Club President Susan Peinado called the February 22, 2015 meeting to order at 3:31 PM. She thanked everyone that brought snacks.
Welcome and Introduction of Elected Officials and Candidates
Susan welcomed and introduced guests: reporter Doug Porter; Kimberly Beatty, School Board President of Poway Unified; Barbara Bry, Founder of Run Women Run; Joe LaCava of the San Diego Community Planners Committee; John Hartley; Howard Singer; Mike Bower, Chair of CA Democratic Party Progressive Caucus; new Patron members Toni Atkins and Jose Castillo, and new members Max Coterill, Michael Thaller, Pamela Hughes, Greg Robinson, Maria Leal, Sara Shon, and Jimmy Tabb. She also thanked labor guests including Nephi Hancock, Andy Ishee and Ricardo Ochoa.
Susan also thanked Frank Gormlie of the OB Rag for his write up that encouraged attendance.
Susan welcomed the candidates present and each spoke on their candidacy:
- Barbara Bry – running for City Council District 1
- Justine DeCesare – running for City Council District 7
- Gil Cabrera – running for City Attorney
- Joe LaCava – running for City Council District 1
- Rafael Castellanos – running for City Attorney
Old Business
Election of Officers.
Ruth Rollins, Chair of the Nomination Committee, presented the nominations for club officers as follows:
- President, Susan Peinado
- Vice President, Mike Johnson
- Secretary, Gretchen Newsom
- Treasurer, Barbara Houlton
Each nomination was considered separately; no other nominations were received from the floor, and each nomination was unanimously supported.
New Business
Treasurer Barbara Houlton encouraged attendees to join the club membership which is $20/individual and $30/household. The club patron level is $100. She announced that 91 members have renewed for 2015.
Announcements
CYD Fundraiser: March 5th
Cowspiracy: March 8th
Program: Labor and the Democratic Party
Susan asked Gretchen to introduce the program for this month’s meeting of the Point Loma Democratic Club as she was instrumental in creating the program, and inviting and coordinating with the speakers to delve into the nexus between Labor and the Democratic Party.
We learned about the structure of our local labor movement from Richard Barrera, Secretary-Treasurer/CEO at San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council. Richard noted that the unions of the local labor council collectively advocate for shared prosperity, lifting up wages and creating good-middle class jobs for working families.
Richard spoke about unions’ focus on organizing and helping workers come together to stand up, form stronger unions, and push back on wrongful employers. He cited examples of unions working with community organizations on affordable housing and creating pathways to citizenship.
Put resources into this in a serious way – get involved in races intending to win so then we have an opportunity to pursue pubic policy to level playing field to give all workers a shot at better opportunities.
Audio recordings of Richard Barrera and Daraka Larimore-Hall
Then Daraka Larimore-Hall, Secretary of the California Democratic Party and Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party Labor Caucus, discussed historical and contemporary ties between the party and the labor movement. He noted that both institutions are complex, decentralized, and in many ways structurally weak, and that neither can achieve their primary goals without the other. Daraka concluded by giving practical examples of how to be a labor activist without being anti-Party and a Democrat without ever being anti-labor.
Download our Podcast or listen here.
Daraka Larimore-Hall reminds us of how unions like the UAW helped shape the Democratic Party into the party of Civil Rights.m (1 minute)
Daraka Larimore-Hall argues Labor and the Democratic Party are joined at the hip using the Volkswagen unionization vote in Tennessee as an example. Non-partisanship is a myth. (3 minutes)
Daraka Larimore-Hall explains why we must understand Labor and why every Democratic club in California should run this program. (1 minute)
Richard Barrera – complete talk (22 minutes)
Daraka Larimore-Hall – complete talk (39 minutes)
(There are some blank portions of this video but the audio is maintained throughout.)
Upcoming Events and Announcements
Ocean Beach Town Council
Wednesday, February 25th, 7:00pm
Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd
Women’s Museum – Tears of War Exhibit – Stories of Women Refugees in America
Wednesday, February 25, 7:00pm
WOSD Movie Night presents Private Violence
California Young Dems Fundraiser
Sunday, March 5, 6pm
Bamboo Lounge, 1475 University Avenue
Movie: Cowspiracy
Sunday, March 8, 5:00pm for 5:45pm start time. Home of Rhoda Quate: 3170 Chicago Street, San Diego, CA 92117
Organized together with 350.org and the Point Loma and Clairemont Democratic Club. Vegan pot luck.
Ocean Beach Planning Board
Elections on Tuesday, March 10, 4:00-7:00pm
OB Rec Center 4726 Santa Monica Avenue 92107
Ocean Beach Historical Society
Thursday, March 19th 7:00pm
United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs
De-coder Margret Francis, real life Imitation Garne
New Citizen Voter Registration
Wednesday, March 25th 10:15-12:15pm
3rd Avenue & B Street Plaza near Civic Theater
Next Club Meeting
March 22nd, 3:30pm Social; 4:00pm Meeting Starts
Susan adjourned the meeting at 5:10pm.
Minutes taken by: Gretchen Newsom, Secretary
Photos: Patrick Schultheis, OFA Liaison
POINT LOMA & OB DEMS 