Michael Tamony
Compiled by RADC Members - Tracy Wise and Jeff Poggi
#GetInvolvedGetInformedTakeAction
#RedlandsDemsAct
1. Get involved with the California Democratic Party (CADEMS):
Get familiar with the CADEMS action page, which includes in-person and virtual events all around the state, hosted by or involving CADEMS. Go to https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/ to find the latest volunteer opportunities.
Or
Attend a San Bernardino County Dems monthly general meeting. The next one is scheduled for 10/28 from 7 pm-9 pm and it will be virtual. Pre-registration is required:
Thursday, October 28, 7 pm – 9 pm
Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsde6hqz0pHtHUecCeo2f3eji9dTvy-_W0
Or go to the calendar at http://www.sanbernardinodemocrats.org/
2. San Bernardino County Redistricting Maps Advancing:
This coming week’s meeting is another evening meeting, so take advantage of this opportunity to attend in person to review the maps that are currently being worked on. While Redlands is, at the moment, scheduled to remain in the district where it was for the last decade, attending and sharing feedback lets the advisory commission know that we, the voters, care and are watching what they are doing.
At our October meeting, a speaker from Common Cause explained that the Constitution requires that districts contain equal populations. The goal is also to ensure that no group becomes disenfranchised by having a majority population divided so that they make up the minority in several districts or that they are all clumped into one district, and that way also have their voices suppressed.
Information on the 10/21 meeting in Chino Hills:
6:00 pm-8:00 pm – NOTE THAT THIS IS AN EVENING MEETING!
Chino Hills Council Chambers
14000 City Center Drive
Chino Hills, CA 91709
3. Crucial Pending Legislation: Voting Rights and Full Infrastructure Bill
What is happening with both of these key pieces of legislation is in flux, and voting and strategies are changing from day to day.
Nevertheless, securing voting rights is vital for the 2022 general election, let alone in 2024. Overcoming Republican Party opposition would require making modifications to the filibuster.
In addition, taking long-overdue action now to aggressively address climate change (and all Democrats must vote YES so that it can pass via reconciliation) along with the other vital investments needed to move our country and our economy forward must happen. The two conservative Democrats (Manchin and Sinema) appear to be talking with President Biden and the leader of the progressive caucus Rep. Jayapal, so there is hope that this ambitious and vital bill will pass. But our voices may also be needed.
Keep an eye on our social media in the upcoming two weeks for any quick turnaround messages to send to Rep. Pete Aguilar and/or Senators Feinstein and Padilla and even President Biden and Vice President Harris.
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 next two meetings are:
Advisory Redistricting Commission Meeting
October 21, 2021, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm – NOTE THAT THIS IS AN EVENING MEETING!
Chino Hills Council Chambers
14000 City Center Drive
Chino Hills, CA 91709
Advisory Redistricting Commission Meeting
October 27, 2021
1:00 pm-3:00 pm
San Moritz Lodge
24640 San Moritz Dr.
Crestline, CA 92325
- 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.
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REMINDER: Replacement process for Councilmember Paul Foster still pending
- Councilmember Foster has said that he will continue to serve until he and his wife leave. His departure date is pending. However, the City Council is working with a tentative date of January 3rd for his departure and will discuss next steps at the November 2nd City Council meeting. https://www.redlandscommunitynews.com/news/government/council-ponders-how-to-replace-paul-foster/article_22c07b48-278a-11ec-b075-0b070ab9980f.html
- "The council must either appoint a replacement, or call a special election within 60 days of the vacancy, said city spokesman Carl Baker in an email. [emphasis added]
“Anyone who wants to fill the position would have to live in the area Foster represents, District 5, which is the south side of the city. If the council decides to call a special election it would likely be in the statewide primary on June 7, 2022.
“Whomever [sic] fills the vacancy will hold office for the rest of Foster’s unexpired term, which ends in December 2022 after the November 2022 election results are certified by the county, Baker said."
https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2021/09/10/paul-foster-to-retire-from-redlands-city-council/
STICK A PIN IN THIS
- 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.
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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
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The final set of approved bills included:
https://www.gov.ca.gov/2021/10/09/governor-newsom-takes-final-action-of-2021-legislative-session/
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Of the 836 bills presented to him for approval, he signed 770 (or 92%). Some of those signed include the following (from CalMatters):
- Making ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement, as CalMatters’ Joe Hong reports. Under a bill Newsom signed last year, California State University students must also take an ethnic studies course to graduate.
- Mandating mental health instruction in middle and high schools that have an existing health education course.
- Requiring public colleges, universities and secondary schools to provide free menstrual products on campus.
- Requiring large department stores to maintain a gender-neutral section of toys and child care items.
- Restricting sentence enhancements for many crimes, as recommended by an obscure committee examining California’s penal code.
- Ensuring police can’t block journalists from covering protests and demonstrations.
- Cracking down on sideshows and illegal street racing by allowing courts to suspend convicted motorists’ licenses for up to six months.
- Giving cities more authority to reduce their speed limits.
- Making it illegal to harass people entering vaccination clinics. First Amendment experts say several aspects of the law — including an exemption for “lawful picketing arising out of a labor dispute” — may be unconstitutional.
- Ending “surprise billing” for COVID-19 tests and vaccinations.
- Extending a phone tax to fund high-speed internet in underserved areas.
- Allowing restaurants to continue selling to-go cocktails, using parking lots for expanded seating, and serving alcohol in parklets.
- Offering year-round fishing licenses.
- Banning the sale of new gas-powered leaf blowers, lawn mowers and other small off-road engines by as soon as 2024.
- Phasing out controversial donor dog facilities to create a new canine blood bank system. https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2021/10/new-california-laws/
For the full text of the bills, you can go to: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
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