Contra Costa Democratic Party

Friday, June 19th
Jewish Community Center
3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Lafayette

Social Hour: 6:30 p.m.
Forum: 7:00 p.m.

Friends –

On Sunday, Joan will make it official:

She’s running for Congress!

We have a chance to send a real-change maker to Washington. But we need your voice and vision to make this campaign a success. Join us in kicking off Joan’s campaign, and learn more about how together, we’re going to win!

Joan Buchanan for Congress Campaign Kick-Off
Sunday, June 14th, Noon
2085 N. Broadway
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(from 680, take the Ygnacio Valley Road exit)

Come out, hear from Joan, meet the campaign team, and get involved.

After our kick-off party, we’ll hit the phones and doors to spread the word about Joan. Let’s make sure that every voter knows that we need Joan in Congress!

Joan Buchanan for Congress

p.s. Questions? Contact Ali at 925-806-0560 or arodway@gmail.com.

Click here to buy your tickets.

For more information, please download the flyer. BBQ Flyer

Dear Dems,

Please join me in planning and preparing for the April 24-26 CA Dem Party Convention in Sacramento.

WHEN: 7:15 p.m. on the THIRD Monday of each month until the convention (2/16/09, 3/15/09, and 4/20/09). Subcommittees, to be constituted, may meet in between.

WHERE: Uncle Yu Restaurant banquet room, a block from Lafayette BART, at 999 Oak Hill Road, Lafayette (at Mt. Diablo Blvd., approximately adjacent to Blockbuster Video and across the street from Safeway, with ample parking). Uncle Yu is a popular, centrally located Chinese restaurant. The carryout menu has vegetarian meals for $8.50, meat meals for about $10, and specialties of the house for about $12. The manager asked me to come by and look at the banquet menu, which may be more expensive; he would like very much if we could pre-order. RSVP if possible

WHY:
(1) Be more educated about, and prepared for: resolutions, floor sessions, caucuses, receptions, etc. Partial list. There are many other reasons. All Dems are encouraged to enhance this list.
(2) Increase the vote for propositions and candidates we care about, such as electing our own Hilary Crosby as CDP Controller and our own Tom Torlakson as CA Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(3) Make sure there is a quorum at the end of the convention so good resolutions can be voted on - unlike 2 years ago when there were good resolutions at the end and folks who didn?t want them demanded a quorum call; there was no quorum, so, no vote.
(4) Ideally, we will coordinate with other delegations and REALLY make a difference.

I hope to see you soon. Please let me know that you are coming.

Respectfully submitted,
Diddo Clark
(925) 283-2803
mediate@neteze.com

By Carlyn Obringer

 

As the White House contemplates whether to bail out the distressed Detroit-based automotive industry, the Big Three continue to roll out vehicles that defy calls for fuel efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this refusal to face reality, it is likely that at some point in the near future, Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors will receive financial relief from the U.S. government, since millions of  jobs are at stake, including those of Californians. When that time comes, Democrats in Congress should hold automakers firmly to the following three pre-conditions, before any taxpayer money is doled out: 1) stop blocking environmental regulations, 2) establish more competitive business plans, and 3) mandate real commitment to hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and greater fuel efficiency.

 

The first pre-condition would directly impact California, by putting an end to legal attacks against the Golden State’s attempts to mitigate climate change via legislation, including AB 1493, the Pavley bill. It’s time for the Big Three, and those legislators who have protected them for the last 30 years, to abandon the argument that only the federal government has the right to set fuel efficiency standards. California’s noble efforts to set higher standards in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are valid and should be acknowledged as such.

 

Detroit wound up in its current mess by building a strategy around a never-ending supply of cheap oil. On the other hand, its foreign competitors have enjoyed success producing cleaner, high-mileage vehicles. In order for the American taxpayer to receive a good return on investment, any money to help U.S. auto manufacturers out of their current crisis should be tied to the establishment of a business plan to ensure future competitiveness. This second pre-condition includes the immediate adoption of technology and methods that could be implemented right now to improve environmental performance such as: streamlined body designs, more efficient 6 or 7 speed transmissions, and low rolling-resistance tires.

 

By building hybrids and ramping up fuel efficiency, the more forward-looking European and Japanese automakers have done better in the the U.S. marketplace than their American counterparts. Therefore, any loan rescue plan should be tied to the third pre-condition that Detroit explicitly commits to building hybrids, plug-in hybrids, clean diesels and other highly fuel-efficient vehicles. This includes an aggressive increase in fuel efficiency across all product lines, from big trucks to compact cars.

 

With carmakers now begging the White House for a loan rescue, the United States has officially come to the end of the cheap oil road. Carmakers are facing unprecedented pressure to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles—cars that Americans actually want to buy. If looming extinction in a world of insecure and volatile oil markets, and intensifying climate change, won’t drive Detroit off its gas-guzzling course, then Democratic lawmakers must take control of the wheel and hold the Big Three accountable. Those are the brakes!

 

 

Officially, it is called a Victory party, but I’m not taking any chances on jinxing things.

It will start at 4 PM at Pyramid Ale House in Walnut Creek and the party will go well in to the next morning. Be assured that hard-working volunteers who are going up the finish line at 8 PM will have a spot saved for them.

We still need people to call, walk precincts and be poll watchers. Contact the UDC office (info at left). Or, you can make phone calls to swing states via the Barack Obama website- www.BarackObama.com

It’s the cool place to be on that side of the hill.

11760 San Pablo Avenue, Suite A
El Cerrito, CA 94530
510-233-1176

More info here.

1501 A California Ave. in Walnut Creek

This list may grow (and feel free to contact me at brianlawrence@yahoo.com if you are requesting endorsement), but here is the list of currently endorsed candidates by the DPCCC:

Office Candidate Name
Antioch City Council Brian Kalinowski
Antioch City Council Mary Rocha
Antioch Treasurer Bob Kalafate
Contra Costa Community College Jo Ann Cookman
County Supervisor Federal Glover
Director- Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District Chris Peeples
EBMUD Lesa McIntosh
Hercules City Council Ed Balico
Hercules City Council John Delgado
John Swett School Board Norma Clerici
John Swett School Board Jim Delgadillo
Kensington Police Protection District Charles Toombs
Martinez City Council Janet Kennedy
Martinez City Council Mark Ross
MDUSD Gary Eberhart
MDUSD Sherry Whitmarsh
Moraga Town Council Karen Mendonca
Orinda City Council Steven Glazer
Orinda City Council Victoria Smith
Pinole City Council Maria Allegria
Pleasant Hill City Council Karen Mitchoff
Pleasant Hill City Council David Durant
Richmond City Council Harpreet Sandhu
Richmond City Council Nat Bates
Richmond City Council John Marquez
San Pablo City Council Arturo Cruz
San Pablo City Council Cecilia Valdez
School Board, West Contra Costa Unified School District Tony Thurmond
School Board, West Contra Costa Unified School District Antonio Medrano
Walnut Creek City Council Kish Rajan