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Date: 7/30/2022
Subject: LWVCS VOTER August 2022
From: LWVCS VOTER Editor



 

August 2022   Volume 50 No. 1  
     Empowering Voters.     Defending Democracy.  
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Empowering voters.

  Defending democracy.

    This is the League mission

       To fulfill it, we need volunteers.  
 

So what does that mean to you?

 
League Volunteers perform many tasks – and we train our volunteers for all these activities. For example, earlier this year LWVCS participated in Cupertino Earth and Arbor Day, focused on environmental conservation, hosting a booth at the Cupertino Library Park with several dozen other nonprofit organizations.

We provided voter registration, voting information and answered questions about that upcoming Spring Primary. We made some new contacts and had a lot of fun!

 

Over the next months we will be preparing for the November election – and even though it is not a presidential election, it is a critical one for electing our Congressional representatives. This will require volunteers donating a couple of hours of time to help. This effort involves disseminating voting information through the Voter Service events such as the Pro and Cons presentations and setting up ZOOM community meetings for Ballot Measures and Candidate Forums. Some of our future programs will be conducted on-line and in the future some will be presented in person.  

 

Below is a short list of opportunities for which we need your help. You will be receiving more information on places and dates as they become available. 

The Voter Service Committee supports our local elections and will be needing support for future events:

  • Registering Voters – National Voter Registration Day -  as in past years, we will host a table at the Cupertino Library on September 20, 2022 providing online and paper voter registration opportunities. You can help by spending a two hour shift, answering questions, helping voters complete the registration form.
  •  Voters Edge - Collect contact information on candidates, remind candidates to enter their information in Voter’s Edge. 4 – 10 hours. 
  •  Pros and Con presentations – these will be via ZOOM; needed are Leaguers who can do research on the issues and Pros and Cons writers 8 hrs. per measure, presenters 2-3 hrs. prep and 2 hrs. per event 
  •  Candidate Forums – This year will be a very busy one as we will host several Candidate Forums for Sunnyvale School Districts, FUHSD, CUSD, Community College Districts, Sunnyvale City Council Districts, Cupertino City Council races, and California Assembly races. Staff  includes: 
    •  Director- Enlists other workers (see following) trains workers and manages tasks, sends invitation to candidates. 6 to 10 hours per forum over a period of a month. 
    •  Moderator Moderates forum, asks questions of candidates. 4- 6 hours per forum 
    •  Timer Keeps time as each candidate speaks, signals time remaining and end of time allotment. 2 hours per forum. 
    •  Zoom Manager/recording. Creates zoom meeting, schedules zoom prep meetings, acts as host during forum. 6-8 hours per forum. Email Question Manager – Collects questions sent by voters, enlists a committee to sort questions, gets the questions to the moderator. 4 – 6 hours per forum. 
    •  Communications/registration – Advertises forum dates, registers participants, posts on  website & social media. 
  •  New Citizenship Ceremony This is a great way to support our new citizen after taking their Citizenship Oath the League is there to help them become a registered voter. If you’ve never attended this ceremony I highly recommend going to help out and taking a moment to see the ceremony it is very moving. 
  • Our Civil Discourse Committee presents programs on topics on current issues or concerns to our community using the Civil Discourse procedure of open listening and respectful dialogue. These forums will require 3-4 hours of support to help with greeting participants, handing out material and room set-up and tear down.

Now more than ever we need to continue to empower voters and defend democracy. Do your part by volunteering for one of these tasks. What excites you? Let our interim Voter Service Director, Roberta Hollimon, voterservice@lwvcs.org, know what you want to do.

        IN THIS VOTER       
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Go to LWVCS Calendar

We Hope To See YOU At These Events:

  • LWVCS Board Meeting, via ZOOM, August 1, 2022, 7pm, contact communications@lwvcs.org to join the meeting.
  • NEW LWVCS Learning Opportunity - Join the Coffee Hour, starts Thursday, August 18, 11am,

    League Q & A!

  • Save the Date!  Join fellow Leaguers for conversation, coffee, and snacks on Saturday, September 10, 10 to 11:30! Stay tuned for more information.
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LWVCS Co-Presidents' Letter

 

Rights Lost, more Rights at Risk

Roe held, and Casey reaffirmed, “that in the first stages of pregnancy, the government could not make that choice for women.

The government could not control a woman’s body or the course of a woman’s life: It could not determine what the woman’s future would be. Respecting a woman as an autonomous being, and granting her full equality, meant giving her substantial choice over this most personal and most consequential of all life decisions.” This right ended on June 24, 2022 with the decision in Dobbs v Jackson.

We are not defeated by the decision in Dobbs. All levels of the League stand with our National President Dr. Deborah Ann Turner who stated  “The League of Women Voters stands in solidarity with women and individuals who may become pregnant in the fight to protect reproductive freedom.” We will provide more details about the coordination of efforts as we receive them. Please click this link to see the League’s statement.

While not defeated in our efforts we are very concerned by language in Dobbs that other rights will come under attack, i.e.; right to contraception and same sex marriage. We will work hard to ensure these rights are preserved.

Another attack on our first amendment rights is fermenting closer to home. Some are working to silence the right to speak out against the actions of public officials and to stifle watch dog organizations. This is a dangerous path and must be called out. We must not allow our first amendment right to free speech to be threatened.  The League will never give up on fighting for good government, good laws, and your right of free speech.  Please join the League. If you are already a member, ask a friend or relative to join. We need your heart and hand and mind at this very important time in our democracy. Join here.

We will not go quietly into the night. It’s time to stand up and fight for our rights. Democracy is not a spectator sport!

Let us know you are ready by emailing us at presidents@lwvcs.org

Thank you,

Elaine Manley & Tracey Edwards, Co-Presidents

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       LOCAL HAPPENINGS     
  • Save the Date!  Join fellow Leaguers LIVE for coffee, donuts, fruit and chat on Saturday, September 10, 10 to 11:30! Learn about what's  been going on with League, Leaguers and the upcoming election events - location to  be announced.
  • Congratulations! Elaine Manley was selected as one of the 100 Women of Influence in Silicon Valley in 2022 by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Here is the link to the story:  https://bizj.us/1qfn9n

  •  Supporting Youth Actions for Community

     Three high school students have contributed their time, energy, and skills to help senior citizens via the Home Access Grant Senior Outreach Project.
    This effort is one output from the Senior Advocacy Commission of the
    Sunnyvale Youth Public Policy Institute (YPPI).
    The students, all juniors and under the sponsorship of the LWVCS Program Chair, Nancy Smith, are Ritu Belani, Harker Academy, Sneha Gupta, Archbishop Mitty High and Mira Haldar, Homestead High. They collaborated with YPPI (Youth Public Policy Institute) on the Home Access Grant Senior Outreach Project. 

    Sneha led this project at the Sunnyvale Senior Center.  It offers the modification of homes for older adults under a grant that would provide platform lifts for mobile homes, entrance modifications such as widened doorways and wheelchair ramps, and bathroom modifications like grab bars, hand rails  and accessible showers. The students presented this project to the LWVCS Board  at a meeting in Spring of 2022. They also wrote a report on recommendations for the Sunnyvale Housing Department to gain more applicants for the Home Access Grant, which were incorporated into the Sunnyvale Housing Element Update. 

     

    They presented their project on the Home Access Grant at a LWVCS Board meeting with a request to help publicize the effort. This is the beginning of ongoing updates for our League. The three students all felt that being a member of the Senior Advocacy Commission helped improve not only the lives of seniors but lives in the entire community.  

     

    Another student led project centered around the Reid Hillview airport, and concerned a study of lead levels in children living near the airport in East San Jose. The study results showed increased lead levels in children living near the airport. Project results recommending closure of the airport were presented by the students to the Santa Clara County Commissioners and all 5 Commissioners voted to support this recommendation – an historic vote.

     

     Another student project involved teaching seniors about technology at  the Oakmont Columbia Senior Center. The students all felt gratified by the response of the seniors to their work and were excited with their outreach, problem solving and planning. A goal was to retrain seniors so they could contribute to the workforce. The students enjoyed interacting with the seniors and hearing their life stories.

     

    Another project concerned Asian American hate crimes and interviewing members of the youth group, building on a project started earlier.

     

     When asked about their role models, all three said it is their mothers – who are hard working problem solvers. One was quoted saying “life is a marathon” and success is a result of hard work and persistence. 

     

     For fun, the young women are involved in reading, creating things, outdoor activities. Ritu does standup comedy and humorous videos. For the future, they want to continue helping others and get feedback on their work. 

     

     More information on these enterprising students’ activities:

    They also have an Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/senior_advocacy/ which has some posts about various projects we've done in the past. 

     

     Reid Hillview Airport post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUTVY1YvGmJ/

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     WELCOME NEW MEMBERS    

A New Way to Renew Your Membership!

 

August is the beginning of our annual membership renewal cycle. We hope that you will continue to support LWVCS by renewing your membership and participating in League events and activities.  

 

 This year, the membership renewal process will be a little different.  Members will receive an email notification when it is time to renew, and you will need to log in to your Member account to complete your renewal. Just as before, you will be able to pay on-line using a credit card or by mailing us a check. 

 

 If you have not yet had a chance to activate your account, please do so as soon as possible.  Just go to our website www.lwvcs.org and click <Member Login> at the top of the page.  If you do not remember your username or password, click the button <Forgot my Username/Password>.  You can also find step by step instructions by clicking <Member Website Help> or watching this video.  Of course, you can also email membership@lwvcs.org and we can help get you started.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support of LWVCS.

 

Pam Anderson, Membership Director

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Welcome Summer New Members!

Mira Haldar (student)

Heather Logie (student)

Debra Timmers

and Cheryl Bartholomew renewed!

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      VOLUNTEER CORNER     
What Can YOU Do
to Protect Democracy?
 
VOLUNTEER!
 
Election Day is November 8 2022
Ballots Mail in early October 
 
Preparation for Candidate Forums
and Pro/Con Presentations
starts NOW!
 
YOU CAN HELP! 
 

LWVCS Members:

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LWVCS Committee Updates

Voter Service Committee

Learn more about the Voter Service Committee.
 

July Meeting

- Set Dates – Aug 29 – Oct 8

County-wide contest – Sheriff runoff, date not set yet

Sep 21, 12 noon, Rotary Cupertino City Council

Oct 12, 12 noon, Rotary CUSD & FUHSD Sch Bds

Other dates to be set as we are further along and as we develop logistics plan

- Made initial assignments
- Next meeting: Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, 7pm via Zoom 
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Civil Discourse Committee

 
July 18, 2022 Meeting Summary
- Finalized upcoming event flyer: How to Maintain the Public’s Rights and Its Safety, September 10, 2022, 2:30 – 4:00pm, via ZOOM
   Come and learn from the Experts on the Challenges of Policing and Ensuring Fair Treatment
  - Assigned event tasks to team
  - Contact Panelists to confirm
  - Event Format:

o   Introduction from LWVSCC CD Moderators: framing the issue

o   Panelist intro of their roles, philosophies;

o   Q & A from Moderator;

o   Participant Q & A;

o   Summary and invitation to next events

- Determined follow-on events:
- First event - Educate on multiple perspectives on how to maintain public safety and its rights with the expert panel
- Next Event - Use NIFI format for participative discussion (NIFI Policing Advisory attached)
Next Event – Expert Panel with different speakers to round out perspectives
- Next Event – Emphasis on supporting topics, eg., mental health, crime prevention & response, prison reform, domestic violence, drug use, legislation
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Web System Support Team

Learn more about the Web System Support Team .
 
Here's the note from their last meeting:
  • Approx. 125 members and 300 non-members have been uploaded into ClubExpress 
  • On 8/3 the 1st automatic reminder of dues renewal will go out to members whose memberships are due on 9/1 
  • On 8/13, 11am: Marilyn Sherry will be available for System Login Questions - Live via ZOOM for renewing members 
  • Event Registration info for Candidate Forums will go online in mid-to-late August - whenever the Candidate list is confirmed by the Registrar of Voters  
  • League Documents are on the new website. Click the menu under "About Us"
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       LOCAL GOVERNMENT UPDATES   

Cupertino News

Check out the website for Cupertino News: https://www.cupertino.org

 
Summer Movie time is here!
 
 
New City Manager, Pamela Wu

The Cupertino City Council has selected San Bruno official Pamela Wu to be the City’s new manager.

Wu brings over 20 years of experience in city management experience including in her current role as the community and economic development director for the City of San Bruno, where she oversees the Building, Planning, and Housing divisions. Wu has also previously served the City of Gilroy and the County of Santa Clara in various management roles. She has a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley.

In response to her selection, Wu said in a statement, “With great excitement, I am elated for the opportunity to return to the areas of my roots, to lead the City team and the Cupertino community into our next chapter of excellence.”

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Sunnyvale News

City of Sunnyvale New City Website

Check Out The Brand New

 City Of Sunnyvale Website

Easy to navigate with a New Look and New Links! 

Sunnyvale City Seal

City of Sunnyvale Top 30 Project Summaries

 Project Summary List Which Has Valuable Updates On Priority Projects For Our City.

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Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action's

2022YouthLeadership Summit!

**Please share this invitation with students

 

High schoolers, college students, and young professionals are invited to a day of learning, networking, and discussion around solutions and strategies to combat climate change! This summit will include workshops, panel presentations, and keynote speakers that will empower students and young adults to get further involved in the environmental sustainability movement.

 

What:Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action's 2022YouthClimateLeadership Summit
When:Saturday, August 6th, 2022 from9:00am - 4:30pm
Where:Quinlan Community Center,10185 N Stelling Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014

All students and young adults are invited and registration is free.

 

RSVP TODAY!!

 

Hosted by Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action

Co-hosted by the City of Cupertino, Fremont Union High School District, the Santa Clara County Office of Education, and State Senator Dave Cortese

Sponsored by Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee, San Jose Councilmember David Cohen, State Senator Josh Becker, Trustee Pattie Cortese, Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, SiliconValley Power, Greentown Los Altos, and Acterra

Check out photos from our last in-person summit at this link.

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 LWV Bay Area Region

 

July 2022, Report from League of Women Voters Bay Area

Key items covered in this meeting included:

      Introductions of the 2022-2023 Board and new members (Jerry Perry, Dan Zalles, Marieann Shovlin)

      President’s Report covered an update on SB 917, Seamless Transit 7 Principles and agreement in principle on these principles 

   The Principles:  

#1: Run all Bay Area transit as one easy-to-use system

#2: Put riders first

#3: Make public transit equitable and accessible to all

#4: Align transit prices to be simple, fair, and affordable

#5: Connect effortlessly with other sustainable transportation

#6: Plan communities and transportation together

#7: Prioritize reforms to create a seamless network

      Assignment of annual calendar & workplan development to include exploring what LWVBA can bring to other Leagues

      Regional Governance & Planning Study – History & Next Steps:

Bay Area Regional Government  & Planning Study is scheduled to begin this year and completed in 2024. It is a two-year study which will define League positions to be presented to Bay Area Leagues for discussion and approval at the LWVBA Biennial Convention 2024

It will explore the concept of Regional government, the changes and formation of so many new agencies and their implications for local governments and communities how it has changed and what the future can be, including the impact on ABAG/MTC integration, issues around water, conservation, climate impacts, equity issues and overall governance issues and possible recommendations. From this study determine Bay Area League principles and positions to ensure these challenging issues and policies are determined equitably. 

The LWV  Bay Area League (your ILO-your interleague organization) is seeking partners/task force members to help with the Study, provide recommendations for contacts  in regional organizations, compile the research/regional agency interviews, and finally formalize LWVBA positions on regional government and planning.  The study will commence at the end of September 2022 (tentatively scheduled for Monday, September 26, via zoom meeting at 6pm).  

 

All questions and further detailed discussion welcome, contact Kathleen Cha, LWVBA Director/Study Chair cell/text 510/463-7394 and/or email kaauw16@gmail.com

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LWV California 

Introducing JULISSA RODRIGUEZ, the California League's new Public Policy and Organizing Manager.  Julissa will tackle a broad range of public policy issues facing Californians.

Read more »


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LWV National Update

LWV 2022 Board: https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/

league-women-voters-united-states-elects-new-board-directors-next-biennium

 

LWV 2022 Convention Results and Session Recordings:

Awards: https://www.lwv.org/league-management/council-convention/2022-national-convention-awards

LWV National - Summary of 2022 Convention:

http://participate.lwv.org/c/10065/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=232603

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August Quote:

“Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women, when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it.

Learned Hand, Justice, US Supreme Court

Board Briefs

At the most recent LWVCS Board meeting:
  • Information about Ranked Choice Voting was shared
  • Legal action to protect nonprofit First Amendment Rights to free speech.was voted on and approved
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LWV Cupertino-Sunnyvale

Board of Directors

Officers serving from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023

 

Co-Presidents: Elaine Manley & Tracey Edwards
Vice President: 
Open
Secretary: 
Pam Anderson
Treasurer: 
Beth Claywell
Voter Service Director: 
Roberta Hollimon, Acting
Programs Director: 
Nancy Smith
Database Management Director: 
Open
Membership Director: 
Pam Anderson
Communications Directors: 
Marieann Shovlin, Marilyn Sherry
Resource Development Director: 
Open
Technical Services Director: 
Bruce Kendall


Nominations Chair: 
Roberta Hollimon

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Elected Officials Representing Cupertino & Sunnyvale  

For contact information and  more detail visit:

 

 United States
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Vice President Kamala D. Harris
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Alex Padilla
US Congressional Representative 17th District, Ro Khanna

California
Governor Gavin Newsom
Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis
State Senator, District 13 (Sunnyvale) Josh Becker
State Senator, District 15 (Cupertino) Dave Cortese
State Assembly, District 24 (Sunnyvale) Mark Berman
State Assembly, District 28 (Cupertino) Evan Low 

Santa Clara County
County Supervisor, District 3: Otto Lee
County Supervisor, District 5: Joe Simitian


Cupertino
Mayor: Darcy Paul
Vice Mayor: Liang Chao
Councilmember Kitty Moore
Councilmember Hung Wei
Councilmember Jon Willey

  

Sunnyvale
Mayor: Larry Klein
Vice Mayor: Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember: Gustav Larsson
Councilmember: Tony Spitaleri
Councilmember: Russ Melton
Councilmember: Omar Din

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Join the League of Women Voters

Voting membership in the League of Women Voters is open to men and women 16 years of age and beyond.
 
Annual Membership:
 
$80 Individual member
$40 for each additional member in the same household: 

Free for full-time students at this time
 
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The Cupertino-Sunnyvale VOTER

Published 10 times a year by the
League of Women Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale.
 
This newsletter is posted on our website:
 
Editor: Marieann Shovlin
The LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

.
Permission is granted to reprint any part of this newsletter with credit to the League of Women Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale
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LWV Cupertino-Sunnyvale (LWVCS)
PO Box 2923
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Email: info@lwvcs.org