California Government Reform
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Group Notices
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The California Government Reform team is interested in identifying, understanding, and explaining proposed solutions to the problems facing our 'broken' government. |
Lakoff Initiative Training
George Lakoff is trying to qualify a constitutional amendment for the November ballot called the California Democracy Act. This would change the requirements for passing a budget and for raising taxes. Specifically these are currently 2/3 and the initiative would change both to 1/2.
The campaign is having a training for speakers on March 7 at Katherine Forest's house, 150 Erica Way, Portola Valley. Katherine's email is kaforrest@earthlink .net and you can contact her for further information. She has requested that you notify her if you're coming.
Report from the Assembly District 21 Candidate's Forum
On February 24, I attended a forum in Redwood City for the Democratic candidates for the 21st Assembly District. This position is currently held by Ira Ruskin, who is leaving due to term limits. The forum was sponsored by several local Democratic clubs: the Redwood City Woodside Democratic Club, the Menlo-Atherton Democrats, the Peninsula Democratic Coalition, San Mateo County Democracy for America, Peninsula Young Democrats, and the Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley.
All three candidates participated:
- Yoriko Kishimoto, currently a member of the Palo Alto city council
- Rich Gordon, currently a member of the San Mateo board of supervisors
- Josh Becker, currently a partner in a venture capital firm
Here's a brief summary of their opening statements:
- Kishimoto discussed her community organizing experience and experience in Palo Alto government.
- Gordon emphasized the importance of California government reform. As this is a subject close to my heart, he immediately made a successful impression on me.
- Josh Becker emphasized his business experience and his family.
The moderator's questions didn't elicit much difference of opinion. Several questions were about development and transportation. All the participants said they favored "transit oriented development". Gordon was more sympathetic to high density building than the other candidates. In the audience Q&A, I asked them to elaborate on that, specifically whether they would favor high density apartments (specifically a twenty story building) near train stations. The backed away from that idea faster than Olympic skaters going backwards.
Another question concerned the "top two" primary. Kisimoto and Gordon are for it. Becker is against it. I personally am sympathetic to the goal of reforming primary voting, but I think a better reform would be eliminating primaries entirely in favor of instant runoff voting.
I came to the forum not knowing much about any of the candidates and left leaning toward Gordon partially for his policy positions and partially because he seemed to answer questions more directly and was more polished than the other two candidates.
For more details, you can read the Daily News summary of the event here. The primary is June 8.
-- Jerry Schwarz
Repair California Suspends Effort
By now you may have heard the sad news that Repair California has "put its effort on hold". As some of you know I have personally been busy supporting the effort in every way I could and I found this news devastating. It appears that they determined they just didn't have enough money to continue and didn't have any realistic prospects of raising it.
There are still lots of reform efforts underway and we need to consider how to proceed, so Wednesday's meeting at my house is still on. I've updated the meeting announcement to reflect the news.
Immediate help needed to secure the 2/3 majority in CA Senate
Hi, Sorry for the resend but I made a huge mistake. John Laird is running against Sam Blakeslee not Anne Caballero.
John Laird very much supports Anne Caballero.
SVAN,
We have our work cut out for us to secure our fillibuster proof majoritys here in CA and in Washington. Please read the note below and join in the campaign for John Laird. This is a critical seat not only to protect the 2/3 vote but to prevent Sam Blakeslee, who is a big supporter of off shore oil drilling from getting his foot in the senate.
Please help as much as you can.
Remember, NO REGRETS
Pam
Hello all,
I am hoping you can forward the message below to your membership.
John Laird is running a difficult race for State Senate. On August 17th, Californians in the 15th Senate District will be making an important decision that can affect the California for years to come.
If John is elected we are just one seat away from the 2/3 majority and when Anna Caballero wins in November we will have the 2/3 majority. John is up against Big Oil money and we need to continue the grassroots effort to win this election in August. Santa Clara County is the battleground for the campaign.
We need to help John in the next few weeks to make sure that he pulls ahead in Santa Clara to make sure he is victorious on August 17th.
There are several ways that you can help.
1. Phone Banking Monday -Thursday 530 pm to 830 pm (Food Provided)
South Bay Labor Council
2102 Almaden Road, San Jose
2. Walking Saturday and Sunday 1000 to 300 pm
South Bay Labor Council
2102 Almaden Road, San Jose
3. Sign up to Virtually Phone Banking - http://tinyurl.com/lairdDFA
4. Contribute! We are up against Big Oil Money.
http://www.actblue.com/page/scchq
5. Attend one of our 4 events this weekend.
1. Get out the Vote for Mail Ballots - Saturday 10 am to 3 pm - Walking Precincts (1:30 BBQ with John Laird)
2. Garden Party for John Laird in San Mateo - 11 am http://tinyurl.com/SMGardenParty
3. Meet and Greet Fundraiser in Los Gatos - 2 pm http://tinyurl.com/LGMeet-Greet
4. South County for Laird in Morgan Hill - 5:30 pm http://tinyurl.com/SCFundraiser
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about any of these events and thank you for all your dedication and help to John Laird's campaign and to the democratic party.
Best,
Noelani Sallings
Phone Banking for Prop. 15, the California Fair Elections Campaign
Monday evening phonebanking for Prop. 15, California Fair Elections Act
Unitarian Universalis Church of Palo Alto
Bring your cell phones- instructions for calling will be provided.
RSVP:www2mysignup.com/prop15paphonebkg
Phone banking is fun, especially in a group.
This is a very important proposition to remove the corrupting influence of big money in elections.
Attached it the SVAN endorsement of Prop 15.
Group Discussions
| Topic | Author | Replies |
Last Post |
Last Post Author | |
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High Speed Rail Authority public meeting | Watergroove | 08/23/2010 - 7:56pm | Watergroove | |
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Immediate help needed to secure the 2/3 majority in CA Senate | psalvatierra | 07/22/2010 - 12:46pm | psalvatierra | |
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Stalled out Committees | Watergroove | 06/30/2010 - 9:10am | Watergroove | |
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New World Order | Watergroove | 2 | 06/29/2010 - 9:03pm | Watergroove |
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Propositions | Watergroove | 06/09/2010 - 5:55am | Watergroove | |
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The Ultimate Tweet | Watergroove | 05/22/2010 - 8:12am | Watergroove | |
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Wiki Ebook started | Watergroove | 04/12/2010 - 1:27pm | Watergroove | |
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Report from the Assembly District 21 Candidate's Forum | jschwarz | 1 | 04/12/2010 - 12:18am | Matt John |
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04.11.10 thoughts | Watergroove | 04/11/2010 - 8:30pm | Watergroove | |
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Reminder: Please come and join us this evening about "Curbing your energy appetite" and Energy Basics. We'd love to see you. | cynthiatham | 03/18/2010 - 8:41am | cynthiatham | |
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Proposed Changes | jschwarz | 03/04/2010 - 3:53pm | jschwarz | |
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Clean Money working group meeting *tomorrow* Feb 16 | dcarnese | 02/15/2010 - 1:25pm | dcarnese | |
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Help finish the fight for health reform | psalvatierra | 02/08/2010 - 3:10pm | psalvatierra | |
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Position on Constitutional Convention | jschwarz | 3 | 12/06/2009 - 6:53pm | ritalgiles |
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Paul Currier Blog Entry | jschwarz | 2 | 11/23/2009 - 7:18pm | jschwarz |
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History of the California Initiative Process | jschwarz | 11/22/2009 - 11:02pm | jschwarz | |
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The initiative process in California, and other states | jbearden | 11/21/2009 - 6:25pm | jbearden | |
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EDUCATION AND THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION | ritalgiles | 11/19/2009 - 5:40pm | ritalgiles | |
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CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: HISTORICAL CONTEXT | ritalgiles | 11/19/2009 - 5:29pm | ritalgiles | |
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California Forward Propositions | jschwarz | 1 | 11/13/2009 - 8:00pm | Paul Currier |
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Summary of Propositions Finished | jschwarz | 1 | 11/11/2009 - 2:06pm | jschwarz |
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Powerpoint Slides | jschwarz | 10/24/2009 - 5:58pm | jschwarz | |
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Repair California Schedule | jschwarz | 10/23/2009 - 7:05pm | jschwarz | |
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Getting to Reform Meeting | jschwarz | 10/16/2009 - 2:35pm | jschwarz | |
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State tax burden on rich vs. poor | Nancy Neff | 2 | 10/15/2009 - 8:51pm | Nancy Neff |
Group Wiki Pages
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Last comment time |
Title | Last comment author |
|---|---|---|
| 06/07/2010 - 9:40am | Tweets did it's job | Watergroove |
| 04/12/2010 - 8:50am | How to affect change in government | Watergroove |
| 11/13/2009 - 5:05pm | California Forward Local Government Funding Proposition | jschwarz |
| 11/13/2009 - 4:13pm | California Forward Budget Proposition | jschwarz |
| 10/30/2009 - 1:49pm | Repair California Propositions | jschwarz |
| 09/22/2009 - 6:40pm | Repair California | jschwarz |
