Friends, I have announced my run for Santa Clara Valley Water District, for the District 2 seat in the following press release. I will focus on bringing fiscal responsibility, a humane response to the homelessness crisis, and cybersecurity protection to the Board of Valley Water. For more information, see https://electbillroth.com/.
Category: politics (Page 1 of 2)
Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,
As I stand for election to the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee, I’m reaching out to share my vision and to ask for your support on this journey. My commitment to our community’s well-being, equality, and progress has never been stronger. I’m running because I believe in our collective power to make a difference in the lives of every resident in our community.
✨ Why I’m Running:
To Advocate for You: My primary goal is to represent your needs and concerns, ensuring they are heard and addressed at every level.
Experience and Dedication: With a history of involvement in our community’s growth and well-being, I understand the challenges we face and have the experience to navigate them.
A Future Built Together: My vision is for a more inclusive, just, and sustainable community. I am committed to policies that protect our environment, foster economic growth, and promote social justice.
🗳️ This Election Matters:
Your vote is powerful. It’s a testament to our democratic values and our shared aspirations for the future. I’m asking for your vote not just as an endorsement of my candidacy but as a commitment to the values we share and the future we envision together.
I truly believe we’re in a battle. Not between Democrats and Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives, but between those who believe in our system and those who want to tear it down. A vote in the primary a statement that you believe in our American System.
🙏 Your Support is Crucial:
Spread the Word: Share this post with friends and family. Your voice can amplify our message and bring more supporters to our cause. Share this message with others. Subscribe to my newsletter about the local party.
Get Involved: There are many ways to contribute to our campaign, from volunteering to hosting virtual events. Every action counts. Contact me, or volunteer locally.
Vote: Make your plan to vote. Every vote brings us closer to our goal of a community that works for everyone. Make sure you and your friends and family are registered.
I am here to serve, to listen, and to act. Together, we can achieve extraordinary things. Join me in this campaign for a brighter, more inclusive Santa Clara County. Let’s make our voices heard and our votes count.
Thank you for your support, your trust, and your vote.
With gratitude,
Bill Roth
#BillRothForSCCDCC #CommunityFirst #VoteForChange #DemocraticValues #SantaClaraCounty
Exciting News! I am excited to announce my candidacy for the SCC Democratic Central Committee in Assembly District 28. This campaign represents a commitment to our community and our shared values.
Important Dates:
Ballots Drop: February 5th
Election Day: March 5th
My key priorities include Immigration Reform, Poverty Alleviation, and Housing Affordability. I’m looking forward to bringing positive change together with your support.
For more information on the local Democratic Party, Subscribe to my mailing list, TL;DR Local Democratic Party Edition
(I’m also running for Santa Clara Valley Water District as well, which is in November.)
I have previously posted that I’m running for Santa Clara Valley Water District. This election will be in November of 2024. For more information, see the Elect Bill Roth site. Now it is time to talk about the Democratic Central Committee. This election is part of the partisan primary election in California on March 5th.
I am also running for Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee SCCDCC for Assembly District 28. I am running to be your advocate on the SCCDCC. Let me know your thoughts using this contact form.
What the Heck Is Democratic Central Committee?
In California, the Democratic Central Committee (DCC) plays a pivotal role in shaping and directing the activities of the Democratic Party at the county level. The DCC is essentially the local governing body of the Democratic Party within each county, responsible for coordinating party activities, endorsing candidates, and mobilizing Democratic voters. Comprising elected representatives from each assembly district within the county, the DCC serves as a grassroots organization that reflects the diverse interests and perspectives of local Democrats. Its members are typically elected during the Democratic primary elections, and they work collectively to advance the party’s goals and principles within the county.
The Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee
The main meeting place for members of the Santa Clara County Democratic Party is the Democratic Central Committee meeting, which is the first Thursday of every month.
The Santa Clara Democratic Party stands as a dynamic and influential force within the political landscape of California’s Santa Clara County. As the local arm of the Democratic Party, the Santa Clara Democratic Party plays a pivotal role in shaping the political narrative, supporting candidates, and engaging the community in the pursuit of progressive values and inclusivity. From candidate endorsements to grassroots organizing, the party’s multifaceted efforts contribute significantly to the advancement of Democratic principles in the region.
Candidate Endorsements
One of the Santa Clara Democratic Party’s primary responsibilities is to endorse and support Democratic candidates across various levels of government. Through a thorough evaluation process, the party identifies candidates who align with its values and vision for the community. Endorsements from the Santa Clara Democratic Party provide candidates with a powerful stamp of approval, signaling to voters that these individuals have earned the trust and backing of the local Democratic community. This support is instrumental in helping candidates navigate the complex landscape of local politics, fostering a sense of unity and collaboration within the Democratic ranks.
Community Engagement and Grassroots Organizing
Beyond the endorsement process, the Santa Clara Democratic Party actively engages with the community through grassroots organizing and outreach efforts. By establishing a presence at the local level, the party aims to connect with residents, understand their concerns, and address the unique challenges facing Santa Clara County. Through town halls, community events, and volunteer initiatives, the party fosters a sense of inclusivity and ensures that the diverse voices within the community are heard and represented in the political process. This commitment to grassroots organizing strengthens the party’s ties to the community, creating a platform for dialogue and collaboration.
Advocacy for Progressive Policies
The Santa Clara Democratic Party serves as a platform for advocating progressive policies that align with the values of equality, social justice, and environmental sustainability. By leveraging its collective influence, the party works to shape local policies that reflect the principles of the Democratic Party, addressing issues such as affordable housing, education, healthcare, and environmental conservation. Through collaboration with elected officials and community leaders, the Santa Clara Democratic Party strives to bring about positive change and contribute to the overall well-being of Santa Clara County residents.
In Santa Clara County, the Democratic Party is not just a political entity; it is a catalyst for positive change and community engagement. The Santa Clara Democratic Party’s activities, ranging from candidate endorsements to grassroots organizing, demonstrate its commitment to fostering a more inclusive, progressive, and responsive local government. As a driving force for democratic ideals, the party continues to play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of Santa Clara County, contributing to a vibrant and participatory democracy.
Dear Family and Friends:
I am finally running for something! Many of you have known this day would come, and it is now here. I have filed papers with the county to run for the Santa Clara Valley Water District board of directors seat in my area.
This agency is responsible for ensuring clean water for all of Santa Clara County’s 2 Million residents, as well as for industry and agriculture. It has a budget of $860M(FY24: source) per year and is responsible for water management, flood control, and environmental stewardship in the county. Water is a serious business in California, and this is a big job.
The election isn’t until November 5th, 2024, but there at 138,989 (give or take) registered voters in this district, and I’m looking forward to talking to as many of them as I can. To see what I am up to, please subscribe to the newsletter at https://electbillroth.com/, or drop me a line at bill.roth.2024@gmail.com or consider donating.
As I have done in the past, I’m posting my ballot picks for June 7 California Primary. I post these for those that have questions. As I have written in the past, I’m not trying to convince anyone. These are not endorsements, but they are who I’m voting for. (ok, maybe that is kind of like an endorsement, but whatever).
Mayor: Cindy Chavez: https://www.cindychavezformayor.com/
I have seen Cindy in action for 20 years, as part of the local Democratic Party. She is a fierce competitor, as anyone who saw her run against Sam Liccardo 8 years ago will remember. But in my role on the boards of 2 local nonprofits, Sacred Heart Community Service and Gardner Health Services(a community clinic with over 60,000 patients/yr), she has consistently come through for the less fortunate in our community with significant funding on Housing, Homelessness and Rental Assistance, among may other issues. She’s the most experienced candidate who will continue to be a voice for the marginalized, and has a clear vision for a better San Jose. All Cindy, All the Way.
City Council District 3: Omar Torres http://omartorres.org/
I’m not in District 3, but my friend Omar Torres is running there. I’ve seen him operate in the Democratic Party for the last 20 years, and he has matured into quite a capable leader. I trust him on the issues, and I trust his judgment both from a governance perspective as well as from a political perspective. If you live in D3, where he was born and raised in the “La Wash” neighborhood, he is worthy of your vote. “Go Omar!”
Congress: Anna Eshoo: https://annaeshoo4congress.com/
Anna has been a great supporting of Silicon Valley, and her office assisted me on some activitism back in the day. Vote for her. Ajwan Rading is a young up and coming candidate, but he’s still green on some issues important to the district like patent reform, and did not seem entirely supportive of the Labor Movement in some local events. Great future candidate, but Anna wins this one for me.
For those not in my district, I wholeheartedly recommend 2 great public servants, Zoe Lofgren, and Jimmy Panetta. Zoe’s history speaks for itself. She’s a figure of historic importance. And I have been in party Zoom meetings with Jimmy, and he’s the real deal, and I know his father is proud. He’s a serious, policy oriented House member, with detailed knowledge about issues that affect our area.
Governor: Gavin Newsom: https://gavinnewsom.com/
Looks, I had my doubts about him. Was he just a glory-chasing celebrity pol? Ok, maybe a smidge, but he’s been governing well and doing a good job working with the legislature.
The rest of the state offices:
- Lieutenant Governor: Eleni Kounalakis
- Secretary of State: Dr. Shirley Weber
- Attorney General: Rob Bonta
- Treasurer: Fiona Ma
- Controller: Malia Cohen
Insurance Commissioner: Ricardo Lara: https://ricardolara.com/
Don’t know much about him, but as the incumbent, if I did, it would be because he was messing up. Re-elect.
Senate(Partial Term), and Senate: Alex Padilla: https://alex-padilla.com/
I’m proud to have him as my senator. Since he’s filling in Kamala’s team, you have to vote for him for the rest of the year, AND for the next team. It’s California law, don’t blame me.
Assembly Member: Rob Rennie: http://robrennie.com
Los Gatos City Council member, and strong environmentalist, as well as an engineer. 2 thumbs up.
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Tony K. Thurmond: https://www.tonythurmond.com/
Doing well, re-elect.
Supervisor: Susan Ellenberg: https://www.susanellenberg.com/
On the right side (my side) of all the issues. Deserves re-election.
Assessor: Larry Stone: https://www.larrystoneforassessor.com/
Doing a good job in a tough office, and always pleasant to talk to.
District Attorney: Sajid Khan: http://votesajid.com
This is a difficult one for me. On the one hand Jeff Rosen has been a decent Democratic attorney District Attorney. On the other hand I’ve been frustrated with him at being too close to the San Jose police and not following up on the various stories of police misbehavior. He’s been mildly progressive come up but I think we deserve more. Also, district attorneys do not have term limits, and it’s time for a change. I do not want to be in a situation like back in the days with George Kennedy where we have an imperial District Attorney for 25 years. I support Sajid Khan because he’d be a progressive District Attorney and would look to lessen the carceral state, by looking for other alternatives other than jail for people with minor offenses. As a public defender, he’s had a front row seat at viewing prosecutorial misconduct and prosecutorial overreach. I hope that this will moderate his approach to law enforcement.
Sherriff: Christine Nagaye: https://www.nagayeforsheriff.com/
This is one of those races where there are not too many good choices. Nearly all of the candidates are associated with the existing corrupt regime in the Sheriff’s Office, or are Republicans. I would normally vote for Ahn Colton because she’s not even a member of the Sheriff’s Department, but as of 2020 she was a registered republican, and that’s just a bridge too far for me these days. She’s not a serious candidate either, as she doesn’t even have a website. Christine Nagaye is at least registered as a Democrat. God help us.
Measure A: Vote No.
A back door way of EXTENDING Water Board term limits, NOT limiting them. Term limits measure critics call ‘intellectually dishonest’ placed on June ballot in Santa Clara County (mercurynews.com)
Measure B: Yes, I guess?
This measure seeks to move the San Jose mayoral elections to the presidential election year. The idea is that more people vote during presidential elections and therefore we would have greater voter participation. OK, I ‘spose. I’m not sure I follow this logic, because I think having elections more than once every four years it is important. Moreover, if you believe there are a fixed number of people working on elections this would essentially dilute campaigns and make them much less effective. It is also important to remind people that we live in a democracy and that as voters we have a responsibility to keep our elected officials in check frequently. And frequently fighting for democracy is important these days given the attack mounted against it. (See: Jan 6).
As I get older, I’ve become more invested in the notion that I really can’t convince anyone, politically, of anything anymore. This is an important statement come up because it literally changes how I make decisions on how I spend my time. This affects my politics mainly in the fact that I will not engage in debate, because I don’t believe I personally am effective in debating. The way I change people’s minds is by my actions. The way I make fundamental change is make sure that people who believe the same as I do get active politically, and above all vote.
So, instead of (or In addition to) shouting at the TV and sending my money to candidates I support, I choose to get involved. To give, as one of my long time faith community leaders used to say, my time and talent, as well as my treasure. I choose to take tangible action that will increase the political power of those who already share my opinion. Examples of this are: driving people to polls in Hamilton County Ohio (2008), knocking on doors in Modesto (2018), and being a poll watcher in Wisconsin (2020).
Why do I do this? Two principal reasons. First, in his last letter to the world, John Lewis made a profound statement that “democracy is not a state, it is an act”. One thing we learned from the period between 2017 and 2021 is that Democracy is fragile and can be taken away from us. We live in a Republic, where government derives its power from the consent of the governed. We learned during this period, that there are those who do not hold this positions. Moreover, we learned we must tangibly act to maintain it. We The People govern, and it requires work.
Second, and more importantly, I engage because I believe in the definition of this country, which I have written about before. This country is a secular, omni-ethnic, representative, democratic republic. And it is changing. By 2042, this country will be majority minority. No one ethnic group will have a majority. My efforts in this regard are twofold: to ensure the definition of this country remains the same, and to bring the non-majority (read: Non-white) groups into full participation in this country. Equal protection before the law, AND equal rights, equal opportunity and equal outcomes for all, no matter who your ancestors were, how able you are, how you worship, or who you love. This is the work of centuries, but I choose to start working on it now.
Why do I do this? Simple. I love this country, and as my faith tells me, all life is sacred. To do otherwise is to disrespect those two ideas.
There is a common joke that it is a “gaffe” when a politician accidentally speaks the truth. I believe it was a gaffe from Senator Lindsey Graham uttered the following words: “America is not a race. America is an idea.” I fully embrace this notion.
What is America? Not where is it, why is it, but WHAT is it as an idea? I contend it is this:
America is a secular, omni-ethnic, representative, democratic republic.
Let’s unravel this definition.
Secular: America is secular, in that, while the government must respect the free exercise of religion, the government can not establish or sponsor religion. This brings up 2 points. First, is America a Theistic nation, where belief in a higher power or powers is a baseline? If so, what about atheists? (I can argue either side). Second, from this it is possible to deduce that the citizenry can bring their religious-culture-inspired ideas to the public square, but can not enshrine a particular religious practice in law.
Omni-Ethnic: I use this neologism to imply all ethnicities are welcome, and none are specifically barred from participation. I use this awkward word intentionally, to imply inclusivity, as well as to recognize that ethnicity and race are fundamental to identity, and can not be ignored. I use this awkward word intentionally, also to connote that there is no such thing as a race neutral policy or law. At this point in our history, I believe people do not have the ability to be race neutral. As a result we must be conscious of this dimension in every public decision, as we do with gender, and sexual identity.
Representative: I use this word to indicate that we elect representatives to deal with the details of governance in a way that reflects the people of that constituency.
Democratic: America is a democracy. While we argue over everything, we vote. The people decide the issues through the common exercise of their franchise.
Republic: In a republic, the citizens are sovereign. In a country where the notion of the unitary executive perniciously creeps into public discourse, it is important that we remember that this is a republic. It’s not a monarchy, it is not a dictatorship. It is a country where the people rule. Those who govern do so only by the consent of the governed.
This has important implications. The first is that the People Rule. The President is not our ruler, merely the head of one of 3 co-equal branches of our government. We, The People, rule through our democratically elected representatives. We set the rules, and determine where our money is going. The President, and the Executive Branch are there to “execute” our wishes. The only time a President gets to set policy, is if we, through our representatives give him that ability. Finally, if there are questions or disputes on those rules we place on ourselves, the Supreme Court decides. But in the end, The People Rule.
To conclude, America is a country that values freedom. Freedom is not absolute, because you have freedom in so far as you are not hurting others. I’ll mention more about this incoming posts. Its founding ensures that we can live according to our values… So long as we are not hurting others. Why? Simply because we are all granted the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness, both individually, and as a whole. And we have a responsibility to others.
I thank Senator Graham for his gaffe, and look forward to his retirement. It helped to frame my definition about what this country is. About what my country is. And what we need to preserve and protect.
(Related post: I Can’t Convince Anyone)
I have done a post on my ballot picks for the last couple of elections. Here are my picks for November 2018.
Since some of my choices are the same as the primary, I’ll refer to that post for brevity.
Governor: Gavin Newsom. Not a tough call. See primary post for more details.
Lt. Governor: Eleni Kounalakis. See primary post.
Secretary of State: Alex Padilla. Primary post.
Controller: Betty Yee. Primary Post.
Treasurer: Fiona Ma. Still impressed. See primary post.
Attorney General: Xavier Becerra.See primary post.
Insurance Commissioner: Ricardo Lara. Primary post.
Member, Board of Eq., District 2: Malia Cohen. Primary post.
US Senator: OK, this is tough one, but I stand by my primary support for KDL, in spite of Senator Feinstein’s performance during the Kavanaugh hearings. (Sorry Anna).
House: Zoe Lofgren, for as long as she runs…..
State Assembly: Evan Low, primary post.
Judicial offices: I have not heard of any of them, so Yes to all.
State School Superintendent:Tony Thurmond. While my hijada is doing well at her Charter school, I think we need to support people of the current system. (I might have goofed in the primary.
County Supe: Don Rocha. Has the experience we need. And a nice guy too.
Sheriff: John Hirokawa. See primary post….too many scandals under Smith.
The State Propositions
1: Housing Bond: Yes. We have a serious housing crisis.
2: Bond for homeless/mental illness housing: Yes.
3: Infrastructure Bond: Yes.
4: Hospital Construction for Children’s healthcare: Yes
5: Changing requirements for tax treatment when people over 55 sell homes. OK, this is totally selfish, but I gotta retire some day, and I’ll be up for this in 2 year. Shameful, yes…but I’ll take my tax break for myself and my family.
6: Eliminating Road repair and transportation funding: No. Public safety issue.
7: Approval for State Legislature to change Daylight Savings Time. I hate this one, and I don’t care. So No.
8: Regulating Dialysis Treatment Payments. Why are we deciding this? Vote no.
10: Rent Control (Costa-Hawkins): We need to have affordable housing. Yes.
11: Making private ambulance drivers on-call during breaks. Again, why? I suppose Yes.
12: Setting farm animal enclosure standards. Seriously?! Voting no out of a fit of pique.
Local Propositions
A: Continue 1/8 cent sales tax. Yes.
S: Streamlines procurement, adjusts some thresholds. Yes.
T: Disaster Preparedness Bond: Yes.
U: Charter Amendments: Sure. Why not.
V: Local housing bond. Yes. See previous comments on housing.
5/15: Update with link to Merc endorsements and more thoughts on Governor.
A couple people have asked me for my opinion on things on the June 5th ballot, so here are my picks and the reasons why I am voting the way am.
But before I go through the ballot, let me note that this is an important elections, at the local, state and national level. As many of you know, I have been working on registering Spanish speaking citizens at Catholic Churches in the Modesto area, where there is some amount of chronic under-voting, and we have a real chance to flip a district to a Democratic seat. There are also good people running in San Jose, as well as some pretty nefarious propositions. So please, vote. Now, on with the picks:
FYI: Here are local party endorsements: SCCDP and the State Party. And the Merc.
It is important to understand my algorithm. I will pick candidates that share my values, but you also get points for running a good campaign, and points subtracted for running a bad campaign. This is because if you can’t run a campaign effectively, you will likely be unable to govern effectively.
My Picks
Candidates
Governor: I am torn. I have concerns about Gavin Newsom, especially after Stephen Colbert embarrassed him on the old show. And selling gay marriage in San Francisco was not really a tough sell. Had he been mayor of Louisville or Milwaukee, that would have been something. That said, I think he as fairly represented California as Lt. Governor. On one hand, he’s a 1-percenter, scion of the Gettys, that started a winery with family money. On the other hand, he has supported important causes, we line up on most important issues, and he throws great parties for Democrats at the state convention. And he’s from Northern California. We need someone to represent the north, to make sure our resources (especially water) do not get inappropriately siphoned off by southern California. The Merc seems to like him, for good policy reasons. They does not reflect the pause some are given by his messy first divorce, nor his current wife’s penchant for unfortunate mis-statement.
Antonio Villraigosa on the other hand, to me, represents what California is becoming. California is already a minority-majority state, and we should be represented this way. He has experience running LA, no mean feat. However, I am not sure he’d factor in Norcal in his decisions due to lack of experience.
I also like Amanda Renteria, but it feels like she is ballot-riding for her next job, whatever that is.
Pick: Today I am leaning Gavin, last week it was Villraigosa.You Pick. (I’ll update this when I make a choice)
Lt. Governor: Eleni Kounalakis gave a pretty good speech at the local Dem Pary Dinner, as did Jeff Bleich. Bleich has a serious resume, as a law clerk, lawyer and ambassador. Kounalakis was also an ambassador, and was born in Sacramento. She also seems to have decent money behind her, and is running a decent campaign.
Pick: Kounalakis
Secretary of State: Alex Padilla. Incumbent. Doing a good job.
Controller: Betty Yee. Incumbent. Doing a good job.
Treasurer: Fiona Ma. Gave a great speech at the local Dem Dinner. Very impressive and a solid accounting background.
Attorney General: Xavier Becerra. He’s been doing a great job standing up to Trump. Keep him in this seat.
Insurance Commissioner: Ricardo Lara. The *last* thing we need is a crypto-conservative shill for the insurance industry in the job. I’m looking at you Steve Poizner.
Board of Equalization, District 2: Malia Cohen. Great local candidate.
Senator: KDL (AKA Kevin DeLeon). After enough years, a change is needed. DiFi has been maddeningly centrist on national security and privacy issues. Its time for a change.
Congress: Zoe Lofgren. Because she’s one of my heroes.
State Assembly: Evan Low. Incumbent. Doing a good job.
Superior Court, District 4: Chiarello. He’s the only one running.
Recall Persky: Yes. The Standford case is all you need to know.
Persky Replacements: Unknown. You pick.
School Superintendent: Marshall Tuck. He has good endorsements from people I trust.
County Supervisor: Don Rocha. He understands central San Jose, and he stopped by the house. He’s working hard for it. (and he offer to help me load my Kayak.).
Assessor: Larry Stone. Cuz why not.
DA: Jeff Rosen. Incumbent. Doing a good job.
Sheriff: Too scandals/deaths at the County Jail for Smith to keep her job. Hirokawa.
Mayor: No real choice. Sam Liccardo. A good man who is trying to represent ALL of San Jose, and doing a good job at it.
Propositions/Initiatives
Prop 68: Bond measure for natural resources. YES.
Prop 69: Making sure the Legislature does not divert transportation money to something else. Duh. YES.
Prop 70: Requiring 2/3 super-majority on divesting cap-and-trade monies. I hate super-majorities. Seems anti-democratic. NO.
Prop 71: Sets effective date for ballot measures. Unclear what this is for but seems reasonable: YES.
Prop 72: from the why-are-we-deciding-this Dept.: Excludes newly constructed rain-capture equipment from reassessment. Umm….I guess so? YES. (Is the rain-capture lobby really this strong?)
RM3: Raise bridge toll. Not a big affect on me, and we need more monies for traffic alleviation. YES.
Measure B: Sham proposition. NO.
Measure C: Tucked in here is language that allows the creation of affordable housing which San Jose desperately needs. YES.
As many of you know, I obsess about politics the way other people do about sports. This has been the most interesting election cycle of my lifetime, both good and bad. I’ve been pouring over the my ballot, and I get excited when I get my State Voter Guide, which is online. and below are my picks for 2016 all the way down. Feel free to start a conversation on this.
My Picks:
- President/VP: Clinton/Kaine
- Senator: Kamala Harris. Look, I love Loretta Sanchez as a person, and I recognize and appreciate what she’s done in Garden Grove. But Harris is a serious candidate, and a historic candidate
- Congress: Zoe Lofgren, now and forever. Proud to have her as my representative in Congress.
- State Senator: Jim Beall.
- Assembly: Evan Low
- San Jose Unified School District: Pam Foley.
- East Side Union School District. Pattie Cortese
- City Council: Helen Chapman. Dev Davis is a Republican.
- Open Space District: Dorsey Moore. PLO is just ballot riding.
- Prop 51: Yes. Its the only way we can legitimately fund schools in California
- Prop 52: Yes. Why is this not in the legislature?
- Prop 53: No. Would make raising revenue for worthy projects harder
- Prop 54: Yes. Seems reasonable that legislation should be public 72 hours ahead of time.
- Prop 55: Yes. Proud to extend this, and to pay it. We have to find education somehow.
- Prop 56: Yes. Leads to a healthier population
- Prop 57: Yes. Part of the on-going criminal justice reform
- Prop 58: Yes. Preserves the status quo. Common language is a unifier. I’d also like to see mandatory Spanish as well. Maybe in the future.
- Prop 59: Yes. Allowing for proposal and ratification of an amendment to overturn Citizens United
- Prop 60: Blank. Ummm, really? I have to vote on this?
- Prop 61: Yes. Lowers drug prices.
- Prop 62: Yes. End the Death Penalty. Seamless Garment.
- Prop 63: Yes. Background check for ammo. Guns don’t kill people, bullets do.
- Prop 64: Yes. 420 dood. Then tax it. See Aquinas: “lex humana dicitur aliqua permittere, non quasi ea approbans, sed quasi ea dirigere non potens.” (ST 1-2.93.3.3)
- Prop 65: Yes. Grudgingly. The bag ban is an example of the nanny state. Do you know how many groceries I have left in the parking lot because of this ban? But this redirects money to environmental causes.
- Prop 66: No. Seems to me like taking away due process rights
- Prop 67: No. See Prop 65. How much pasta sauce do I need to leave in the Safeway parking lot?
- Measure A: Yes. We have the largest per-capita homeless population. We need to fix it.
- Measure B: Yes. Traffic is a mess, future generations need BART. Yes to the sales tax.
- Measure E: Yes. Be fair on offering extra hours. I have seen this abused.
- Measure F: Yes. Its a decent compromise. Lets rebuild SJPD.
- Measure G: Yes. Yes to Business Tax.
- Measure X: Yes. Supports Job Training
- Measure Y: Yes. More Property Tax to improve San Jose Schools.
My Current Senate map:
As extra credit: At this writing, my Senate Map looks like this. My current prediction is 50/50 split with VP breaking tie.
Lets hope this is not a dead-cat bounce
It is hard being a Catholic these days. Every day, I am assaulted by new reports of sexual abuse by priests, and new allegations of the Church hierarchy trying to cover it up. Worse still, are the Church’s defensive reactions to the media, which only serve to make the Church look even more dreadful. But is times like this which remind us of what God is actually calling us to do.
The daily news continues to be depressing. Every day there is new news about fresh allegations of abuse across the globe, new allegations of cover-ups by the institutional Church, or new resignations as a result of the allegations.
For the record: I do not excuse any of the behavior and we, the Church, deserve everything we get. We let this happen. We did not ask questions. We decided the institution was more important than children. We decided to protect the Church’s image, rather than the most vulnerable.
To be clear: By “we” I mean the whole Church, the institutional Church, the Faithful and the theologians/scholars. While I realize that the modern Church is not a democracy, we, the faithful, did not hold our leaders accountable. In this instance, the civic world is doing it for us. We have abrogated our duty.
This is hard for me personally. Much of my identity is based on being Catholic. I had 16 years of Catholic education, and the members of the clergy were more than often than not inspiring and great role models. I looked up to people in the Diocese of LaCrosse, WI, like Sister Renee my 3rd grade teacher, Father Bob Nelson, and Bishop John Paul. At Marquette University, I was inspired by Father David Haschka, Dan Schutte, and Father John Naus. Since graduating, I have a new set of heroes in Father Tom Reese, and Father Jon Pedigo.
This must be even harder for the 99% of the clergy who are honest laborers in the field of the Lord. I witnessed this recently when talking to a local priest, and I could tell the daily news of priestly abuse was taking its toll. I could see that wearing the collar was very difficult for him. This is a good man trying to build a community and save souls. His leaders, and his organization, let him down.
But it is times like these that we need to remember who we are as Catholics, the good that we do, and what our core values are. It is times like these, when we need to stand tall, fix the problems, we have, and more importantly, get back to our core values. It is times like these when we need to focus on doing good in the world.
What are those core values? Now is the time to re-read foundational documents of the modern Church to remind ourselves what we believe and what we are called to do. I look for solace in two key modern documents, Deus Caritas Est, and Faithful Citizenship. Both of which have powerful calls to action for the modern Catholic that we can scarcely ignore.
Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical was a marvel of clarity in its call to action. He reminded us that faith is not enough, and that we need to be active in the modern world. And that the best way to achieve justice in the real world is through politics.
The just ordering of society and the State is a central responsibility of politics [28a]
It is clear from the encyclical that we are called to act on injustice in the real world to seek a just ordering of society, and that we must act on our values. We must take to heart the words of James 2:26, which reminds of that faith without action is like a body without a soul….dead.
What are our “civic” values as Catholics. Faithful Citizenship provides a clear framework for the key issues to be considered. They are:
- The Right to all Life, and the Dignity of the Human Person
- Call to Family, Community, and Participation
- Rights and Responsibilities
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
- Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
- Solidarity, or We are One Human Family
- Caring for God’s Creation
This document gives us a comprehensive list of the important issues of the day, in clear language. It reminds us that all of these issues are important, and that while some are more urgent, all of these issues need attention. (I prefer the two page version, here).
We have done wrong. We must stand up and take responsibility for the actions of our Church without defensiveness, justification, or rationalization.
We must also do good. We must get back to basics, and renew our efforts to be a positive force for change in the world. We must fight for human dignity. We must fight for justice in our families and in our communities. We must fight for a better life for the poor and vulnerable. We must fight for the rights and dignity of all workers. We must fight to bring together the people of the world into one human family. And we must fight to become worthy stewards of God’s creation.
It is in fighting for these values, our values, that we will be able to weather the storm we’re in, and ultimately renew our Church.
One thing I will miss when I move back to San Jose is Philadelphia politics. Because of its proximity to DC, and the fact that it is a much more competitive state than California, make it a vastly more interesting place to watch politics.
Take for example the issue advocacy ads. The one running on MSNBC right now is one from Heath Care For America Now. The ad, which strikes me as overtly political, is actually from a 501c4 issue advocacy organization, the Health Care Action Network. Their key tag line is:
If Insurance Companies Win, You Lose.
Interestingly, no talk about a public option. They do not single out any politician or piece of legislation, but say “Call Congress….”.
Its a pretty good site. Its media rich, which makes it slow on my netbook, and they are using Google Analytics, which shows some sophistication.