Summary of Feb. 10 Meeting

We had two outstanding guests appear at our meeting this past Saturday.  State Senator Patty Kuderer is a trial lawyer who has been in the legislature for nine sessions, including the last seven years in the state senate.  She has been a consumer advocate throughout her tenure, championing causes that need addressing.  Patty has been trying to introduce single payer universal healthcare, but she has been told repeatedly that there needs to be a like-minded person in the position of State Insurance Commissioner to make this happen.  As a result, Patty is running to be the Insurance Commissioner.  We were extremely impressed with Patty and will look very closely at endorsing her when the time comes later in the spring.  Patty’s campaign website is www.pattykuderer.com.

Our second guest was Patrick DePoe.  Patrick currently works in an executive position with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the current director, Hilary Franz, has given her sole endorsement to Patrick to replace her as Commissioner of Public Lands.  Patrick has great experience in the field and in meeting rooms in working with natural resource issues, and as a Macah Indian he brings a Native American perspective to his work in addition to his scientific training.  Patrick is very level-headed and not afraid to speak boldly when necessary.  We will also look closely at endorsing him later this spring.  Patrick’s campaign website is https://www.depoeforwashington.com.

As you know, this is a very important election year.  Therefore, we established our endorsements committee for this year with five members from three different islands.  They will be working on getting information on candidates once the candidate filing period closes in May, and they will present their report to the whole group, at which point we will vote on endorsements.  If you would like to be able to vote on our endorsements, you need to be a member, which merely requires that you have attended two meetings within the past year.  The committee will repeat the process after the August primary in preparation for the general election in November.

We look at making endorsements as one of our main reasons for existing as a county political party.  It is our charge to research candidates and initiatives so that we can provide you with recommendations, which we do through our election postcard.  As I have mentioned before, costs keep going up, and it now runs us over $4,000 to print and mail postcards to the voters in the county.  In addition, we need to have a booth at the fair this year to get the word out about the importance of voting Democratic to try to preserve our democracy against the authoritarian threats being leveled at it.  Therefore, I am once again asking for financial support from anyone who can afford it.  We now have about ten members who contribute small monthly amounts, and every once in a while we receive a larger contribution from a very few donors.  If you are able to make a significant contribution to support our efforts this year (no more than $500 due to our reporting status), we would welcome a check made out to the San Juan County Democrats and mailed to PO Box 1007, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.  If you would be able to start a small monthly contribution through Act Blue, go to  secure.actblue.com/donate/sjcountydems.  Many thanks to those of you who have recently contributed.  Unfortunately, democracy isn’t necessarily free.

As you may remember, we have endorsed Bob Ferguson for governor.  His campaign is seeking individual endorsements in addition to organizational endorsements.  Geri and I have endorsed him, and any of you who would like to do the same are welcome to do so at https://secure.ngpvan.com/-WrB_3hyxUehIbVDJ_4oAA2.

Next meeting will be March 9. Guest will be Nick Brown, candidate for state attorney general and endorsed by Governor Inslee.

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Sharon Abreu is sharing the following:

The JFK Peace Speech Committee

and The Community Church of Boston
invite you to attend

A Film Showing, Discussion and Q&A
IF YOU LOVE THIS PLANET
. . . Listen to President John Kennedy

via ZOOM*

with Dr. Helen Caldicott

moderated by Martin Sheen

MONDAY
(President’s Day)
Feb. 19, 2024  •  4:00 – 5:30 pm PT

*REGISTER HERE:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlc-qrqTMoHtWKsHBFPpvEEpaTayxERpFE?fbclid=IwAR0hB4adkHrVODK426uVhbHqQjW5KetNikqjDraaIe9lOgDUxA3HqHlpQOA#/registration

The first hour of our Program, moderated by acclaimed actor Martin Sheen, will feature an award-winning film in which Dr. Caldicott discusses the danger of nuclear weapons. We will view the screening of President Kennedy’s American University address followed by remarks from Dr. Caldicott on the relevance JFK’s speech has for us today. During the final half hour of our program, Dr. Caldicott will take questions from the audience.

Dr. Caldicott is an Australian pediatrician and a founder of Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament (WAND). She has appeared in numerous documentaries and has authored several  books including Nuclear Madness: What You Can Do and Sleepwalking to Armageddon. In 1992, she received the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston for her leadership in the worldwide disarmament movement. 

Ramon Antonio Gerardo Estevez, known professionally as Martin Sheen, is an American actor whose career spans six decades. Sheen portrayed President Kennedy in a 1983 American-British five-hour miniseries. Over the years Sheen has been active in countless nonviolent acts of civil disobedience and has been arrested more than 60 times standing up for peace and justice.

Join us for a rare and memorable live event with two outstanding peace activists. Please REGISTER today!

_______________________
CONTACT: Martin Schotz

Coordinator, JFK Peace Speech Committee
eli.schotz@gmail.com

Folks, please note that the time given in the graphic is East Coast time. The event will take place at 4 pm Pacific time.

Summary of County Democrats Meeting of January 13, 2024

We had two important items that we dealt with at this meeting.

1. First, we passed a resolution in support of the Green Amendment to the Washington state constitution that would enable greater protection of our environment. Here is the current text of the amendment:

 BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:

THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a new section to read as follows:

Article I, section . . .. (1) The people of the state, including future generations, have the right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, healthy ecosystems, and a stable climate, and to the preservation of the natural, cultural, scenic, and healthful qualities of the environment.

(2) The state, including each political subdivision of the state, shall serve as trustee of the natural resources of the state, among them its waters, air, flora, fauna, soils, and climate. The state, including each political subdivision of the state, shall conserve, protect, and maintain these resources for the benefit of all the people, including generations yet to come.

(3) The rights stated in this section are inherent, inalienable, and indefeasible, are among those rights reserved to all the people, and are on par with other protected inalienable rights. The state, including each political subdivision of the state, shall equitably protect these rights for all people regardless of their race, ethnicity, geography, or wealth, and shall act with prudence, loyalty, impartiality, and equitable treatment of all beneficiaries in fulfilling its trustee obligations. The provisions of this section are self-executing.

2. Our second item was to approve a new document that tells what the San Juan County Democrats believe. It is much shorter than our platform and can be used to tell anyone who asks, what do the Democrats stand for? It is based on Democrats 101, a book that is creating a movement of local party organizations around the country, and we are the first group of Democrats in Washington state to adopt such a statement. Here it is:

THE DEMOCRATIC CREED

[From Democrats 101, by J.M. Purvis]

We Believe All people are created equal, that this is America’s fundamental ideal.

We Believe That America is a democracy, by and for the people: ruled by the Constitution and its interpretations, protected by the Bill of Rights, and inspired by the Declaration of Independence.

We Believe These founding documents demand Freedom, Justice, and Opportunity for all Americans, in full and equal measure — regardless of who you are, what you believe or where you live.

We Believe That the Duty of government is to strive endlessly to make the ideals of Freedom, Justice, and Opportunity a reality for all.

We Believe That the Purpose of government is to protect our nation, defend our democracy, and to endlessly promote the welfare of each and every one of us.

We Believe That fighting for these ideals is our purpose as a political party.

What are the principles and policies supported by the San Juan County Democrats?

The San Juan County Democrats stand for democracy.  We actively support the well-being of people, all living things, and the environment, all of which form the basis of our principles and policies.  We feel that fostering this well-being is the purpose of government at all levels.   A free and open democracy would:

  • Ensure free and fair elections with equitable access to voting without undue influence of wealth
  • Guarantee that all elections are publicly financed and that corporations are not people
  • Ensure a healthy environment for all living beings, including clean air, land, and water
  • Guarantee communication platforms that clearly and accurately publish verifiable, objective, truthful fact, and identify AI-generated content
  • Guarantee the right to privacy, including a woman’s right to autonomy over her own body
  • Ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all
  • Ensure equitable access to quality, affordable housing and healthy food for all
  • Provide equitable access to quality public education for all
  • Guarantee a livable wage and safe working conditions for all
  • Protect the health and well-being of its people from external and internal dangers, both natural and man-made
  • Guarantee that every person in our society is treated equally before the law, regardless of background
  • Eliminate automatic and assault weapons among the general public
  • Ensure equitable opportunities for all, regardless of race, religion, or gender identity
  • Honor treaty rights and international agreements
  • Treat all people around the globe as being created equal
  • Embrace and celebrate diversity
  • Ensure freedom of movement for all
  • Ensure that every person in our society is free to shape their own beliefs and lives, so long as it does not infringe on the rights and safety of others
  • Inform the population about all the policies in place that provide for the well-being of the people

As San Juan County Democrats, we strive to support candidates who also support these principles and policies.  If you support these principles and policies, please consider joining our email list at https://sjdemocrats.org/membership/, or email Chair David Turnoy at davidgeri@rockisland.com.

Next meeting will be Saturday, Feb. 10, at 10:00 AM.

Summary of the Dec. 9, 2023 Meeting of the San Juan County Democrats

Here is a brief summary of our meeting this past Saturday, and there is also an action you can take below:
 

David Kipnis from the effort to pass a Green Amendment here in Washington state spoke to our group.  There are currently efforts in 17 states to pass a Green Amendment, and the three states that currently have such a constitutional amendment are Montana, Pennsylvania, and most recently New York.  David stressed that an important reason for a Green Amendment (GA) is that there are often loopholes that laws don’t address, and the GA closes those loopholes.  David has asked that we look at the GA, study it, then pass a resolution at our next meeting in support.      

1. You can find that wording of the GA at https://docs.google.com/document/d/16aur6bssf5xx8DhBObJ2lOOo3VO6Gnm_UVa-KA7BTEA/edit#heading=h.jdpqpeoowj5k

2. You can find an article on the recent Montana case at
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2023-08-15/montana-climate-lawsuit-could-set-a-precedent-for-other-states

3. Finally, you can read about all the cases brought under the GA (note that NY just passed it two years ago, so fewer cases there)
https://forthegenerations.org/resources/legal-resources/

David encourages us to give Representative Lekanoff a bump to push for a hearing for the GA through Representative Doglio’s Environment and Energy Comm.  Here is some suggested language to send her at debra.lekanoff@leg.wa.gov:

Hello Rep Lekanoff. Recently I participated in a conversation with David Kipnis from the Green Amendment movement here in WA State. I believe this GA is an important and timely resolution that should receive the consideration that it deserves so that Washington state can be a leader in ensuring the welfare of all people today and in the future. Thank you for your work in bringing this forward and we look forward to hearing and participating in testimony on its behalf during the 2024 legislative session.
_________________________________________________________________________
Our second important topic was the question of pursuing an effort to disqualify Trump for the ballot in Washington state under the 14th amendment ban on candidates who have been involved in insurrection.  Ken Crawbuck has been working on this, and he contacted the Secretary of State and the Attorney General in the interest of having them take suitable action.  However, he was told that the way to accomplish this would be for a private citizen to sue under RCW 29A.68.020.  Another way to disqualify Trump is that state law requires that a candidate disclose finances and taxes, which Trump has been loath to do.  If you are interested in knowing more about this, look at the attachment to this email.  Ken lists ways to get involved with helping, and if you would like to get involved, feel free to contact him at kenc@rockisland.com.

Our discussion also included some of the downsides of pursuing this strategy.  One possibility is that if a lawsuit is filed, our attorney general Bob Ferguson, who is running for governor, may be put in a position defending Trump’s right to be on the ballot, which could hurt him in his campaign.  Also, some of the rabid Trump supporters may likely get violent if their favored candidate is not on the ballot.  In other states controlled by Republicans, they may start trying to keep our candidates off the ballot.  Because Trump would not likely win in WA, an alternative might be to pursue keeping Trump off the ballot in a purple state.

Our next meeting will be on January 13, 2024. To get on our mailing list so you can receive the Zoom info to attend the meeting, please go to the membership link on this webpage.

Summary, Meeting of SJC Democrats, Nov. 11, 2023

WA Attorney General and leading Democratic candidate for governor Bob Ferguson was present at our meeting for a quick half hour on Zoom.  He spoke of the importance of not taking anything for granted in the election next year, because in the last two gubernatorial elections when no incumbent was running, the elections were extremely close.  Especially with the fact that Trump still has a chance to be president, we will need a governor who works to strongly support democracy, and Bob has that experience as a very successful attorney general.  Following his appearance, we voted to give Bob the endorsement of the San Juan County Democrats in his bid for governor, joining hundreds of organizations and individuals who have already endorsed him.

We are getting close to 2024, another important year for elections.  We fully intend to send out our election postcard next year, but we need to raise some more money in order to afford this.  If you can afford a significant contribution (limit of $500), that would go a long way toward helping us for next year.  A check may be sent to the San Juan County Democrats at PO Box 1007 in Friday Harbor 98250.  Or, a monthly contribution of $25, $10, or even $5 will help us, which a number of our folks have recently started doing.  If you would be willing to start a small monthly contribution through ActBlue, go to secure.actblue.com/donate/sjcountydems.

Another way to help is to get other like-minded individuals on our email list.  If you have friends who would benefit from receiving the information we provide, please ask them to go to https://sjdemocrats.org/membership/ to subscribe to our email list.

Other topics were addressed in spirited discussion, but no decisions were made.  We did agree to meet again in December, so we hope to see many of you on December 9.

Summary of the September 9 Meeting of the San Juan County Democrats

On the morning of Saturday, September 9 starting around 8:40, Representative Debra Lekanoff held a coffee at Tide Pool in downtown Eastsound.  We had an excellent turnout of about 25 people.  Debra gave a wonderful presentation that highlighted her efforts to bring positive change not just for today, but she talked in terms of what we are looking at in our natural world fifty years from now.  It was sobering but very important.  She then proceeded to take questions and provide responses for quite some time, finally leaving at about 10:20 to attend our county Democrats meeting that followed.  We are truly fortunate to have such a thoughtful, engaged representative. 

The highlight of our meeting was the visit of State Senator and 20-year Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor Manka Dhingra, who is running to be the next state attorney general, and she was wonderful.? She is a fabulous candidate, and her proposed ten-minute visit turned into a passionate 45-minute presentation and Q and A.? If elected, Manka will?work for all the people of Washington State as we confront national challenges to voting and access to reproductive rights, and she will lead nationally on laws that safeguard worker rights, hold polluters accountable, and address the epidemic of gun violence. She will be the first person of color, the first immigrant, and only the second woman in this role.   You can find more information at info@electmanka.com.  While we still want to hear from the other major Democratic candidate for attorney general, Nick Brown, Manka is a very strong candidate. 

Councilor Cindy Wolf attended our meeting.  She told us that at the County Council meeting on Sept. 18, they will be considering a greenhouse gas inventory, sea level rise, and the Destination Management Plan. Cindy also told us that the proposed 1/10 of 1% sales tax that is dedicated to affordable housing can use some support.  If you can, send a note to the councilors telling them that you support the continuation of this tax. 

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One of the things we have been working on over the past year is a one-page statement representing what we, the county Democrats, stand for.  We have a 15-page platform on our website that is wonderful, but we would like a short document to share.  We started by reading a book called Democrats 101, which gives a brief history of the modern Democratic Party and at the end, a four-page creed of what the Democrats stand for.  Geri and Peggy have worked at distilling this into one page that reflects our county group, and I am going to share the rough draft with you all in order to allow you to give feedback and possibly suggest changes or additions.  Here it is: 

What are the basic beliefs of the San Juan County Democrats? 

San Juan County Democrats believe that the purpose of the United States government, which is created by and accountable to its people, is to ensure the well-being of the residents of America. 

We believe the responsibility of the United States government is to: 

  • Ensure free and fair elections with equal access to voting 
  • Ensure a healthy environment for all living things, including clean air, land, and water 
  • Guarantee mass communication platforms dedicated to truth and objectivity 
  • Guarantee the right to privacy, including a woman’s right to autonomy over her own body 
  • Provide quality healthcare for all 
  • Ensure quality, affordable housing and healthy food for all 
  • Provide quality education for all 
  • Guarantee a livable wage and safe working conditions for all 
  • Protect the health and well-being of its people from external and internal dangers, both natural and man-made 
  • Guarantee that every member of our society is treated equally before the law, regardless of background 
  • Eliminate automatic weapons among the general public 
  • Ensure equal opportunities for all, regardless of race, religion, or gender identity 
  • Treat all people around the globe as being created equal 
  • Embrace and celebrate diversity 
  • Ensure freedom of movement for all 
  • Ensure that every member of our society is free to shape their own beliefs and lives, so long as it does not infringe on the rights and safety of others  
  • Inform the population about all the policies in place that provide for the well-being of the people 

As San Juan County Democrats, we strive to support candidates who share our beliefs.  If you share these beliefs, please consider joining our email list at https://sjdemocrats.org/membership/, or email Chair David Turnoy at davidgeri@rockisland.com.  

At yesterday’s meeting, a number of constructive criticisms were raised.  First, do we expect the government to provide all these items?  Must one believe in all these items, or only most, in order to be part of this group?  Should we include something about honoring tribal treaties and international agreements?  Should we specify equity of opportunity as opposed to simply equal opportunity, as perhaps the latter isn’t enough?  Your feedback is welcome as we try to hone this statement into a document that truly represents what we believe and will draw in others of similar beliefs. 

Another item we discussed yesterday is the creation of a mechanism to use to hold discussions with others in the local party who would like to engage about various topics that perhaps we don’t have enough time to adequately cover at our meetings.  This would be something to opt into and would be available to anyone in the party.  Stay tuned for more on this. 

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One of the things that is so challenging in maintaining democracy in this country today is the media emphasis on covering Trump and all the negative actions of the Republicans while failing to give nearly as much attention to the accomplishments of the Biden administration and the Democrats.  And this slanted media coverage impacts polls that show Biden doing very poorly in the eyes of the public.  Not that I don’t have serious policy disagreements with the Biden administration, but if we want a chance of maintaining a Democrat in the White House, it is important to give credit where credit is due.  To that end, it has been suggested that wherever and whenever possible, we mention the positive accomplishments of the current administration.  Here are a couple of things you may or may not be aware of that are worth highlighting with others: 

On Sep 6, 2023, President Biden canceled the remaining illegal leases in the?Arctic Refuge?and announced new protections for +12 million acres of Special Areas in the Western Arctic/Reserve?and a strengthened environmental review of the Congressionally mandated oil and gas leasing program in the Arctic Refuge. 

Biden’s National Labor Relations Board has taken an action that will help employees trying to unionize.  Under the new framework, when a union requests recognition on the basis that a majority of employees in an appropriate bargaining unit have designated the union as their representative, an employer must either recognize and bargain with the union or promptly file an?RM petition?seeking an election.? However, if an employer who seeks an election commits any unfair labor practice that would require setting aside the election, the petition will be dismissed, and—rather than re-running the election—the Board will order the employer to recognize and bargain with the union.? 

So there we have an example of the administration helping the environment and helping working people, two positives you can share with others. 

As we look ahead to the elections coming up in 2024, we continue to find ourselves in a fund-raising mode.  Our main expense in election years is printing and sending out our election postcard, which many people tell us they rely on for voting.  Costs have accelerated greatly, and last year it cost us well over $4,000 to make this happen.  We would also like to have a booth at the county fair next year if we can recruit enough volunteers, and there is a fee to have a booth.  Finally, it costs money to send our local party representatives to the state meetings.  A one-time donation or a small monthly contribution is greatly appreciated.  There are now six different donors contributing monthly, and if you can afford to participate, even with just $5 or $10 per month, it helps a lot.  Checks can be mailed to PO Box 1007 in Friday Harbor, 98250, or setting up a monthly contribution on Act Blue is very simple; just go to secure.actblue.com/donate/sjcountydems.  Thanks for considering. 

David Turnoy
Chair, San Juan County Democrats
360-376-4165
davidgeri@rockisland.com

Summary of the May 13 Meeting of the San Juan County Democrats

Our meeting was highlighted by the appearance of our three state representatives: Senator Liz Lovelett, Rep. Debra Lekanoff, and Rep. Alex Ramel. A lot of time was devoted to discussing the PFAS water problem in a water system in Friday Harbor. One of the homeowners from that neighborhood brought the issue to the legislators, and there is a need from the state to step in with some funding to help. County Councilor Cindy Wolf has been instrumental in leading the county’s effort on this issue, but state help is also needed.

The challenge of school funding was also discussed. Problems have been a lack of money for special education, regionalization of property values, a cap on what can be raised, declining enrollment, and the end of Covid dollars. $1.2 billion was added to education funding, but our legislators say this is not enough. They have tried to make more progress but keep running into a wall. They will address this again next year.

One of our members brought up the fact that more funding is needed for the care of older Americans, especially to help them age in place. Our legislators mentioned a number of programs related to this that received money this session.

One of the highlights of this session was an effort at gun control. There is now a ban on the sale of assault weapons, and there is a ten-day waiting period to buy guns. Interestingly the number one act guns are used in is suicide, and the waiting period will help reduce this number.

Councilor Cindy Wolf told us we are currently seeing a record number of affordable housing starts in the county. In addition, the county is looking at an affordable housing sales tax of one tenth of 1%. Another tax measure that will soon receive consideration is a one tenth of 1% sales tax for support of the arts.

Our state committee representatives reported on the recent state Democratic Party meeting chaired for the first time by new chair Shasti Conrad. She brings an exciting flair to the job that was enjoyed by the attendees.

I am going to make another plea for donations to our party. Two months ago, my request brought two generous contributions, and I am hoping we can get some more of you to help us keep going. You may wonder why we need to ask for money. Of course, our main purpose is to elect Democrats, and the biggest tool we use for this is the post card we send out every two years. Unfortunately, with the cost of printing and postage, this action now costs over $4,000. We also used to buy advertising in local media but did not have money for this last time around. In addition to the post card, we send our state committee representatives to the three state meetings each year, and between lodging and transportation, this runs into some money. We also have website hosting and other administrative expenses just to keep afloat. So in order to continue to represent you with the state party and to keep you informed, it costs money.

A relatively recent development is the ability to donate a small amount monthly through Act Blue. We have one couple who gives us ten dollars each month through this method. If we could increase our number of small donors (or even large donors), this would be really helpful.

Donate to the San Juan County Democrats here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sjcountydems

Summary of the March 11, 2023 Meeting of the San Juan County Democrats

Our county Democrats meeting was full of inspiration from our members in attendance and the good work they are doing. 

County Councilor Cindy Wolf, who is also a longtime PCO and former vice chair, informed us about county council doings.  There is a plan to construct a trail from Friday Harbor to Zylstra Lake, and money is already approved.  People are already walking and riding on the road, and the new trail would keep them off the road and make it safer for everyone.  Find out more information at https://sanjuanco.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1332.   There is some opposition to the trail, so if you live on San Juan Island and would like to see this trail become a reality, you can send comments to our county councilors at https://www.sanjuanco.com/Directory.aspx?DID=49 or to Public Works Director Colin Huntemer at colinh@sanjuanco.com or to County Manager Mike Thomas at miket@sanjuanco.com

Cindy also told us about the proposed Argyle housing project.  County staff has suggested going with the proposal from the San Juan Housing Trust, which involves public money.  There is also a proposal from a private entity, and this would put some private capital into the project.  If you would like to check out the proposals and make a comment, go to https://www.sanjuanco.com/896/Affordable-Housing.  

Other items from council:  There is an effort underway to get an emergency tug for the county, and this may happen through Senator Cantwell’s office.  Also, there are 13 miles of coastal roads that are in danger of going underwater and/or eroding, and the county will be looking at moving these roads back away from the shore, which would also help the sand lance and herring that live there.   

Finally, a two-year study on water in the county has just been completed.  Preliminary results from the study were presented by a USGS geologist at the?February 28th?Council meeting which you can find at https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/e0ec2f36-a92a-4a88-911f-eb8b21514471.  “Interestingly, while this study shows us how much water comes into the aquifers and how much comes out, it will not show how much water is in the aquifers currently or how much damage pumping during seasons when there is no recharge is doing to aquifers with salt-water interface.? We may need to ask for further research.”?? 

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Our treasurer Alison presented her proposed budget for this year.  We would like to have a booth at the County Fair this year, and we need to be able to send our committee people to state meetings, but we especially need to raise money for next year’s big elections.  If you are able to contribute to the county Democrats, it will help us get ready to send out our election postcard again next year and provide other election-related events.  Checks can be sent to the San Juan County Democrats at PO Box 1007, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.  We also have the capability of accepting contributions through Act Blue; here is the link to contribute – secure.actblue.com/donate/sjcountydems.  

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It was pointed out that Senator Lovelett has a bill in the legislature to keep boats further away from our resident orcas to protect them.  Please go to https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5371&Year=2023&Initiative=false to sign in to support this bill.  It is ESSB 5371. 

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Our state committee person Sharon gave us a very thorough report on happenings in the state party.  She encourages us to sign in to support bills sponsored by our legislators.  Sharon is also working on the climate change aspect of just transition, which is really relevant to our legislative district.  If you are interested in learning about this, Sharon has provided some links: 

https://www.labor4sustainability.org

Also from Sharon: 

1. Please help support the Lummi Nation’s Totem Pole Journey to Oak Flat: https://www.catskillmountainkeeper.org/house_of_tears_carvers_donations

You can read more about the Totem Pole Journey at: https://www.cascadiadaily.com/news/2023/mar/09/washington-tribes-drum-up-support-for-totems-journey/ Also, here is an email you can send to support the rights of Native Americans over the right of an Australian corporation to mine copper on sacred land: 

HELP SAVE SACRED OAK FLAT FROM BECOMING A MASSIVE FOREIGN-OWNED COPPER MINE 

Become a citizen co-sponsor of Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s?Save Oak Flat From Foreign Mining Act?and join the thousands of Americans who are standing in solidarity with tribal nations and protecting our country’s natural and cultural heritage: 

ADD YOUR NAME 

Arizona’s Chi’chil Bildagoteel, commonly known as Oak Flat, is sacred to several tribal nations. But a last-minute deal by the Trump Administration mandated the transfer of this land to a notorious foreign-owned mining conglomerate. 

To prevent this pristine and sacred land from being destroyed, Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, introduced the Save Oak Flat From Foreign Mining Act to permanently protect this area from mining. 

By adding your name as a citizen co-sponsor of this important legislation, you can help protect not only the sacred sites of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and other tribal nations in Arizona but also the environment and water resources of this region. » 

SAVE OAK FLAT 

2. Please email me at sharmuse@gmail.com if you’d like info about the June 10 online event marking the 60th anniversary of JFK’s ‘peace speech’ at American University. There will also be online events around this on April 10 and May 10, leading up to the big anniversary event on June 10, which will feature Dr. Jeffrey Sachs.

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We would like to participate in the County Fair this year.  We have two members who are willing to be part of a committee to organize this, but we will need other helpers.  Once I have more information as to what is involved, I will send it out and ask if you would like to help.  Also, if anyone is interested in helping to organize our participation in the July 4 parade in Friday Harbor, please let me know. 

_________________________________________________________________________

Stephen Shubert is interested in securing a grant for a pilot program that would test and hopefully prove that providing in-home care for aging seniors who would otherwise be treated at higher and more expensive levels of care would actually save the government money while allowing such seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible.  Stephen has written a draft to get this started, and he will be appearing before the Northwest Regional Council to present to them.  If any of you might have relevant expertise and would be interested in being involved in this effort, please let me know. 

If you have even wondered why Americans don’t all have the same perspective on issues (aside from the poison from rightwing news), we have a book recommendation for you.  Colin Woodard has written a book called American Nations, which makes the case that there are really eleven different regions of the country, each with an outlook based on the group of Europeans that first settled there.  Geri discussed this at length at our meeting, and I can vouch for the value of the book, having read it twice myself.  You can also find some videos with Mr. Woodard online. 

Thanks for your time,
David Turnoy
Chair, San Juan County Democrats

Meeting of the San Juan County Democrats Saturday, March 11

This Saturday we will be meeting via Zoom at 10am.

We’ll be getting an update from County Councilmember Cindy Wolf, as well as hearing from our treasurer, getting updates about the 40th Legislative District Democrats, hearing some ideas for projects and resolutions, and discuss plans for the rest of the year.

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82099124845

Please check your email for documents we’ll be discussing Saturday, and contact me if you have any questions.

David Turnoy
Chair, San Juan County Democrats
360-376-4165
davidgeri@rockisland.com

Summary of the January 7 Meeting of the San Juan County Democrats

The first meeting of the year for the SJC Democrats was well-attended, and we voted on our officers for this biennium. I will continue as chair, my wife Geri will continue as vice chair, Peggy Rhoads will continue as secretary, Alison Longley will continue as treasurer, and Sharon Abreu and Bob O’Connell will continue as our state committee members. Deputy vice chairs will include Jeff Hanks for Lopez, Keara Axelrod for Orcas, and a person from San Juan whose identity will remain undisclosed.

After this officer election, the following precinct positions were filled by appointment and a vote of approval: Siri Thorson for Waldron, Stephen Shubert for Turn Point on San Juan, and Peggy Rhoads for Orcas South. We are still looking to fill PCO positions for San Juan SW, San Juan East, Friday Harbor North, Friday Harbor South, Orcas North, Eastsound, Lopez Village, and Shaw Island.

The 40th LD has its reorganization meeting tomorrow, Sunday, at 10:00. They are looking for a secretary and a membership chair. Please let me know if you are interested, and your attendance is encouraged

At the state level, there will be a lobby day on Friday, January 27, at which you are encouraged to meet with our legislators. The next day the state central committee will be selecting a new chair, as the current chair, Tina Podlodowski, is stepping down. There will also be other officers chosen and resolutions considered.

We spent a lot of time on a subject we have discussed numerous times in the past: How to bring in new people, especially younger people and diverse people? One of the best ways is simply networking, i.e., talking with people you know. Undoubtedly those of you reading this note know of other folks who would be interested in getting on our email list and perhaps even attending meetings. If you can reach out to them, it benefits all of us.

It was mentioned that perhaps a perceived progressive bent of our current organization has discouraged some more moderate Democrats from participating with us. I will make no bones about the fact that many of our members, including myself, are of a progressive bent. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t have room for other voices, whether it be more moderate or more radical. We strive to be a big tent, but we can’t be a big tent unless we have people from various perspectives participating with us. It was mentioned that some moderate Democrats may have felt alienated, and I would welcome any of you to communicate with me or simply to attend a meeting and express yourself, as one of our members did today. We can only gain understanding by listening to the various points of view, and we only succeed if we have the Democrats united. Just because some members are quite progressive doesn’t mean they don’t volunteer to help elect the moderate Democratic candidates that have run for president the last two times.

Councilor Cindy Wolf told us about some townhalls that the Council will be conducting at the Senior Centers. The townhall for San Juan will be on Jan. 28, Orcas will be Feb. 4, and the one for Lopez is still to be decided.

If you have a suggestion for a guest you would like to see present at one of our meetings, please let me know. Guest speakers can add a lot to our meetings, and your suggestions can guide our invitations.

That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.

David Turnoy davidgeri@rockisland.com

360-376-4165

Meeting of the San Juan County Democrats Saturday, January 7

Happy New Year!

Our first meeting of the year is this Saturday at 10:00 on Zoom.  This is a very important meeting, as we elect officers for the next two years.  I haven’t talked to anyone about filling the deputy vice chair positions yet, so if you are willing and interested, please let me know either before the meeting or during the meeting if you would like to be the deputy vice chair for your island.  This position is not onerous, simply distributing some political signs once in a while and perhaps some other miscellaneous things that I am not remembering right now.

In addition, we have the opportunity to appoint possibly a number of PCOs; I have at least two people and possibly as many as four who are interested.  And we still need people for San Juan East, Friday Harbor North, Friday Harbor South, Orcas North, Eastsound North, Lopez Village, and Shaw.  If you know anyone who lives in one of these areas and might be interested in being its PCO, please encourage them to call me and to attend the meeting.  I can be reached at 360-376-4165.  And please encourage anyone who might be interested in getting involved with us to attend, especially folks who might be new to the county.

If you have anything else for the agenda, please let me know.  Zoom info:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89895325705     
Hoping to see you on Saturday,
David T
davidgeri@rockisland.com