All posts filed under: News

Current event articles

Jul 23 – Monthly Meeting – Democratic Party Mechanics for Non-mechanics

Published by

Steve Rivera is a long time member of the California Democratic Party and  former Regional Director for our area, Region 20. At this month's meeting Steve explains the structure of the Democratic Party and in particular the local and State party organization. Steve will cover Party basics, where he thinks there will be changes and how we can make it better. From the national level on down changes are being demanded by regular Party members. Last year the Democratic National Convention Rules Committee agreed to change the rules regarding superdelegates. Just this last week San Diego County Democratic clubs proposed changing the Bylaws of the San Diego County Democratic Party to insure that clubs are consulted on rule changes that affect clubs and their members. These are exciting times to be a Democrat and its important to understand what that really means. We need to better understand the makeup of our Party so we can work together to improve it. Across the country from local governments, to state houses to national offices the Democratic party has …

Notes from May Meeting – Democratic State of Play Moving into 2018

Published by

Club President Jonathan Wubbolding called the meeting to order at 4:02 PM and thanked everyone for coming. Next, he welcomed new Club members and among those who introduced themselves were Michelle Morgan, Carl Yaekel, and Gail Saivar. After making a call for any elected officials or their representatives, former elected officials, or any candidates who wished to speak, the following responded: Doug Case, Political Affairs Director for State Senator Toni Atkins, said that three of Sen. Atkins’ bills had recently been released from the Appropriations Committee and would come up for vote soon: SB 562 – the Healthy California Act; SB 2 – the Building Homes and Jobs Act; and, SB 179 – the Gender Recognition Act. Glenn Jensen, an economist running to replace Duncan Hunter in District 50, said he was tired of partisan politics and that we needed to appeal to moderate Republicans and Independents in order to win races. If elected, he promised to compel the government to deal with every issue, such as health care and climate change, as a national …

Podcast – Dr Cody Petterson – Democratic State of Play Moving into 2018

Published by

Local anthropologist Cody Petterson discussed the current state of play within the San Diego County Democratic Party. The overarching theme of his talk was the need for activists to transition from protest to power and to move from focusing on national abstractions to developing progressive policies that deal with concrete local problems. We encourage you to subscribe to our Podcast channel here. You can also find us on the iTunes Store just search for Point Loma & OB Dems or click here, as well as on Stitcher. Recordings used during the discussion do not contain explicit language. Music used by kind permission of the Oily Buoys. What are Podcasts? Our podcasts are edited recordings of our meetings made freely available on the Internet. They’ll usually be audio but we may make video recordings available as well. One-third of all Americans (12 years of age or older) have listened to a podcast according to Pew Research on Podcasts. Our podcasts are a great way to share information from our guest speakers for free and enable us to reach a wider audience. We hope you enjoy our podcasts. …

Notes from April Meeting – Voting Rights

Published by

Club President Jonathan Wubbolding called the meeting to order at 4:05 PM. He thanked everyone for coming and asked any new members to stand and introduce themselves. He then made a call for any elected officials or their representatives, former elected officials, or any candidates who wished to speak and the following responded: Doug Case, Political Affairs Coordinator for State Senator Toni Atkins, gave a brief update on the following bills: SB 562, the single-payer bill; SB 2, which would provide a permanent funding stream for affordable housing; SB 179, the gender recognition act; and, SB 54, the California Values Act, which would prohibit California law enforcement from enforcing immigration laws. Ed Harris, representative for the city lifeguards and former City Council member, gave an update on the controversy brewing between the Fire Chief and the Lifeguard Union. He said that the Fire Chief made a major change recently, without informing the lifeguards, about how emergency calls were dispatched. Now, when there is a need for an ocean rescue, 911 calls are sent to Police …

May 28 – Democratic State of Play Moving into 2018

Published by

Dr. Cody Petterson will discuss the current state of play within the San Diego County Democratic Party and describe a progressive path to victory throughout the County in 2018. His talk will begin with an overview of the results of the California Democratic Party’s 2017 Convention. He will then discuss the lingering effects of the 2016 Democratic Primary and continue with a brief description of the current San Diego Democratic political environment, including the current split in the county Labor movement and the ongoing conflict on the City Council. After a brief review of the local races that are likely to draw the Party’s attention in 2018, Dr. Petterson will detail some of the ways in which the local progressive movement is working to revitalize the Party and insure strong, populist progressive victories across the county in 2018. Jonathan ‘Cody’ Petterson is a lifelong Democrat, born, raised, and now raising a family in La Jolla, California. He is committed to making San Diego, California, and the United States more equitable, sustainable, and democratic. He is …

Apr 23 – Monthly Meeting – Voting Rights

Published by

UC San Diego political science professor (and former Assemblyman) Nathan Fletcher teaches a class on the Voting Rights Act of 1965. From the Declaration of Independence through to the 2013 Supreme Court decision which found a section of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional his course covers the history of voting rights in the United States including attempts to disenfranchise voters. Literacy tests were used as a means to deny voters along lines of race and class – Louisiana literacy test (PDF) – and continue to flummox UCSD undergraduates today – Union-Tribune article by @GaryWarthUT. Many of our struggles with the present Administration will come down to the 2018 Ballot boxes and who is willing, and able, to vote. Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher is our featured speaker this evening, and we’re delighted to also welcome Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher who will speak on her recently introduced legislation. 4:00PM – 5:30PM Point Loma Assembly, 3035 Talbot St, San Diego, CA 92106 For additional info call (619) 800-5098 Directions and parking information Social Time Members are encouraged to get together from 3:30PM before the meeting starts, please bring whatever light drinks/snacks that you’d …