democratic voice - Santa Clara County Democratic Club

THE
D EMOCRATIC
V OICE
www. DemocraticClub-SCC.org
Volume 33 Number 8
[email protected]
State Senator Hill champions consumer
mail
from
rights & privacy
a PG&E exec-
by Shirley Odou, Editor
A crusader for privacy and consumer
rights, State Senator Jerry Hill,
SCCDC’s guest speaker in July,
minced no words in an interview with
KCBS radio on July 28th, when
speaking about questionable, if
not unethical and possibly illegal, contacts between PG&E and PUC regulators in the investigation of the San
Bruno gas pipeline explosion in 2010
that killed eight people and destroyed
an entire neighborhood. “They are trying to get away with murder,” he
asserted. His outrage was triggered by
the recent release of e-mails in San
Bruno’s lawsuit against the state that
shows just how “cozy” the relationship was between the utility company
and the regulators with one e-
utive to an
assistant president ending in
“love you.”
“If that’s not
cozy, I don’t
know what is.
State Senator
. . . To me the
Jerry Hill
San
Bruno
experience was no accident. It was
murder,” he repeated.
The San Mateo senator has consistently fought for his key issues since he
was first elected to the Assembly in
2008,
often
facing
uphill
battles. Legislation he authored (SB
1027) making it illegal for Internet
websites to charge Californians to
have their mug shots removed was
signed into
(continued on page 7)
Ira Ruskin loses battle with brain tumor
by Shirley Odou, Editor
August Meeting
Monday, August 18
Speaker:
Richard Hobbs
Immigration at the Crossroads
Harry’s Hofbrau
390 Saratoga Ave., San Jose
dinner 6 PM, meeting 7 PM
August 2014
Immigration at the
Crossroads
A talk and testimonies with Richard Hobbs
Immigration Attorney Richard Hobbs will discuss immigration issues at SCCDC’s August
18th meeting focusing on the following questions:
• What is broken with our current immigration
system?
• What Obama policies have hindered and
helped immigrants?
• What is the basis for the current crisis with
Central American children?
• What would a humane immigration law look
like?
To understand the depth of the problem, Hobbs
will introduce two immigrants to provide testimony regarding the impact of their lack of status.
An immigration attorney for 22 years, Hobbs is
passionately dedicated to the plight of immigrants in this country. He received his MA from
San Jose State and his law degree from Golden
Gate University. He served as Director of
Catholic Charities Immigration Program,
Director of Santa Clara County Citizenship and
Immigrant Programs, and now heads the
Immigration Law Center. In his own words,
Hobbs writes on his websites, “As the Executive
Director of Human Agenda and the Coordinator
of Santa Clara County Move to Amend, I work
tirelessly for social change so that the human
needs of immigrants and everyone can be met.”
Legislator Award at its holiday party
December 9, 2010, Ira said it was particularly significant for him since it
was his last day to serve in the
Assembly. He was gracious in his
acceptance speech, displaying an easy
sense of humor recalling his first
childhood experience supporting
The meeting will be held in the banquet room at
Adlai Stevenson, and enthusiastically
Harry’s Hofbrau, located at 390 Saratoga
looking forward to his upcoming camAvenue in San Jose. It will begin at 7 PM folpaign. So appreciative of the club and
lowing a no-host dinner at 6 PM. If you plan to
receiving the its Distinguished
join us for dinner, please try to arrive no later
Legislator Award, Ira made a generous
than 6 PM. Club business, including endorsedonation to SCCDC, a magnanimous
ments and voting on proposed bylaws amendgesture we shall not forget. A full tribments, will begin at 8 PM. For more informaute to Ira wil appear in the Democratic
Accepting Santa Clara County
tion, call 408-247-9513.
Voice’s upcoming issue.
Democratic Club’s Distinguished
“American values are not luxuries, but necessities.” ~ Jimmy Carter
Former Assemblyman Ira Ruskin lost
his courageous battle July 3rd against
the brain tumor that was diagnosed as
malignant and uncurable in 2011
when he was in the midst of his campaign for state senate. Termed out of
the Assembly in 2010, after serving
for six years representing the 21st
District, he was forced to abandon his
senate campaign to “focus on my
recovery, be with my wife, Cheryl,
and friends and family.”—(Kate
Williams, San Francisco Chronicle,
July 5, 2014).
Page 2
The Democratic Voice
Published by Santa Clara
County Democratic Club
monthly, ten times a year
Submissions due first
Monday each month
Shirley Odou
1231 Lafayette St.
Santa Clara, CA 95050
Newsletter Editor: Shirley
Odou, 408-247-9513,
[email protected]
Graphic Design:
Karen Powers
Santa Clara County
Democratic Club Officers:
President, Craig Dunkerley
Vice President, Rob Means
Treasurer, Herb Engstrom
Recording Secretary,
David Donaldson
Corresponding Secretary,
Gwendolyn McDaniel
Members-at-Large:
Al Alarcon, Dee Alarcon,
Joe Alvarado, Dan
Hoffman, Chinyere Nnodim
Jack, John McLemore,
Shirley Odou, Fred
Rehhausser, Loretta Riddle,
Mary Ann Tisdale
SCCDC
Committee Chairs:
Membership:
David Donaldson
Events: Allan Thiessen
Political Advisor:
Loretta Riddle
SCCDCC Representative:
Dan Hoffman
Newsletter: Shirley Odou
Public Relations:
Chinyere Nnodim Jack
Consortium Representative:
Dee Alarcon
Outreach: Dan Hoffman
Endorsements:
Fred Rehhausser
Phone Tree:
Gwendolyn McDaniel
Voter Registration: open
Campaign Finance Reform:
Craig Dunkerley
Community Liaison:
Aldyth Parle
Bylaws review committee recommends amendment
The Democratic Voice
On August 8, 2014, SCCDC Eboard members Craig Dunkerley,
Herb
Engstrom,
John
McLemore, Dan Hoffman, Allan
Thiessen, Joe Alvarado, and
Shirley Odou met at La Palomo
Restaurant in Santa Clara to consider changes to the bylaws.
Their recommendation for an
amendment to the endorsement
Article XI follows. A two-thirds
vote of members in attendance at
the August 18th general meeting
is needed to be adopted. Please
study the article and the amendments so you can participate in
the discussion before the vote.
Your input is vital as a SCCDC
member.
ARTICLE
MENTS
XI
ENDORSE-
Article XI has three sections.
The bylaws amendment will
include two new sections.
Section 1. The SCCDC may
endorse any nominee or candidate for public office who is a
registered Democrat, and may
endorse or support any position
on any issue, provided such an
endorsement falls within the
function and purposes of the
organization and its members.
prior to the meeting. A two thirds
vote at the meeting at which the
endorsement is considered may
override the requirement for
notice.
Section 3. All endorsements shall
be given active support. The type
of support to be given may be
determined at the time of the
endorsement or may be established at subsequent meetings.
Amendments to ARTICLE XI
Section 4. New members must
have joined (SCCDC) at least 50
days before an endorsement vote
in order to vote.
Section 2. Endorsements shall
require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of
members in attendance at a regular meeting after due notice has
been given to the entire membership of SCCDC. Such notice
shall be given no less than 5 days
Section 5. Renewing members
must have their dues paid in
order to vote.
current board member and a
Democratic activist. At its July
24th meeting, Santa Clara
County Open Space Authority
Board Members voted to place
Measure Q on the November ballot. It would levy an annual $24
parcel tax to fund the goals of the
measure including preserving the
region’s
natural
heritage;
increasing public access to open
space, and mountain parks and
trails; protecting the area’s water
supply; and providing easy
access to open space through
urban parks and environmental
education programs. Measure Q
has been endorsed by Terry
Christensen and the Central
Committee. Both votes require a
two-thirds majority by members
in attendance at the August meet-
ing circumstances: (1) Members
must notify the president beforehand that they cannot be present
and wish to cast an absentee ballot, i.e. it’s incumbent on the
member to be pro-active in seek-
ing this privilege. (2) Members
must have, in the judgement of
the president, a compelling reason for not attending the meeting, e.g. illness, high priority
engagement elsewhere, etc., and
(3) If reason for absence is
approved, (continued on page 8)
SCCDC endorsement votes in August
SCCDC members will be voting
to endorse in the race for a college board seat and on a ballot
measure at the August 18 meeting. A seat on the West Valley
Community Board has Ann
Kepner, a Democrat, running
against Pete Constant, a
Republican, formerly on the San
Jose City Council. Kepner is supported by Adrienne Grey, the
Absentee voting on a trial basis
We don’t want to encourage this,
but on a trial basis, the Club’s
policy going forward will be that
eligible members (members in
good standing) may vote by
absentee ballot under the follow-
Home Stretch for the Disclose Act
by Craig Dunkerley, President
On Wednesday, August 6, scores
of volunteers from all over the
state swarmed the state capitol in
Sacramento to attend and testify
at the Assembly Appropriations
Committee hearing of the
California DISCLOSE Act, SB
52. The Committee heard testimony from Senator Marc Leno, a
Principal Co-Author of the bill,
then from Trent Lange, President
of California Clean Money
Campaign, and finally Bob
Stern, a renowned expert on government affairs and author of the
1974 Political Reform Act which
the DISCLOSE Act will amend
and enhance. Then over 100 of
us got to voice our support. If the
Committee approves the bill, it
will move on to a full floor vote
in the Assembly.
“We don’t need perfect political systems; we need perfect participation.” ~ Cesar Chavez
SCCDC Tribute to California’s Mexican Heritage
The Democratic Voice
by Shirley Odou, Editor
SCCDC’s keynote speaker Rigo Chacon,
glancing over at the American and
Mexican flags on display, remarked that
each give him chills when he sees them,
reminding him the two countries they represent are both close to his heart. Held on
June 28th at the Harris-Lass Historic
Gardens and Museum, SCCDC’s 33rd
anniversary celebration, a tribute to
California’s Mexican Heritage, began
with the noted three time Emmy-winning
television producer and broadcaster tracing his own journey from a small town in
Chihuahua, Mexico to El Paso, then on to
Santa Clara Valley where he made his
mark. His story of triumph over hardship
and discrimination is emblematic of those
immigrants who have fulfilled their
dreams in the United States despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
When he was eight years old, his family
moved from Mexico to Texas. The fifth of
ten children, he worked alongside his parents and siblings in the fields when he
was not in school. Corporal punishment
for Spanish-speaking children who did
not always communicate in English, as
teachers in Texas schools insisted, was
not unusual in those days. Humiliation
was another form of punishment they also
used frequently, he said.
Life was a little brighter when the family
moved to Santa Clara Valley where they
worked in the orchards. Upon attending
San Jose High School, Rigo developed
his oratorical skills, with his mentor taking him and his team under her wing to
work with them in her Los Altos Hills
home, preparing them for a state competition which they won.
Rigo’s success in broadcasting came after
he graduated from San Jose State
University. He joined ABC 7 in 1974, and
was awarded his first Emmy for his work
as a producer. He received his third
Emmy, the Governor’s Award, for lifetime achievement in 2003.
In 1990, Rigo founded his scholarship
program, Abrazos and Books, which has
given more than a half a million dollars to
over four hundred university-bound high
school seniors of many ethnic backgrounds. He is proud of the fact that none
of the recipients have dropped out of college and have gone on to pursue their professions in their chosen fields, becoming
productive members of society.
Next on the program was Associate
Artistic Director for El Teatro Campesino,
Joe Cedillo, who wrote a skit especially
for the occasion, based upon the current
crisis of hundreds of children from
Central America making the dangerous
trek to reach the US border to escape gang
violence and extreme poverty in their own
countries. Joe, an actor and playwright
who was a runner-up for the Kennedy
Center Latino Playwriting Award, and has
had his plays performed in many cities,
including Los Angeles and New York
City, is a graduate of Cal State Northridge
and Iowa’s Playwrights’ Workshop.
Although Joe’s association with El Teatro
Campesino is quite recent, he is proud of
the work it is doing, of its history and its
founder, Luis Valdez, who has “set the
standard for Latino theatrical productions
in the United States.” Valdez’s body of
work includes “La Bamba” for Columbia
Pictures, “Corridos: Tales of Passion and
Revolution” for PBS television, and the
highly acclaimed play “The Zoot Suit.”
Beginning in 1965 as an outgrowth of the
Delano grape workers strike in conjunction with Cesar Chavez’s United
Farmworkers
Union,
El
Teatro
Campesino performed short skits to dramatize the plight of the farmworkers.
Valdez himself had worked as a migrant
farmworker as a youth and was sensitive
to their cause. In 1971, the company
moved to San Juan Buatista where it puts
on plays throughout the year. Valdez’s latest play, “Valley of the Heart,” is running
from August 21 to October 12.
With his booming voice and acting skills,
Joe portrayed all parts in his play entitled
Los Ninos consisting of four monologues.
The first, Los Ninos Caminantes, features
the Expert advising children who want to
go to America, assuring them that they
will make it. “Now this is the most important advice I have for you. No matter what
they say, no matter what they promise . . .
Page 3
when they ask you where you’re from you
say, ‘Canada.’” The second character is
the Strategist, a Romney-Koch Brothersloving Hispanic who spouts right-wing
rhetoric. It is called Los Ninos Sin Padres
“The Parentless Children.” The third
monologue is Los Ninos Que No Son
Ninos “The Children Who Aren’t
Children,” the character is a Lawyer who
is lamenting how he had failed to help the
8-year-old and the 12-year-old the guards
treated as adults. “I really wish I had been
a better lawyer that day in court.” The last
and most poignant monologue is Los
Ninos Perdidos, “The Lost Children,” and
the character is the Desert. “I take away
the hurt and the pain of where it is from. .
. You are welcome to hide from all of
them in me. In the same way a child must
give up childhood, it gives up its skin and
bones. It leaves all that came before and
lives in a dream. They never ask but I provide a home they will never be deported
from. . . . The moon and the sun rise and
fall. Together we watch as children cross.
And if you find yourself alone, lost, so
thirsty you’ll drink the sand, remember
the children who felt the same. You keep
walking or feel free to stop and join us.”
Marcela Davison Aviles, president and
CEO/Executive Producer of the Mexican
Heritage Corporation, introduced the performers, Mariachi Alma de Mexico,
directed by Angel Amezquita. Marcela, a
graduate of Harvard College and Stanford
Law School, is a first generation Mexican
-American. A professional musician herself, she is now working exclusively with
the Mexican Heritage Corporation, a
position she has chosen over practicing
law. The Mexican Heritage Corporation
located in San Jose serves the Silicon
Valley and Northern California by presenting and advancing Mexican and multicultural arts through the San Jose
International Mariachi Festival, and
Mariachi youth education. It has been
promoting the dance and visual arts for
over 25 years.
Dressed in traditional garb, Mariachi
musicians, ranging in age from 8 to 25,
played lively Mexican folk music after
each speaker’s
(continued on page 7)
“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” ~ Plato
SCCDC’s Tribute to California’s Mexican Heritage event photos
Page 4
The Democratic Voice
Board Member Joe Alvarado, Vice-President Rob Means,
and President Craig Dunkerley discuss the event set-up.
Event Committee members Rick Rechenmacher, Esther Rechenmacher staff the sign-in table
and welcome guests to SCCDC’s Tribute to California’s Mexican Heritage
All five county supervisors
signed the resolution.
Marcela Davison Aviles, Chief Creative Officer of Mexican Heritage
Corporation , introduces performers
County Supervisor Dave Cortese presents a plaque
accepted by club president Craig Dunkerley. The
Board of Supervisors’ resolution commends SCCDC
for its grassroots activism for over 33 years.
Mariachi Alma de Mexico, directed by Angel Amezquita, entertain the crowd with lively mariachi music.
Joe Luis Cedillo, Associate Artistic Director for El
Teatro Campesino recites from his play, “Los Ninos”
(The Children)
Guests help themselves at the delicious Mexican buffet catered by Casa Vicky
“Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘Nice doggie’ until you can find a rock” ~ Will Rogers
The Democratic Voice
Page 5
Keynote speaker, Rigo Chacon, Emmy award winning TV broadcaster and
producer and founder of Abrazos and Books.
Club members enjoy the delicious food.
Guests pay rapt attention to the program in the lovely gardens of the Harris-Lass
Historic Museum.
Colorful table decorations put together by events committee member Loretta Riddle
enhance the tasty meal.
PHOTOS: HERB ENGSTROM AND BILL BARMETTLER
Flags of the United States, Mexico and the state of California symbolize the
spirit of SCCDC’s Tribute to California’s Mexican Heritage.
Dennis King, Executive Director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,
describes the goals and activities of his organization.
Casa Vicky’s appetizers are a big hit.
Events Chair Allan Thiessen draws a lucky winner’s ticket for a fabulous prizes in the donation drawing as President Craig Dunkerley,
Vice President Rob Means, and Consultant Shirley Odou look on.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Jackie Moore, 1922—2014
Page 6
(A staunch Democrat, successful business
woman, and prominent Santa Claran
deeply involved in civic affairs, Jackie
Moore was a member of SCCDC for many
years. Until her health declined, Jackie
attended Club meetings and events on a
regular basis. She passed away on July 11
at the age of 92. Following are excerpts
from an article appearing in the Santa
Clara Weekly’s July 16 issue. It was written by SCCDC member Carolyn Schuk,
associate editor with the Weekly. The
Democratic Voice was granted permission by the Weekly to reprint it. Editor:
Shirley Odou)
Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt
that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed,
it’s the only thing that ever has.” She
could have been describing longtime
Santa Claran and community activist
Jackie Moore, who died July 11 at the age
of 92. “Do the work and don’t give up,”
she often told people.
After graduating from the University of
Louisville, she began work in Louisville’s
Public Works Department. She came to
Santa Clara more than 50 years ago and
worked as a Housing Officer for Moffett
Naval Air Station, retiring from the base
in 1981.
Moore made retirement a new beginning.
For 30 years, she devoted herself to
changing her world, and making Santa
Clara a better and more beautiful place to
live. “Her enthusiasm for living was
infectious to everyone who knew her,”
says longtime friend Michelle Castro.
Democratic party politics was one of the
arenas where Moore worked to improve
the lives of others. “Jackie had a strong
sense of justice and expended a lot of her
time and treasure in trying to secure justice for everyone,” says O’Neill. “She
was extremely interested in achieving
universal health care and worked on that
issue for years.”
Moore was born in her grandparents Duke
and Annie Thompson’s home in
Bardstown, Ky. and lived with them until
she started high school in Louisville in
l935, when she went to live with her parents, Howard and Stella Cundiff.
“We worked on voter registration together and looked at how else we could get
people more involved in helping the community,” says O’Neill. “One weekend
when the [Democratic] club scheduled to
do some voter registration, Jackie went
out in the 90-plus degree heat and walked
A celebration of life ceremony for
SCCDC member Ward Brannon will
be held on Saturday, August 16th, at 2 PM
at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1957
Pruneridge Avenue in Santa Clara.
Dual endorsement in San Jose mayor’s
race: At the July meeting, SCCDC members were unable to settle on a sole
endorsement in the San Jose mayor’s race
on the initial vote by paper ballot using
approval voting. Both Dave Cortese and
Sam Liccardo received the same number
News & Notes
The Democratic Voice
door to door and up flights of stairs to
knock on doors and ask people to register
to vote.”
Her years on the city’s Cultural
Commission were marked by the introduction of new events that are now regular features in the city’s calendar. She
started the nearly 20-year-old Summer
Concerts in the Park and spearheaded the
first Street Dance in 2003. In addition,
Moore was a supporter of the Triton
Museum of Art and was active in improving art quality and accessibility in Santa
Clara.
“She was truly a woman of many talents,
excelled at everything she did and was
recognized many times over for her
achievements,” says Castro.
She was an easy person to like, says former City Council Member John
McLemore, who worked with Moore on
many political campaigns. “She never
asked anything thing of you except to do
the right thing.”
Moore was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Moore. She is survived by
her stepson, Bob Moore, of Himeji, Japan
and his family.
Donations can be made to the Triton
Museum in Moore’s memory (www.tritonmuseum.org).
of votes, a deadlock that gave neither the
two-thirds majority needed for endorsement. A motion was made and seconded
for a dual endorsement. Following input
from members, the motion passed with
the necessary two-thirds majority vote.
The second vote was by hand count.
Vote YES on Prop. 49, get big money out of politics!
by Rob Means, Vice-President
this time and in our circumstances. For
ple only. The Supreme Court, in opposiResponding to the widespread corruption
those of us working to improve the lives
tion to common sense and legal preceof our politics by big money, our state legof people, this Amendment is critical to
dent, declared that money is not just propislators put Prop. 49 onto November’s
success
because big-money interests are
erty, but is actually a form of speech—and
ballot. As one of the shortest and cleanest
now
dominating
the public discourse that
therefore is protected by the First
propositions in many years, Prop. 49 calls
is
required
for
fundamental
change. So,
Amendment.
for a Constitutional Amendment to 1)
no matter what your first issue may be
Of the three ways to overturn Supreme
allow regulation of campaign contribu(mine is Global Warming), supporting
Court
decisions,
amending
the
tions and spending, and 2) make clear that
Prop. 49 should be your #2 issue. Vote
Constitution is our best path forward at
Constitutional rights are the rights of peoYES on Prop. 49.
“Freedom rings where opinions clash.” ~ Adlai E. Stevenson
Rob Means running for change in Milpitas
The Democratic Voice
Real change that benefits “we the people”
percolates up from local to national. This
election year, we have the opportunity to
elect a local council member who could
ignite major change in our transportation
paradigm.
One of our own, Rob Means, is running
for Milpitas City Council on a platform
that includes Personal Rapid Transit
(PRT), or podcars. Think Disneyland
(continued from page 1: JERRY HILL)
law by the Governor. Fast becoming a
“cottage industry” were “fly-by-night
enterprises” like JustMugShots.com
which collected arrest photos from law
enforcement agencies, posted them on its
website, then emailed them to those pictured, demanding fees of hundreds and
sometimes thousands of dollars to have
the shots removed. (Patrick McGreevy,
April 28, 2014, Los Angeles Times)
Noting that 50% of people arrested are
never booked, Hill acted out of concern
that the victims of the scam would have
their reputations ruined as their photos
were disseminated globally, a scheme he
said that “amounts to extortion.” (Press
release, August 2014). His bill makes this
practice illegal. Imposing a “penalty of up
to $1000 for each violation.” (Ibid)
While SB 1027 met no significant opposition, passing unanimously in the
Assembly and Senate, Hill’s set of bills
“that would enhance consumer protections, protect individual privacy, re-open
Martin’s Beach, and reduce pollution
from automobile metal shredders” are
being challenged by powerful interests
“flexing their political muscle” in
Sacramento. (Press release, May 27,
2014). SB 1351 (Credit Card Fraud
Prevention) “requires banks, credit card
companies, and retailers to utilize more
secure credit card chip technologies as
soon as possible” to minimize fraud.
Opposing the bill are banks, credit card,
PeopleMover. T Transit that works for
people better than cars is what Mr. Means
wants for Milpitas – and the nation.
Imagine walking a few minutes to a station where a podcar is waiting to take you
non-stop to your destination – one of
dozens in the case of Milpitas, or hundreds if PRT sweeps across South Bay
cities. That kind of convenience, coupled
with out-of-the-way elevated guideways,
and financial services industry lobbyists.
Unlikely as it seems, Senate Bill 893,
(Automobile License Plate Reader) aimed
at protecting privacy, has its detractors. A
critical part of policing in today’s world,
ALPR presents a threat to civil liberties
and the right to privacy. Hill’s legislation
“strikes a balance between public safety
and privacy.” (Ibid) The expanding data
mining surveillance industry which will
soon surpass the $1 billion mark is opposing the bill.
Exempt from regulation since the 1980s,
the automobile shredder industry, notorious for its hazardous waste affecting public health and the environment, could
soon find itself subject to rigorous oversight by the Department of Toxic
Substances Control if Hill’s SB 1249
passes. There have been numerous incidents in the last 20 years attributed to lax
regulations, including fires at metal
shredding and recycling facilities, causing
San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties to
issue health advisories and school districts to keep students inside “due to poor
air quality.” In addition, lead, zinc, and
copper have been found in the San
Francisco Bay near shredding facilities. A
vigorous challenge to SB 1249 has been
mounted by the automobile shredder
industry.
Hill has proposed legislation that he
hopes will result in public access to
Martin’s Beach in Half Moon Bay, closed
Page 7
clean electric motors, and 24/7 computercontrolled service could make a huge difference in our carbon emissions – 40% of
which come from the transportation sector.
If the promise of real change inspires you,
visit MeansForDemocracy.org and
endorse and/or contribute to the Rob
Means for Council campaign. Do it for
your grandchildren.
since 2008 in violation of the California
Coastal Act. His bill authorizes the State
Lands Commission to negotiate with the
billionaire owner to allow public access.
Should negotiations be unsuccessful, the
state can begin eminent domain proceedings in 2016.
Hill spoke about these issues, among others, at the July meeting. He was particularly critical of the well-publicized ethical
lapses of some of his colleagues and
would like to see changes in the culture in
the Senate that gives rise to lawmakers
stepping over the line.*
In addition, Hill commented on fracking,
the Disclose Act, high-speed rail, and the
budget and took questions from the audience on a variety of issues. His candor
and comprehensive response to questions
was appreciated by audience members.
*(The three Democratic senators charged
with putative crimes were the targets of,
at best, a sting and the worst entrapment
by the FBI headed by a Republican who
donated to Bush’s and Romney’s campaigns. Democrats in other states have
also been snared in James Comey’s net as
he and his agents create scenarios that
should have them on their way to
Hollywood. Such operations, by the way,
are illegal in Europe and, in my opinion,
should be in the United States. Editor,
Shirley Odou.)
(continued from page 3: SCCDC Tribute
Dennis King, Executive Director of the
to California’s Mexican Heritage) presHispanic Chamber of Commerce, conMexican Heritage Corporation, the
entation. The trumpeters, the violinists,
cluded the program, presenting an
“VivaFest All-Star Student Ensemble,”
guitarists, and the vocalists performed
overview of the growth of Hispanic
performing for a White House function
with precision and were sensational. They
owned businesses in Santa Clara County
which will takes place in the San
will be part of a student ensemble of mariand the contributions they are making to
Francisco Bay Area on August 27th and
achi and folk dance students, from the
the community.
28th.
“Consistency is the last resort of the unimaginative.” ~ Oscar Wilde
Thank you donation drawing and live auction contributors
Page 8
by Shirley Odou, Editor
Thank you to the businesses that contributed to our donation drawing and our
live auction. We appreciate their generosity in helping us raise money for Abrazos
and
Books,
Mexican
Heritage
Corporation, and El Teatro Campesino,
worthy charitable organizations doing
wonderful work in the community.
Thanks also to those members and friends
of SCCDC who purchased our donation
drawing tickets enabling us to give each
organization a $400 check to support their
endeavors as well as increase the club’s
treasury by an equal amount. The
Byington Winery certificate for wine tasting and a tour for ten was made directly to
Abrazos and Books and was auctioned off
for $100.
The Democratic Voice
Contributors to our grand prize, Escape to
Monterey, are:
• Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Monterey
• Sardine Factory
• El Torito’s Restaurant in Monterey
To our first prize, Cambria Getaway,
• Fogcatcher Inn
• Robin’s Restaurant
• Fermentations Winery
• Hearst Ranch Winery
To our second prize, San Jose Staycation,
• Fairmont Hotel
• Il Fornaio Ristorante
• La Lune Sucree
• Garlic Bread BBQ Smokehouse
Thank you to the following restaurants for
the gift certificates awarded as door
prizes:
Pedro’s Mexican Cantina in Santa
Clara, 3935 Freedom Circle Drive
Casa Vicky’s Restaurant in San Jose,
792 E. Julian Street
La Paloma Mexican Restaurant in
Santa Clara, 2280 El Camino Real
Justin’s Restaurant in Santa Clara, 1285
Homestead Road
The winner of the grand prize was
Michael Donaldson, the first prize, Nancy
Pyle, the second prize, Ann Klein. We
hope you will have the opportunity to
patronize those businesses who played a
role in making our 33rd Anniversary
Celebration, A Tribute to California’s
Mexican Heritage, a tremendous success.
Acknowledgments: 33rd Anniversary owes success to many
One attendee said SCCDC’s Tribute to
California’s Mexican Heritage on June
28th was the most fun of any of the club’s
events. Making this happen required
many people working in concert to put it
together. First, events committee members spent many hours planning and
working out the details. They are Allan
Thiessen,
Chair,
Shirley
Odou,
Consultant, Loretta Riddle, Esther
Rechenmacher, Rick Rechenmacher,
Carol Miller, David Donaldson, Dan
Hoffman, the late Aldyth Parle, and
Gwendolyn McDaniel.
Committee members’ contributions
include: Allan Thiessen, coordinating the
event; Shirley Odou, arranging for donation drawing, door prizes, catering, and
Upcoming Events
entertainment. Loretta Riddle; arranging
and procuring decorations; Esther
Reckenmacher,setting a record selling
donation drawing tickets; Carol Miller,
mailing, hosting the drink table and generally helping with many other tasks; the
late Aldyth Parle, contacting and getting
commitments for guest speakers; Rick
Reckenmacher, helping with the sign-in
table; Dan Hoffman, David Donaldson,
and Gwendolyn McDaniel, helping plan
the event.
Other SCCDC member contributions
include: Herb Engstrom, rsvps and signin table; Eileen Sargent, sign-in table;
Fred Rehhauser, sign-in table; Joe
Alvarado, sound system; Rob Means,
supervision of set-up and parking; Paul
August 18—SCCDC General Meeting, Harry’s Hofbrau, 390 Saratoga Ave.,
San Jose. Dinner at 6; meeting at 7 PM.
August 27—E-Board Meeting. Headen-Inman House, 1509 Warburton,
Santa Clara (near the City Hall), 7 PM. Coffee and dessert will be served.
Climate change is driven by the population explosion, and CO2
levels are already at dangerous levels:
World Population (billions)
Atmospheric CO2 (parts per million)
1900
Now
1850 Safe Now
1.60
7.2
317
350 401.3
U.S. Population—318.7 million (up from 100 million in 1900)
Murphy, set-up; Pablo Ghenus, set-up;
Dee and Al Alarcon, venue arrangements
for mailing and other tasks; Craig
Dunkerley, master of ceremonies, set-up
and clean-up. At the end of the event, several SCCDC members in attendance volunteered to help with take-down and
clean-up.
Special thanks to Karen Powers for
designing the invitations and programs.
We are so fortunate that, even though she
has moved to Los Banos, she has volunteered to continue for now as our graphics
designer for our events and newsletters.
Our grateful appreciation to David
Donaldson, SCCDC recording secretary,
for his generous contribution to our 33rd
Anniversary event.
(continued from page 2: ABSENTEE VOTING) the president
shall be responsible for casting a ballot for the absent member as
per his/her instructions. (If you wish to suggest changes to this
policy, please make them at the August 18th meeting when the
process will be discussed. Editor, Shirley Odou)
From “Mark Twain’s Notebook:”
“It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three
unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to exercise either of them.”
In these critical times on the international scene, Mark Twain’s reflection seems most appropriate, Editor, Shirley Odou