Public Trust and the Well Ordinance

Join us after our monthly Advocacy meeting on Zoom, February 5^th at 11 AM for a very informative talk by Don McEnhill, Policy Director of the Russian Riverkeepers. In a landmark decision that could change how California manages its water, a Sonoma County court has slammed the brakes on groundwater over-pumping, demanding new measures to protect rivers, fish, and public resources. He will give us an update on the history of this historic ruling and what the County will do going forward. This follows the regular advocacy meeting at 11AM on Zoom. Zoom

At the 2024 LWVUS Convention, Leagues overwhelmingly agreed to conduct a new national study on the Federal Judiciary. The study will be completed in a shortened time frame — conducted in just one year, with the final position set to be announced at LWVUS Council in June 2025. 

I am happy to report that the work on this study has commenced. A Committee has been appointed and will be led by Kimberley Fraser (DC), LWVEF trustee. The Committee also includes Helen Hutchison (CA), Cecile Scoon (FL), Judy Ball (WV), Joan Hunault (MI), Susan Hart (TX), and Nan Shuker (DC). 

We are looking for representatives from Sonoma County to join the Federal Judiciary Study Committee and then share that information with our board.

Scope

To develop a LWV position on the Federal Judiciary as an essential component of US democracy.  

The study's purpose includes, but is not limited to, addressing concerns and clarifying judicial accountability, transparency, independence, and ethics.  

The scope addresses the Supreme Court as well as the other Article III federal courts. 

Please contact Donna Roper at president@lwvsonoma.org if you are interested.

I attended the town hall meeting of the County Board of Supervisors, which took place in Sebastopol on January 10^th. This was the public's chance to give feedback on their concerns and priorities for the board to consider as they update the General Plan. I arrived at 9AM and found that the auditorium was packed. There was a long line of people queuing up to speak their allotted two minutes including several members of our league who spoke as individuals. 

The concerns were varied. Many spoke up about the proposed asphalt plant for the Canyon Rock quarry and the potential dangers of this petrochemical to their community. A surprising number of people representing issues around immigrants spoke. One issue they raised was the lack of data around this hidden, yet very vulnerable community.  Such absence of accurate information hampers their work in offering timely assistance. Some spoke of the need for the Board to pass the draft ordinance on human rights for immigrants. Others spoke of farm worker safety during fire season and the lack of adequate housing for farm workers in a county who relies heavily on their labor. 

All in all, it was a fascinating morning to see this vital democratic process in action. The Board members listened, and the public spoke with civility and at times with passion. 

Stand Up for Democracy with LWV Sonoma County

Our membership was invited to join an exploratory in-person meeting with the purpose of standing up to potential challenges to our democracy in 2025 on Tuesday 1/7/25.  An engaged group of 25 members and guests met at the Sonoma County Downtown Library meeting room to discuss how we, as a league, can take action to defend democracy.  

Topics presented included combating mis-information & dis-information, promoting basic civics education, how to be involved citizens along with topics suggested by the group. 

After a brief, but lively discussion it was decided the best way for us to benefit our county and the future of democracy is to develop a basic civics program as well as offer the public simple and direct ways to join commissions or contact their elected officials. 

How we move these topics forward will be discussed in a follow up meeting on zoom before the end of January.  Stay tuned to the League event calendar on the front page of our website lwvsonoma.org for the date and time of the next meeting.  Or email Lynn Dooley at StandUp@lwvsonoma.org for more details.  Everyone is welcome!  Feel good about doing something!  Join us!!

WHAT IS PROGRAM PLANNING? 

In League, “Program” consists of the body of issues we choose for study, education, and action at local, state, and national levels. Program can include both education and advocacy work. The LWVC Program planning process occurs every two years in advance of our state Convention. It is part of what makes the League a grassroots organization; each League member has the opportunity to influence the selection of issues on which the local, state, and national League will focus time, talent, and money. It takes the enthusiasm and interest of our members to keep our program vital. You would never skip voting in an election; you shouldn’t skip the League’s equivalent. Program planning is your voice! The process starts now with our local League Program planning which will take place on February 24^th at the Finley Center at 11:30. At this meeting, we will brainstorm the areas on which we’d like to focus our local energy, the energy of other local Leagues in California, and the resources of the state League (staff, board, consultants, and other volunteers) over the next two years. Our goal is to propose up to three “Issues for Emphasis” to the state League. These reflect our League’s priorities and may be based on current League work or on new topics we believe the state League should focus on. One or more of our choices could be a new study, an update of an existing LWVC position or concurrence with an existing or proposed position. The LWVC board will review all the responses from Leagues across the state, make their recommendations, and then send local Leagues their Recommended Program for 2025-2027 for review. The program planning process culminates in the delegates’ adoption of the statewide program at our convention.

So bring a dish to share and all of your good ideas on ways to make a difference in Sonoma County. We will also hear from the Stand Up for Democracy group who are planning activities for this spring. For more information Program Planning Event

• Taming the Street: The Old Guard, The New Deal, and FDR’s Fight to Regulate Capitalism, by Diana B. Henriques, 2023, 464 pages.
  Taming the Street tells the dramatic story of Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s battle to regulate Wall Street in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash and the ensuing Great Depression. As inequality in 2024 once again reaches Jazz Age levels, Henriques vividly brings to life a period in American history when the system ultimately worked. It raises an urgent and troubling question: What does capitalism owe to the common good.
  “This compelling, brilliantly told story of the fierce battle to rein in Wall Street excesses in the FDR era couldn’t be more timely.”—James Steele, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and co-author of America: What Went Wrong?
  “Diana Henriques’s gripping narrative of unbridled capitalism in the Jazz Age and its consequences is beyond timely—it’s urgent.”—James Stewart, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist.

• Makers and Takers: How Wall Street Destroyed Main Street,  by Rana Foroohar, 2016, 400 pages.

  Inequality in America has skyrocketed in recent years. A key reason, says Foroohar, is the fact that Wall Street is no longer supporting Main Street businesses that create the jobs for the middle and working class. She shows how “financialization” – the way that finance has come to dominate every corner of American life – is threatening the American Dream. 
            

• America: What Went Wrong?  The Crisis Deepens, by Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele, 2020, 295 pages.

Jan 2025 Board Briefs

League Office:  Lee Lipinski has resigned as VP, Admin. Robyn Bramhall has agreed to serve as VP, Admin., while continuing to co-chair the Youth Committee with Chris Riezenman.  

Treasurer’s report:  We have about $90,000 in reserves. Income and expenses are about what we projected.  

Board Positions:  We may have up to 15 board members per our current by-laws.  We currently have only 9 board members and several vacancies in key positions. If you want to know more about serving on the Board contact President Roper  at President@lwvsonoma.org.  We still need a Nominations Chair and committee members for the replacement of Board members in June at the Annual Meeting.  Contact Donna Roper if you are willing to join this committee.  It is a short term commitment.  

Advocacy:  An issue that has surfaced recently in Advocacy is the timing of when issues are place on the Board of Supervisor’s’ agenda.  There is concern that the public may not be receiving enough advanced notice to be able to fully participate.  Our League has an existing position on transparency for local meeting agenda items.  The Advocacy committee will do some information gathering and review our existing position and then may draft a letter for our Board’s consideration. 

Membership: We currently have 193 members, which is 2 less than last month. About 20 are students.

Gayle Peterson will host an Orientation on Feb. 22^nd  at 10 am at the League Office. 

Our League may hire a part time person to help with tasks like webpage development, membership, communications, events posting, and email blasts. The position will be limited to a few hours per week.

The shift to new members joining through the National League is scheduled to be implemented in February 2025.  The process is still unfolding, but there are some tasks we can do to prepare, including reconciliation of our roster with the National Roster, and getting a distinct, currently active email for each of our members. 

Legislative Interviews:  The Mendocino League has agreed to coordinate and schedule this year’s interviews.

Robyn Bramhall, Chris Riezenman, and Leona Judson agreed to represent our League this year.  

Youth Committee: Robyn Bramhall reported the next meeting of the Youth Committee is Jan 21^st at 4:00 pm on Zoom.  The new time is a trial to see if more students may attend.   

Stand up for Democracy:  Lynn Dooley hosted an exploratory meeting on Tues. Jan 7^th 6:00 pm at the Santa Rosa Central Library to see if there is interest and ideas for how people can be engaged with preserving our democratic system.  

League Monthly Mtgs:  The following meeting are scheduled:

• January 27^th  – “Abolish the Electoral College.”  (in-person & Zoom). The in person event is at the Santa Rosa JC in the Bertolini Student Center, Room 4643. Check our online event calendar for the Zoom link. Robyn Bramhall and Lauren Shanahan, Windsor high school student, will be presenting.
• February 24^th 11:30 am Finley Center -- Program Planning 
• March 24^th (tentative date) -  Southwest Greenway

6^th  Street Playhouse event:  SOLD OUT! No additional seats are available.  Pre-performance party for League members and their guests at 1:00 pm

Tabling and other outreach:  The NAACP is holding their annual Gala on Sat. Jan 25^th

Next Mtg.:  The next Board Meeting is Sat., February 1^st 10:30 am

Submitted by: Deborah Mc Kay, Board Secretary