Endorsed SCA 5!

The Culver City Democratic Club supports SCA 5, Reforming Inequities in Commercial Property Tax Annual Reassessment of Commercial Properties sponsored by State Senators Holly Mitchell and Loni Hancock, and its efforts to eliminate inequalities, loopholes and negative economic impacts of the current acquisition-value assessment system for commercial and industrial properties. Known as the Property Tax Fairness amendment, it would finally make California’s property tax code fair by assessing commercial and industrial properties at their market value, after a phase-in period. It would also provide significant tax relief for businesses, protect homeowners and renters from any changes to their property tax status, and create strict new accountability measures for new revenues.

SCA 5 would assess commercial properties at their fair market value, provide tax relief for businesses and protect homeowners and renters

“This legislation will address structural flaws in the commercial property side of Prop. 13 that have allowed a minority group of wealthy corporations and commercial property owners to dramatically lower their tax bills and shift that responsibility onto homeowners and renters,” said Senator Hancock. “Our homeowners are now being asked to pay the vast majority – 72% – of property taxes, while the commercial side pays only 28%. In 1978 when Prop. 13 passed, each paid about 50%. That’s not fair, and it has strained the community services our residents rely on.”

President’s Message by Sylvia Moore, August 2015

A few months ago, I got into an argument on Twitter with a right winger over voting and taxes. I was watching MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry’s show and one segment was about felon disfranchisement. I posed this question to my Twitter followers: "Should people who have paid their debt to society still be taxed if they aren’t allowed to vote?" This question immediately attracted said right winger, who answered, "Yes." We got into a short back-and-forth, which I won’t elaborate here, but the crux of his belief was that if a person didn’t want their rights taken away, they shouldn’t commit a crime. Never mind that many people, black Americans especially, have been railroaded by our criminal justice system. Whatever happened to "no taxation without representation?"

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, but the celebrations are tempered by the United States Supreme Court’s recent gutting of the landmark legislation. Despite what the majority of the justices in that case would have us believe, racism in the electoral process is still alive and well in America. Felon disfranchisement, which disproportionately impacts Americans of color, is one problem that is at the forefront of the current movement for voting rights. States have different laws regarding incarcerated people and voting, with the most draconian disfranchising for life people convicted of felonies, to the most lenient that allow people in prison to vote in all elections. California is in the middle, restoring voting rights to the formerly incarcerated after they have completed their sentence and parole.

Voting rights advocates tend to frame disfranchisement in moral terms: that it’s undemocratic to exclude people from participating in our democracy. But, getting back to my Twitter argument with the right winger, I wanted to frame the issue in terms I thought conservatives would understand: would they sympathize with an apparent anti-tax argument when it came to the formerly incarcerated? At least that right winger didn’t, and I can’t say I’m surprised. Because I posed the question to expose what, I think, was a big reason behind felon disfranchisement laws: to ensure that black Americans have little to no say in how our country’s resources - through taxes - are distributed. The right winger didn’t say anything about race, but he didn’t have to.

July 2015 General Meeting Minutes

Culver City Democratic Club – 63 Years

General Membership Meeting – Veterans Auditorium Rotunda

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

1. Call to Order at 7:03 p.m. by Sylvia Moore, President.
2. Pledge of Allegiance – led by Herb Rosenberg.
3. Approval of June 10, 2015 Minutes. Moved to approve by Margaret Lindgren, Sy Levine seconded. Approved.
4. Announcements: Recap of 4^th of July picnic at Carlson Park. 50-60 people. Visited by Diane Watson. Cameron Onumah from Dianne Feinstein’s office is a guest today. Carlene Brown announced a house party hosted by Michelle Weiner in coordination with MoveOn.org on Sunday, July 19 at 5:30 p.m. Contact her at: Michmobile2011@gmail.com Carlene has information about Bernie Sanders’ campaign. Khin Khin reported the CAP (Community Action Panel) meeting reporting the ground results. Scott McBarish announcing the “15 for 15” campaign and looking for community partners; also the Project Labor Agreement with the CCUSD. Scott is Co-founder of United Parents of Culver City and they interested in Education Reform. Scott@forgreatschools.org. Fiesta La Ballona was reported by Tom Camarella and he put out a call for volunteers to sit at the booth for a couple of hours on one or two days. The Fiesta La Ballona booth is active Saturday and Sunday, August 29-30, 2015 at the Vet’s Park. Sylvia announced, “Healthcare not Jails” in LA sponsored by many organizations on July 11 2-5pm at the Village at Ed Gould Plaza. Sylvia announced that she is the newly appointed So. Cal Director for Common Cause. Action to stop the oil trains will be held Saturday at 12 noon at Union Station. More information: Michmobile2011@gmail.com.
5. Meeting Sponsorships - $50 to sponsor a meeting if you wish to honor someone. See Sylvia.
6. Officer Reports

1. Treasurer’s Report (Eric Fine) Total funds as of June 30, 2015 are $4,510.24. We have one election this year, but 3 elections next year. We still owe Greg Valtierra for creating the Newsletter.
2. Membership (Diane Rosenberg) 115 paid members. www.CulverCityDemocraticClub.com/RENEW. New promotions for new members: buy a membership and get a free DVD. Membership eligibility reminder for September CC School Board endorsement forum. Summer memberships begin at $45 for this and next year. Guests Cameron Onumah and Thomas Small.
3. Fundraising (Amy Cherness) – Raffle, prizes were described. We will be getting Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton buttons and T-shirts to sell at the Fiesta booth. Tickets $5 for 6 tickets or $1 for 1. Working on the Hamburger Mary Drag Queen Bingo event.
4. Outreach (Sylvia Moore) – Facebook, Meet-up.com; Fan page.
5. Correspondence (Stephen Murray) No report
6. Legislation (Nyabingi Kuti) No report. Sylvia presented the Peacebuilding Resolution and Pat read the first page. A printed resolution was NOT available. Margaret Lindgren moved to accept the Peacebuilding Resolution by Congresswoman Barbara Lee. No second. Joel moved that the Executive Board vote on the matter, Tom Camarella seconded it. Motion passed. Resolution goes to the Executive Board. Tom Camarella reported on the passage of the NY Fracking ban. California, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have legislation pending.

7. Program –C. Tom Williams, Ph.D. speaking on “Fracking and Beyond” followed by audience Q & A. SB 4: A bill that was passed and signed by Gov. Brown 3 years ago. 30 years with Parsons of Pasadena, worked on an oil rig, environmental work, Sierra Club, Coalition for Save Community, etc. Dr. Tom spoke about the world’s largest surface oil field right here in Baldwin Hills. In 1960, oil derricks were replaced with directional drilling. No more vertical wells anymore. The Inglewood Field goes down to 3000 feet. Culver City is included in this field. Concern about earthquakes because of structural traps. High risks for fracking that effects the environment – yet EPA says “no evidence.” AQMD only required a notice when wells were stimulated. Division of Oil Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) was formed. Now well simulation is being regulated as a result of Fran Pavley SB 4. Water boards have to review groundwater and ponds at the expense of the oil industry. Air Board monitor emissions and ponds. The drought has impacted injection.

8. Announcements

1. Executive Board Meeting will be held on Sunday, July 19 at the home of Herb & Diane Rosenberg at 3 p.m.
2. Fiesta La Ballona – There will be a booth on Saturday and Sunday, August 29 & 30. Please join us for the Friday afternoon CCDC gathering at the Wine Booth on August 28. See Tom for sign-ups.
3. Next General Meeting is Wednesday, August 12, 2015.
4. Charlotte spoke about how informative Chief Bixby was and the incident that occurred to her at the Ralph’s. She had a visit from CCPD to discuss her matter. Chief Bixby wrote a note of thanks for her input.

June 2015 General Meeting Minutes

Culver City Democratic Club – 63 Years

General Membership Meeting – Veterans Auditorium Rotunda

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

1. Call to Order at 7:07 p.m. by Sylvia Moore, President.
2. Pledge of Allegiance – led by Neil Rubenstein.
3. Approval of May 13, 2015 Minutes. Moved to approve by Darryl as corrected, seconded by Theo. Approved.
4. Announcements:
5. Meeting Sponsorships - $50 to sponsor a meeting if you wish to honor someone. See Sylvia.
6. Fourth of July Picnic, Carlson Park, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. under the covered benches. The Club has reserved the space. Club furnishes the charcoal and watermelon. Bingo with prizes.
7. Officer Reports

1. Treasurer’s Report (Eric Fine) Total funds as of April 30, 2015 were: $4,715.61 and May 31, 2015 were $4,319.18.
2. Membership (Diane Rosenberg) 114 paid members. www.CulverCityDemocraticClub.com/RENEW. New promotions for new members: buy a membership and get a free DVD. Membership eligibility reminder for September CC School Board endorsement forum.
3. Fundraising (Amy Cherness) – Raffle, prizes were described. Tickets $5 for 6 tickets or $1 for 1.
4. Outreach (Sylvia Moore) – Completed our MOE (Mobilize, Organize, Elect) application to send out information to boost our membership.
5. Correspondence (Stephen Murray) Executive Board approved AB 356 to set up ground water standards for wells. It failed in the 3^rd reading in the Assembly. Stephen reported on the CCDC State Convention: Loretta Sanchez announced her candidacy for US Senate. Kamala Harris is running for US Senate (Barbara Boxer is retiring). Elizabeth Warren was outstanding. Channing Hawkins won the District 14 Director position, The following resolutions passed: Trans-Pacific Partnership, Better Working Conditions/Equality for Working Women; Repeal of Personal Beliefs Exemption to Mandatory Vaccinations; Fighting Inequality by Expanding Economic Opportunity; Rebuild CA by making the commercial property tax code fair; Calling the Republican Party to Stop Blocking Student Loan Debt Relief; Support of Divestment from Fossil Fuel Companies; Medical Aid and Transparency in Policy Encounters and Investigations, known as the “I Can’t Breathe” resolution; CA Senior Bill of Rights; Calling upon the Republican Party to Address Climate Change Now; and the Resolution in Opposition to Arctic Oil Drilling Permit.
6. Legislation (Nyabingi Kuti) No quorum to vote on the resolution which was to be presented by Nyabingi calling for the release of County Incarceration Diversion Funds.

8. Program –CC Police Chief Scott Bixby followed by audience Q & A. Chief Bixby is a “local hero,” living and going to school in Culver City. Worked patrol, investigations, narcotics and inter-agency task forces. Promoted to Chief in August 2014. Chief described departments and responsibilities (including the red light photo lights). Traffic, Property, Forensics, Records, Community Relations, Social Media, Neighborhood Watch, Investigation and Public Safety Bureau, IT, Personnel and Training (Continuous Professional Training); Adult Detectives, Robbery & Homicide, Burglary, Grand Theft Auto, Theft, Juvenile Detectives and Sex Crimes, School Resource Officer, Crime Impact Team, Vice and Narcotics, LA Impact Task Force; CalMet (targets methamphetamine); AB 109 Task Force (post release of parolees) with Gardena, Hawthorne and Inglewood.

9. Resolution regarding the long-term unemployed (Darryl Cherness) – has yet to go to Executive Board.

10. ByLaws Revision: New provisions required by the CA Democratic Party regarding club participation in Pre-Endorsement Conferences. Pat moved to accept the changes, Judy Alter seconded. Motion carried.

11. Announcements

1. Executive Board Meeting will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Pat Levinson’s home at 10 a.m.
2. Fiesta La Ballona – There will be a booth on Saturday and Sunday, August 29 & 30. Please join us for the Friday afternoon CCDC gathering at the Wine on August 28.
3. Kelly Osajima from Evolve to talk about reforming Prop 13 to split corporations from residential taxes. She has asked someone to call in to a radio show, AirTalk on 89.3. Senator Loni Hancock will be on the radio to speak about “Make It Fair.”
4. Tom Camarella has informational pamphlets for “Bernie.”
5. Message from Ruth Weisman, about her husband who passed away. She thanked the Club for remembering David. A memorial will be held by Ruth’s grandson at 511 Broadway St. in Venice on Tuesday, June 16, 3 p.m.
6. Next general meeting will be on an Incarceration Panel on July 8.