Compiled by RADC Members - Tracy Wise and Jeff Poggi

1. Keep Pushing—The Clock Is Ticking: Ensure Voting Rights Legislation Is Passed in the U.S. Senate:

The slim Dem majority in the Senate has a lot on its plate right now, but senators cannot and must not push voting rights legislation back any further. We must get voting rights passed and stop with the doomed vote theater and carve out an exception in the filibuster for voting rights at the very least.

Please write to Senators Feinstein and Padilla ASAP with this message (feel free to replace with your own words):

Dear Senator Feinstein/Padilla--

I am one of your California constituents who believes that passing voting rights legislation ASAP is vital to pushing back against efforts across the country to disenfranchise voters and block access to the polls. It is urgent that all Senate Democrats at least implement a carve out in the filibuster for voting rights or cancel the filibuster altogether so that this bill can be passed ASAP. You are our voices in the Senate. We are running out of time.

Thank you

YOUR NAME

YOUR ZIP

Senator Diane Feinstein, 11111 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 915, Los Angeles, CA 90025 - (310) 914-7300 or [https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me].

Senator Alex Padilla, 11845 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 1250W, Los Angeles, CA 90064 - (310) 231-4494  [https://www.padilla.senate.gov/]

 

2. Re-Districting:  State Commission Proposal to *SPLIT REDLANDS*

Please send in your comments ASAP! They are drawing up the final maps NOW.

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission proposes to split Redlands into two.

One district, tentatively represented by Pete Aguilar (D), would encompass the northern part of Redlands along with Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, San Bernardino, Highland, Colton, and Mentone.

The other district, tentatively represented by Jay Obernolte (R) would encompass the southern part of Redlands along with Loma Linda, Crestline, and most of the desert land within San Bernardino County.

You can send in your comment:  https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/contact or via EM:  or via EM - [email protected] .

Points you can make:

 

  • I am a resident of Redlands/Loma Linda.
  • Redlands-specific comments: 
  • Dividing a small city in half is not helpful to its effective functioning.
  • The City of Redlands is already struggling with a long-term north/south divide in the city. This proposed redistricting plan will make this division even worse.
  • This proposed divide in Redlands polarizes the city politically, which is not helpful in the current climate.
  • Redlands’ communities of interest include those to its west and north, not those to its east.
  • You agree with the Redlands City Council’s unanimous vote to reject the proposal to split Redlands into two.
  • Any additional specific comments about Loma Linda and this new proposed map.

 

To access the live meetings:  https://videossc.com/CRC/

 

https://www.wedrawthelinesca.org/meetings 


3. Ensuring the House of Representatives Not Only Stays Blue but Gets More Dems:

Devin Nunes’ district will be holding a special election to replace him, likely in April.  The LA Times reports that the general election for his seat will likely take place during our state primaries in June 2022 (that is coming up fast).  His seat looks flippable.

Learn what you can about the Dems running to replace him. Plan to get involved by sending postcards or texts or phone banking to support a Dem to fill his seat.

The Times notes that “On the left, Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Sanger, touted the messages she’s getting from people encouraging her to run. Hurtado and Mathis in their messages acknowledged the California Redistricting Commission will influence whether they decide to run. Its latest maps show Nunes’ district tilting blue, and Arballo, the proven fundraiser from 2020, plans to run again.” (Emphasis added.)

Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article256383667.html#storylink=cpy  

 

ONGOING REMINDERS

  • REMINDER:  Voting Rights:  New *City* Redistricting Information/Action

Upcoming City of Redlands public meetings are scheduled:

  • January 18, 2022 (time, etc. tbd)
  • February 15, 2022 (time, etc. tbd)
  • April 17, 2022 – adoption of the final maps

 

  • REMINDER:  Voting Rights:  New *County* Redistricting Information

Here is the website, with the list of upcoming meetings *and* information on how to submit a map to the redistricting committee:  https://sbcountyredistricting.com/ . The final meeting took place on December 7th. From the website: “Based on Federal and State law criteria, the Advisory Redistricting Commission will recommend a minimum of two possible maps to the Board of Supervisors for adoption consideration. Final map to be adopted by the Board of Supervisors on or before December 15, 2021.”

 

 

  • REMINDER:  Voting Rights:  New *Water* Redistricting Information

No new information available. Here is a link to the current maps of the IE’s water districts:  https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=e1a0b6df610f490892a970b01952274d&entry=3 

 

We will continue to keep you up-to-date on redistricting efforts around our county (they voted NO on any meeting[s] in Redlands) and water districts and any further City redistricting news.

 

  • REMINDER:  Replacement process for Councilmember Paul Foster in motion

“As retiring City Councilman Paul Foster bid farewell, the Redlands community came out to thank him, and he and his colleagues moved closer to zeroing in on who would next fill the District 5 seat.

“Mick Gallagher, a former councilman, appears to be the top pick.

“At the council meeting Tuesday, Dec. 7, Mayor Pro Tem Eddie Tejeda said Gallagher indicated he would be willing to serve the remainder of Foster’s term. The seat is on the November 2022 ballot.

“It’s unclear when the council will make a final decision on Foster’s replacement.”

https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2021/12/09/redlands-honors-paul-foster-as-council-works-to-fill-seat-hes-leaving/  

 

STICK A PIN IN THIS

 

  • The Rittenhouse trial demonstrated to us that judicial elections are incredibly important. Let us pledge together to become better informed prior to the next election where judges are on the ballot to ensure that we are electing qualified, non-partisan members of the bench to serve the judiciary in our region. #NoRittenhouseJudgesHere

 

  • UPDATED:  The California 2021 Legislative Session ended with Governor Newsom signing his last bills prior to the October 10th deadline.  The next Legislative Session should reconvene in December.
    • The final set of approved bills included:
      • Providing Immediate Relief for those Hardest Hit by COVID-19
      • Confronting the Homelessness & Housing Affordability Crisis
      • Transforming Public Schools as Gateways for Opportunity
      • Building Infrastructure for the Next Century
      • Combating Wildfires & Tackling Climate Change

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2021/10/09/governor-newsom-takes-final-action-of-2021-legislative-session/