2023
PPDC June 2023 Board Meeting Endorsements
The PPDC board has voted to endorse…
AB 83 — we must undo Citizens United
AB 793 — gender-affirming care & women’s right to choose, prohibiting unconstitutional searches of data
ACA (Assemb Const. Amdmt) 5 — resolution proposing a constitutional amendment on the ballot supporting marriage equality. Supporters include State Sen. Ben Allen
HR 66 — Rep. Ted Lieu’s resolution on AI (the first ever written by AI!) — expresses support for Congress to support focusing on safe and ethical AI development, with widely distributed benefits, minimization of risks
The WGA’s campaign for a fair and equitable contract — Many of our electeds have also announced their support
Curious about solarizing but haven’t gotten rolling?
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Advocates Sound Alarm Over Quiet Trump Era Move That Could Further Privatize Medicare
A little-noticed scheme hatched in the late stages of the Trump presidency has consumer advocates and universal healthcare proponents warning about a creeping attempt to further privatize Medicare—an effort the Biden administration is being urged to stop in its tracks
Read more at CommonDreams.org — click here
Article a few months old but the problem is only growing, and most people aren’t aware!
The “Medicare Advantage” Plan to Kill Real Medicare
If they can move more than half of Americans off traditional Medicare and onto these corporate plans, it’ll provide the political cover to kill off Medicare altogether — and they’re nearly there now
https://hartmannreport.com/p/the-medicare-advantage-plan-to-kill
** PREVIOUS EVENTS ** and ANNOUNCEMENTS, FYI
Zev Yaroslavsky book signing
**NOTICE OF DATE CHANGE**
Postponed from September — will instead be OCTOBER 22, 2023, 2 PM (not 3 PM)
at another lovely home, this time in the Palisades Alphabets
HAVE TICKETS FROM THE ORIGINAL DATE? Read on:
Zev has a scheduling conflict on our original 9/10 date and needs to postpone until Sunday, October 22 at 2 PM (not 3).
STILL PLAN TO COME?
If you already have a ticket –>click here<– to send us a pre-populated email letting us know. Or just show up — you’re on the list!
CAN’T MAKE IT AND WANT A REFUND?
If for any reason the new date/time doesn’t work, PPDC can refund your contribution. Let us know by –>clicking here<– to write us or calling our voicemail at 310-230-2084; someone will get back to you ASAP.
With apologies and greatest thanks for your understanding and support!
“… A compelling history of our city’s last half century, as conveyed through the life of one of our most impactful leaders…”
—Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
After the Garden Party, take a month to recuperate, then join us for an afternoon with one of L.A. County’s most storied political figures, former County Supervisor and City Councilmember Zev Yaroslavsky, as he shares stories from his new memoir
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9/11/23
Today we remember and honor the almost 3000 who died in the 9/11 attacks.
To avoid repeat disasters, we must also remember the Bush administration’s negligence in preventing the catastrophe (warnings from the outgoing Clinton team were ignored from day 1 of their presidency; intel alerts were brushed aside right up until the attacks) …
and their subsequent squandering of blood and treasure by lying (according to many analysts) the US into war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Let us also sadly recall how Republicans shamefully and cruelly blocked a fully funded 9/11 victims compensation package for years.
https://hartmannreport.com/p/america-cant-let-the-911-war-lies-26c
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/opinion/the-bush-white-house-was-deaf-to-9-11-warnings.html
The U.S. leg of Taylor Swift’s historic Eras Tour is over, but don’t worry —
you still have a chance to attend one of the hottest events in town
Congressman Eric Swalwell and Delegate Danica Roem will be joining PPDC partner org Grassroots Democrats HQ
for two separate in-person events on the Westside
Come not just to ensure critically needed voter contact programs are funded through Election Day, but also to hear directly from Rep. Swalwell and Delegate Roem about what’s needed most to help Democrats win!
* CLICK ABOVE IMAGE(S) TO RSVP *
PPDC’s very own Maryam Zar named Woman of the Year!
(L to R) Grassroots Dems’ Mana Shoostari, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, PPDC board member Maryam Zar
State Sen. Ben Allen, Woman of the Year Maryam Zar
Thanks to the 130 of you who RSVPed to this year’s Annual Meeting!
Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, 2 – 4 PM
(free and open to all, in person or online)
State Sen. Ben Allen • Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin
Supervisor District 3 Lindsey Horvath
City Councilmember Traci Park • City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto
with video appearance by Rep. Brad Sherman (which you can click here to watch)
Alas, no recording of the full event this time, technical difficulties. So we’re especially glad so many of you attended!
Missed it? Here are some pics, courtesy of Maryam Zar and Tamara Levinson
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We are heartbroken by news of yet more mass shootings, including the tragedies in Monterey Park and Morro Bay, California. Our hearts and thoughts — and more, our actions — are dedicated to the victims and their friends and families and, in the above cases, to the entire AAPI community. PPDC will continue working tirelessly with our members and allies toward an America free of gun violence.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS from 2022
Oh wow, did we really get through the November 2022 elections?
Heartfelt thanks to every PPDC supporter and volunteer —
you all played a part in dashing, nay, crushing Republican hopes for a “red wave”
Because of you we were able to target almost $15,000 in donations to candidates across the country most in need and funnel thousands of volunteer hours to our sister GOTV orgs, the Westside Dem HQ and Grassroots Dems
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Our holding the line as well as we did could not be more consequential for the country. Don’t for a second underestimate the outsized, vital impact of your participation in the process
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Visit our Elections page for the latest L.A. County results and info on future elections
Check out Westside Dem HQ and Grassroots Dems for ongoing GOTV ops, now year-round, not just during high-profile elections!
Click here to read PPDC’s condemnation of the behavior of L.A. city councilors revealed via an audio recording in October 2022
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Click here for a statement on hate speech from the WDHQ, which PPDC is an affiliate and founding member of
PPDC Stands with Ukraine
… for democracy
… against war
Advocates Sound Alarm Over Quiet Trump Era Move That Could Further Privatize Medicare
A little-noticed scheme hatched in the late stages of the Trump presidency has consumer advocates and universal healthcare proponents warning about a creeping attempt to further privatize Medicare—an effort the Biden administration is being urged to stop in its tracks
Read more at CommonDreams.org — click here
Article a few months old but the problem is only growing, and most people aren’t aware!
The “Medicare Advantage” Plan to Kill Real Medicare
If they can move more than half of Americans off traditional Medicare and onto these corporate plans, it’ll provide the political cover to kill off Medicare altogether — and they’re nearly there now
https://hartmannreport.com/p/the-medicare-advantage-plan-to-kill
Are you as upset as we are over Texas’s Taliban-esque anti-choice law, passed in September 2022?
Click here to learn — and do — more: https://www.palisadesdemclub.org/take_action
Our Take Action page also proposes reforming the filibuster to pass the For the People and John Lewis Voting Rights Acts to fight TX’s and other states’ antidemocratic, anti-American voter suppression laws
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Click the image below to read PPDC’s letter of sincerest thanks
to our devoted firefighters
We e-blasted to tell you about the urgency of winning in Wisconsin. If you saw that message and/or already know the story, here are some fun-fective — sorry, we couldn’t resist combining “fun” and “effective” to coin a cringe-inducing, horrendously clunky new term that we instantly regretted — local volunteering opportunities.
Missed the message or been too busy till now to learn more? Please scroll down to learn why we’ve got to win this one. Then scroll back up to pick a shift and pitch in!
Thanks for hearing us out, and, not least, for all your support of PPDC.
With deepest apologies again for “fun-fective.”
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PPDC partners with two local GOTV HQs that coordinate
superb volunteer efforts with national impact.
Unlike the old days, the work now continues year-round!
&
Saturday 4/1/22, 10 AM — RSVPWisconsin Phone Bank w/ beloved actor/activist Amy Brenneman
Monday 4/3, 3:30 PM — RSVPWisconsin Phone Bank w/ the one and only Rep. Ted Lieu
Tuesday 4/4 (Election Day!), 8 AM — RSVP
in partnership with Wisconsin Democratic Party and Voters of Tomorrow
Tthis event is intended for young volunteers who identify as Gen Z or Millennial
Mon., 4/3, 4 – 6 PM — RSVP
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More on the 2022 election:
PPDC is writing to urge you to sign up to help between now and April 4 if you can. Here’s why:
Voting rights, reproductive rights, gerrymandering, and so much more are at stake in a supremely key election coming up for Dems….
Electing Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Judge Janet Protasiewicz on Tue., April 4 would flip the WI court from conservative to liberal — with far-reaching implications for reproductive rights and even the 2024 Presidential race.
If the conservative majority remains in power, they will maintain a draconian 1849 abortion ban making it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy. No!
And the 2024 Presidential election could very well be decided by Wisconsin. If Trump loses in WI and sues his way to the State Supreme Court, the Presidential election could be decided by Wisconsin’s seven justices. Our only chance to FLIP the court to a pro-democracy majority is April 4.
Thanks for thinking about volunteering or supporting PPDC / GDHQ / WDHQ efforts !
Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, and Bel Air got redistricted into a majority-Valley Congressional and Assembly District. We now share an Assemblymember with people as far away as the Central Coast
To ensure representation, two members of the PPDC Board, Jennifer Miner and Jonathan Zasloff, are running to be ADEM delegates. (Great explanation of what the ADEMs are about here: https://ademelections.com/home.) They seem to be the ONLY TWO candidates running for AD42 who live south of Mulholland
Last day to register 1/22/22; last day to vote 1/31
Registration link: https://www.adem.cadem.org
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Resilient Palisades Rallies Opposition as California Seeks to Charge Residential Solar Users
Credit and props to Sue Pascoe of Circling the News!
Even as more residents are installing solar panels and fab eco org Resilient Palisades is trying to establish a solar microgrid in Pacific Palisades, there are storm clouds brewing:
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which governs investor-owned utilities like Southern California Edison and PG&E, is contemplating rules changes to charge solar users and otherwise disincentivize(!) installation
Although the proposals don’t apply to municipal-owned utilities like LADWP, if these rules are implemented, investor-owned utilities will be able to make rooftop solar more costly and less appealing, when we desperately need exactly the opposite!
Read more on our TAKE ACTION page
2023 update: The CPUC passed the new rules. It remains to be seen what effect they’ll have, and whether the Democrats’ national climate change legislation will help lessen any blow Californians might bear
Check out the HQs for opportunities to fight for victory in the Georgia Senate runoff
scheduled for December 6, 2022
between the brilliant, caring, effective Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock
and inscrutable, mendacious Trump toady Herschel Walker
Here’s a handy link for GOTV calling on Election Day, 12/6/22:
https://www.mobilize.us/grassrootsdemocratslahq/event/543900/?refcode=PPDC
Postcarding in person in the Palisades
Wednesdays, 5 to 7 PM
So you want to see Dem victories across the country in November
but aren’t quite ready to make calls or knock on doors…
What could be more fun and satisfying than writing postcards to voters in key areas?
A PPDC board member is hosting casual sessions at her lovely home Wednesday eves : )
Contact us at [email protected] to join or learn more!
From PPDC fave Robert Reich: a reminder of what’s at stake and what’s in play in the 2022 L.A. mayoral race
Brief powerful piece but even if you don’t read/listen to it, consider the bottom line: $2.2M in spending from a progressive public servant vs. $62(!) million from a man who, while honorable, wasn’t a Democrat until this year
Great seeing people in person and online for our most recent event,
a candidates forum for the November 2022 elections
for which 140 of you signed up, thank you!
Missed the forum? Watch a recording here
(with great thanks to the inexhaustible Maryam Zar)
2022’s PaliDems Garden Party
was Sunday, August 21, 2 – 4 PM
and wildly successful, with 120+ in attendance!
in person at a beautiful home in the Palisades Riviera as well as on Zoom, with vaccinated & boosted friends and masking as needed
CONFIRMED VIPs
A word about the June 7 2022 primary. OK, a few words:
- The primary proves that the people of Los Angeles remain committed to progressive values … and that they’re interested in substance, not distracted by 30-second attack ads that skirt the real issues.
- Bass was competing with other candidates in her lane like KDL. Caruso was alone in his lane. She picks up support of other candidates for November
- Karen Bass was outspent 13:1 in this race. She had to face down endless misleading attack ads for months from a billionaire who poured $40 million into smearing her record. But she still came out on top
- That tells us one thing: Progressive, Democratic values continue to drive Angeleno voters.
- It tells us that Angelenos want to rebuild our social safety net instead of criminalizing poverty … that they want an affordable city, not one that only the very rich can afford … they want accountability at City Hall, not more developers using big money to shape policy.
- It’s a lesson Democrats in other parts of the country can learn from: When we stand by the principles that define us as a party … when we fight tirelessly to close the gap between the rich and everyone else … when we commit to end homelessness, not just manage it … when we guarantee that we won’t just stop crime when it happens, we’ll get to the very roots of violence in our city … we win.
- It’s easy for the media to push a narrative around the Democratic Party caving to right-wing talking points, moving to tough-on-crime talk … but we’ve demonstrated what voters crave: real leadership from someone who believes in the power of the people to make meaningful change for Los Angeles.
PaliDems supports SB 914 (Rubio) – The HELP (“Homeless Equity for Left Behind Populations”) Act
PPDC sent a letter to all relevant parties involved with this important bill. It reads as follows:
We write to you today, on behalf of the PPDC, in support of SB 914 (Rubio). This important legislation will reduce gender bias and disparities in outcomes in California’s response to homelessness by embedding a focus on domestic violence survivors and other vulnerable populations into local homelessness plans.
Domestic violence is one of the leading drivers of homelessness for women. Nationally, 57% of unhoused women reported domestic violence was an immediate cause of their homelessness. […]
[Click here to read the rest. If you’re in agreement, contact your State Senator in support!]
PPDC endorsements for the November 2022 election are in
Click here for our Endorsements page
PaliDems supports two sister orgs to get our members organized to Get Out The Vote. GOTV hustling is the most important work we can do between now and November to
KEEP CONGRESS BLUE!
Click here to check them out and join the action
ELECTION DAY FINAL GOTV ACTIVITIES
Final Pop Up HQ
Brentwood/West L.A.
Tuesday (TODAY), 8 AM till 8 PM+: RSVPNumerous campaigns tell us margins are RAZOR THIN and they need AS MANY phone bankers as possible.Join us TODAY for an in-person phone bank. Our first shift at 10 AM may have a special guest — we want to start off Election Day as strong as possible!
Shifts through the day until 8 PM. Bring your fully charged computer and cell phone. When you sign up we will send you the address. Please help!
Who does more for consumers and the average American than Rep. KATIE PORTER, known for standing up to the biggest corporate offenders with data and clarity and laying down the law on MSNBC?
Because of redistricting, she’s neck-and-neck with her Republican opponent. Not good…Can you even imagine Congress without her?
Let’s save Katie’s seat!
Click here (https://katieporter.com/)
for final GOTV ops
Want to pitch in virtually today?
Phonebank from home with the Grassroots Dems!
Click to learn more & start calling
Or Phonebank for Dems in Battleground States
with the DNC Call Crew
Join the DNC Call Crew
for our Zoom-based phone bank
to Get Out The Vote for Democrats!
We’re turning out voters in key states & races the last day of the election
NEW TO CALLING WITH US? No worries! The Zoom phone bank includes a brief training so all new callers will be talking to voters in no time!
MADE CALLS BEFORE? Great! This is a great time to meet other Call Crew members, mods, and staff. Join us to hear updates and make calls together!
https://events.democrats.org/event/538342/?refcode=PaliDems
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Want to see even more Grassroots Dems HQ volunteer info & ops? Click here or here
or
Click here for other Westside Dem HQ info & events
A MILLION ELECTION GOTV ACTIVITIES
Wine & Conversation w/ Karen Bass!
Sun., 10/30, 4 – 5:30 PM
(Beverly Glen address on RSVP)
Perfect opportunity to hear from Karen directly and learn more about her plans for Los Angeles. Bass is on track to make history as the first Black female mayor of Los Angeles, but she can’t do it alone. Grassroots donors like you are the backbone of this movement!
Hosted by
Tamara Melzer Levenson (PPDC board member), Melissa Grant (PPDC board member and president emerita), Pastors William & Thembekila Smart, Susy Marks, Nancee & Steve Cron (current PPDC president), Amy Wiwuga, Cathy Salser, Christian D. Green, Pacific Palisades Democratic Club, Heart of L.A. Democratic Club
https://act.karenbass.com/a/103022levenson?refcode=PPDC
Wed., 9/7/22, 6 PM
Reception in support of the National Democratic Training Committee
Co-hosted by PPDC board member and president emerita Melissa Grant
Grassroots Dems event:Empowering Our Youth: Supporting Our Next Generation of Policy & Change MakersAugust 21, 2022, 6 PM in BrentwoodThis event will support the HQ’s programming to build the “young voter to young organizer” pipeline. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres served!Sandra Fluke, social justice advocate and public interest attorney, will be joining as a special guest. Sandra will speak about pressing issues young voters are concerned about, including access to reproductive healthcare and environmental justiceAdditionally, the youth who power the GDHQ will be sharing which causes and experiences motivate them to be the next generation of change makers
Click here or above to RSVP
Thursday, July 28, 2022, 5 PM
Join the fight with political constitutional superstar Rep. Jamie Raskin!
Election volunteering opportunities — your help is needed
Karen Bass for Mayor canvassing & phone bank ops
Sign up here to door knock in neighborhoods across the city
Satellite locations in various communities that launch neighborhood canvassing operations and provide campaign materials and swag for local voters. Find a site near you, or one you’d like to visit:
- Saturdays (10am – 2pm): Baldwin Hills (HQ), Northridge, Little Ethiopia
- Saturdays (9:30am – 1:30pm): Highland Park, South Park, Hollywood
- Sundays (1pm – 5pm): Boyle Heights, Van Nuys, Beverlywood, Mar Vista
attend wear orange 2022 — find an event
People around the country are coming together virtually with a simple message: There’s more we can do to end gun violence. Join the movement by signing up to attend an event during Wear Orange Weekend, June 3 – 5
For more information about events in your area, contact [email protected]
In light of the horrific school shooting in Texas,
supermarket shooting in Buffalo, and countless other horrors,
please consider joining and taking action with Wear Orange
and other anti-gun-violence groups in whatever ways you can
to stop these ongoing, insane tragedies
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** CLICK HERE TO RSVP **
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Supreme Court Leak:
Our Worst Fears Confirmed
Abortion is still legal. It’s still your right. But the Supreme Court is prepared to end your constitutional right to abortion. Our country is facing an abortion access crisis.
By this summer, 26 states could move to ban abortion — affecting 36 million women, plus more people who can become pregnant. This is personal.
From womensmarch.com
SHOW UP to Protect Roe & Abortion Rights
On May 2nd, we learned that at least five unelected and unaccountable Supreme Court justices decided they just don’t care about women, precedent, the Constitution, or about the institution they ostensibly serve
On May 3, 2022 we mobilize to protect Roe and abortion rights
Show up!
Washington DC: 8AM to 8PM at the steps of the Supreme Court
Nationwide: 5PM local time at federal courthouses, federal buildings (the Westside’s is at 11000 Wilshire just east of the 405), town halls, and town squares across the country
We’re showing up for abortion rights, saying bans off our bodies, and demanding that elected officials take action before the Court gets the chance to overturn abortion
https://www.womensmarch.com/initiatives/show-up-to-protect-roe-and-abortion-rights
In person: Adam Schiff, Mike Levin, Betty Yee, Jay Chen, Rusty Hicks…
Spring into the Blue Wave, the GDHQ’s big fundraiser, co-sponsored by PPDC, is less than two weeks away!
Evening of Sunday, May 1 at a home in Pacific Palisades [location updated]
We are thrilled Reps Adam Schiff and Mike Levin, CA State Controller and CDP Vice Chair Betty Yee, CDP Chair Rusty Hicks, and CA-45 Congressional candidate Jay Chen will join as keynote speakers! Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/springintothebluewave?refcode=PacificPalisadesDemClub
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Thanks to all who attended our
March Candidate Forums
OPEN to ALL, via ZOOM
First we heard from candidates for mayor & city council. Then from
Candidates for Supervisor, Sheriff, & State Controller
Sun., 3/27/22, 1 PM
L.A. County Board of Supervisors District 3: West Hollywood City Councilmember Lindsey Horvath, State Senator Henry Stern
L.A. County Sheriff: Sheriff Alex Villaneuva (to be confirmed), Chief of LAX Police Cecil Rhambo, former Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna, L.A. County Sheriff’s Chief Eliezer Vera
California State Controller: L.A. City Controller Ron Galperin, State Board of Equalization member Malia M. Cohen, Mayor of Monterey Park Yvonne Yui
Click here to watch the video recording on our new YouTube channel
Thanks to the 150+ who signed up for last week’s Candidates Forum
with
Mayoral: Rep. Karen Bass, L.A. City CM Joe Buscaino, L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer
City Council District 11: Erin Darling, Greg Good, Jim Murez, Mike Newhouse, Traci Park, Allison Holdorff Polhill
Don’t worry if you missed it — for the next few weeks
you should be able to watch it by clicking here
Valentine’s Day political love: Two US Senate candidates come to the Palisades (home of a PPDC board member) on 2/14/22 at 1 PM — join in person or by Zoom!
For the first time in Los Angeles history and only the second time in NFL history,
Our great city hosted a Super Bowl featuring L.A.’s home team, the L.A. Rams.
The game, played in SoFi Stadium on February 13, could be a once-in-a-lifetime event for L.A. and the Rams.
PPDC, though not officially endorsing one team, does more or less officially love L.A., and so are happy to congratulate the Rams for winning the Super Bowl at home! : )
Jan. 6, the anniversary of Trump’s mind-blowingly execrable attempt to subvert American democracy, is tomorrow. We must not forget, and we have to act fast to fix what’s broken. VIGIL
5 – 7 PM, 1/6/22
at the Federal Bldg., 11000 Wilshire — come if you safely can, candle or candle app in hand!
Click here to sign up or see more info
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Or go deeper and join our sister orgs, the Westside Dem HQ and Grassroots Dems HQ, in taking action
AT YOUR CONVENIENCE and SAFELY FROM HOME to
Maintain our democracy
Defeat Republicans and elect Democrats
Be the change you want to see!
GRASSROOTS DEMS HQ info and signups here
Lots of different options for pitching in, either in virtual groups or on your own from home, or in person when safe!