Internet Links from our January 27th Club Meeting Guests
Adam Schindler, candidate for Congress, CA-50: https://schindler4congress.com schindler4congress@gmail.com
Kylie Taitano, candidate for Congress, CA-50: https://www.kylietaitano.com info@kylietaitano.com
Congressman Scott Peters, CA-50: https://scottpeters.com/get-involved/sign-up/ info@scottpeters.com
Please join us for our monthly club meeting, via Zoom, Thursday, January 27th, at 6:00pm.
Starting this month, we are moving to a new zoom link for Monthly Club Meetings. You no longer need to pre-register. Please make note of this new link below.
The TPDC Monthly Club meets on the fourth Thursday of most months.
Link to Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87106677935?pwd=Qlo1MkVaaysvVTJrR3YrdjBPZzdYdz09
Meeting ID: 871 0667 7935
Passcode: 190259
Upcoming meetings:
Jan 27, 2022 06:00 PM
Feb 24, 2022 06:00 PM
Mar 24, 2022 06:00 PM
Apr 28, 2022 06:00 PM
May 26, 2022 06:00 PM
You can download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system:
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZMsd–uqTwjGdEaR_HlJsxSH6UzE0lYnCm3/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGvrzssHNOSuRqCRpwEBYigM-7wtmZEjad4nS3aKyx5cRvFHrR3KJcvHOHe
GENERAL MEETING (VIA ZOOM)
January 27, 2022
FINAL AGENDA
6:00pm Meeting Room opens – Credentialling begins
6:15pm Meeting Called to order by Wayne Dernetz, President
1. Quorum Check – Janette Shelton, VP – Memberships
2. President’s Welcome
3. Additions or Deletions to the Agenda
4. Approval of Minutes of the October 27, 2021, Club Meeting – Phil Currier, Secretary
5. Comments from elected officials, candidates, and party officials present. (3 minutes each)
6. PROGRAM (Speakers to be introduced by Marisa Hildebrand-Criqui, VP-Programs)
6:30 – 7:00 PM
Presentation by Samuel L. Popkin, Professor Emeritus, UCSD, and author of Crackup: The Republican Implosion and the Future of Presidential Politics, 2021, Oxford University Press.
7:00 – 7:30 PM
Report From Washington and other matters:
Representative Scott Peters, CA 52nd Congressional District
7:30 – 8:00 PM
Report from Will Kennedy-Rodriguez, Chair, San Diego County Democratic Party providing an annual report on the state of the County Party and important information for all Club Members and Democrats. Q&A for members will be included.
7. CLUB BUSINESS
A. Presentation of the Torrey Pines Democratic Club 2022 Action Plan and Budget; Recommended Action: Motion to Approve the Action Plan and Budget. Please see the memo with more information here. You can read the Action Plan and Budget document here.
B. Ratify Board Recommendations for Appointment of Club Delegates to the CADEM Pre-Endorsement Conference. Recommendation Action: Motion to ratify Board recommendations. Please see the memo with more information here.
8. OFFICERS’ REPORTS & MEMBERS’ COMMENTS
A. Treasurer’s Report: Deborah Currier, Treasurer
B. Membership Report: Janette Shelton, Vice President – Memberships
C. Future Programs Report: Marisa Hildebrand-CrIqui, Vice President – Programs
D. Communications Report – Ken Burtt, Executive Vice President, and Communications Director
9. Members’ Comments for the Good of the Order
8:30pm ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular Club Meeting will be on February 24, 2022, 6:00pm.
Check our website for further information – www.torreypinesdems.org
January 13, 2022
President’s Message
Happy New Year Club Members and Friends! We have lots to go over, so let’s get right to it.
Our Program for the January 27th Meeting
As we return to our regular Club meeting schedule following the holiday break, we have two program speakers and an important business item for regular members approval at our January 27th regular meeting.
Our first guest speaker will be Professor Emeritus Samuel L. Popkin of the Political Science Department at UCSD. Professor Popkin is a noted author and advisor on the presidential campaigns of Bill Clinton and Al Gore. His latest book, Crackup: The Republican Implosion and the Future of Presidential Politics (Oxford University Press, 2021) has been favorably received by prominent scholars and reviewers. Professor Popkin will discuss his views about the factors that have led to the breakdown in the Republican Party and what that may mean for future of our political system. You won’t want to miss this discussion as we begin mid-term election cycle.
Our second speaker will be Congressman Scott Peters who has represented California’s 52nd Congressional District since 2013. The 52nd Congressional District includes the communities of La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Kearney Mesa, Escondido, and Coronado. Congressman Peters will provide us with an update on the major issues in Congress and a look ahead at what may be coming next. You won’t want to miss Congressman Peters’ review.
Our Proposed 2022 Action Plan and Budget
The Executive Board has adopted our 2022 Action Plan and Budget and is presenting at the meeting on January 27th for approval by our regular members. Required by our Club bylaws, the Action Plan and Budget sets out the goals and objectives for the coming year, along with the financial resources needed to support those goals and objectives. A copy of the proposed Action Plan and Budget will be distributed as an attachment to the agenda email distribution and will also be posted on the Club’s website: www.torreypinesdems.org.
The Voting Rights Bill
A critical issue in Congress in the coming few days will be efforts by President Biden and Majority Leader Schumer. As President Biden concludes his first year in office, his record of achievement would, in normal times, be considered quite impressive. The successes thus far include improvements made in the fight against the Covid Pandemic, in particular the rollout of the vaccine program, immediately following his inauguration; the passage of the $1.9 trillion economic benefits package known as The American Rescue Plan; the restoration of many of the climate action regulations and programs cancelled by the former president; and the passage of the first of two packages for his “Build Back Better” agenda, the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure bill. These successes produced an historic and record-breaking economic recovery for the nation from the economic collapse caused by the Pandemic.
However, the failure thus far to pass the second economic stimulus package, the $2.4 trillion program for “soft infrastructure” improvements, including many progressive social benefits, has led to some disappointments. The outbreak of the Omicron variant of the Covid virus has also led to criticisms, as has the current higher than normal rate of inflation.
But the overriding concern of the moment is passage of the Voting Rights package, now merged into a single bill, to be known as the “Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act,” after the recently deceased civil rights leader and long-term Representative of his home state, Georgia. Over the past year, several states under Republican legislative control have enacted new laws ostensibly to protect the integrity of voting systems in those states, but which many see as thinly disguised efforts to suppress voting rights among minority citizens of those states. Some of the changes also appear to threaten the independence of the voting certifications in those states by asserting partisan legislative controls over the process of certifying results. The effort of these states is seen as a Republican conspiracy to “steal” the presidential election in 2024.
The Voting Rights bills would thwart the Republican effort to “fix” future elections by establishing national standards subject to enforcement by the U.S. Justice Department, as existed prior to the 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Shelby County vs Holder, that struck down important elements of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. That decision has enabled states to return to former strategies for suppressing minority voting and rigging election results.
The House is expected to pass the new bill by this weekend and send it on to the Senate. The problem lies there. Mitch McConnell and the Republicans have vowed to oppose the new bill, using the filibuster to prevent it from even being debated on the floor. President and supporters of the bill at least want to force a roll call vote in the Senate, but to do so requires somehow avoiding the filibuster. The outcome, though critical for the upcoming mid-term congressional elections, remains uncertain.
Those who support restoration of voting rights are urged to contact key Senators to urge them to support modification of the Senate filibuster rule, which requires a simple majority vote, to bring the roll call vote on the Freedom to Vote Act bill to the Senate floor.
President Biden’s Poll Numbers
The mood of the American people has soured of late with the rise in inflation hitting pocketbooks, and the re-emergence of the Covid virus, Omicron variant, causing rapid rise in infection rates and once again overwhelming the nations hospital emergency rooms. As a result, the President’s opinion ratings have been falling of late. But this morning, new polling reported by Quinnipiac University shows the President’s popularity at a new low of just 33% approval rating, while 54% now disapprove of his performance. This even though the U.S. economy is doing extremely well, unemployment is at historic lows, corporate and business profits are at record highs, and GDP growth is also at new highs.
California’s Redistricting Is Complete
California’s Independent Redistricting Commission has completed its work on redrawing our election district boundaries for Congressional, Assembly, and State Senate districts in late December and forwarded the adopted maps to the Secretary of State. According to the Secretary, the maps are official as soon as received from the Commission. No further is required. However, the new district boundaries do not become effective until the candidates have been elected and the have been sworn in. But candidates running in the California primary election on June 7, 2022, will be running for the new districts, and the top two candidates in those races will be on the ballot in the new district races in the November 8th general election.
The new district boundaries represent significant changes in the Congressional districts, in part due to California having lost one of its 53 Congressional districts in the re-apportionment following the 2020 census results. Because the new district boundaries do not align closely to the current district boundaries, the incumbent congressional candidates will engage in a bit of “musical chairs” in deciding which districts to run for.
So far, only one incumbent has announced her intentions – Sara Jacobs has stated she will run for the 51st congressional district. Currently, she represents the 53rd congressional district that will be eliminated in 2023 due to reapportionment. Mike Levin, who represents the 49th congressional district, will most likely run again for the 49th district. The 49th district no longer extends into the northwestern parts of the City of San Diego. The area within San Diego City formerly represented by the 49th congressional district is now included in the 50th congressional district. Watch for Scott Peters to announce he will seek reelection in the 50th congressional district. He now represents the 52nd district.
To see how your congressional, assembly and state senate district boundaries may have changed, go to: https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/map_viewer. Use the maps legend box to switch among the congressional, assembly, and senate districts. Use the “find address or place” bar to see your district.
The San Diego County Supervisorial districts have also been modified substantially from their present boundaries. Fortunately for our members in Solana Beach, Del Mar and north coastal San Diego, we will remain in Supervisorial district 3, currently represented by Terra Lawson-Remer. But District 3 will no longer represent Escondido. Instead, District 3 will be extended northward along the coast to include Carlsbad, and southward to include La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, and Coronado. You can view the new supervisorial districts here: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/redistricting/docs/ircmeetings/irc-meeting-12-14-21/Item%2005%20-%20County%20of%20San%20Diego%202021%20IRC%20Final%20Plan%20Amended.pdf
Residents in the City of San Diego’s Council District 1, and City of Solana Beach council districts, will not see much change in their district boundaries.
Assemblyman Chris Ward, 78th AD, Takes On the Gun Industry
In a bold move by Assembly Chris Ward, representing our 78th Assembly District, he announced in his Newsletter this morning that he, along with two like-minded Assembly Members, are spearheading AB 1594, a bill that would empower local/state governments and Californians to sue manufacturers and sellers of firearms for the harm caused by their products. If approved, the bill could have significant financial impact on the gun industry in California. Currently, gun manufacturers are protected under federal law enacted in 2005 from suing for damages in federal courts. But that law does not appear to preempt states from doing so. The California Attorney General and the Brady Campaign will be supporting AB 1594. Gun advocates will be encouraged by the news, while the gun lobby and their allies will be outraged. Read Assemblyman Ward’s press announcement here: https://a78.asmdc.org/press-releases/20220105-ting-ward-gipson-announce-intent-introduce-legislation-allowing-private
State Housing Initiative Petition Now Being Circulated
Finally, of current interest both locally and statewide, a petition for a State Constitutional Amendment has been filed and authorized for circulation on November 1, 2021, that would repeal recent State legislation that allows some owners of single family zoned property to develop up to four dwelling units per parcel. The petition is now being circulated to gather signatures to place the measure on the ballot. Under California’s Initiative laws, the supporters of the measure have 180 days from the date of circulation (or until about May 30, 2022) to return petitions with enough valid signatures. The number of valid signatures required to qualify is just over 997,000 signatures. In order to qualify for the November 8, 2022, General Election, the Secretary of State must certify the petition has a sufficient number of signatures by May 12, 2022.
To read the Title and Summary of the petition, click here: https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/initiatives/pdfs/Title%20and%20Summary%20%2821-0016A1%29.pdf
To learn about the sponsors and the proposed text of the Constitutional Amendment, click here:
https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/initiatives/pdfs/210016A1%20%28Local%20Land%20Use%29.pdf
Our Club will be holding candidate endorsement and ballot measure recommendation forums in September and October, leading up to the November 8, 2022 general election.
Club Membership Applications for New Members and Renewing Members Now Due
It’s that time of year again when we ask you to join our Club, if you are not yet a member, or to renew your annual membership if you have been a member. All renewals are due in January and must be completed by March 31st to maintain your membership. Annual dues begin at $25 per person. Higher levels of membership are available for those willing to provide additional support for the Club and will be recognized on our website. New members may join at any time. To join or renew, go to: https://www.torreypinesdems.org/membership/.
That’s it for now. It promises to be a politically active spring runup to the June primary election and continuing to the November general election. So please be sure to send in your new or renewal membership application as soon as possible, and plan to attend our Club meetings on a regular basis.
In solidarity,
Wayne Dernetz
Wayne Dernetz, President
Virtual Town Hall with California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
Dear Friends:
You are invited to attend a virtual Town Hall on January 18th, 2022 at 5:30pm where I will be hosting special guest, California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis. This virtual event will be your opportunity to learn about a number of legislative priorities including action on higher education, climate change, and the California Budget.
Attendees will learn about the issues directly affecting our communities and will have the chance to ask questions of both Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and myself.
Virtual Town Hall with California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
January 18th, 2022 | 5:30pmYou will receive the Zoom information shortly after registering.
I invite you to share this email with your friends, family and neighbors. Please note that this virtual Town Hall will be uploaded to https://a78.asmdc.org/ for anyone unable to attend.
Please reach out to my office at Assemblymember.Ward@assembly.ca.gov with any questions you would like to submit in advance or concerns.
Thank you and I look forward to seeing you soon!
Yours in service,
Christopher M. Ward
Assemblymember, 78th District
P.S. Follow my office on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on the latest news on state and federal resources.
