In this Issue... Page July Meeting Recap 2 I Have a Dream 3 New Laws 4 Social Security Act 5 To Vote is Not Enough 6 Stop Cottonwood Sand Mine 7 Nurses' Mental & Physical Health 8 Biden Steps Aside 9 Officers and Board 10 Events 11 Officers and Board 12
June 7 7 PM MEETING La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Drive (social time begins at 6:30)
The progressive VOICE voice
The Progressive Voice is the monthly newsletter of the La Mesa - Foothills Democratic Club, serving the communities of La Mesa, Mt. Helix, San Carlos, Del Cerro, Allied Gardens, and the SDSU and other East County areas since 1984.
AUGUST 2024
La Mesa City Council Meetings Tuesday, August 13, 6:00PM Tuesday, August 27, 6:00PM Link for live stream available at: cityoflamesa.us/247/City-Council
July 3, 2024 Meeting Minutes Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM by President Tina Rynberg. The Agenda was approved byGene and seconded by Rosamond. The members approved by acclamation. Tina introduced Genevieve Suzuki as a candidate for La Mesa City Council. Per our bylaws we can endorse on an emergency basis a candidate without prior announcement. Tina asked the club members to endorse Genevieve. Genevieve spoke about her qualification to run for La Mesa City Council Resident of La Mesa for 15 years Served on the Community Services Commission Served on the La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation Board Practiced Family Law in La Mesa for 14 years East County Caucus recommendation for endorsement Endorsed by the following: Mayor Dr. Mark Arapostathis City Council members: Patricia Dillard, Colin Parent, Jack Shu. City Treasurer: Matt Strabone City Council Member:Raul Campillo Priorities are ensuring Public safety and addressing Homelessness Humanly Enhancing Community Services. Envisioning our library Gene motioned to endorse and second by Leslie The La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club moved to endorse Genevieve and by acclamation from the members-approval. Both Colin Parent and Jack Shu both spoke about how the city of La Mesa will be in good hands with Lauren Cazares and Genevieve Suzuki. Tina Rynberg introduce Janis Jones: Janis Selby Jones is an educator, artist, and activist who has been cleaning North County beaches and raising awareness about the plastic pollution crisis for over a decade. As co-lead of Surfrider San Diego’s Rise Above Plastics program, she advocates for common-sense single-use plastic reduction policies across San Diego County. During the presentation, Janis will share information regarding single-use plastic reduction policy options for La Mesa and will outline local, state, and federal legislation. She will also share some of the ways that disposable plastics harm the environment and human health, offering simple things we can all do to reduce our impact and protect our health. We can create an unst`oppable wave of change by working together to end plastic pollution. Janis is a retired educator and advocate for the environment. Janis recommended a video called the Story of Plastic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO3SA4YyEYU The Garbage Patches in the ocean around the world are in the North Pacific, North Atlantic, Indian Oceanic, South Pacific and South Atlantic. Debri accumulates because of the rotating currents.Facts:more than 8 million metric tons of plastic debris enters the ocean every year. Plastic pollution impacts all ecosystems and has been found in the most remote places on earth including the Mariana Trench and the Arctic. Approximately 89% of plastic items found on the ocean floor are single-use like plastic bags and bottles. More than 800 species are affected by marine plastics through ingestion, entanglement and damage to habitats. More than a million seabirds and 100,000 mammals are killed by plastic debris annually. Plastic pollution Lifecycle. About 98% of single-use plastic products are made from fossil fuels. Greenhouse gasses and harmful pollutants are emitted throughout the life cycle of plastic. It has been estimated that an average person ingests about 5 grams per week or about the equivalent of a credit card. Studies have found microplastics in fish sold in markets in California as well as in beer, rice, salt, honey, apples and carrots. Also found in the human bloodstream, lungs, liver and kidney tissue sample. Also in breast milk and human placenta. Recycling is only about 10%. 98% of single-use plastic products are produced from new feedstock because making new plastic is cheaper than recycling. Plastic Resin Identification codes 1 or 2 are commonly recycled. Over 130 cities or counties in California enacted ordinance to ban polystyrene form. La Mesa City Council voted to move forward with creating an ad hoc committee to conduct outreach and draft an ordinance. Jack Shu spoke about severals put forward for banning plastic, the one item that did not go forward was banning plastic bottles at public events in La Mesa. An ordinance that Jack hopes will go forward in La Mesa having all food retailers have reusable or compostable flatware as well as tableware. Also styrofoam users switch over to other forms of packaging. Jack encourages La Mesan to get involved in passing some of these ordinances. Also La Mesa will ban all balloons. Janis spoke about California Legislation SB 1053 and AB 2236 will strengthen regulations of plastic bags in grocery shopping and require grocery stores to provide 100 percent recycled paper bags or allow consumers to use reusable bags. SB 54 Requires all packaging to be recycled or compostable by 2032. What can you do? You can take reusable cups to fast foods. It is ok to use you own container for leftovers when dining out. Please contact Janis for more information jjones@sandiego.surfrider.org Tina introduces Gene to speak about Project 2025-Federal Reserve. Paul Winfrey is the author of the Federal Reserve of Project 2025. Congress established the Federal Reserve in 1913 designed to manage the money supply, supervise the banks and serve as a lender of last resort. To provide funding to banks in crisis insteading of having them fail. Also established a National check clearing system and a nationwide electronic telegraph payment service. The Heritage-Project 2025 states that the Federal Reserve does not serve the public. In 1997 congress created a new mandate for the Federal Reserve to stabilize the macroeconomic economy, to maximize employment and stable prices with moderate long-term interest rates. Milton Friedman and Anna Schwarz wrote about if the Federal Reserve has lent money to the banks the crash of 1939 and the depression may have averted. For more information on this go to https://harris.uchicago.edu/files/monetaryhistory_1.pdf Alan Greenspan was appointed to head the Federal Reserve in 1987, soon after he was appointed there was a collapse of the stock market. Alan reduced interest rates and began flooding the banks with loans to finance security firms to stabilize the stock market, saving the US from another depression. More information about Alan Greenspan please go to https://www.federalreservehistory.org/people/alan-greenspan For more information on the Federal Reserve please click on the links below file:///home/chronos/u-ca2bce0000f6b9a1e0bb011634689dc22bfcbffe/MyFiles/Downloads/SAN%20DIEGO%20and%20FRED%205-23-2024%20STUDY.pdf 1. Median percent share of income spent on housing by income quartile in 2021 https://lao.ca.gov/handouts/socservices/2023/Housing-and-Homelessness-Challenges-020623.pdf 2. Household Income Percentiles. 2020 https://statisticalatlas.com/state/California/Household-Income Source: FEBRUARY 27, 2023 -- State of California Legislative Analyst Office — PRESENTED TO: Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review https://lao.ca.gov/handouts/socservices/2023/Housing-and-Homelessness-Challenges-020623.pdf Project 2025 https://www.project2025.org/playbook/ Page 735 The Heritage Foundation's calls for rolling the Fed Back to Balance Sheet and mandate conditions prior to 1970 Eliminate the dual mandate. Abandon the full employment mandate. Congress should limit the Federal Reserve's to the sole objective of stable money , protecting the dollar and restraining inflation. Limit the Federal Reserve’s lender-of-last-resort function. These practices have embedded a risk laden “too big to fail”mentality in America’s financial system Wind down the Federal Reserve's balance sheet from $9 trillion of assets to the 2008 pre-crisis level of $1 trillion. Limit Federal Reserve solely to purchases to US Treasuries, Abandon involvement in mortgage -backed securities, corporate, municipal, agency , and other markets Compel the Fed to specify its target range for inflation and its concrete growth path intentions Focus Fed regulatory activities on maintaining bank capital adequacy. Leave environmental, social, to other governance agencies 7.Prevent the institution of a central bank digital currency (CBDC)with unprecedented surveillance and potential capabilities of transaction control. Appoint a commission to explore the mission of the Federal Reserve alternatives to the Federal Reserve system and nation;s financial regulatory apparatus Tina announced that the August 7, 2024 meeting will be at Harry Griffen Park starting at 6:00 PM with candidates speaking. Eve Possiner spoke about Terri Lawson Remer Campaign Michelle Krug spoke about the DNC in Chicago Meeting adjourned at 8:33 PM To view the entire meeting please go to Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-xXQ-FDxck Rosamond Trujillo-Blevins, Secretary/Assistant Treasurer
July Zoom Meeting Recap by Rosamond Trujillio Blevins
"I Have a Dream" Speech.. August 28, 1963 by Brenda Miller, PHd, RN, CLNC, PHN, PCC
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech was delivered on August 28, 1963, during the "March on Washington" for Jobs and Freedom. It was one of the most iconic speeches in American history. This was an "Urgent Call to Action," stressing that the time for racial equality and justice was "now." He urged Americans to seize the moment and work collectively to bring about the necessary changes. The speech continued to focus on the struggles of African Americans and the need for equality and justice. Some of the key themes and messages of his speech 1. The injustices faced by African Americans, including segregation, discrimination, and economic disparities. Dr. King called for immediate and meaningful changes to laws and societal attitudes to ensure civil and economic rights for all. 2. He invoked the foundational principles of American democracy, namely, that the "American Ideals" referenced in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, which promise "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," should be accessible to everyone, regardless of race. 3. He encouraged peaceful demonstrations and the use of love and understanding to combat hatred and injustice. He committed to nonviolent protest and civil disobedience to achieve social change. 4. Dr. King's speech articulated a powerful vision of a future where "people would be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin." He dreamed of a day when racial prejudices would be eradicated and all individuals would be treated equally. Despite the hardships and struggles, his speech was imbued with hope and optimism, painting a vivid picture of his envisioned future. He believed in the possibility of a brighter future and inspired others to share in this vision of unity and harmony.
New Laws by Marie Waldron
A number of new laws passed by the State Legislature and signed by the Governor have gone into effect this year. New laws that went into effect July 1st: Drug testing kits must now be made available in bars to prevent date-rapes and drink spiking Second Amendment impacts include an 11% tax on all firearms and ammunition sold in California; credit card payment networks will be required to provide a unique identifying code for merchants that sell firearms and ammunition Landlords will no longer be allowed to ask for security deposits greater than a single month’s rent Employers will now be required to implement a workplace violence prevention plan Consumer impacts include a new “Right to Repair” law requiring manufacturers of electronic devices over $50 to make documentation and spare parts or tools available for repair Students may no longer be suspended for “minor misbehavior” but the law will sunset in 2029 for grades 6-12 so that the impact of this change can be evaluated. Laws that went into effect January 1st: A streamlined approval process for housing projects developed by religious or higher education institutions will be implemented Reform of the Mental Health Services Act to better address current needs and provide greater accountability Funding for 11,150 new behavioral health beds along with 26,700 outpatient treatment slots will be provided Human trafficking of minors will now be designated a serious felony, and penalties will be enhanced For better or worse, these are just some of the new laws that went into effect this year. The Legislature is out of session in July, and will reconvene August 5th. Session will end August 31st – more new laws are on the way. Sincerely, Marie Waldron Assemblymember, 75th District Assemblymember Marie Waldron, R- Valley Center, represents the 75th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the cities of Poway, Santee, portions of the City of San Diego, and most of rural eastern and northern San Diego County including Alpine, Bonita, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Jamul, Julian, Lakeside, Pala, Pauma Valley, Pine Valley, Ramona, Scripps Ranch, and Valley Center.
CAPITOL OFFICE State Capitol P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249 P: 916-319-2075 DISTRICT OFFICE 9820 Willow Creek Rd Suite 240 San Diego, CA 92131 P: 858-566-7538
Candidate speeches and picnic
Social Security Act of 1935 by Merrill Perry
When President Franklin Roosevelt signed into Law the Social Security Act on August 14, 1934 America and the world were in the troughs of a devastating and debilitating depression which has become known as “The Great Depression” in our history. Millions of Americans were living a very real “Grapes of Wrath” experience. Millions were jobless, homeless, penniless, hungry, and desperate. Additionally, our country suffered a real ecological devastation known as the “Great Dust Bowl” which destroyed farming land and killed hundreds of people and livestock from “dust lung”. This caused thousands of farming families to become uprooted, deserting their properties, and causing a migration to “anywhere but here”. There was no safety net and no one was untouched by these two life altering calamities. Something had to be done. Action needed to be taken. Roosevelt took action by Executive Order and created the Committee on Economic Security. This committee studied the whole problem of nationwide economic insecurity, making recommendations to the President that were eventually used for legislative consideration by Congress, thus turning into the Social Security Act which had bi-partisan support. The hardships and causes of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl are now history and few people remain that lived through them. Roosevelt became a hero to the millions whose salvation came in the form of the Social Security Act. The Act was transformative for our nation and continues to be so. Programs of the Social Security Act: Title I: Grants to states for old-age assistance Title II: Federal old-age benefits Title III: Grants to states for unemployment compensation administration Title IV: Grants to states for aid to dependent children Title V: Grants to states for maternal and child welfare Title VI: Public health work Title VII: Social Security Board established Title VIII: Taxes with respect to employment Title IX: Tax on employers of eight or more Title X: Grants to states for the blind Title XI: General Provisions *Right to alter, amend, or repeal any provision is reserved to the Congress. Merrill Perry La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club Special Event Coordinator
Imagine an old meeting room filled with women in hats and dresses of 1847, in Seneca Falls, NY. There are 68 women and 32 men. The organizer, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, brings the meeting to order, then off they go. It’s the first Women’s Convention in US history and they produce the Declaration of Sentiments that gave the suffrage movement its platform for action for women all across the nation. Just 2 years later, the First National Women’s Convention was held with 1000 attendees. Year after year the Suffrage Movement grows. Their efforts finally lead to the right to vote in 1920, for the white women. But it takes until 1964, when all women of color earn the right to vote! Now, fast forward into 2025, late 2025. The government takeover is nearly complete: Many Americans rights are being eliminated by the new Republican President, directed by the guide book, Project 2025. In a presidential edict, now standard operating procedure, a nationwide ban on abortion, medicinal abortion, and IVF, is in effect. Contraceptives are banned to encourage the birth of more white children into the Christian family tradition. Instituting abortion and contraception bans limit women’s workforce participation, increasing time off from work, and reducing their earnings over time. To monitor the results of these decrees, states are tracking miscarriages, stillbirths and abortions for criminal activity. “The only valid family is a working father married to a stay-at-home mother and their children,” (Project 2025). https://www.project2025.org/playbook/ Further American and women’s rights continue to be eroded by the Republican President. The Department of Education has been eliminated. Words such as diversity,” “gender,” “equality,” “reproductive health,” and “abortion.” are banned In schools. The scholastic focus is on vocational training and discouraging women from careers: “The emphasis will be on the traditional family role of homemaker.” (Project 2025). Even Affirmative Action is eliminated from educational and workplace Human Resource Decisions. No-fault divorce is no longer available, creating a strong possibility for violence to women to continue in marriages. To enforce these and many other new Presidential mandates, the US military service members, including all women, are being purged from top to bottom and being replaced with white male Republican Presidential loyalists. This new military force now carries out the Republican President’s bidding resulting in arrests of American citizens. Governmental offices whose missions are to protect workers’ rights such as safe working places and overtime pay, pregnancy leave, and many others, all of which provide a safety net for women, who are being eliminated. The ultimate goal is to take us back to the 1960’s. But we are here in 2024, and this nightmare in which you and your children could be living, has not yet occurred. So, the time is NOW to act to prevent this dismal loss of rights for everyone, but especially for women. Lift your voices against this potential return to the 1960's and authoritarian rule by Donald Trump. Walk, phonebank, send postcards. To vote is not enough! Suzanne Hansen President, Alliance for Democracy of East County
To Vote is Not Enough by Suzanne Hansen by Katie Sigeti
Please support our efforts working with the environmental legal team of Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP to STOP the Cottonwood Sand Mine. We are a group of concerned community members and other stakeholders who oppose the Cottonwood Golf Club turning into a sand mine in the middle of a beautiful residential community in Rancho San Diego. Our goal is to stop San Diego County from approving this proposed project. On behalf of the Cottonwood Golf Club owner, Cottonwood Cajon Es, LLC, Greg Brown of New West Investment Group, Inc. applied for project permits for the Cottonwood Sand Mining Project through San Diego County Planning and Development Services on November 19, 2018. The project proposes to operate a sand mine and processing plant in the Jamacha Valley of the Sweetwater River for approximately 10 years. The project, if approved, will mine on 214 acres of the 280-acre property and will extract and process over 7 million tons of material during the 10-year period resulting in 5.7 million tons of marketable aggregate. Operations will start as early as 7:00am and large trucks will make at least 176 daily round trips Monday through Friday between 9:00am and 3:30pm - that's 27 heavy trucks coming or going on Willow Glen Drive every hour or at least a heavy truck going by every 2 minutes! Community members need to know about the project and the many problems it will bring to surrounding communities if approved. We must work together to stop it and save our community! https://www.stopcottonwoodsandmine.com/
Stop Cottonwood Sand Mine
Fostering professional identity in nursing involves cultivating a sense of belonging, purpose, and commitment to nursing. The training starts in the School of Nursing curriculum, which integrates courses that emphasize professional values, ethics, and the history of nursing. The clinical experiences provide diverse, hands-on clinical experiences connecting theory with practice. COVID-19 resulted in many detrimental effects, such as moral distress and injury, poor self-care needs, post-traumatic stress disorder, and decreased satisfaction in the profession. The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted the nursing profession, leading some nurses to leave their positions or the profession. The profession now has challenges and changes that continue to shape nursing. Poor self-care and uneasy well-being can be costly for healthcare organizations and have adverse effects on care quality and safety. To retain nurses in the educational and workforce based on national and international perspectives, it is crucial for the Board of Nursing and nursing organizations to implement structures, systems, and evidence-based interventions to promote nurses' health and well-being. Post-COVID-19, the profession should align with the Scope and Standards of Practice and the International Society for Professional Identity in Nursing (ISPIN) recommendations. These recommendations, based on research from Godfrey and Young's definition of professional identity, advocate for a stronger professional identity in nursing. This identity, as defined by ISPIN, is influenced by the characteristics, norms, and values of the nursing discipline, resulting in an individual thinking, acting, and feeling like a nurse. The ISPIN recommended introducing four domains for the educational system, but the workforce also needs to realign their professional commitment and dedication to values and ethics, knowledge, nurse as a leader, and professional comportment. This will help to embody and develop a stronger professional identity, thereby improving the healthcare workplace environment, promoting well-being, impacting the delivery of safe patient care, and enhancing nurse workforce retention.
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NEWSLETTER
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Nurses' Mental and Physical Health Well-Being Post Covid-19 Pandemic by Brenda Miller
Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We've made historic investments in rebuilding our nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We've provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world. America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today. I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We've protected and preserved our democracy. And we've revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world. It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term. For my part: my very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. I am grateful to every member of this team for the work they’ve done and will continue to do to save our democracy. Keep the faith, as always, and spread it.Joe Biden President of the United States to Shane Goldmacher of the New York Times, Vice President Kamala Harris was able to raise $81 million in the first 24 hours after announcing her bid for president,... "a record-breaking showing as Democrats welcomed her candidacy with one of the greatest gushers of cash of all time." The campaign stated that 60 percent of her 888,000 donors were making their first contribution, with 43,000 of those donors signing up for recurring donations. There was no information provided about the share of small-donors as opposed to major donors. Online donations peaked at $11.5 million in a single hour on Sunday evening. The party is quickly coalescing behind Ms. Harris. The funds will help rebuild a war chest that was at risk of growing depleted in the weeks of uncertainty after Mr. Biden’s poor debate, as big donors paused fund-raising. One source of money was a Sunday evening call with a group called Win With Black Women, which the Harris campaign said had netted $1.6 million. Overall, Sunday ranked as the third-largest single day in ActBlue’s history. The all-time high came the day after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in September 2020, when ActBlue processed roughly $73.5 million. The second-highest was the date after the first debate between Mr. Biden and former President Donald J. Trump, which coincided with a key fund-raising deadline. Monday was on pace to be another huge day for donations, with ActBlue zooming past $30 million processed by mid-afternoon. The ActBlue ticker includes all online donations made on the platform, including for House and Senate candidates, as well as left-leaning nonprofit groups. Shane Goldmacher is a national political correspondent, covering the 2024 campaign and the major developments, trends and forces shaping American politics. He can be reached at shane.goldmacher@nytimes.com. The link to this story is https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/22/us/politics/harris-fundraising-biden-actblue.html
Biden Steps Aside... Endorses Harris for President (7/21/24)
Kamala Harris Raises $81 Million on First Day of Campaign
According to Shane Goldmacher of the New York Times, Vice President Kamala Harris was able to raise $81 million in the first 24 hours after announcing her bid for president,... "a record-breaking showing as Democrats welcomed her candidacy with one of the greatest gushers of cash of all time." The campaign stated that 60 percent of her 888,000 donors were making their first contribution, with 43,000 of those donors signing up for recurring donations. There was no information provided about the share of small-donors as opposed to major donors. Online donations peaked at $11.5 million in a single hour on Sunday evening. The party is quickly coalescing behind Ms. Harris. The funds will help rebuild a war chest that was at risk of growing depleted in the weeks of uncertainty after Mr. Biden’s poor debate, as big donors paused fund-raising. One source of money was a Sunday evening call with a group called Win With Black Women, which the Harris campaign said had netted $1.6 million. Overall, Sunday ranked as the third-largest single day in ActBlue’s history. The all-time high came the day after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in September 2020, when ActBlue processed roughly $73.5 million. The second-highest was the date after the first debate between Mr. Biden and former President Donald J. Trump, which coincided with a key fund-raising deadline. Monday was on pace to be another huge day for donations, with ActBlue zooming past $30 million processed by mid-afternoon. The ActBlue ticker includes all online donations made on the platform, including for House and Senate candidates, as well as left-leaning nonprofit groups. Shane Goldmacher is a national political correspondent, covering the 2024 campaign and the major developments, trends and forces shaping American politics. He can be reached at shane.goldmacher@nytimes.com. The link to this story is https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/22/us/politics/harris-fundraising-biden-actblue.html
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The La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club represents the communities of San Carlos, Del Cerro, Santee, La Mesa, Mt. Helix, Allied Gardens, College Area, Casa de Oro, and other nearby communities. Monthly meetings of the La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club typically feature office holders, candidates for office, community leaders and subject matter experts.
Tina Rynberg President
About the Club...
Janet Castanos Trinity Dubrow
OFFICERS President: Tina Rynberg Vice President, Membership: Katie Sigeti Vice President, Political Action: Chris Pearson Vice President, Programming: Brenda Miller Secretary: Rosamond Blevins Treasurer: Gene Mullaly Assistant Treasurer: Rosamond Blevins Special Events Coordinator: Merrill Perry Past President: Linda Armacost
La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club Claude and Beverly Cassirer, Founders