The two latter races, both Democratic holds from the 2015 Election, were strongly for Trump in 2016. The Democratic governor is up in November, along with the regular legislature election.

I have emerged from the world of grading into the world of politics and we have lots to talk about on Sunday, such as …….

Indivisible in the Primaries? The Big Questions

US Indivisible has asked local groups to complete a survey by April 15 on what should be the posture of Indivisible in the primary election season around both candidates and issues.  Do we want to endorse a presidential candidate? If so, on what criteria? How much do the candidates’ campaign values or practices matter? What about their stance on specific policy issues? What are the pros and cons of endorsing—both for Indivisible nationally and for us locally? How about other types of engagement in the primary process? And how would we rank the current candidates if we were to endorse any at this point?

On Sunday, we’ll spend some time on a questionnaire covering these issues.  It should be an interesting conversation.

Usual time and usual place. As always, feel free to recruit others to come.

We now have a Guest WiFi set up, so you can connect your phones or laptop conveniently.

Light note passed along on the CA Indivisible Slack channel: lassner@andylassner on twitter: “I’m not saying it would be hilarious if folks in Fresno showed up to this event just to moo. I’m not saying that at all. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2IAxJtU4AEuk1Q.jpg”

Response on the Slack thread: “A number of folks are renting cow costumes and are planning a big protest outside the venue.  Please go!”

Wow! We made lots of plans. Here is a summary put in a more sensible order than happened at our meeting. Next meeting Sunday March 31st 4:30-5:45

1. We decided not to participate in the Sister District Virginia over-scripted postcard campaign but are going to do two fundraisers for Virginia over the coming months: 1) A Quiet Evening at Home Fundraiser– for a donation information about Virginia to read, a nice snack and no need to put on your shoes or schlepp somewhere and 2) an auction of political items like old buttons we all have hoarded –items already offered include the New York Times from the day Nixon left the White House and a Hubert Humphrey shopping bag. Interested in leading either of these endeavors? We need volunteer coordinators.
2. Bruce had two items for us. First, Indivisible wants us to Call Barbara Lee to Support National Carbon Pricing Bill |urging her to support HR 763, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019, a bipartisan carbon fee and dividend bill introduced in the House. HR 763 is probably the strongest and most comprehensive climate bill ever introduced in Congress, and it deserves strong support. The bill sets fees on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and other sources. Second, please check out the new video narrated by Jennifer Lawrence: Unbreaking America: A NEW Short Film about Solving the Corruption Crisis.”   Described in the Washington Post as “a 12-minute lecture … that’s part civics lesson and part rallying cry,” it introduces the non-partisan anti-corruption group RepresentUs and invites citizens across the political spectrum to help “fix our broken elections, stop political bribery, and end secret money.”  If it makes sense to you, forward the message to others who might like it. (This idea was enthusiastically seconded by our group and we are going to test the video by emailing it to centrist and Republican friends and relatives.
3. Time for a new button design. Bring your ideas to our next meeting or send them to me and we’ll pick the new design at the meeting. We can include them in the Quiet Evening at Home Fundraiser as mini gifts.
4. Judy brought us up to date on a great plan to replace the Alameda sheriff. We’ll link her proposal to another blog post due to various linking issues. More on what we can do to support this at future meetings.
5. Finally, Michael brought us this action item:

Speak up for your hungry neighbors by April 2. [h/t FRAC]

Write: A comment on the Federal Register.
Modify this script: Comments are not counted if you cut-and-paste. Use the ideas below to get started.

The Agriculture Department has proposed new limits on states’ ability to waive work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, even when not enough jobs are available. 

Last fall, Congress rejected this provision that would deny food to 755,000 people, many of whom work in low-wage, unstable occupations.

I want my tax dollars to assist my neighbors in need. 

I support a robust SNAP program for adults because [share why you believe stricter time limits are harmful].

Cite SNAP strengths. 

I oppose new SNAP rules that would increase hunger and poverty in communities across the nation. 

State (not federal) government is best qualified to determine when local employment conditions warrant a change to work requirements.

Our next meeting is this Sunday, 4:30-5:45 at our house (2745 Elmwood Ave). Lots to talk about regarding Virginia, special elections, CA bills and our priorities for MOC who call us.

1. Meanwhile, the National Resources Defense Council urges us to urge our California reps to support Senate Bill 1 to protect the environment. What better way to support all the youth out on the streets today about global warming? Log on to act.nrdc.org for a letter to send.

2. Our texting leaders (Open Progress) are looking for people to study and prepare info about voting records for upcoming elections: Volunteer link

Help fight for Net Neutrality with The Electronic Frontier Foundation.

3. 34 Mile March for Fossil Fuel Freedom from Palo Alto to San FranciscoSaturday March 16-Sunday March 18
Saturday, March 16 – March starts in Palo Alto Saturday morning. Route on sidewalks and shoulders along El Camino Real. Overnight in San Mateo.

Sunday, March 17 – March continues along El Camino Real and Mission Street. Overnight in San Francisco (Excelsior).
Monday, March 18 – March continues into San Francisco. Major rally at Wells Fargo Headquarters at lunchtime.

You can join any part of the march
Tell Wells Fargo to defund Big Oil and reinvest into a 100% renewable energy future. Marchers will spend two nights in church and community halls, with delicious vegan food provided at every stop. Support vehicles will accompany the march to carry gear and flagging marchers. Supporters are invited to join the marchers for meals, and to cheer them on at the twelve “stagecoach stops” along the way. More information and RSVP here. Sponsored by 350.org

We won this big, by 25. Democratic hold, but the margin is notable because Tr*mp won this district.

We are getting phone calls from the candidates we backed, not just Josh Harder. Today it was Xochitl Torres Small. She said they were worried we wouldn’t have enough enthusiasm next year. I think “enthusiasm” is a code-word for money: I told her there would be no worries on that score, but this is too early for us to start fundraising.

I also think it is too bad that the Democratic leadership still believes everyone needs four hours of call time instead of following Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez’s trust in small donors, and spending the time preparing instead.

1. Josh Harder called again to talk about sending interns to his district. We’ll go over this at our next meeting. No Sister District action items today since I included lots last time and more is coming soon. Meanwhile…..
2. Tell your senators to end unauthorized US support for the war in Yemen by voting yes on S.J. Res. 7. The Senate is scheduled to vote on this resolution this week, and it’s expected to be close. Call your senators and tell them to make history by voting to end the illegal, immoral US war in Yemen. Read more and find a call script here.

3. From the ACLU We took the Trump administration to court over its decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census – and in January, a federal court ruled in our favor. But the fight continues: The Trump administration appealed and now the Supreme Court will take up the case next month.

Our work isn’t done: The government just announced it will accept public comments until March 15.

That means you have 5 DAYS to submit your public comment. Tell the government the census citizenship question is unlawful, anti-immigrant, and goes against the census’ purpose of counting everyone – citizens and noncitizens alike.

4. From the National Resources Defense COuncil

In two days the Trump administration will close the public comment period on the sham Environmental Impact Statement for their plans to hand over the heart of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling.

Trump and his acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt are pushing hard to open the Arctic Refuge to reckless drilling, and this draft EIS is the next step in their march to open America’s most pristine publicly owned wildlands for Big Oil companies to ravage for profit.

Please, speak out now on behalf of the cherished wildlife of the Arctic Refuge, including wolves, eagles, Porcupine caribou, and polar bears … the region’s Gwich’in people who consider these lands sacred … and our climate.

As the Democrats’ big anti-corruption/voting-rights bill H.R. 1 slides into the GOP Senatorial black hole, the grass-roots activism behind it may need a new home. One option is the non-profit group RepresentUs, which has a cool new video narrated by Jennifer Lawrence: Unbreaking America: A NEW Short Film about Solving the Corruption Crisis.”   Described in the Washington Post as “a 12-minute lecture … that’s part civics lesson and part rallying cry,” it’s worth watching.

RepresentUs has been working to building a non-partisan movement around The American Anti-Corruption Act, which “sets a standard for local, state, and federal laws that fix our broken elections, stop political bribery, and end secret money.”  RepresentUs has spearheaded over 100 anti-corruption acts and resolutions across the country, including big wins around gerrymandering and campaign finance.  It can’t match the immediate effect of a tipped election, but by enlisting Republicans and independents in anti-corruption activism, its long-range impact could be greater. (And it might be a way to engage your more centrist relatives!)

From California Indivisible’s 3/6/19 statewide call, two actions came across as immediate priorities:

1. Supporting Assembly Bill AB 392 (the California Act to Save Lives), which would change police use of force policies so that officers would have to de-escalate however possible before resorting to lethal force. There’s a call script at https://act.indivisible.org/call/ca-act-save-lives/

2. Opposing Senate Bill SB 230, the police counter bill that would require agencies to make their use of force policy accessible to the public but would set use of force to be okay when officer “reasonably believes” there is a threat.  No call script, but it’s important that Senator Skinner understand our opposition.

Contact Assemblymember Buffy Wicks at (916) 319-2015  or (510) 286-1400

Contact Senator Nancy Skinner at (916) 651-4009 or (510) 286-1333

A full list of  CA Indivisible’s 10 legislative priorities covering healthcare, immigration, prison reform, voting and the environment is at:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I2hRmYVbxWOmcKHL4jPK-Z-uAa4IKqkdivCjTP32OHQ/edit