would destroy its character and divide a tight-knit community that is uniquely like minded with respect to civic affairs.
The characteristics of our topography are as unique as our community-minded residents. We are away from main arteries of ingress and egress, and we host major recreation areas for the City and County of Los Angeles, including the great shoreline and the Santa Monica Mountains with their myriad hiking trails. The main artery for ingress and egress for almost all Palisades neighborhoods is Sunset Boulevard — it unifies us. It should not be the element that divides us along Congressional or State representational lines.
Our community has long been represented by one Congressperson elected in the 33rd Congressional District; our Assembly district has long been the 50th, and our Senatorial district is the 26th. We urge you to keep these representational boundaries unified and uniform. Dividing Pacific Palisades between areas north and south of Sunset for purposes of representation in Congress and the State Assembly is contrary to the interests of Palisades residents and achieves no demographic or electoral end.
Perhaps most critically, the Palisades is not connected in any way with communities in the San Fernando Valley — neither geographically, demographically, nor with respect to our electoral interests or priorities.
We call your attention to the “Community of Interest Statement” our Community Council submitted in August 2021 on behalf of the community in connection with the City of Los Angeles redistricting process: http://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PPCC-Community- Interest-Statement-8-12-21.pdf.
“As detailed in this Statement, Pacific Palisades has no relationship to communities in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles; we are too distant and different from these communities -- most of which are not in the VHFHSZ or in hillside or coastal areas; there is not even a street directly connecting the Palisades (on the south slope of the Santa Monica Mountains) to any communities in the Valley. The top ridge of the Santa Monica Mountains range (Mulholland Drive) has long been our logical and traditional dividing line.” (David Card, PPCC President)
On the other hand, we are closely aligned with the community of Brentwood (to our east) with whom we share the Brentwood-Pacific Palisades Community Plan (the BPCP). Our community is also demographically and electorally akin to the communities of Santa Monica and Malibu.
For these reasons and more, we urge you to retain the current representational boundaries for the community of Pacific Palisades.
Sincerely,
Steve Cron
President
Pacific Palisades Democratic Club
Resilient Palisades Rallies Opposition as California Seeks to Charge Residential Solar Users
Even as more residents are installing solar panels, and Resilient Palisades is trying to establish a Solar Microgrid in Pacific Palisades, the state of California has revealed discouraging news.
Last week, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which governs investor-owned utilities like Southern California Edison and PG&E, will charge solar users.
Although the proposed new rules 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.
Circling the News asked Resilient Palisades what the rationale was for charging people who are putting in solar panels.
Ryan Craig, co-lead of the Clean Energy team and a Resilient Palisades co-founder, responded: “Big investor-owned utilities have partnered with unions to lobby for this. The claim is that rooftop solar is inequitable because only wealthy people can afford it, and it leaves the fixed-cost burden of maintaining the grid on less wealthy people.
“But if this were a sincere concern, there are many ways of addressing this without radically reducing the incentive for rooftop solar,” Craig said. “This is a frontal attack on rooftop solar and distributed energy from monopolies and the unions that work for them.
“It’s important to recognize that the CPUC only governs investor-owned utilities like Southern California Edison and PG&E,” he said. “So these proposed new rules don’t apply to municipal-owned utilities like LADWP. But if these rules are implemented, the trend will be clear: utilities will have a green light to make rooftop solar more costly. So, it’s hard to imagine LADWP will be far behind.”
This is what is being proposed by the Public Utilities Commission:
1) to impose a $57 per-month solar penalty fee for putting solar panels on the roof. The more solar panels, the larger the fee. This includes apartment buildings, new homes built with solar per the state mandate, and solar-powered batteries. The fee would be the largest in the U.S.A.
2) implement an 80% cut to the credit solar users get for sharing surplus solar energy with the grid. The credit would drop from an average of twenty-five cents per kilowatt hour to about five cents. “This cut happens immediately; we predict it will end the solar market overnight,” Craig said.
3) the rules would roll back protections for existing solar users. Existing solar users are currently protected from changes to net metering rules for 20 years from the date their system is turned on. The CPUC is now proposing to reduce that protection to 15 years and eliminate the protection altogether if you accept their battery rebate.
Resilient Palisades is asking all residents to call Governor Gavin Newsom to prevent these changes from being finalized by January 27. The changes could go into effect as early as this spring.
“We are asking each one of our members to place an urgent call to Governor Newsom, asking him to stop the implementation of this rule,” RP wrote in an email. “Our calls really can make a difference on this issue. The number is (916) 445-2841. Please ask everyone you know to do the same. We need to flood his office with calls click here.
If you have a social media account, post a message. Here’s a sample:
California should not charge people a monthly penalty fee for putting solar panels on their rooftops. @GavinNewsom we need you to #SaveSolar
Join an in-person protest in either San Francisco or Los Angeles on January 12.
Reform the filibuster and pass the
For the People Act
** OCTOBER 20, 2021 UPDATE: Senate Republicans again block the bill from moving forward **
After Covid relief, nothing is more important than passing voter protection. Infrastructure? Absolutely, we need both the bipartisan agreement and the much-negotiated larger Democratic human infrastructure bill. But without voting reforms and protection, our democracy itself is in peril.
Witness Texas's, Georgia's, and other states' voter suppression (and anti-choice, another issue in need of federal redress) laws. Enacting federal laws is our only hope of overriding those malevolent state laws.
The House passed their version, H.R. 1. But the Senate version, S 1, was filibustered by Senate Republicans. Arrrgh!
Passage in the Senate will take reforming the filibuster in ways acceptable to Sens. Manchin and Sinema. Our collective activism seems to be working, shaking Manchin out of the worst of his intransigence.
All Americans should agree that the more often people who are eligible to vote exercise that right, the better. And that the rich should not be able to buy elections. Let's rally behind this cause as fervently as we fought for change in November 2020. Otherwise a rigged, suppressive system may silence us permanently at the polls.
The For the People Act or its successor may be our last chance to preserve the right to vote. Please sign the petition, call your Senators, write letters, make noise. (If you have friends in West Virginia or Arizona, their word will carry extra weight, so pass this along!) These sites make it easy:
https://dfadcoalition.org/takeaction/
https://publiccitizen.salsalabs.org/hr1ftpsenatepetition/index.html
https://www.commoncause.org/our-work/constitution-courts-and-democracy-issues/for-the-people-act/
First Texas spit on voters. Now, women. Those of us who care MUST fight back!
Here's a brilliant explainer about the law passed and why it's so convoluted and dangerous.
Great Chris Hayes rant (click image to view on YouTube):
Watch, then read this InStyle piece on how you can pitch in now, from home, to support vulnerable Texans' endangered rights:
Thank you for your help on the New Jersey and Virginia races!
We came close in VA and won in a squeaker in NJ, so your work truly made a difference
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CA for VA: Californians helping keep Virginia blue
** Big in-person CA for VA fundraiser Wed., Oct. 13 at Bergamot Station — click here **
Register new Dems in CA-29
CA-25 Voter Registration Day of Action
Door to door canvassing in Orange County (Field Team 6, Good Neighbor)
and more!
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to defend ALL women's reproductive rights
Rise up and stand together!
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GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) FINAL DAYS
 Saturday, Sept 11th: 10 am -12:30 pm & 1 pm -3:30 pm
Sunday, Sept 12th: 1 pm -3:30 pm & 4 pm - 6:30 pm
Monday, Sept 13th: 4 pm - 6:30 pm
Tuesday, ELECTION DAY 1 pm -3:30 pm & 4 pm - 6:30 pm
other times below through GDHQ
•  🚨 We need you! 🚨
Neighborhoods with voters who have not turned in their ballots: Pico-Robertson Rancho Park Westwood Beverlywood Pacific Palisades Brentwood These neighborhoods still have not been canvassed! •
Other canvassing
Canvassing is our top priority. There will be 4 in-person staging locations in L.A. for GOTV. If you want to canvass to stop the recall the last three days of the election, you should go to these locations. The campaign, CADEM, labor, and other partner organizations will be launching from these locations as part of a consolidated, coordinated effort
Volunteers will be given priority neighborhoods to canvass at these staging locations. Doorhangers and training for PDI (app used to canvass) will be provided
The canvassing schedule for GOTV is as follows and applies to all these priority locations:
Sun 9/12 – 12pm-4pm & 4pm-8pm
Mon 9/13 – 12pm-4pm & 4pm-8pm
Tues 9/14 – 12pm-4pm & 4pm-8pm
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Stretch your legs and meet up in the Palisades with friends, neighbors, and — the rumors are true — Senator Amy Klobuchar! Sen. Klobuchar was in the Palisades *in person* on Sunday, 9/5/21 at 11 AM for a Stop the Recall canvass. Thanks to all who attended!
PPDC co-sponsored with the Grassroots Dems HQ
Final weekend rally
NO on the Republican Recall Rally in L.A.
Reject the Recall:
Doorknocking/lit-dropping in the Palisades
& other neighborhoods
Training: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 6 – 7 PM, via Zoom
In-person walking in the Palisades: Started Tuesday, 8/31/21
Sat., Sep. 4, 3 – 5 PM
Sun., Sep. 5, 11 – 1 PM
Wed., Sep. 8, 4 – 6 PM
Sat., Sep. 11, 3 – 5 PM
Sun., Sep. 12, 11 AM – 1 PM
Mon., Sep. 13, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Click here, here, or here for training sign-up & more info about walking
Your Westside Dem HQ is going strong
From our friends at the Grassroots Dem HQ:
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Click here to read PPDC's Resolution in Support of SB-2
to address police misconduct
If you agree, call or email your Assemblymember (ours is Richard Bloom) in support
- stop our momentum forward for healthcare, childcare, social justice, prison reform, and so much more
- appoint judges across our state (and we've seen how important judges are!)
- hold us all hostage to anti-vaxxers, anti-maskers, and right-wing conspiracists
- appoint Congresspeople and US Senators when an opening occurs
PCHS members of Human Rights Watch's Student Task Force have taken it upon themselves to lead the charge on this.
April update on the Republican effort to recall Gov. Newsom:
Eager to fight back?
CLICK HERE for a new CA Dem Party toolkit that's got a ton of info and guidance on how best to help
The California Democratic Party (CADEM) announced a contribution of $250,000 to fight the Republican-led effort to recall Gavin Newsom.
“The California Democratic Party unequivocally opposes the Republican attempt to recall Governor Gavin Newsom,” stated Rusty Hicks, Chair of CADEM. “The Republican National Committee, wealthy Trump donors and right-wing extremists have joined forces to disrupt California’s road to recovery. Despite the efforts by the GOP to take us back to some of our darkest days, CADEM is prepared to mobilize our grassroots people power and make it clear to voters that the Democratic Party is the only party focused on protecting the health and safety of all Californians and their families,” continued Hicks.
The Stop the Republican Recall campaign is a diverse coalition made up of Democrats and prominent progressives including Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Alex Padilla, Senator Cory Booker, Congressmember Ro Khanna, Congresswoman Katie Porter, and Stacey Abrams.
“Rather than supporting California’s pandemic recovery, Republicans are choosing to shift the focus and attention away from those who need it most. Sadly, chaos is the playbook for the Republican Party - and it’s time for Democrats to unite to forcefully reject the Republican recall of our Governor,” Hicks continued.
Join us in getting our pro-science, pro-working families message out to 10 million plus CA Democrats. We can out-organize and out-mobilize the conservative dark money donors looking to swamp CA with their attacks & lies.
Donate here, and watch this space for further actions.
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/cdp-footer
CLICK HERE for the full toolkit and join the fight!
We MUST reform the filibuster and pass the For the People Act
After Covid relief, nothing is more important than passing the For the People Act. The House passed their version, H.R. 1, on March 3, 2021. If passage in the Senate takes reforming the filibuster in ways acceptable to Sens. Manchin and Sinema, then that's what must be done, without hesitation. And now Manchin is back to saying he won't budge — won't even consider changes. Very frustrating.
All Americans should agree that the more often people who are eligible to vote exercise that right, the better. And that the rich should not be able to buy elections. Let's rally behind this cause as fervently as we fought for change in November 2020! Otherwise a rigged, suppressive system may silence us permanently at the polls.
The For the People Act may be our last chance to save American democracy.
Please sign the petition, call your Senators, write letters, make noise! These sites make it easy:
https://dfadcoalition.org/takeaction/
https://publiccitizen.salsalabs.org/hr1ftpsenatepetition/index.html
https://www.commoncause.org/our-work/constitution-courts-and-democracy-issues/for-the-people-act/
March 7, 2021 event on the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
January 2020
Uphill battle for Senate continues
Yes, it's a long shot, if enough of us pitch in. Otherwise the chance is nil
So please consider donating to or working for Jon Ossoff and/or Raphael Warnock
Ossoff: https://electjon.com/
Warnock: https://warnockforgeorgia.com/
to boost their chances in an upcoming January 5, 2021 runoff
This is our best hope for the possibility of being able to make major legislative progress these next four years!
PPDC donated an additional emergency $1000 to each campaign on Nov. 5
Your election HQ is still rocking and rolling....
Please click here for info on volunteer opportunities (on our front page) — make calls, get active!
PREVIOUS EVENT FOLLOW-UPS AND ACTIONS
Follow-up to June 18, 2020 George Gascón town hall
** George Gascón **
for L.A. County District Attorney
Thu., June 18, 2020, 7 – 8 PM
Missed the meeting but want to learn more or contribute to a candidate committed to major criminal justice reforms if elected L.A. district attorney?
Click here
The #1 thing you can do through November 3, 2020 is
with our Westside Democratic HQ and Get Out The Vote!
See our home page for the latest HQ schedule
Follow-up to our June 16, 2020 event
Our Public Schools: Meeting New Challenges & Moving Forward
with LAUSD board member Nick Melvoin, Palisades Charter High School Black Student Union President Kalkidan Alemayehu, and PPDC's Susan Haskell
Below are some of the organizations and sources mentioned during the event. We hope you will check them out and take action!
- To sign the petition to support Assembly Bill 331 for ethnic studies in schools go to ethnicstudiesnow.com
- To learn more about anti-racism and how to take a more active and participatory stance for racial justice go to awarela.org/white-people-4-black-lives
- To learn more about and ally with Black Lives Matter go to blmla.org
- To volunteer for the upcoming elections go to westsidedemhq.org
- If you have not already, please immediately fill out the census and share with your family and friends. The census determines how much federal money the state and our communities receive. 2020census.gov
- To purchase your 2020 Election merchandise and find out about upcoming Pacific Palisades Democratic Club events please visit our website at www.palidems.org
PaliDems supports
Clean Money -- get big $$ out of politics!
Click image or here for more info from CA Clean Money, and to learn how you can help!
Excited about the prospects of a Green New Deal, and glad Biden/Harris's $2 trillion
Plan for a Clean Energy Revolution and Environmental Justice adopted many of its principles
after consulting with Bernie Sanders, AOC, and other progressives?
Your PaliDems have been strong supporters of a Green New Deal and sent letters to Sens. Feinstein and Harris, along with Rep. Ted Lieu, to urge them to champion it. Read our letter here, and if you're inspired, call the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 to tell their offices how you feel!
(click here to read PPDC letter in support)
More background here on why Republicans are attacking the very idea of a GND and the Biden/Harris plan
Follow-up to our March 26, 2019
Hot Topic Speaker Series event
Addicted: The Opioid Crisis in Our Backyard
Post-event action items:
1. Clare/MATRIX is a substance-abuse nonprofit in Santa Monica. It is also one of only two state licensed "hubs" for the new Hub and Spoke program. This program brings providers -- "spokes" -- together around one "hub" to make treatment more efficient. Amanda Cowan is the Outreach Director for this project at Clare/MATRIX. Her phone number is 323-933-2289. Her email address is [email protected].
2. Allison Towle, the District Director in State Senator Ben Allen's office, spoke about current opioid legislation. There are 14 bills currently active in CA. There is now an Amendment to SB Bill 486, tightening controls on Recovery Houses, that needs constituent support. The best way to support this bill is for groups or individuals to write letters addressed to the primary author Senator Patricia Bates. Her legislative director Sarah Couch is collecting letters of support and can receive them at her email address: [email protected]. The Bill can be found here: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB486.
3. The Los Angeles Field Division of the DEA sent Jena Fellenzer, their Community Outreach Specialist. She is interested in getting into any high schools to make her presentation about drug use prevention outreach and education. Anyone with points of contact can reach Jenna at 213-621-6948 or by email at [email protected].
4. Captain Haro from the Los Angeles Fire Department spoke about her field experience handling overdoses. She noted that if civilians make the decision to purchase NARCAN (brand name for Naloxone) to keep on hand for a family or community member, they need to be properly trained. In the best circumstances, NARCAN can reverse an opioid overdose. Anyone who has suffered an overdose NEEDS to be evaluated medically at an ER. 911 should be called immediately.
Training for the use of NARCAN can be acquired here: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/prevention/PM/092718/HHCLAODPPresentation.pdf
DIABLO CANYON -- TEST IT NOW
We have only days for the state to conduct independent safety testing of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Unit I, located about 170 miles outside of L.A., while it is shut down for refueling. Please sign this petition to the Governor.
A Fukushima-like meltdown would cause a mass migration out of California, and because coastal winds always blow inland, Diablo's radioactive clouds would irradiate and poison the fruits and vegetables that flourish in our fantastic Central Growing Valley. Diablo's radioactive clouds would also contaminate the drinking water that flows from the Sierra Mountains, through the Central Valley and into cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
If there is a meltdown at Diablo, much of California and its economy would be destroyed.
Click here to read the letter PPDC is sending and that you can send to elected officials.
Quicked action (time-sensitive!): Click here to sign the petition
RESTART L.A. GAS PLANTS? NO WAY
California is aiming for 100% clean energy. But Los Angeles might invest billions in fossil fuels -- Los Angeles Times
From Mike Bonin: "I am 100% with environmental activists on this. It’s certainly not an issue without complexity, but I simply cannot support reinvesting more money in fossil fuels. We’re killing our planet. I’d encourage you to endorse the letter" (that PPDC has indeed endorsed -- read it here). Learn more about the issue here:
https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-100-clean-energy-gas-plants-20181220-story.html
2/12/19 UPDATE: Great news: We seem to have won on this! Again according to the L.A. Times,
Los Angeles is abandoning a plan to spend billions of dollars rebuilding three natural gas power plants along the coast, Mayor Eric Garcetti said Monday, in a move to get the city closer to its goal of 100% renewable energy and improve air quality in highly polluted communities. (Full article here)
Or read about it here: http://www.palisadesnews.com/index.php/2019/02/13/power-plants-shut-down/
Nice to have good news for a change. All thanks to the activism of people like you who made their voices heard.
WE NEED A BETTER WAY TO FIGHT FIRES
The Palisades Dem Club is supporting the idea, proposed by our friends at the Malibu Dem Club, of a California Fire Reserve Corps. Read the proposal here (scroll down to middle of page -- whole page is filled with great ideas).
PPDC has also endorsed Physicians for a National Healthcare Plan's call to action regarding a new Medicare-for-All bill Rep. Pramila Jayapal introduced in the House.
Read about it here and let's all follow their advice and make some calls! PNHP action page here.
Ask your rep. to co-sponsor the Medicare for All Act
- Write an email using our simple webform
- Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121
- Tag your rep. on social media using the hashtags #SinglePayer and #MedicareForAll
• Supreme Court -- Without winning back the Senate, this is a tough one. Click here to see the many letters we sent to Senators in opposition to the Kavanaugh nomination.
COMPLETED ACTIONS follow -- thank you for your participation!
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For months MoveOn.org organized rapid-response rallies in the event that Mueller, Rosenstein, or Sessions got fired -- as happened November 7 with the forced resignation of Sessions.
Rallies all around L.A. were held at 5 PM on November 8
• Thanks to all who helped flip the House from red to blue at our Westside Dem HQ or local phone bank (Pac Pal, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Cuver City).
• You said NO to AB 84 by calling Senate Elections Committee.
OPPOSE the State Senate's taking up AB 84. Stop corporations and wealthy interests from the power grab that allows them to circumvent campaign finance laws and amass power within our state legislature.
Update 8/15/18: AP article on passage of AB 84 out of committee
UPDATE 8/24/18: Ding dong, the bill is dead...
Congratulations to all who called -- it worked!
Police departments in California are some of the deadliest in the country. Police in Kern County, for example, have killed more people per capita than in any other county in the U.S. But many of these deaths could have been prevented if police were held to a higher standard that valued the preservation of life. Fortunately, Assemblymembers Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) and Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) introduced legislation to update California’s deadly use of force standard. Under AB 931, police would only be allowed to use deadly force if there were no reasonable alternatives available and if there was an imminent threat to the officer or another person’s safety.... AB 931 will save lives and get us one step closer to that.
This one didn't go our way, but we tried. Click here for more information