| October 2023 Volume 51 No. 3 | | Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. | | | __________________________________ |  | | FUHSD Transition to Elections by Trustee Area
Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD), which covers all of Cupertino, the majority of Sunnyvale, and parts of San Jose, Saratoga and Los Altos, has begun the process to transition to Trustee Area election, aka district-based elections. In the future, FUHSD Board members will be elected by voters in geographic trustee areas, instead of by all District voters. The goal of this process is to have trustee areas in place in time for the November 5, 2024 election.
On August 22 and September 19 the FUHSD school board held two required public hearings to gather community input about factors that should be considered when developing the trustee area maps. At the September 19th meeting, the board also authorized FUHSD Superintendent, Graham Clark, to form a Community Trustee Area Districting (CTAD) Commission to help gather and synthesize community input during the districting process. Information about the CTAD application process should be available soon.
The next public hearing is scheduled for October 17, and is the first hearing where proposed maps will be presented.
Please refer to the FUHSD District Website for the latest information about this transition:
https://www.fuhsd.org/newsroom/trustee-areas. Finally, please keep in mind, this process is about changing how Board members are elected, it is NOT a change in in the boundaries for school attendance areas. | __________________________________ |
Fall is here and it’s time for pumpkin spice latte and democracy!
Fremont Union School District is Moving to Districts
Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) is moving from selecting trustees through at large elections to selecting trustees by districts. District election have many benefits including:
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- Better Representation: By-district elections can ensure that every part of the district is represented.
- Increased Diversity: At-large elections can sometimes favor a dominant community, ethnic group, or socioeconomic class. By-district elections can increase the chances of minority communities or underrepresented groups having a voice in governance.
- Reduced Campaign Costs: Running a campaign in a smaller district can be less expensive than running a citywide or jurisdiction-wide campaign. This can lower the financial barriers to entry and allow more candidates to participate in the electoral process.
- More Direct Accountability: With by-district elections, representatives are accountable to a specific set of constituents. This can make it easier for voters to voice concerns and hold their elected officials responsible.
The question facing the FUHSD Board of Trustees was how to gather input on drawing the maps for the districts; should the input be generated by the consultants speaking with the residents or thru a community advisory committee based working with the residents. After significant conversations our League is very happy to report they chose to create a community advisory group. LWVCS is actively working with FUHSD to quickly launch the community advisory group.
We will need your help with activating the community in designing maps and finding people to apply to be part of the community advisory committee. Fortunately, we can lean on our experience with Sunnyvale City Council, SESD, and Foothill DeAnza districting processes. More will be posted over the coming weeks about how you can participate. Democracy is not a spectator sport. Our community needs your voice.
Please contact us at presidents@lwvcs.org if you would like to participate.
Sunnyvale State of the City
Mayor Larry Klein and the Council Members held the event at the new City Hall. It was very well attended and it’s always inspiring to see community members actively engaged in our community. We were able to tour the new facilities and they are outstanding! It’s LEED Platinum Certified and includes two community rooms that we will be able to utilize for our forums.
National Voter Registration Day
A shout out to Pam Anderson and her volunteers for having a table for voter registration at the Cupertino Library. It’s a good opportunity for the community to see some of our efforts and engage with us.
Membership Renewal
Thank you to all the members that renewed. We appreciate your support.
Your Co-Presidents, Elaine & Tracey | __________________________________ | __________________________________ |
- LWVCS Oct. Board Meeting - Oct. 2
- LWV Bay Area Public Health Program - Death vs. Dollars - Oct 12, 12-1pm, registration link
- LWVCS Coffee Hour - Oct 19, 11-12
- LWVCS Communications Committee Meeting - Oct 19, 3pm
- LWV Bay Area Observer Training - Oct 19, 6:30pm - register here.
- LWVCS OAT Meeting, 3pm
- LWV Santa Clara County Civil Discourse Program - BS and the Brain, 7-8:30pm
| __________________________________ | Membership Renewal Season!
Thank you to members who have already renewed their memberships and to those who also included a donation. If you have received a membership renewal reminder e-mail and have not already renewed, please do so at your earliest convenience. Go to www.lwvcs.com and click Member Login in the upper right corner. Remember to select PayPal if you want to pay by credit card. (You do not need a PayPal account.) If you want to pay by check, click HERE for a renewal form and mailing instructions. Any membership-related questions, please e-mail membership@lwvcs.org. Thank you!
Best Regards,
~Nina~
Nina Wong-Dobkin
Membership Chair 2023-25 | | | __________________________________ | | LWVCS Community September Outreach
LWVCS Community Outreach and Voter Service volunteers participated in two community outreach events in September: the Cupertino Fall Festival at Memorial Park on Saturday, September 9 (photo left) and National Voter Registration Day at the Cupertino Library on Tuesday, September 19. During these events we talked with community members about voter registration, voter participation, and voter education tools such as Voters Edge. We also spoke about LWVCS and the important work that we do. It was exciting to be back at in-person events.
Thank you to our volunteers: Aryaa, Beth, Cal, Dan, Debbie, Dorcas, Elaine, Judi, Marieann, Marilyn, Nicolle, Pam and Scott.
If you would like to help with future outreach events, please email Pam at voterservice@lwvcs.org and keep an eye one our website for future opportunities.
(Check out the wheel in the photo - questions for voters about voting.)
| | | __________________________________ |  | | Cupertino Rotary Fall Festival Volunteers' Experiences
Elaine Manley - I had a great time meeting people at the Cupertino Rotary Fall Festival. We met some inspiring youth that do understand why it's important to vote. And we met some that became more inspired to participate in our community and in government after stopping by our booth. LWV is terrific at giving people the facts and in a way the person can understand the information and use it to determine their vote. Many people were interested in what we do and in learning about VotersEdge.org It's a fun way to keep our democracy working and engage our community. Hopefully more members will volunteer next time - it's a lot of fun. And we could use more help at the booths. Having said that, I had a blast doing it.
Beth Claywell - I was on the first team for the event, and Elaine and I enlisted the help of the Boy Scouts to help us set-up the canopy that Elaine brought. The opening presentation by the Mayor, Hung Wei, and a former Board Of Director (BOD) member of LWV-CS was inspiring and well-received. Additionally, as the event did not "officially open until 10:45 it allowed us time to walk around the venue and see who else was going to be there. I always enjoy seeing both adults and children spin the wheel and see what their knowledge is about voting and government in their own backyard. I always learn something doing this as seeing the sometimes surprise and acknowledgment of the individuals (whether young or adult) playing the game. And, of course, the candy is always a big draw, but they must not "touch" until they "play".
I'd like to see us do 3 or 4 events of this nature each year, but the one thing we definitely do need is more of our membership, and not just the BOD participating in these events. It is truly an easy thing to do (2 to 3-hour shifts) and is very satisfying and rewarding. We have even gained new members at some of the events through our presence. But the biggest give for me is that we see our community members learning something they never knew or had forgotten. The same goes for those of us who volunteer as well -- I know I learn something every time as well.
Judi Pogue - The children are so excited about spinning the wheel, and the parents are pleased when they know the answers. Although many of the adults that stopped by are not citizens, I felt we could encourage them to move forward in the process of gaining citizenship.
A lot of our visitors were high school age, so we promoted pre-registering to vote at age 16.
These events are the perfect time to provide information about how helpful Voter's Edge is.
(Note: Our LWVCS table has included the Spin the Wheel Game for several years now. It includes questions about United States history, government, voting, etc. We have folks, especially the children, spin the wheel and when it stops spinning, the spinner - or their parent - needs to answer the question, and a correct answer is rewarded with a piece of candy.)
| __________________________________ | | LWVCS Volunteer Opportunities!
LWV Cupertino-Sunnyvale has Opportunities on its Committees
Join a fun team, enhance your talents and participate in your League!
We have several Committees that need coordination and additional "hands"
Voter Service, Communications, Online Access, Activities - and more!
Check out the Committees here!
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LWVCS Coffee Hour - Share a Hearty Cup!
Join us for our regular third Thursday, October 19th Coffee Hour at 11am here
Did you explore the Scavenger Hunt?
Explore opportunities to be active in League -
based on your interests,
your timeframes. | | | Helping empower voters and making democracy work is inspiring and important work.
We welcome you to be a part of it!
If you know someone that would be interested in learning more about League and civic engagement,
please have them contact us
Want to learn more about your voting-related rights?
Check out NonProfitVote.org here.
| __________________________________ | LWV National - LWVUS
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| Support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act - Show your support here! |
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| Framing the Future ZOOMS - Register to attend monthly Framing the Future Office Hours hosted by LWVUS - third Wednesday of the month at 1pm. |
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California League - LWVC
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Redistricting, the process of redrawing election district boundaries every ten years to ensure that districts have equal populations, is crucial to our democracy. AB 764 (Bryan & Cervantes) and AB 1248 (Bryan & Allen) would help ensure that local jurisdictions adopt electoral maps that result in fair representation for all Californians. Ask Governor Newsom to sign AB 764 and AB 1248.
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The League of Women Voters of California (LWVC) strongly opposes Governor Newsom's recent decision to seek an Article V constitutional convention. The proposal, encapsulated in SJR-7, seeks to add California to the states aiming to alter the U.S. Constitution, a move that comes without a clear structure or guidelines.
Read more
| __________________________________ | | LWV Santa Clara County
Civil Discourse Committee
Our regular monthly meetings to update events and plan our 2023 program have begun!
Our upcoming program is titled "BS and the Brain".
Help us with the planning!
Join our next meeting October 16, 1pm here
| | | __________________________________ | | LWV Santa Clara County Civil Discourse Event:
BS and the Brain - Why Smart People Get Duped
Wednesday Oct. 25, 7-8:30pm
Gather your brain power, learn more about it, and gain a more in- depth understanding of how it works - via a special video. Then, with your colleagues, examine what you learned and how to apply that learning in real-world scenarios.
Register here.
| __________________________________ | LWC Bay Area - LWVBA
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Health Equity Series
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Death vs. Dollars – is Our Health an Individual or a Collective Responsibility? Join us Oct 10, 2023, 12 to 1:00 PM via Zoom.
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The League of Women Voters of the Bay Area (LWVBA) invites you to participate in a new series on Public Health Awareness. The goal is to raise awareness of the importance and value of the public health system to our communities as a vital part of the civic health continuum of the League in empowering voters and defending democracy, to highlight the social determinants of health, and to raise and potentially answer the question: is our health a matter of personal responsibility or a public, collective good?
This initial event introduces the history, role and scope of Public Health in the United States, where it is and where it should be.
Our expert speakers:
• Dr. Sarah Rudman, Deputy Public Health Officer and Infectious Disease and Response Branch Director, County of Santa Clara Public Health Department
• Kimi Watkins-Tartt, Public Health Director Alameda County, Co-Chair Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII)
Their discussion will include the public health definition, its goals and purpose, its role in the community, a brief history in the US, and how it is applied in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties. This presentation will also address the changing role of public health over time, how the departments have had to adapt to the changing policy environment, and what is seen as the future role of public health in the community, and any potential changes.
LWVBA Observer Corps
We are excited to announce that Jean Perry will be leading an effort to increase the number of observers monitoring regional agencies and organizations. Training is available for anyone new to the role of League observer. The Board is especially interested in monitoring more committees of MTC/ABAG (https://mtc.ca.gov/about-mtc/committees/standing-committees). If you want to join this important team, send a request to lwvbayarea@gmail.com. If you indicate an interest area, we will recommend committees or regional agencies for your consideration. Participate in the training event Oct. 19, 6:30pm. Register here
LWVBA Biennial Council 2023 – SAVE THE DATE
The LWVBA Council is scheduled for June 16 from 1pm to 2:30pm, virtual only. The Council is held in odd-numbered years with each local League eligible to send two voting delegates. The meeting – open to all members and guests – will include an update on our Regional Government and Land Use study, discussion and follow up from our recent LWVC Convention and an open forum. An agenda will be sent in a few weeks. Send any suggestions to lwvbayarea@gmail.com.
Regional Ballot Measures and Assembly Bill 1319
Past Board Briefs mentioned two potential ballot measures – transportation and affordable housing – being considered by MTC/ABAG for the 2024 General Election. MTC staff recently recommended that a transportation measure be deferred until 2026 while its lobbying efforts focus on its request for urgently needed stop-gap funding until ridership returns to pre-Covid levels. The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority continues to gear up to place its first regional housing bond measure on the ballot. The Board requested that the LWVC Legislation Committee consider support of AB 1319 authored by Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks. The bill clarifies the full range of the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority’s lending powers and expands its ability to address homelessness. https://abag.ca.gov/news/abagmtc-sponsored-affordable-housing-bill-passes-committee
BAHFA received $20 million in funding from the state budget and has five pilot programs underway. LWVC has not yet made a decision on AB 1319, and LWVBA support for it does not imply support for the pending ballot measure. The Board plans to conduct an educational forum when more information is available. If you want to learn more about BAHFA, we recommend you start with “Building a Foundation for Transformational Housing Solutions.” here. This link provides a more current update here
- Debrief on BAHFA program - LWVBA Video BAHFA with Kate Hartley: BAHFA
- Save the Date - Bay Area League Day - "Connecting the Dots" March 9, 2024
| __________________________________ | Related Organization Events:
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From Dr Mary Ann Dewan, SCC Education Dept.:
Dear Santa Clara County Community,
September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Month, a time to bring awareness to warning signs and share resources that prevent suicide and prioritize mental health and wellness.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) completes research to provide up-to-date information about mental health concerns such as suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in youth 10-14 years old and the third leading cause of death for people aged 15-24. Additionally, 45% of LGBTQ+ youth experience suicidal thoughts.
To prevent the loss of life, it is critical to understand the warning signs. Warning signs can include aggressive behavior, dramatic mood swings, impulsive or reckless behavior, and more. To learn more, visit: https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Common-with-Mental-Illness/Risk-of-Suicide
Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D.
County Superintendent of Schools
- Advocacy Programs
- Civic Engagement Resources link
- Youth Voter Toolkit link here
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From the Santa Clara County Library:
Have you checked out your library programs lately – lots going on!
Programs for youth, teens, and even adults. Just like LWVCS, they are looking for volunteers – for tutoring who are willing to provide homework help to students in grades K-6 in the topics of Math, Science, and English.
Take a peek here
- From LWV Diablo Valley : Fighting Mis/Disinformation - Monthly Tip: Learn about how misinformation and disinformation get started and how they grow, and discover strategies to fight back, by reading the Civic Information Handbook, a recent PDF publication recommended by LWV California. It's well worth downloading or bookmarking!
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City Council Meeting October 3, 6:45pm
Agenda link here. Contact Phone: 408.777.3223
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Cupertino City Updates:
Cupertino Releases Housing Element Draft
The City of Cupertino released a draft of its 6th Cycle Housing Element and is inviting public comment through December 23.. After the comment period closes, the City will review and consider all comments received and will revise the element for consideration and final adoption. Learn more from the revised version here.
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Memorial Park Re-design - See Final Design here
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Cupertino Chamber of Commerce - check out their activities here.
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Morning Chat with Cupertino Mayor -
Tuesday, October 10 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
This month’s Morning Chat will be rescheduled and take place on Tuesday, October 10 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Holder’s Country In, 10088 North Wolfe Road.
Grab your mug and a free coffee or tea on Mayor Hung Wei, and get ready to talk about the issues that matter most to you. Residents, business owners, and community members are invited to these casual meetings where they can discuss any topic they want with one of Cupertino’s decision-makers.
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Sunnyvale City Events Calendar - and More... here
Sunnyvale City Governance
- City Council Welcomes In-person Public Participation
Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce Events
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LWV Cupertino-Sunnyvale
Board of Directors
Co-Presidents: Elaine Manley & Tracey Edwards
Secretary: Leigh Anne Gillis
Treasurer: Beth Claywell
Voter Service Director: Pam Anderson
Membership Director: Nina Wong-Dobkin
Online Access Team Director: Marilyn Sherry
Technical Services Director: Bruce Kendall
Online Events Coordinator: Debbie Timmers
Director at Large: Bill Wilson
Nominations Chair: Marieann Shovlin
| | | __________________________________ | LWV Cupertino-Sunnyvale Board Meeting Notes - September 2023
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Judicial Review Results: Judicial system in CA works is currently flawed; League action to push for JNE commission results to be made public.
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Membership dues: Reminder emails will go out end of this month to expiring members
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Leadership Sunnyvale program for parties interested in running for local office LWVCS League presentations: November 17th, Elaine Manley, Marieann Shovlin, Pam Anderson, Debbie Timmers and Roberta Hollimon are participating.
October 2023 Quote:
"In truth, at the rate the consciousness and the ambitions of the world are increasing, it will explode unless it learns to love. The future of the thinking earth is organically bound up with the turning of the forces of hate into forms of charity.”
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Paleontologist
| __________________________________ | Elected Officials Representing Cupertino & Sunnyvale
For contact information and more detail visit:
| __________________________________ | 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:
$100 Individual member
$50 for each additional member in the same household:
Free for full-time students at this time
| | | __________________________________ | | 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:
| | 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 | | | __________________________________ |
League of Women Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale
PO Box 2923
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
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