SEE PAGE 10-11 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 Volume XXXVIII, No. 2 20 Pages www.connections.news Published by the Peace & Justice Network Priceless & Free Primary Election - March 3 LOCAL RACES ARE HAPPENING, TOO ERIC PARFREY must file on a regular basis with the State of California RESERVE YOUR BOOTH SPACE TODAY! While most people who care anything about politics (see http://powersearch.sos.ca.gov/advanced.php). Nota- are currently necessarily obsessed with the Trump im- bly, by reading the most recent campaign contribution peachment trial and the Democratic presidential prima- forms we can identify which special interests are sup- ry, there are at least two local races here in San Joaquin porting which candidates, which can give us guidance on County (and Modesto) that are competitive and are worth how to vote. learning about. These include the contest between three Democrats to succeed Assemblywoman Susan Eggman in District 13, and the race between Eggman and others CA State Senate District 5 to fill the Senate District 5 seat. Eggman vs. Grewal Unfortunately, this will be the first primary since local political reporting by the San Joaquin Record has evapo- The highest profile and most expensive legislative rated after the newspaper was taken over by hedge fund race in the Stockton and Modesto area is the slugfest stocktonearthday.com managers who have fired most of the staff (see my recent for the State senate seat being vacated by Kathleen Gal- Stockton 2O2O three-part series on “What is Left after Newspapers Dis- giani, who is termed out. There are two Democrats and appear?” posted on my Facebook page). Thus, for many three Republicans running. The candidates include Susan EARTH DAYFestival voters there will be next to no local coverage of these Eggman (who has served four terms as the Stockton As- VICTORY PARK10-4PM VOTE and other local primary races. Residents will be forced to semblywoman); Modesto City Councilman Mani Grewal Earth make decisions about who to vote for based almost sole- (D); Stockton City Councilman Jesús Andrade (R); Jim SUNDAYAPRIL26 ly on campaign flyers they receive in the mail, campaign Ridenour, ex-mayor of Modesto (R); and Kathleen Garcia endorsements and contributions, candidate websites, or (R), a Stockton school board trustee who was a registered CLIMATEACTIONNOW one-sided opinions they read online. Democrat until a few months ago. COMMEMORATING 50 YEARS 1970-2020 One valuable piece of unbiased information is the Senate District 5 consists of portions of Sacramento, SINCE 1ST EARTH DAY INTERNATIONAL campaign contribution forms that each of the candidates Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties – with San Joa- quin making up over 72% of the total number of voters. However, a large chunk of voters, over 100,000, reside in Modesto. The current registration shows an almost 10% Annual Meeting and Potluck Democratic registration advantage. Hillary Clinton won this district in 2016 by almost 35,000 votes. Peace & Justice Network The front runner has to be considered Eggman. She is well funded and has been endorsed by the Democratic PAID Coming together, moving forward Postage Postage Stockton, CA Stockton, Party, Gov. Newsom, numerous labor organizations, the Permit No. 488 Permit Nonprofit Org. U.S. Org. Nonprofit Sierra Club, and many local officials. She has been a very Sunday, February 23, 4-7pm strong leader on Delta issues, fighting to kill the Delta Tunnel(s). 231 Bedford Rd., Stockton She has high name recognition in Stockton and San Joaquin County and has been a very successful fundrais- It’s a potluck! er. The most recent campaign disclosure forms indicate Bring something to share she has raised $740,000. Large contributors include the Meet with old friends and new Democratic Party and other legislators; labor organiza- tions (California Teachers Association, AFSCME, nurses); Eco-friendly health political action committees; progressive, gay and Please bring your own plate and fork. women’s activist groups (including Courage California); and a few private developer interests (Califia, developer of the huge River Islands project in Lathrop). • 4 – 4:30 Eggman’s main competitor is Modesto councilman Introductions & Year Review Manmeet (Mani) Grewal (D), who claims to be a “different • 4:30 Democrat.” Grewal is apparently hoping to attract major Dinner! Republican support to counter what may be strong Dem- • 5 – 6:30 ocratic support for Eggman. If elected, Grewal would be Speaker and Discussion the first Sikh American elected to the Legislature. Grewal is a dentist and he owns seven dental offices throughout Working together as a community San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, as well as several to build our local, state and hotels and gas stations. global community. Even though Grewal is little known outside Modesto, • 6:30 – 7 he has raised a huge amount of cash over the last three Election of officers years (approximately $963,000), although almost one For more information call: 209-559-6279 LOCAL RACES CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 SAVE THE DATES CONTENTS Roe v Wade now ........................p. 9 FEB 23, 2020 PJN Annual meeting War profiteering must end .....p. 4 Women’s March ........................p.10 MAR 3, 2020 Calif. Primary Election APR 26, 2020 Earth Day Festival Single payer will save $$ .........p. 5 Extinction is forever ..................p. 12 NOV 3, 2020 Election Day Stopping war in Iran .................p. 6 Media vias shows .......................p. 16 2 CONNECTIONS, FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 CONNECTIONS Editor: Bruce Giudici, 786-3109; EDITOR'S [email protected] Layout Team: Ava Simpson, LETTER Mayra Meza, Philip Van Phan Changing the road we are on Proofreader: Debbie Cousyn Ad Rep: Ava Simpson BRUCE GIUDICI environment, for health friends and family. The for anything. We cannot let that voters multi-source [email protected] We are at the cross- their news to determine care, for our general fiscal information you find in that happen. 916-320-2672 roads. With the Trump accuracy. If many sources health - the off ramp to these pages is factual; our The way forward is Distribution Coordinator: acquittal, the beast is loose are reporting the same the sustainable road will motive is stated in our for an informed citizenry Scott Sorgent, for the next 9 months—a basic information, that be more jarring than it mission statement—to to vote and agitate for [email protected] very long period sufficient becomes a starting might have been if we had support peace and justice change. Distribution Site: Peace & to fix an election in any point. It is also vital to changed lanes 40 years in their many forms. If the March 3 is election Justice Center, 231 Bedford number of ways. Tried understand the motivation ago. But here we are - in many doesn’t stand for day—celebrate it and vote! Rd, Stockton and true methods of of the messenger—is an increasingly warming something, they will fall Distributors: Suzy Arnett, Vic voter suppression and there a profit motive that planet, in a country where Bernsdorf, Richard Blackston, the spreading of lies may skew the editorial we squander billions of Antoinette Celle, Lee Christensen, Christie Kelley, Catherine Mathis, using obscene amounts dollars on “health care” selection process (for John Minnehan, Heather Ryan, of money will continue while all corporate media and “defense,” borrowing Jeff Ryan, Richard Slezak, Julie unabated—much of it will say there is a division trillions to lower taxes Vaughn, Patrick Wall, Juanda made legal in the past 10 between the business on the top 1%. This Jones years. Cyber hacking and and editorial sides of unsustainable track cannot Deadline: 7th of every other the selective release of media, when swimming persist—it is just a matter month partial truths in the new in the for-profit pool, it is of when we decide the Circulation: 6,000 tradition of 2016 have not impossible for the media change needs to happen. been curtailed—so we fish to survive outside their For those of us who care CONNECTIONS is a can expect an expansion, life-sustaining corporate for peace and justice, the monthly publication of the Peace especially when the water)? We thus mourn time is now. & Justice Network of San Joaquin current administration was the loss of newspapers For our part, we ask County. The views expressed in given a clean bill of health nationwide to the profit- you to please circulate Connections are those of the for its 2016 Russian “non- demanding market, either Connections to as many authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Network. News, collusion” verdict and the as you can—and discuss by scaling themselves back articles, letters and calendar Ukrainian “exoneration” just to becoming mere ghosts current events with your items should be sent to the Peace delivered. The one weapon of their former selves (the & Justice Network, P.O. Box 4123, we have in defense of this local Record for one) or Stockton, CA 95204. The editor onslaught is what we have by simply disappearing reserves the right of final decision had throughout: real facts altogether. A not-for- on copy. Call (209) 467-4455 for more information. PJN is on the wielded by an informed profit model sustaining internet: http://www.pjnsjc.org electorate. And the only local news (similar to the hope we have is that the Corporation for Public electorate is motivated by Broadcasting that sustains the diabolical direction PBS and NPR) would be in which current trends one way to keep real local are leading—and demand factual reporting available: changing the road we are this is an option that will on. never happen under the So how can we ensure current administration. an electorate informed There will need to be a by real facts? In a world change.