Beach Cities Democratic Club P.O. Box 2192, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 February, 2005

Next Meeting CDC Endorses Dean the members of their local organiza- tions. Tuesday, February 22, 7:30PM for DNC Chair David K. Hayward Center The California Democratic Coun- 2000 Artesia Boulevard, R.B. FEBRUARY 7 cil was founded in 1953 by leaders Following a canvass of Democratic including Alan Cranston, Phil Burton Senator Debra Bowen clubs and county committees and Joe Wyatt. CDC serves as Cali- Our February throughout California over the past ten fornia’s statewide association of speaker will be days, the California Democratic Coun- Democratic clubs and county com- California Senator cil is pleased to announce Governor mittees. Thousands of grassroots Debra Bowen. A Howard Dean has earned CDC’s Democrats from throughout Califor- lawmaker for more endorsement for DNC Chair. On the nia are represented by the 147 Board than a decade, first round of counting, Governor members who cast votes on this rec- Senator Bowen has Dean well surpassed the 60 percent ommendation. authored numerous threshold needed for CDC’s endorse- bills to protect the state’s natural ment. Best Democratic regards, resources and its children, help Representatives of more than 100 Chris Stampolis Californians protect their privacy and chartered Democratic clubs and President, California Democratic their pocketbook, and make it easier county committees throughout Califor- Council to gain access to and understand state nia cast ranked votes via e-mail and 323-653-1091 * www.cdc-ca.org government. phone after discussing the issue with Her AB 1624 unlocked the Legislature’s computer files and gave Volunteers needed computer users worldwide Internet Marge Winston access to information about bills, BCDC is looking for a website man- Committee records, and more. Her ager and someone to keep our Yahoo With sadness we report that our SB 168 makes it much more difficult group updated. We also need phone wonderful club member Marge for criminals to commit identity tree volunteers: about 350 members Winston died on February 1. Marge theft, in part by preventing are unreachable by email. was one of the people who, as soon companies from using Social Security Please sign up to call your fellow as she joined the club, volunteered numbers as public identifiers. Democrats for meetings and special for a job. She cheerfully mailed the Born in Rockford, Illinois, Bowen events. We also have a speakers’ newsletter until late last year, saying graduated from Michigan State Uni- committee and a fund raising it was “the least she could do.” versity in 1976 and earned her law committee in need of members. Marge was a generous person who degree from the University of Vir- loved flowers, dogs, and people. In ginia in 1979. In 1984, she started her her career as a psychotherapist, her own California law firm specializing Dues Overdue patients were fond of her. in small business start-ups, tax law, Membership chair Barbara Blum Marge is survived by her two sons. land use, and environmental issues. reports that there are still about 60 A memorial service will be held on members who have not paid their February 27 in the San Fernando Welcome New Members dues. With such a large membership, it Valley. For details, contact her son, Eric Mah from Manhattan Beach is crucial for us to keep up with Brian Shepherd, at (818)705-6590. Andrew Gamet from Redondo Beach mailing expenses, and we have recently Dale Petrulis from Redondo Beach pledged to donate a large amount of Kenneth & Susan Sarno from Her- money to local candidates. Please mail mosa Beach in your check right away or bring it to Denise Ravatt from Hermosa Beach the February meeting.

Visit our Website at lafn.org/politics/bcdc Page 2 Beach Cities Democratic Club

From the January Recap city’s reliance on outside law firms and comply with state laws such as the President’s More from our candidates Coastal Act and the Public Records Pen Local candidates were on the agenda Act. He brought up the competing ballot options on the aging AES power After all the hand again this month as we heard updates plant. Option A, which he favors, wringing, soul from their campaigns. would turn the area into a regional searching and Redondo Beach: park. Option B, called Village Park, death notices of Lee Fink reported his campaign for would build homes and other struc- the Democratic Party, I am here to say city council in the 4th District is in tures on the site. Dave’s campaign site that it’s a lot of talking-head hype. The good shape. He would like to have a is DaveWiggins.net. so called “liberal” media has a job to precinct captain in each of the district’s A brief debate followed in which do, and that is to make our situation nine precincts to reach voters directly. each candidate stated his position on seem so hopeless we’ll all just go away. He is also distributing lawn signs. the issue. Steve Colin is concerned Yes, we lost the Presidential election, Three Democrats competing for city with contamination on the site and is causing me to stay in bed with the attorney spoke next. not in favor of either plan as written. covers over my head for a few Stevan Colin has been a city coun- He said the city has 65,000 residents depressing days. Yes, the Emperor cilman for the past eight years and has and it is not obvious where the funds with no clothes is sworn in for another served as mayor pro-tem and chairman would come from. 4 years, but the more I have thought of the Redondo Beach Redevelopment Tory about it, the more I realize how much Agency. He wants to stop excessive Erickson also we have gained. spending by the city on outside attor- regards both For years we have been told that no neys. He is funding his own campaign options as one cares about politics anymore. and only asks that people put up lawn faulty but says Everyone is too busy with their lives, signs and talk to their neighbors. he favors the families, careers and a myriad of enter- Tory Erikson, who spoke last village plan, tainment outlets. Too busy to care month, says he will work to eliminate which would about a baseless invasion of a closed sessions and make city govern- get rid of the sovereign nation, too busy to care ment more transparent. He is taking plant and about the environment, health care, out ads in the Beach Reporter and build homes and staggering deficits. But they were Easy Reader and has a website, Erick- on the site. wrong. Millions of people across the [email protected].

country who had never been involved Dave Wiggins, also speaking for RB School Board candidate

in politics came out to participate and the second time, pledged to reduce the Dale Petrulis

vote. Right here in the South Bay we had one of the most dynamic grassroots organizations in the Club Business She said Mike country. Thousands of people is having a Tammy Minion has volunteered to be volunteered, gave money and time, great time in our new mailing chairperson. We are traveled to other states to walk Sacramento also forming a fund raising committee precincts and worked tirelessly for a and is on the and a speakers committee; new mem- better government. Health, Natural ber Marija Kosanovich will serve on it. This is real and solid and exciting. Resources, and Lori Geittmann reported that the After every defeat there must be a time Appropriations 53rd AD Committee is looking to open to reflect. Think about what George committees a permanent office. They have elected Washington was thinking and feeling and chairs Vet- new officers: Mustapha is chairman, at Valley Forge, in the dead of winter, erans’ Affairs. Bobbi vice-chair, Lori secretary, Shirlee Courtney Wong with his rag-tag army, would they Mike is the treasurer. The committee is setting up starve or freeze first? He had to reor- only assembly a rapid response team to send letters ganize, regroup and plan for another member to serve on the Little Hoover and make phone calls to office holders. day. It is appropriate for us to go commission which does government Courtney Wong from Mike through this now, it is our “time to budget review. Gordon’s office introduced herself. (Continued on page 4) Page 3

Kurt Manhattan Beach: Monroe’s Schmalz Councilman Jim Aldinger said then spoke things are going well in the city. We Corner about his took in $3.5 million more in property In these trying times mayoral taxes last year than we spent. A recent of terrorism and campaign. open space ruling has gone into effect attack attempts by A coun- that requires second story additions to unseen enemies, and cilman for have an 8% volume setback. Jim said it also protected by the the past will encourage remodels and hold infamous Patriot Act, I have been four years down the number of oversized new keeping a personal dossier on a few and for- homes. Jim has also worked to oppose significant individuals. One such indi- mer chair- the LA airport expansion, keep the air vidual & prime suspect is Herr Arnold man on force base open, and preserve the 310 (the Gropenator Extrordinaire!) the Plan- area code. Our press has been overloaded with Kurt Schmalz, running for ning Com- Eric Mah, also appearing for the mayor of Redondo Beach President Dubya & his plan to destroy mission, second time, said this election would the Social Security system, which needs he would give Democrats a chance to have a some limited ‘tweekin’ but nothing like be the first Democratic mayor in 25 majority on the city council. Eric is a the major revisions that are part of a years. On the council, Kurt was instru- graduate of UCLA and has a Masters vast right-wing revolutionary conspir- mental in bringing the Artesia Boule- in Public Health acy to expand the privileges of the eco- vard upgrade in on time and under from Johns nomic elite. These are meant not to budget, and in getting a bike path built. Hopkins, with ex- scale back the Great Society & New He has been in negotiations with perience in helping Deal programs, but to erase them from Target over their planned facility on kids with substance existence. After all, Dubya has been the former Levitz property, winning abuse problems. He called by God to lead our nation. $100,000 in concessions. supports healthy As a Jew, I am particularly con- partnerships On the power plant, he thinks the Eric Mah cerned that the God he hears is not the owner, AES, should pay for seven between the school same God I speak to in the Synagogue. years of back taxes amounting to $20 board and city council, and common But I digress from my initial thought to $30 million and that we should sense government. He believes the to address our California monster negotiate an exit agreement. permanent absentee ballot is a strong dilemma & danger, which is Herr Schmalz owns his own law firm, is a weapon for the Democrats: the Arnold from Austria (& forgive the business owner with 25 employees, efficacy rate is 80% versus 20 to 25% reference, but this is the same Austria and has been a litigator for over 21 for conventional ballots. that gave birth to the deadly & infa- years. He is endorsed by the LA Rick Norris is running for treasurer mous Adolph Hitler). county Democrats and Assemblyman against Linda Wilson. He is a CPA I recently suffered a bout of bloody George Nakano. who graduated from law school and noses caused by a deviated septum. Dale Petrulis, an educator with 36 has worked for Barbara Boxer. His With Herr Arnold we have a deviated years of experience, is running for website is norrisfortreasurer.com. political mentality. Let me mention a school board. She has been a principal We passed a motion to donate $250 few: (1) Straining the fund raising lim- for 20 years and is currently director of to each candidate endorsed by the its after indicating he is rich enough to instructional support services, in County Democratic Party. Following is do the right thing. (2) Wants to elimi- charge of curriculum for 65,000 the list of all the Democratic candi- nate independent oversight bodies to students. She has written $3 million dates with an asterisk denoting AD give the governor more freedom & worth of grants and believes we can endorsements. flexibility. (3) Accepted at least $1 mil- improve the schools by changing Manhattan Beach lion from auto & related industries. (4) working conditions and schedules for City Council: Jim Aldinger,* Eric Mah,* Devised a budget plan that requires teachers. She is concerned that No Nick Tell * substantial borrowing with a huge Child Left Behind has led to the prolif- Treasurer: Rick Norris * projected shortfall. (5) Wants to limit eration of largely unregulated charter Redondo Beach lawsuits & reduce healthcare coverage schools and privatization of the public Mayor: Kurt Schmalz * for workers. (6) Vetoed bills to raise school system. (Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 4) Beach Cities Democratic Club

P.O. Box 2192, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 President Bobbi Buescher—310-545-7890 Vice-President Lee Fink—310-370-3020 Treasurer Shirlee Browne—310-798-0908 Secretary/Publicity Kathleen Paralusz—310-621-3734 Newsletter Moira Zucker—310-546-7562 Database Steve Zucker—310-546-7562 Mailing Tammy Minion—310-406-8057 Web Manager James McGreevy—310-320-1638 Membership Barbara Blum—310-540-6346

(President, continued from page 2) polls in the LA Times indicate that he (Monroe, continued from page 3) sow,” to decide what our true identity is losing support among the Democ- the minimum wage. (7) Turned down as a party is what we stand for, and rats who voted for him. We must do two energy bills. (8) Vetoed bill to limit where we are going. everything we can to bring those vot- air pollution in the ports. (9) Vetoed As I write this, it looks like Howard ers home. We can’t afford an insidious nine bills to cut prescription costs. (10) Dean will lead the DNC. Through his repetition of the “Reagan Democrat” Worst of all, reneged on commitments groundbreaking use of the Internet, he syndrome. We must work to defeat his he made to Teachers & Native rejuvenated the process and changed initiatives this year, thereby weakening American Indians. If any bills reach his forever the way campaigns will be run. him for a knockout punch in 06. desk that endangers any of his donors His message reached and motivated First however, we must elect Kurt it is instant “KAPUT.” millions of young people to get Schmalz as Mayor of Redondo Beach In spite of all I have written so far, I involved. He has energy, talent and and all our other great Democrats to must agree with his positions on em- new ideas. He knows how to make every office in our communities. I bryonic stem cell research and with a defeat a learning experience to grow hope everyone is helping in every way plan to re-draw gerrymandered voting from. We must look at this with great they are able, because as we know, all districts. optimism. Right now we need the politics is local. And then there is his clever “Girlie growth. We need rebirth, refinement, Bobbi Buescher men” remark about Democrats. It may and rededication. If we are going to have escaped much notice, but Herr compete and win in the future, we (Candidates, continued from page 3) Arnold and wife Maria were on a cover must build on the success we have had City Council: District 1: Steve Aspel, of Vanity Fair magazine recently. in energizing new and young voters, Gary Snelson. District 2: Bill Brand Coming from a Fashion industry, I and keep them engaged and motivated. District 4: Lee Fink * think his hair is much too orange to be We must start now to organize for City Attorney: Stevan Colin,* Tory his own, and I’d like to remind folks the big fight that is coming in Novem- Erickson, Dave Wiggins that he was a steroid user before ber. Ah-nold and his big donors across School Board: Genie Davis, Drew Dubya thought it wrong for steroids to the country want to change the future Gamet ,* Jeffrey Hazelton, Todd be used by professional athletes. of California to be in line with the radi- Loewenstein(*pending), Dale Petrulis * Monroe Weinstock cal agenda in Washington. But, recent