Compiled by RADC Member - Tracy Wise

1. Voting Rights:  New *State* Redistricting Access Centers

The public is invited to be a part of the redistricting process!

The Statewide Database is excited to announce the opening of six Redistricting Access Centers across California. The centers are located in the state’s largest population hubs: Fresno, Long Beach, Oakland, Sacramento, San Bernardino, and San Diego.

Each Redistricting Access Center will be equipped with publicly accessible computers and redistricting software developed by the Statewide Database. Through the redistricting software, members of the public can develop community of interest or district-based input to submit to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Staff will be available at each location to help members of the public use the redistricting software. Each Redistricting Access Center meets ADA Accessibility Standards. We invite all members of the public to visit any Redistricting Access Center and participate in California’s statewide redistricting process. At this time, masks are required in the access centers.

San Bernardino Redistricting Site:

1505 West Highland Ave, Room 11

San Bernardino, CA 92411

Phone Number : 909-677-2100

Meetings are by Appointment Only and are available at these times:

Monday: CLOSED

Tuesday - Wednesday: 11am - 8pm

Thursday - Friday: 8am - 5pm

Saturday: 11am - 4pm

Sunday: CLOSED

Make an appointment here:

https://go.oncehub.com/ScheduleSanBernardino

 

Voting Rights: New *City* Redistricting Information

The City of Redlands has released their public meeting schedule for the City’s redistricting process:

  • PAST: Tuesday, September 21, 2021, 6PM, City Council Chambers
  • January 18, 2022 (time, etc. tbd)
  • February 15, 2022 (time, etc. tbd)
  • April 17, 2022 – adoption of the final maps 

A virtual workshop is scheduled via Zoom on Thursday, September 30, 2021, from 5PM-7PM.  The Zoom ID is 862 2201 6993; the alternative phone number is 669/900-6833.

https://www.redlandscommunitynews.com/news/government/residents-invited-to-learn-about-redistricting-and-share-ideas/article_ba6e9dfc-1705-11ec-bdc4-87585d2b3f34.html

We will continue to keep you up-to-date on whether the County schedules a meeting(s) here in Redlands, as we have been requesting (they will hopefully decide on 9/22), as well as redistricting efforts around our water districts and any further City redistricting news.

2. Protecting Public Education: Attacks on the Redlands Unified School District Board

RUSD School Board meetings (https://www.redlandsusd.net/Page/17451) are becoming spaces filled with anger and verbal threats.  While Redlands is not unique in public school board meetings becoming unsafe spaces (this is happening across the U.S.), it is happening here, in our community.

Per RADC member Felipe Albertao, at the 9/14/21 meeting, “Board Member Alex Vara was directly targeted and threatened by the anti-maskers: They revealed Vara's home address and yelled that ‘this is personal’ and ‘see you at your homes’. Someone brought a huge picture of Vara. We suspect they targeted Vara because of his stance of Ethnic Studies inclusion, and for recognizing racism as a health crisis. Vara is also Brown.”

To send an EM in support of Alex Vara and state that there is no place for threats and behavior which renders public meetings unsafe both for members of the RUSD School Board and members of the public, and that you support Mr. Vara and his work on behalf of the children of our community:  [email protected] 

You can also support him via this link: http://tiny.cc/rusd-vara

 

3. Immigration Reform:  Inland Center for Immigrant Justice Call to Close Detention Centers

In February, the Inland Center for Immigrant Justice (ICIJ) partnered with the Detention Watch Network to launch the “First Ten to Communities Not Cages” campaign to demand the shutdown of 10 immigration detention centers in the first year of the Biden administration. The ‘first ten’ detention centers provide a roadmap of where to start, exemplifying how the immigration detention system as a whole is inherently abusive, unjust and fatally flawed beyond repair.

On May 20, 2021, the Biden administration announced the end of ICE contracts at Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia and Bristol County Detention Center in Massachusetts! This was thanks to your support, the years of organizing and advocacy from organizations and currently and formerly detained people. We invite you to continue advocating with us to shut down more detention centers. The Biden administration can and should end detention. 

Help ICIJ reach 10,000 + petition signatures:  SIGN THE PETITION HERE

 

4. California Democratic Party Platform Agenda: Input Opportunity

CADEM Executive California Democratic Party Platform Testimony: Due by November 19, 2021 https://click.ngpvan.com/k/35944927/306644127/-1155107629?390449606

 

Events:

  • Come join us for our Membership Mixer on Sept 25th at 5:30 pm!!!

RSVP Link for the Mixer—you must RSVP in order to receive the address for the event

https://www.redlandsareademocrats.org/drinks_dialogue_with_democrats

  • Hispanic Heritage event at the Redlands Community Center on September 25th (10am-1pm)—Contact Mario Saucedo at [email protected]  or 951-533-4439

Stick a pin in this: 

  • Replacement process for Councilmember Paul Foster still pending:

"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. "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 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/

  • Legislation signed by Governor Newsom at the end of the current legislative session (ongoing)

As of 9/16/21:  https://www.gov.ca.gov/2021/09/16/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-9-16-21/

For full text of the bills, you can go to:  http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

Legislation which is getting a lot of discussion is on affordable housing:  https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article254302493.html

  • Democratic National Party initiatives under chair Jamie Harrison (from previous RADC member Bruce Daniels):  Earlier this year, the DNC announced that we’re investing $20 million in the grassroots, $23 million in our state parties, and $25 million in protecting the right to vote:

Organizing in all 50 states, territories, and D.C.: We’ve got to be hungry if we want to protect and expand on our majorities in 2022. That’s why the DNC is investing in embedding voter protection and organizing staff in key states like Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Protecting the right to vote: Thanks to the GOP, the battle in 2022 is not just over who we vote for, but whether we can vote at all. That’s why this year we’re launching our biggest voter protection program ever to educate, register, mobilize, and protect voters.

Growing local talent: We want folks who know their communities best to be on the frontlines in the upcoming elections. We’re building on the talent pipelines we started last cycle -- both building at the entry level and moving diverse, local talent up the organization to develop the next generation of campaign leadership.

Taking the fight to Republicans: Turning red states blue doesn’t happen by accident. That’s why we’re making a seven-figure investment in predominantly Republican-led states through the Red State Fund to put the GOP on defense.