-THE VOORHIS VOICENOVEMBER 2019

www.claremontdems.org

MEETINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF CLAREMONT MEETINGS

Fridays, 11:30-1:00 pm Issues Luncheon

Village Grill, ClaremontGet informed – and inform

Friday, November 8Monthly DCC luncheon

The speaker for the luncheon is Richard Bunce on the topic “Restorative Practices: An Ancient yet Innovative Pathway to Peace”. Bunce, a Pomona resident, is retired from a career that included community organizing, pastoral ministry and various forms of social service. Restorative practices avoid the focus on punishment for those who have created harm by not isolating the individual from the community. His talk is part of the Gar Byrum Distinguished Speaker Series.

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The luncheon will begin at 11:45 AM at Eddie’s Italian Eatery, in the Stater Bros shopping center. The meal will be served at noon. The program will begin at when the meal is finished, between 12:30 and 12:45. The cost of the family style meal is $17 and includes beverage, tax and tip.  The program is free. Both luncheon and program are open to the public.

Sunday, November 17, 4 pmExecutive Board Meeting

Monday, November 25DCC Monthly Members’ Meeting

Napier Center, Pilgrim PlaceThe speaker will be Roberto De La Cruz, of UFW, SEIU, CHIRLA, and the Latino Roundtable on the topic “The Latino Vote: Lessons Learned & an Agenda for the Future”. The meeting will begin at 7 pm in the Napier Center. The talk is free and open to the public. A club members’ business meeting (beginning about 8:15) will follow the speaker.

OTHER MEETINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Tuesday, November 5 – CR election in Claremont

Wednesday, November 20 – Fifth Democratic Debate6 to 8pm (PT) on MSNBCHosted by MSNBC and the Washington PostModerators: Rachel Maddow, Andrea Mitchell, Ashley

Parker, Kristen Welker [Note: an all-female panel]To be held in the Atlanta area9 candidates have qualified (under more stringent criteria

than previously): Biden, Booker, Buttigieg, Harris, Klobuchar, Sanders, Steyer, Warren, Yang

Not yet qualified: Castro, Gabbard, O’Rourke

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Sunday, November 3 – Inclusive Claremont potluck. Bring what you can! Vita Nova Conference Hall, Room 104, Scripps College (near the Motley Fool), 7:30-9 pm

Friday, November 8 – The Democratic Club of Rancho Cucamonga and The American Institute for Progressive Democracy present ‘Providing Health Insurance Coverage for All’, Claremont United Church of Christ, 6:30-8 pm

Sunday, November 24 -  Ellen Brown on “Public Banking” (Claremont Presbyterian Church, 7pm) 

Sunday, December 1- DCC Annual Holiday Party (Napier Center, 4pm)

Indivisible Claremont Events:

Monday, November 4 – General Meeting. Congresswoman Judy Chu will be the speaker. Registration for the event is required - at this time all the seats are taken. Louise Roberts Room, Claremont United Church of Christ, 7-8:45 pm.

For an excellent calendar of November events see: https://www.forwardtogetherhub.net/local-action-opportunities-pv-and-ie

DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF CLAREMONT NEWS

From the Editor:

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The impeachment proceedings, now in the investigative phase, are proceeding, vigorously as far as I can tell. There is no timetable as to when those investigations will be completed and the report and recommendations brought to the House for action. (Though there will have been a vote on how to proceed on Thursday October 31.) So, all that we can do is wait. We should recognize that a major decision is facing the House leadership: shall there be one charge, now being talked about as Abuse of Power, which may focus on only one item, say the Ukraine bribery for personal political gain, or shall there be several charges brought? The one route has the virtue of being simple and straight-forward, the other possibility would emphasize how wide-spread is the corruption of the Trump administration.

When you read the results of the poll we conducted at the Village Venture (below), there is one thing that is not there remarked on: it was apparent that those who voted for impeachment and removal (an overwhelming number) were deeply committed to those actions. They were strongly outspoken as they cast their Yes ballots.

Please attend the holiday party – that is the year’s first step in being an active member of this very active club. Bring your checkbook: it is time to renew membership or to join.

Email Contact: on the subject line write EDITOR VV and address the message to m36ring@gmail.com

President’s MessageSam Pedroza

I support measure CR.

The influx of funds will help the city obtain a stronger financial footing in order to address many of the issues facing the city.

I do want to call attention to another issue facing our town.  Claremont was built on the foundation of public involvement. The decision-making process for the city encourages input and much public discussion. Today, the variety of social media platforms allow for even more public discourse. In fact, for several years our council and city staff acquiescence the decision-making to various committees, ad hocs, community groups, and public comment from

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the community, many members of which are experts in their respective fields.  That is not a criticism but a quality that defines our community.

It is disheartening and most frustrating that, when our community faces measures such as CR, we must also face attacks on our city staff, city leaders, and anyone that dares to involve themselves for the community. I can vouch that our employees are dedicated to our city. They are committed to the city because they know that in some way, they are also making a difference to improve society.

We have many beautiful minds in our great city that easily get drowned out or are outmatched by the bullish environment promoted via social media. My advice - ignore the noise. If someone is a “leader”, on any side of an election, and only “leads” or comments via social media, then they are not leaders; they are simply noise.

There is no lack of involvement in this town. There is a plethora of organizations and meetings in which to engage, to be vocal, and to make a difference. Be a leader where you can be engaged. More importantly, don’t avoid being vocal out of fear of being targeted. It is surprising and heartwarming that people really do have your back against a bully.

Claremont was built on our community’s involvement, and will continue to prevail when there is mutual respect and a clear understanding that our only real enemy is community apathy.

Holiday Party: December 1

All DCC members and interested Democrats are encouraged to attend our Annual Holiday Party on Sunday, December 1, 2019. The event will begin at 4:00 PM, in the Napier Commons Room, 660 Avery Road, on the campus of Pilgrim Place.

The Helen Myers Award, our annual recognition for exemplary leadership and service, will be given this year to Gene Boutilier and The American Institute for Progressive Democracy (TAIPD). (For what our honorees have accomplished, see the next section below.)

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The Helen Myers Award is given to individuals and groups that continue in the tradition of Helen, Alan Cranston, Stephen Zetterberg and others who created the California Democratic Council. That organization aimed to mobilize people behind programs that would lead to broad-based social improvement.

The program will include a buffet, music, recognition of elected representatives and awards. Club members are asked to come, renew, BYOB and bring a dessert to share. Community members who wish to recognize the honorees and join the club are invited.

For more information: Carolee Monroe jackncarolee@verizon.net or (909) 626-8122.

The Helen Myers 2019 Honorees

1. Gene BoutilierGene Boutilier has committed extensive volunteer efforts to progressive Democratic candidate campaigns and ballot measures for over 60 years.  As a faith-based activist, community organizer and executive he has advocated for organized labor, welfare rights, antipoverty programs, food and shelter services, defense against deportation,  promotion of  social justice  and opposition to wars and imperialism. He staffed the early stages of the  United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez starting in 1965, including directing boycott action and five years representing the movement in Washington. He continued for decades on the National Farm Worker Ministry Board.  He also staffed the original 1968 Poor People's Campaign and "Resurrection City” initiated by Martin Luther King Jr. on the Washington Mall and in Mississippi.

He returned to Los Angeles for the UFW campaigns supporting Jimmy Carter and attempting a major pro-labor ballot initiative starting Labor Day 1976. He stayed a few decades directing an activist Council of Churches, the Emergency Issues Management (Disaster Management) of the United Way, and the early Joint City and County agency attempting to cope with homelessness. He has also along the way served congregations of the United Church of Christ, ecumenical urban ministries and on commissions of the National Council of Churches. For a few years Gene hosted a weekly interview and call-in radio show, "Prophets and Other Troublemakers," on KPFK.  

Gene has staffed political campaigns at national, state, district and municipal levels. At Pilgrim Place he and Marilee Scaff distributed voting guides on

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candidates and ballot propositions prior to elections.  He also is bass player for “The Pilgrim Pickers,” leading groups in movement songs of solidarity.

The Democratic Club of Claremont is honored to recognized our member, Gene with our Helen Myers Award as he has continued in the tradition of mobilizing people and promoting programs that lead to broad-based social improvement.

2.The American Institute for Progressive DemocracyOver a decade ago, some members of the Democratic Club of Claremont decided to organize a local think tank that could engage in activities that were not possible for the club.  So, The American Institute for Progressive Democracy (TAIPD) came into being.  It is a 501c3 organization, that is, an educational institution and so not subject to taxes.  Its Vision statement says in part: THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRACY (TAIPD) is committed to strengthening and extending democracy, social justice, economic well-being and peace for all peoples, within the context of environmental and economic sustainability. We do so with the belief that the quality of life, in all of its aspects, can be improved for the vast majority of Americans and for the other peoples of the world.  We envision a collaborative society that seeks to build a community in which individuals accept responsibility for the well-being of all.

 The organization carries out its aims via two kinds of activities.  First, it produces community forums, often in conjunction with groups at the Claremont Colleges, on important topics with speakers from all over the country.  There have been forums on health care policy, on Citizens United, on water problems, on inequality, on fascism.  While these have been held in Claremont, TAIPD is now branching out to collaborate with organizations in nearby communities in producing educational forums in their cities.  Secondly, it runs a quarterly online journal of political thought called Progressive Democracy.  Collected from the essays published there, several books have also resulted.

The Democratic Club of Claremont justifiably honors TAIPD.

Village Venture 2019Carolee Monroe

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How Do We Democrats Measure Success?

Our Democratic Club of Claremont joins into community events as we are members of the community and the club’s purpose includes outreach. By these measures, our booth at Village Venture was a great success. 

We (re)registered at least six voters - five of whom revealed that they were changing parties.  Three people joined the club - Welcome to them!  Three others asked to be added to our emails.  Ten of the water bottles were taken and we did receive some donations. 

The bigger news is the participation in our two polls. 458 people voted in the poll, “Should President Trump be Impeached and Removed from Office?” Of the total, 425 voted “Yes” while 33 voted “No”.  Of those “No” votes, some were because the result would be a Pence presidency and possible election in 2020.  The second poll is more complex.  411 votes were cast during Village Venture for Democratic candidates while the poll on July 4th had 206 ballots, half as many.  The participants at Village Venture are presumed to be from both Claremont and the surrounding area, while July 4th voters are thought to be “locals”.

Given the choice of Democratic Presidential candidates (limited to those 12 who participated in the last debate), the results of those who were given double-digit votes are listed here: (the numbers in parentheses are those votes in the polling done at our July 4th booth.)  Elizabeth Warren 137 (60); Joe Biden 87 (22);  Pete Buttigieg 66 (26); Bernie Sanders 50 (23); Kamala Harris 24 (49);  Amy Klobuchar 19 (4).  The other candidates (Cory Booker, Julian Castro, Tulsi Gabbard, Beto O’Rourke, Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang), along with three write-ins (Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Steve Bullock) were given a total of 29 votes.

An analysis and comparison of the polls, (July and October), polling numbers and participants: 

During Village Venture, at least ten percent more votes were cast in the impeachment poll than in the Democratic candidates’ poll. 

Twice as many people voted for a Democratic candidate at Village Venture than on July 4.

Biden almost quadrupled his votes at Village Venture, as did Klobuchar.Warren and Sanders doubled their totals. Harris “lost” half of her votes. Buttigeig received one and one-half more votes this time. Although not shown

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above, Andrew Yang was given eight votes at Village Venture and seven on July 4th.

Volunteers YOU made all this possible. Thank you!: Carol Whitson, Merrill Ring, Barbara Hughes, Anne Koegel, Dean McHenry, Merry Aichele, Grace Corcoran, Kathy Henkins, Karen Chapman Lenz, Joan Reyes, Karen Rosenthal, John Forney, Marguerite Gee Royse, Claudia Strauss, Marlena Monroe, Murray Monroe and Gabe Monroe.

Talks at DCC October Meetings

Friday, October 11 LuncheonDan Segal, Professor of Anthropology and History, Pitzer College, in his talk “Tales from Palestine and the Plausible Path to a Just Peace” began with the story of his great-grandmother’s decision to emigrate from Eastern Europe. The Jewish people’s response to anti-Semitism, such as the pogrom that caused Segal’s family’s immigration, and later to Nazism and to America’s less than welcoming attitude, has been immigration. Jews went to the British Mandate in Palestine when there was nowhere else open to them. Segal referred to Amos Oz, writer and peace advocate, expanding on his parable to express the necessity of all who suffer from oppression to aid each other. He called out the Israeli state for its ethnic cleansing of the native Palestinians, stating the principles that guide his policy views on Palestine and Israel. These principles advance the human rights of both Jewish Israelis and Palestinians with the idea that none are free or safe until all are. Lastly, he insisted, a powerful, militarized, nuclear empowered Zionist armed state will not assure the safety of any inhabitants.

Segal then told two stories of life and death for Palestinians to illustrate the lack of control and suffering caused by Israeli oppression. He provided data about Gaza and the West Bank that depicts the ongoing poverty and lack of human dignity of the inhabitants. He was especially concerned because of the indifference of Jewish Israeli society while the government maintains policies that promote illegal settlements and deny Palestinian citizens a role in government.

The only recourse, Segal said, has been for the Palestinians to reach out to the world to join in non-violent means of resistance: boycotts, divestments and sanctions (BDS), such as were successfully used against South Africa. Segal

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named those politicians who have a social justice agenda and he advocated support for HR 2407, by Representative Betty McCollum of Minnesota. The bill would address the treatment of minors and it could be a first step in ending the stalemate in Palestine and Israel.

Monday, October 28 Members’ MeetingEve Kaufman and Carl Bell, Claremont College students and members of Inclusive Claremont, discussed “Claremont and Affordable Housing”. The State of California, Southern California, Los Angeles County and Claremont are facing a crisis in not having available affordable housing. Because of scarcity, prices rise, people are insecure and displaced and travel time and distances to work increase. At each level (state, region, county, and local) solutions are being considered, even mandated.

Focusing on Claremont, data given included: 34% of its residents are classified as “low income” or below that level, while 500 Claremont Unified School District students lack a permanent residence. The costs of rental properties (homes and apartments) are beyond the means of many.

The approaches of three California cities toward resolving housing in their communities were shown. Eve pointed out that housing can be both attractive and affordable.

With Claremont assigned to provide 1,800 units, some tough choices will need to be made. Inclusive Claremont’s multi-faceted approach to addressing the problem include: being proactive; canvassing and surveying residents, encouraging members of the community to support / join Inclusive Claremont; discussing the issue; and recognizing “NIMBYism”.

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Essays Etc. by Club Members

Great California Progressives #8The Democratic Club of Claremont is in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. We California Progressives have a long tradition of producing some of the great figures in American political thought and action. These essays are dedicated to ensuring that we current members of the club and the party know our ancestors.These pieces are of course very brief. I encourage readers to seek out and read more about the people whose life and work is summarized here.Last year, upon assuming the post of VV editor I began the series. The people covered so far have been Carey McWilliams, Jerry Voorhis, Hiram Johnson, Dr. Seuss, Harvey Milk, Upton Sinclair and Earl Warren. Harry Bridges (1901-1990)

If, when in San Francisco, you come down Market Street to where it ends in front of the Ferry Building, you will pass through Harry Bridges Plaza. (There is supposed to be a large statue of Bridges there, but it hasn’t yet been erected.)

How astonishing that Bridges is now honored with a public space named for him, when he was vilified up and down the west coast by business leaders and the major newspapers – called a Communist, survived attempts to deport him, thrown in jail.

What did Bridges do to be first treated as a menace to society and then recognized as an important public figure?

Bridges was an Australian who, working as a teen-age crew member on a cargo ship, jumped ship in San Francisco in 1920 and became a dock-worker there. Already a socialist, he came to know first-hand what the dangerous life of a dock-worker was like and how their lives were subject to the whims and worse of ship-owners.

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In 1934, Bridges, though not officially a union leader, led the dock-workers out on strike. The strike spread up and down the entire west coast. San Francisco’s economy, without the goods coming in through the port, crashed. Ship-owners, with the assistance of the police, tried to break the strike, but failed. Newspapers treated it as a Communist insurrection. The California National Guard was called in to stop the bloody conflict. FDR was talked out of sending federal troops.

After six months, the San Francisco business community talked the ship-owners into settling. Bridges and the union won their major demands.

As a result of the ’34 strike, Bridges, now nationally known, formed a new union – the International Longshoreman’s and Warehousemen’s Union, the ILWU, which became one of the country’s biggest and best-known unions. For 40 years, Bridges was elected head of the ILWU and became a major figure in national labor organizations. He made that union into a leader in progressive politics – it was racially integrated early on. He told Congress that the ILWU “believes in a lot of rank-and-file democracy” and that it “recognizes that from time to time it’s got to stand up and fight for certain things that might not necessarily be only wages, hours, and conditions. Civil liberties, racial equality and things like that.”

That is, Bridges became one of the country’s significant progressive actors. And when that was fully appreciated, his adopted home town of San Francisco recognized that he was a public figure to be honored, even having the flag fly at half mast when he died. So today, at the site where the longshoremen gathered each morning to see whether they had any work, there is Harry Bridges’ Plaza. Visit it!

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Letters from Club Members

Mel Boynton, “Four Reasons We Should Support Measure CR”, Published in the Courier, October 18

 1.     We know there’s no free lunch.  Nothing is perfect, but as we enjoy Claremont’s high quality of life and services, we need to collect adequate revenues going forward.  Our good parks, police, sanitation, senior services, trees, infrastructure and other services require continued investment.  We are blessed to live in a green, safe, vibrant, and well-run city and we are facing budget deficits next fiscal year if we don’t find added revenues.  The alternatives have been considered and we owe it to ourselves to adequately fund the services we expect by passing Measure CR. 2.     If we don’t say yes to the final three-quarter cent sales tax for Claremont within the state-mandated 10.25 percent cap, a similar increase is still quite possible and the added revenues may go elsewhere.  If we vote YES for Measure CR, we decide how and where the added revenue will be invested in Claremont going forward.  We know there are multiple proposals on the horizon for county, region and/or state to collect the final three-quarter cents in sales taxes which would still be paid in Claremont.  Saying NO to Measure CR doesn’t mean our local sales tax won’t rise in the future.  3.     Sales taxes are paid by all Claremont shoppers, including our residents, visitors, and college students, all of whom we welcome and serve.  Yes on Measure CR keeps the added revenue in Claremont to benefit us all.  And while any sales tax remains regressive, several of our other revenue sources such as property taxes are progressive, resulting in a blend of revenue to support our city.  Several other California cities have wisely taken the opportunity to keep these added sales tax revenues in their cities and we should do the same. 4.     The CR proposal requires a simple majority of our votes to pass, which seems fair.  Other funding mechanisms could require 67% majority to pass, so

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just 34% of voters could stop the will of most of our Claremont voters.  We know we have multiple financial challenges ahead for our city - requiring more adequate funding if we are to preserve the quality of life in our beloved Claremont.   Please join me and many of your neighbors in voting YES for CR on November 5th.   It’s a small price to pay for all of us to be better served for years to come.

Bob Gerecke, Published in the Courier, October 18

I would like to emphasize two points about the proposed sales tax increase, ballot Measure CR.1. The additional tax on a $100 tab for dinner or shopping will be 75 cents.  Only 75 cents!  If you can afford the $100, you won't even notice the 75 cents.  It's negligible.  It won't keep anyone from patronizing Claremont businesses, which aren't generic chains available in the next town.  But the total moneys collected will maintain our current level of services.  That's not negligible.  As a long-time investor, I look at reward vs. risk.  The reward for passing the sales tax is substantial.  The cost to us and the risk of losing customers are negligible.  That makes Measure CR a fine investment.2. To those who are angry at our City government or its employees for one reason or another, and to those who think that our employees are overpaid or have too good a retirement plan, I say don't cut off your nose to spite your face.  If you kill the sales tax, you'll be cutting benefits to yourselves, because we'll have fewer and less experienced employees, older and less reliable equipment, and fewer and worse public services.  You'll be stopping visitors from helping to pay for maintaining the current quantity and quality of services that benefit you.  You'll be punishing yourselves.It isn't even a close call between YES and NO.  Only YES on Measure CR makes any sense.

Now YOU write!

Do so! Of course, newspapers have so many restrictions (especially

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space) that very worth while letter do not get published. But try! And if it doesn’t get published there, sent it to the VV and it most likely will be published here. (Or if it does get published, send it here also and have it published.)

Or call . . . . & Complain (or Praise)

MEMBERSHIP: JOIN THE DCC or RENEW

We have no corporate sponsors. Your membership dues pay all DCC’s expenses which include our meeting expenses, P.O box, club charter, storage space for our booths, publicity, political donations, support for the CHS Young Democrats, and events such as Claremont’s July 4th celebration and Village Venture,. Take this opportunity to renew if you haven’t already done so . Just complete and mail this form.

Mail this form with your check to: Democratic Club of Claremont, P.O. Box 1201, Claremont, CA 91711

___Individual $30 ___Family $40 ___Contributing $50-99 ___Patron $100-249 ___Lifetime $250___Student/Limited Income $5

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The Voorhis Voice is published by the Democratic Club of Claremont, PO Box 1201, Claremont CA 91711. The newsletter’s name commemorates the

late Jerry Voorhis, a talented and courageous Congress member from Claremont.

Newsletter Editor: Merrill Ringm36ring@gmail.com

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