Internet Links from our March 24th Club Meeting Guests
If you would like to learn more about information presented at our March 24th Club meeting, our guest presenters provided the following internet links:
From Laura L. Knipmeyer, California Volunteer Coordinator for the American Promise, an organization that is working toward a Constitutional Amendment to overturn the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Citizens United vs Federal Elections Commission:
View the PowerPoint presentation HERE.
Press release: Candidates Pledge to End Outsized Political Influence American Promise to Inform Voters in 2022 California Primary
American Promise could certainly use more volunteers, if anyone can help, to contact candidates in the 14 priority districts (April/May), or the other 40 races during the summer. They have scripts and templates, making it easy to succeed in this work, and have a national impact: https://americanpromise.net/
From Jason Bercovitch and Shaina Tigar, representing CA-50 Congressman Scott Peters:
Here is a breakdown of the appropriations highlighting projects in the district such as funding for the coaster, MTS green fleet, and UCSD: https://scottpeters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-peters-scores-key-investments-for-san-diego-projects-in-final-annual
Learn more about Congressman Peters’ Student loan repayment bill – https://scottpeters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-peters-and-davis-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-address-rising
Learn more about Congressman Peters’ STANDUP ACT – https://scottpeters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-peters-standup-act-to-prevent-youth-suicide-becomes-law
Learn more about Congressman Peters’ historic deal to lower prescription drug prices: https://scottpeters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-peters-announces-historic-deal-to-lower-prescription-drug-prices
Read a summary of Congressman Peters’ climate action work and his recent trip to COP26: https://scottpeters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/icymi-rep-peters-participates-in-cop26-activities-and-meetings
https://scottpeters.com/get-involved/
From Club member Rob Howard, on behalf of Eric Joyce, candidate for Oceanside City Council: https://ericjoyce.org/events
From Barbara Bry, candidate for San Diego County Assessor: https://barbarabry.com/
From Kylie Taitano, Candidate for Congress, CA-50: https://www.kylietaitano.com
From Greg Hodosevich, candidate for San Diego County Treasure: www.treasurer2022.com
March 21, 2022
President’s Message FLASH! FLASH!
Dear Club Members and Friends,
Program Speaker Announced for March 24th Club Meeting
I’m very pleased to announce the program speaker for our March 24th Club meeting. We have invited Laura L. Knipmeyer, California Volunteer Coordinator for the American Promise, an organization that is working toward a Constitutional Amendment to overturn the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Citizens United vs Federal Elections Commission.
American Promise is a nation-wide, cross-partisan network of Americans working to end unlimited, concentrated, and unaccountable money in our political system, and to secure equal rights, effective representation, and more functional government for generations to come. To accomplish these goals, American Promise has drafted a Constitutional Amendment to clarify that:
“Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to forbid Congress or the States … from reasonably regulating and limiting contributions and expenditures in campaigns, elections, or ballot measures.”
The amendment would further authorize Congress and the States to implement and enforce such regulations by appropriate legislation, including regulations that would distinguish between “natural person” (human beings) and “juridical persons” (corporations), including prohibiting “juridical persons” from raising and spending money in campaigns, elections, or ballot measures.
To fully appreciate the importance of over-turning the USSC decision in Citizens United, I am attaching a recent analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice on the impacts the anti-democratic and corrupting influence the decision has had on the American political system. Here is an excerpt from the Brennan Center report:
“Citizens United allowed big political spenders to exploit the growing lack of transparency in political spending.… Dark money expenditures increased from less than $5 million in 2006 to more than $300 million in the 2012 election cycle and more than $174 million in the 2014 midterms. In the top 10 most competitive 2014 Senate races, more than 71 percent of the outside spending on the winning candidates was dark money. These numbers actually underestimate the impact of dark money on recent elections, because they do not include super PAC spending that may have originated with dark money sources….”
The American Promise strategy is to build a strong grassroots movement from the ground up, relying upon engaging citizens at the local level to persuade their local and state leaders to support the Amendment. In Today’s Edition Newsletter, for March 21, 2022, Robert Hubbell describes his recent interview with American Promise representatives, and includes a link to his recording of the conversation in a podcast. Here’s what Hubbell writes:
“By building support at the local level, American Promise hopes to secure sufficient support for passage of a 28th Amendment on the day it is introduced in Congress. (It would then need to be ratified by 3/4ths of the state legislatures.) So far, 22 states and more than 800 cities and towns have passed resolutions endorsing the passage of a 28th Amendment to repeal Citizens United by allowing Congress to regulate campaign finances.”
[Note: If you do not have a free subscription to Robert Hubbell’s Today’s Edition Newsletter, and would like to do so, here’s a link where you can read this morning’s copy and enter your free subscription:
https://roberthubbell.substack.com/?r=3m0dd&s=r&utm_campaign=pub&utm_medium=web
March 24, 2022, Club Meeting Agenda
Please Join Us Thursday, March 24th at 6:00pm (via Zoom)
Link to Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87106677935?pwd=Qlo1MkVaaysvVTJrR3YrdjBPZzdYdz09
Meeting ID: 871 0667 7935
Passcode: 190259
You can view the Agenda HERE.
The business portion of our March 24th Club meeting will again focus on consideration of endorsements of candidates in important local races on the June 7th Primary election ballot. Four additional races have been recommended for consideration by the Executive Board. They are:
1. The 50th Congressional District: Following the recent redistricting of our Congressional districts, Representative Scott Peters, who currently represents the 52nd Congressional District, has announced he will be running for election in the new 50th Congressional District. The new CD 50 will include the communities of Del Mar Heights, Del Mar Highlands, Torrey Pines Mesa, Sorrento Valley, Carmel Valley, and Rancho Santa Fe, among others. Here’s a link to the new CD 50 boundaries:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xUL8jewmMeC-OOBwgPFpm4kZcpqPEX3t/view
At least two challengers, Adam Schindler and Kylie Taitano, both Democrats, will also be running to represent the new district. We have invited all three candidates to appear at out March 24 Club Meeting for your endorsement consideration. Scott Peters has been recommended for endorsement at the California Democratic Party caucus this past weekend.
To learn more about these candidates, visit their campaign websites:
Scott Peters: https://scottpeters.com/
Adam Schindler: https://www.schindler4congress.com/
Kylie Taitano: https://www.kylietaitano.com/
2. San Diego County Sheriff: Current incumbent Sheriff Bill Gore will be termed out this year. Three Democratic candidates are running to replace him in this important County-wide office: Dave Meyers, Kelly Martinez, and Juan Carlos Mercado. We have invited all three candidates to our March 24th meeting for your endorsement consideration. Dave Meyers has been endorsed by the San Diego County Democratic Party.
Here are the links to their campaign websites:
Dave Meyers: https://www.davemyersforsheriff.com/
Kelly Martinez: https://kellymartinezforsheriff.com/
Juan Carlos Mercado: https://www.juancarlosmercado.com/
3. San Diego Assessor-Recorder-Clerk: Barbara Bry is the only Democratic candidate seeking election to this County-wide office. Bry formerly represented San Diego City Council District 1 (incl. Del Mar Heights, Carmel Valley, and Sorrento Valley areas). In 2020, she was a candidate for the office of Mayor of the City of San Diego. Barbara Bry has been invited to our March 24th meeting for your endorsement consideration. She has been endorsed by the San Diego County Democratic Party.
Here is a link to Barbara Bry’s campaign website: https://barbarabry.com/
4. San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector: Just before last week’s filing deadline for the June 7th Primary, two candidates eligible for a Club endorsement filed their candidates’ papers. The Executive Board has voted to recommend consideration of a Club endorsement in this race. The two eligible candidates are Gregory Hodosevich and Michiko Lindsey-Schroeder.
Here are the links to their campaign website:
Gregory Hodosevitch: https://treasurer2022.com/
Michiko Lindsey-Schroeder: (Not yet available)
All eligible candidates have been invited to appear, or send a representative, to our meeting and to address their interest and qualifications for your endorsement.
In Solidarity,
Wayne Dernetz,
President
March 9, 2022
President’s Message
Dear Club Members and Friends,
In this issue:
• March 24, 2020, Club Meeting Agenda
• Torrey Pines Democratic Club Endorsements – 2022 June Primary
• CADEM Endorsements
• San Diego County Democratic Party Endorsements
• Local GO Teams Are Now Organizing for the June 7th Primary – Sign Up!
• The Russian Invasion of Ukraine
• President Biden’s Supreme Court Pick
• Covid 19 Update
Since my last President’s Message on February 9th, so much has happened in the world and our nation. I’ll briefly comment below on three current issues in the news: the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Biden’s Supreme Court nomination, and a Covid update. But first, here’s a quick Club news update.
March 24, 2022, Club Meeting Agenda
San Diego County Board Chair and District 4 Supervisor Nathan Fletcher is scheduled as our program speaker on March 24th. Supervisor Fletcher will address the current issues facing the County and his thoughts on possible solutions. He will also review the progress being made in recent months on long standing issues. You’ll have a chance to ask questions of the Supervisor.
Please Join Us Thursday, March 24th at 6:00pm (via Zoom) for our monthly Club Meeting.
Link to Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87106677935?pwd=Qlo1MkVaaysvVTJrR3YrdjBPZzdYdz09
Meeting ID: 871 0667 7935
Passcode: 190259
This is the peak “Endorsement Season” for California Democrats seeking State and local offices in the June 7th Primary Election. Please note that, as a chartered Club under the aegis of the San Diego County Democratic Party, we are empowered to make our own endorsements of candidates seeking national, state, county, and local races in all elections; and to make recommendations on upcoming ballot measures. While Club endorsements are not official endorsements of the Democratic Party, they are important nonetheless for both candidates seeking office and our Club members. Subject to a few restraints, our Club endorsements may differ from official Party endorsements in order reflect our members’ preferences.
At our meeting on March 24th, we will continue considering Club endorsements for the upcoming June 7th Primary election. There are three races recommended by our Executive Board for Club endorsement consideration.
1. The 50th Congressional District: Following the recent redistricting of our Congressional districts, Representative Scott Peters, who currently represents the 52nd Congressional District, has announced he will be running for election in the new 50th Congressional District. The new CD 50 will include the communities of Del Mar Heights, Del Mar Highlands, Torrey Pines Mesa, Sorrento Valley, Carmel Valley, and Rancho Santa Fe, among others. Here’s a link to the new CD 50 boundaries: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xUL8jewmMeC-OOBwgPFpm4kZcpqPEX3t/view
At least two challengers, Adam Schindler and Kylie Taitano, both Democrats, will also be running to represent the new district. We have invited all three candidates to appear at out March 24 Club Meeting for your endorsement consideration. Scott Peters has been recommended for endorsement at the California Democratic Party caucus this past weekend.
To learn more about these candidates, visit their campaign websites:
Scott Peters: https://scottpeters.com/
Adam Schindler: https://www.schindler4congress.com/
Kylie Taitano: https://www.kylietaitano.com/
2. San Diego County Sheriff: Current incumbent Sheriff Bill Gore will be termed out this year. Three Democratic candidates are running to replace him in this important County-wide office: Dave Meyers, Kelly Martinez, and Juan Carlos Mercado. We have invited all three candidates to our March 24th meeting for your endorsement consideration. Dave Meyers has been endorsed by the San Diego County Democratic Party.
Here are the links to their campaign websites:
Dave Meyers: https://www.davemyersforsheriff.com/
Kelly Martinez: https://kellymartinezforsheriff.com/
Juan Carlos Mercado: https://www.juancarlosmercado.com/
3. San Diego Assessor-Tax Collector-Recorder: Barbara Bry is the only Democratic candidate seeking election to this County-wide office. Bry formerly represented San Diego City Council District 1 (incl. Del Mar Heights, Carmel Valley, and Sorrento Valley areas). In 2020, she was a candidate for the office of Mayor of the City of San Diego. Barbara Bry has been invited to our March 24th meeting for your endorsement consideration. She has been endorsed by the San Diego County Democratic Party.
Here is a link to Barbara Bry’s campaign website: https://barbarabry.com/
All regular Club members (registered Democrats whose membership is current) will have the opportunity to vote in the Club endorsement considerations. Following the meeting, the endorsement voting will be conducted online using our licensed OpaVote program.
Torrey Pines Democratic Club Endorsements – 2022 June Primary
At the endorsement elections following the Club special meeting on February 17th, the candidates below have been endorsed by the Club for the June 7th Primary Election (these Club endorsements are not to be construed as CADEM or SDCDP endorsements):
Congressional District 49 – Mike Levin
State Senate District 38 – Catherine Blakespear
Assembly District 77 – Tasha Boerner-Horvath
Supervisorial District 4 – Nathan Fletcher
Supervisorial District 5 – Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson
County Board of Education District 5 – Rick Shea
Mayor, City of Vista – Cipriano Vargas
For more information, visit our website at: https://www.torreypinesdems.org/club-news/
California Democratic Party Endorsements
This past weekend, March 3 – 6, the California Democratic Party (CADEM) conducted its endorsement caucus in Los Angeles. CADEM is the only organization the bestows the official Democratic endorsements for candidates running for California congressional districts; State offices, including the Governor and other State Constitutional offices; and for the State Legislative districts. You can view the results of the CADEM endorsements here: https://cadem.org/endorsements/.
San Diego County Democratic Party Endorsements
The San Diego County Democratic Party (SDCDP) has also been endorsing Democratic candidates running for County and local races throughout San Diego in the upcoming June 7th Primary election. SDCDP is the only organization making official Democratic Party endorsements for the county and local races. Here’s a link for the SDCDP endorsements: https://www.sddemocrats.org/candidates.html.
Local GO Teams Are Now Organizing for the June 7th Primary – Sign Up!
The San Diego County GO Teams are the front-line volunteers who undertake critical voter information, voter canvassing, voter registration activities, and “get out the vote” assistance and encouragement for registered Democratic and Non-Party-Preference voters during the month prior to the election date. No experience is required; training and materials are provided.
If you want to help elect Democratic candidates and get out the vote locally, and like working with friendly people who share your values and concerns, this is a great way to be involved. You can sign up to volunteer at: https://www.sddemocrats.org/volunteer.html. A representative will contact you.
The Russian Invasion of Ukraine
After weeks of preparation by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who surrounded the independent and sovereign nation of Ukraine with more than 100,000 troops and thousands of military and combat vehicles, to the accompaniment of dire predictions of an imminent invasion issued by President Biden and U.S. Pentagon sources, the invasion began in force on Thursday, February 24th. In what is widely regarded as the largest military operation since the end of World War II and the first war of conquest against a neighboring country in Europe since then, Putin had hoped for a quick and decisive victory against a much smaller and weaker opponent.
However, Putin’s hopes, and the widespread expectations of others, were quickly dashed by the combination of initial Russian military incompetence, and the strength of Ukrainian military and civilian resistance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emerged as a national and global hero for his courageous stand and ability to rally Ukrainian resistance in the face of overwhelming odds. The war is now entering its third week and so far the major Ukrainian cities in the north and elsewhere have been holding their ground against the Russian onslaught.
No one is expecting that Ukraine will be able to hold off the Russian army for very long. Yet, hope is beginning to rise in the wake of the courageous determination of the Ukrainian people, the adeptness of the Ukrainian military, and the near global support from the people and nations of the world outside Russia. President Biden, working in concert with the leaders of European and allied nations, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, came together quickly to condemn the Russian aggression, impose harsh economic and financial sanctions on Russia, and offer military, financial, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Because Ukraine is not a member of the NATO defense pact, and to reduce the risk of a nuclear escalation, U.S. and NATO leadership have made it clear there will be no direct military confrontation against Russia by NATO members unless Russia acts against a NATO member nation.
Although the outcome in Ukraine remains in doubt, Putin has shown a willingness to escalate the violence against the civilian population to achieve his ambition of restoring the territory of the former Russian Empire. Though the killing and destruction by Russia is horrendous, a few positive results are apparent amid the ongoing human tragedy.
Under President Biden’s skillful leadership, the U.S and European allies have strengthened their bond and demonstrated the capacity to work with single-minded purpose. The widely reported popular resurgence of autocratic societies over democratic ones has been paused, if not reversed. And in U.S. domestic politics, the naked Russian aggression has provided a basis for bi-partisan agreement and cooperation in Washington on aid to Ukraine.
President Biden’s Supreme Court Pick
On February 25th, President Biden announced his Supreme Court candidate for nomination to replace the retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. In keeping with his campaign pledge and following a “rigorous process” in which he “sought a candidate with exceptional credentials, unimpeachable character, and unwavering dedication to the rule of law,” Biden has chosen Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee. If confirmed, Judge Jackson will be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, and for the first time the nine member Court will include three women.
According to the White House public announcement, Judge Jackson was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Miami. Her parents were graduates of historically black universities and entered careers as teachers and administrators of the Miami-Dade public school system. Judge Jackson has been a “high achiever” throughout her life, according to the White House. She is a graduate, magna cum laude, of Harvard University and also attended Harvard Law where she graduated cum laude and was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Judge Jackson resides in Washington, D.C, with her husband and their two children.
Following law school, Judge Jackson clerked for Justice Breyer, whom she is nominated to replace, then became a federal public defender. President Obama appointed her to serve as Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2009. She was confirmed in 2010. As a member of the bi-partisan Commission, Judge Jackson focused on reducing unwarranted sentencing disparities and ensuring that federal sentencing guidelines were just and proportionate. In 2012, she was nominated by President Obama to a vacancy on the U. S. District Court for D.C. and was confirmed in 2013. Judge Jackson was among the first of President Biden’s judicial nominees for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She was confirmed in 2021.
Covid 19 Update
This week, the Johns Hopkins University Medical Center reported that the worldwide number of deaths reported from Covid 19 has reached more than 6 million. In the U.S., total Covid 19 deaths stand at 960,687, as of March 8th. By a wide margin, that represents the highest number of deaths reported for any single country since the beginning of this Pandemic. The next highest number of deaths reported for an individual country is Brazil, with 652,648; then India with 515,210; and Russia with 350,490. (It must be acknowledged that comparisons in the number of reported deaths and cases are highly dependent upon the accuracy of the information collection systems in each nation.) Worldwide, the total number of infections reported from of Covid-19 now stands at more than 447 million cases. In the U.S., the total number of infections have reached 79 million cases.
However, the good news, at least in the United States, is the rate of new infections and deaths have been declining rapidly. The average new daily case count in the U.S. is now about 40,000 – down 51% in the latest 14-day running average. That represents an current daily infection rate of about 12 individuals per 100,000 population. Covid deaths have fallen to an average daily rate of 1,451. That represents a daily death toll of less than 1 per 200,000 population.
In the U.S. today more than 555 million doses of Covid 19 vaccines have been administered. About 77% of all persons in the U.S. have received at least one dose, and more than 65% are fully vaccinated with two or more doses.
In the face of efforts by the GOP and others to politically weaponize the vaccination and mask mandates against President Biden and other leaders, the U.S. vaccination effort since President Biden assumed office 13 months ago, has achieved remarkable success. This past week, the CDC announced it no longer recommends a mask requirement. California has now officially ended its mandatory masking guidelines.
While the Pandemic continues to rage in a few other parts of the world, at least for now the U.S. along with other developed nations, seem to be enjoying a welcome respite from the pandemic. In a statement issued two days ago, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC, stated, “I would say [it is safe for most people to] put your mask in a drawer, anticipate you may need them again, and hope we don’t.” However, people who are immuno-compromised or otherwise vulnerable, are advised to continue to exercise caution and to wear masks whenever appropriate.
In Solidarity,
Wayne Dernetz,
President