Karen Bass Who Can I Write To?” and My Friend Said “ADEMS

December 2020 Culver City Democratic Club

Activewww.CulverCityDemocraticClub.com Democat Email: [email protected] • Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/culvercitydems

General Meeting on Zoom — 7p.m. Wednesday, December 9, 2020 ______Program: ADEM elections will be in January

President’s Message by Pete Rockwel Joe Biden is President-Elect... Will Georgia turn BLUE? The most important thing Democrats will be a special election next year to re- ferson Park, Leimert Park, Mar Vista, can do right now is help Jon Ossof and place her in the State Senate. Palms, South Robertson, West Adams, the Reverend Raphael Warnock win Two members of the Culver City Dem- and West Los Angeles. the two U.S. Senate runof elections in ocratic Club have announced that they Georgia. They’re scheduled for Janu- will run for Holly’s Senate seat: Califor- ary 5. There are several links in the box nia State Assemblymember Sydney Ka- There’s an ongoing project to re-engi- below that will help you donate money mlager, and Culver City Councilmember neer the Ballona Wetlands, transforming and volunteer your time. Volunteers are Daniel Lee. it from a traditional seasonal freshwater needed to call and text Georgia voters wetlands into a full tidal estuary. and send hand-writen postcards. The 30th State Senate district includes Activists claim that by mechanically re- the communities of Culver City, Ladera Heights, View Park, Westmont, part of structuring Ballona, the plan will destroy Now that Holly Mitchell has won her Inglewood, Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw, existing habitat, wildlife, soil, and sub- election as LA County Supervisor, there Downtown, Florence, Hyde Park, Jef- soil systems. It will contaminate ground- water and underlying drinking water aquifers with increasingly acidifed salt- water, micro-plastic infusion, toxic ur- Control of the U.S. Senate will be ban runof and sediment. Also, there’s a natural gas storage facility under Ballona decided January 5 in Georgia that leaks in a number of places. Two Georgia Senate seats are possible for the Democrats in January! To fnd out more about Ballona, the proj- Two Georgia Democrats for U.S. Senate: ect, and the environmental objections to it, go to the website for Grassroots Coa- Jon Ossof and Rev. Raphael Warnock lition: htps://saveballona.org. Both Georgia Senate seats are headed for a runof election at the begin- ning of January. Joining with our Westside Dem HQ, we’ll be in the middle Democrats running for Assembly of it with opportunities for you to volunteer and donate to Flip the Senate District Delegate AD54 are Blue!! Help Get Out The Vote! invited to speak at the Culver City Democratic Club’s December 9, https://www.mobilize.us/crooked/?state=GA 2020 meeting at 7 p.m. Donate to the Jon Ossof and Raphael Warnock Senate campaigns: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/getmitch Please RSVP by December 8 to: To send postcards to Georgia voters, contact: [email protected] [email protected] Culver City Democratic Club — Active Democrat December 2020 — Page 2 A threat to democracy inside our Democratic Party by Rick Tutle The Code of Conduct begins by stating it be justifable to terminate a person’s Recently the Los Angeles County Dem- “The Los Angeles County Democrat- membership because the person had not ocratic Party took a drastic step by add- ic Party …is commited to providing a sounded “friendly” or “respectful”? ing a dangerous provision to its bylaws. welcoming, respectful, friendly, safe, This change opens the door for elected supportive and harassment-free environ- I enjoy civility and politeness. But I fear Los Angeles Democratic County Party ment for members, employees, and all the harm these bylaws and code of con- members to have their membership in others associated with LACDP.” duct could do to the internal democracy LACDP terminated because of what is of our party. Good manners, respectful and friendly termed “incivility.” manners, have their place, but politics is There are many measures available to the This provision in the revised bylaws must not a prom date, nor a country club co- leadership of our party and the majority be overturned for three reasons. First, tillion. In fact, the history of our party is of its members should they feel the need it could lead to ferce batles regarding replete with important and sometimes to deal with members whom they view to termination of membership that would contentious divisions leading to pas- be guilty of incivility. distract us all from the main business of sionate debate over major issues, such I plan to take my concerns and sugges- the Party. Second, it’s wrong to remove as slavery, civil rights, civil liberties, and tions to the LACDP Rules and Bylaws members who, afer all, have been elect- foreign policy. Voices were raised. Lead- commitee that is co-chaired by two of ed by the voters. Third and most import- ers were called to account and sometimes our Party’s most distinguished members. ant, it could well have a chilling efect on their veracity questioned. I am confdent that my concerns will re- party debate and discussion. In the relatively near future, we can ex- ceive a fair hearing. Furthermore, the LACDP leadership ex- pect ferce debates regarding issues such Please contact me if you would like to pects “its Chartered Clubs and Organiza- as health care, foreign policy, law en- discuss this mater. I can be reached at tions to establish and enforce parallel be- forcement, the environment, education, [email protected]. havioral standards,” as stated in its recently and racial justice, to name a few. During enacted Code of Conduct. It is conceivable these passionate debates yes, some peo- Rick Tutle that within a relatively short time such a ples’ feelings could be hurt. This could Member, Culver City Democratic Club code would be required of the Culver City lead to accusations of a person having vi- Alternate Member of the Los Angeles Democratic Club to be chartered. olated the incivility standard. But would County Democratic Party 54th A.D.

You have to be a current Club member Di’s Corner: to vote on Club oficers in January by Diane Rosenberg Update on Club member Charlote How to Join the Culver City Democratic Club online Gunter: Charlote is still healing. She 1. Go to the Club’s website: www.CulverCityDemocraticClub.com is starting to get a litle strength in her 2. Click on the Join / Renew button: right arm and continues to have a pos- itive atitude. Now about myself. My plan was to get surgery on my lef kneecap on Tues- 3. This will take you to the Actblue website day, December 1, but the operation has been postponed until a later date. I will be going into Hollywood Presby- terian Hospital. I have to be at the hospital for pre-op, then I have to be back at the hospital for a Covid test. I don’t have the new date for the surgery yet. The Club is saddened by the passing of Club member and former President of the Club Bill Wynn. Our condolences go out to his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him. 4. Join the Culver City Democratic Club for a $30 Donation! For more information on becoming a member of the Culver City Democratic Club, call Diane Rosenberg at (310) 398-5328 Culver City Democratic Club — Active Democrat December 2020 — Page 3 What is Congratulations to our 2020 Roosevelt Award Honorees ADEMS and On November 15, 2020 the Los Angeles County Democratic Party honored outstanding Democrats why should from Assembly Districts all over the County. you care? Our Club proudly announces that four of our members were honored: by Cynthia Hart A couple of years ago the California Democratic Party did something (I don’t remember what) that just frosted my cornfakes. I was outraged! So I called a wise friend and sputered “This is ter- AD 54 Democrat of the Year rible! This is wrong! Who can fx this? Karen Bass Who can I write to?” And my friend said “ADEMS. If you don’t like what the Party is doing, you need to get more involved in the Party. ADEMS.”

“Huh?” I said. ADEMS, I learned, stands for “Assembly District Election Meetings.”

Until recently, few Democrats knew of AD 54 Democrat of the Year them and fewer participated. But now, the ADEMS have become one crucial Andrew Lachman batlefeld in the larger struggle for the soul of our Party. It maters who wins.

As Eric Sunderland, Region 3 Director of the California Democratic Party, told the Capitol Weekly last time around, “The delegates in the state determine who are the endorsed Democrats, what the party platform is, what the rules are, what resolutions are supported.” Of those delegates, one-third are elected AD 49 Democrat of the Year at Assembly District Election Meetings Melissa Michelson from among grassroots Democrats like you and me in an internal party election. This year, of course, it will be vote by mail. If you are a registered Democrat, you have the opportunity to elect the 7 self-identifed females and 7 other people to represent your Assembly District. But frst you have to register to get a Par- ty vote-by-mail ballot (link). Pat Eastman Volunteer of the Year Jane Wishon You have to be a current Club member to vote on Thank you, Karen, Andrew, Melissa, and Club oficers in January. Jane for all that you have done to get See page 2 for Democrats elected! how to join online Culver City Democratic Club — Active Democrat December 2020 — Page 4 Register to vote for your representatives to the ANNOUNCEMENTS California Democratic Our Club Website is www.culvercitydemocraticclub.com Follow us on Twitter @CulvCityDemClub Party convention and Instagram CulverCityDemClub Instead of the controlled chaos of pri- or year’s ADEM elections, we will vote December 9, 2020 safer at home by mail this time. But frst CCDC General Meeting via Zoom you have to register no later than January Report of Nominating Committee for the 2021 slate of Club oficers 11, 2021 in order to get a ballot. But why Presentation of draft Club budget for 2021 wait? The State Party has made it really (Members with email addresses receive the link automatically easy to register online! (Although, registration by other means is expected to be Others are welcome to RSVP to [email protected]) announced soon.) 7:00 PM Just go to this link, then enter: December 14, 2020 • Your name (as you registered to vote) Culver City Council members (check your name as registered) Elected and re-elected formally take ofice • Your address (as you registered to vote) Let’s be there (virtually) to cheer on our members! Register to attend HERE • Your date of birth 7 PM • Your email address December 15, 2020 • Your mobile phone number Culver City School Board members You will then be challenged to prove that Elected and re-elected formally take ofice you are not a robot by clicking on all the Let’s be there (virtually) to cheer on our members! boxes that have pictures of trafc lights or some such nonsense. Click on “Regis- CLICK HERE ter to Vote in an Adems Election.” December 15, 2020 What’s next? This is the important part. Last day to apply to run for 2021 ADEM You should receive an email confrming ADEM.cadem.org your registration and giving you a code Deadline 5 PM number. Don’t lose that number! Your ballot is not valid without it. December 15, 2020 Your Scantron ballot will be mailed to BILL OF RIGHTS DAY you and must be returned by January 27, Celebrate the Bill of Rights adopted December 15, 1791 2021. (Mail by Jan. 24 to arrive by Jan. 27.) January 1, 2021 That’s if all goes well. But what if it doesn’t? Say, for example, the name and HAPPY NEW YEAR! address you enter doesn’t exactly match January 11, 2021 your voter registration? Then contact the party at [email protected], and it can all Deadline to register to receive a ballot for ADEMS Election be straightened out. Deadline 5 PM Thank you for participating. Happy New January 13, 2021 Year! CCDC General Meeting via Zoom Elect slate of Club oficers for 2021 Comments expressed Adoption of Club budget for 2021 in the newsletter are the (Members with email addresses receive the link automatically opinions of the authors Others are welcome to RSVP to [email protected]) and do not necessarily 7 PM represent the position of January 27, 2021 the Culver City ADEMS ballots must be received by state party Democratic Club Deadline 5 PM Culver City Democratic Club — Active Democrat December 2020 — Page 5 Why I'm running for California State Senate concerns of communities who see blind available but makes sure that working up zoning as a tool of displacement. Nor class Californians can aford it. have they incorporated the concerns of • Public Safety as Public Health organized labor. I’m running because instead of institut- People can not be healthy if they are not ing substantive change in response to the housed. If our state musters the political unprecedented uprising this summer in courage to enact single payer healthcare reference to white supremacy and police we must also make sure that the benef- brutality we have accepted eloquent ciaries of this care are properly sheltered. phrases on the state level over more sub- This means expanded homelessness stantive policy action. services and stronger protections for • Environmental Racism and the renters. Climate Crisis In the coming months you will hear I’m running because though we hear in- much more from myself and my oppo- spiring words from our state level leaders nents when it comes to policy priorities when it comes to addressing the climate By Daniel Wayne Lee crisis we lack swif and concrete policy Los Angeles County is a microcosm of and plans for the 30th district. I hope you allow me the opportunity to earn your action that can address the deleterious income inequality and the 30th district health efects felt by frontline communi- is the epicenter of this economic dichot- support. I have briefy elaborated a few key policy points below. ties of color and low income communi- omy. In Culver City 45 percent of our ties. The most basic of which would be residents are renters. In Los Angeles establishing an appropriate setback (2500 County that number is 54.58 percent PLATFORM: • Employment and Housing for All feet is recommended) from oil operations and in California that number stands at and not only sensitive receptors but all 45 percent. In California Senate District We cannot address our healthcare crisis without addressing our housing crisis. If regular live and work activities. The larg- 30, 55.9 percent of households are rent er and sorely needed step is to begin the or mortgage burdened. Many of us are people are rent burdened they are more stressed, they have more mental and phase out of oil operations in the State of struggling to survive and the #covid19 California. pandemic has made the situation worse. physical health issues. In short, they are unhealthy. Health begins with housing. • Public Pension Reform/Divest In Sacramento there is a tendency to pat This is not to say that our unhoused from Displacement ourselves on the back and to hold up Cal- brothers, sisters and non-gender identi- I’m running to halt the practice of using ifornia as a bastion of progressivism or fed friends are not able to have robust pension funds that working class workers a liberal utopia. This simply is not true. mental and physical physiques without have paid into to fund their displace- In 2016 California ranked 37th in educa- being housed. But, for long term physical ment. We must stop funding our own tion spending. When it comes to income and mental health being housed should banishment. This summer I began the inequality California ranks #4 out of all be the minimum that we require. Health Divest from Displacement campaign to 50 states. In Los Angeles County alone begins with housing. work towards divesting funds like CA- nearly 900 people have been killed by PERS, CALSTRS, LACERA and others I’m running because as a renter I am police since the year 2000. We are a state from investing in corporate landlords disappointed with the lip service that in need of transformation. like the Blackstone Group who then use our state ofcials have given the plight those funds to gentrify the neighbor- When it comes to equitable healthcare of renters while voting against bills that hoods of pension holders. In Sacramento California has also failed repeatedly. would provide them more protections. I will continue to make sure that the SB562 is the latest iteration of this failure Similarly, we need to build much more hard won money that California workers but it does not stand alone. The Covid-19 housing and instead of suggesting policy pay into their retirement plans does not pandemic has opened hearts and minds innovations that would provide nuance, also work to push them out of the place to the absolute necessity of a single payer prevent displacement and support a just where they live. healthcare system but we still lack the transition our leadership in California political will to make it happen. has instead given us fowery words and • People Centered Economic Our County and Statewide housing crisis lackluster policy initiatives that assume Development continues unabated. The housing policies that any housing will solve the crisis Economic development steeped in being championed at the state level have when the crux of the problem is around community participation from the start is been forward looking when it comes afordability. We need action and we essential for the long term sustainability to physical construction and increasing need to elect representatives that will of our economy. Environmental sus- the number of units available. But, they sponsor bills and propose legislation that tainability is essential for the long term have not incorporated the afordability improves not only the amount of housing functionality of our economy. Culver City Democratic Club — Active Democrat December 2020 — Page 6

Sydney Kamlager announces run for California’s 30th Senate District Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager She plans to prioritize the following: • Fought for legislation to create a (D-Los Angeles) has announced her healthy environment for communities candidacy for California’s 30th District • Criminal justice system reform that across California, such as a ban on Senate seat. moves us closer to equality before the single-use plastics. She was one of only law. eight legislators to receive a 100% score Kamlager seeks to replace Senator from the Sierra Club California in 2020. • Employment strategies that will Holly Mitchell, who represented the reboot our economy and create 30th District before being elected to She was one of only nine lawmakers who opportunities for all communities. the LA County Board of Supervisors on received a perfect score from the ACLU of California and the only legislator to November 3rd. Kamlager previously • Innovative investment in housing and receive a perfect score from Disability served as an elected member of the homelessness initiatives. L.A. County Community College Rights California. District Board and as district director • Climate change action while working Kamlager already has earned early for Mitchell prior to Kamlager’s own towards a Green New Deal and quality endorsements from Congresswoman election to the Assembly in 2018. jobs. Karen Bass (D-California), Los Angeles County Supervisor-Elect “I’m proud to be part of the next • Investments in education and the arts. Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles City generation of leadership fghting for Councilmembers Kevin De Leon and change in California, following in the Among her achievements in her frst full Paul Koretz, California State Senator footsteps of Holly Mitchell,” Kamlager term in the Assembly, Kamlager: Ben Allen and State Controller Bety said. “If I’m elected to the Senate, I am • Passed the most transformative Yee, among others. ready to step in during these challenging probation reform legislation in the times in the neighborhoods I know, country. The 30th State Senate district includes focused on the three crises we are facing: the communities of Culver City, Ladera recovering from the pandemic while • Led the successful fght to secure Heights, View Park, Westmont, part making sure our frontline workers can Proposition 56 funding for reproductive of Inglewood and the Baldwin Hills, safely serve us, restoring our economy healthcare so that Planned Parenthood Crenshaw, Downtown, Florence, Hyde for EVERYONE and making progress and other providers’ doors could remain Park, Jeferson Park, Leimert Park, on the housing and homelessness crises.” open. Mar Vista, Palms, South Robertson, West Adams, West L.A. and more Kamlager said that her move to • Fought alongside Senator Mitchell neighborhoods of Los Angeles. the Senate means that she will take to protect Californians from important fghts to the upper house discrimination by landlords who refuse Mitchell is the only Black female in the of the State Legislature and continue Section 8 housing vouchers, which State Senate and she is sworn in as L.A. to forge a path toward a more just and leveled the playing feld for renters who County Supervisor the frst week of progressive California. need the most assistance. December.