Thurs 6/20: 3rd Thursday is going to be busy – Pizza, Camaraderie, & Postcards. PLUS an evening forum with VC Brady United.

Action #1 – Meet at Santino’s for pizza, camaraderie, and social justice – every Third Thursday starting at 11:30 am

Where: Santino’s Pizza. It’s at 4231 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, 93003

When: Thursday, June 20th, 11:30am – 1:30pm.

RSVP: Nope. Just come. Invite your friends.

What to bring: We provide the pizza, postcards, stationary and stamps! If you prefer, you may bring your own stationary. Donations of stamps are always gratefully accepted.

Questions? Email indivisibleventura@gmail.org

We eat, we write, we talk, we plot, we share. Come and join in the fun!

Action #2 – Ventura County Chapter of Brady United against Gun Violence meeting – All are welcome! 6:15 pm.

When: Thursday, June 20, 6:15-8:15 PM

Where:  Ventura County Community Foundation – The Board Room at 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd Camarillo, CA 93012 (The building has two main entrances- one on the freeway side, the other in the back or mountain side. Both work, but the “back or mountain side” is closest to the “Board Room” where we are meeting.)

Continue reading “Thurs 6/20: 3rd Thursday is going to be busy – Pizza, Camaraderie, & Postcards. PLUS an evening forum with VC Brady United.” →

Mon 6/17: Call your CA legislators! Important bills are now in their committees!

Action #1 – Ask Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson to vote yes on the following bills… 

Minimal Script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [___] to vote “YES” on AB-12, AB-61 and AB 392.

Contact: State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (SD-19): SAC (916) 651-4019, SB (805) 965-0862, OX (805)988-1940 email
Not your people?: findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov.

Action #2 – Ask Assemblymember Monique Limón to vote yes on the following bills… 

Minimal Script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [___] to vote “YES” on SB-18, and SB 392.

Contact: State Assemblymember Monique Limón (CA-37): SAC (916) 319-2037, SB (805) 564-1649, VTA (805) 641-3700 email
Not your people?: findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov.

CA legislature progress update.

Continue reading “Mon 6/17: Call your CA legislators! Important bills are now in their committees!” →

Fri- 6/14: Et tu, Gavin? Tell the Gov. to read SB-276 – it just stops fake vaccine exemptions. Then ask Assemblymember Limón to vote it through the Health Committee.

Sarah C’s story  Sarah W’s story  Dr. Swarzberg’s story  Mobius’ story   Megan’s story

“Medical exemptions have more than tripled since the passage of SB 277. Some schools are reporting that more than 20 percent of their students have a medical exemption. It is clear that a small number of physicians are monetizing their exemption-granting authority and profiting from the sale of medical exemptions.” – Pediatrician & State Sen. Dr. Richard Pan.

Action – YES on SB-276. Nudge Newson, make the call to Assembly Member Limón on the Health Committee.

We’re concerned that Governor Newsom has been so busy that he hasn’t had a chance to read SB-276 – Immunization: medical exemptions. (Jessica Biel, who still isn’t a real doctor, hasn’t read the bill carefully either.) Three years ago, CA passed SB 277, a bill which eliminated “personal belief” exemptions, and vaccinations reached the 95% level necessary to provide herd immunity for kids who are immunocompromised or are too young. Now all that is at risk again because of doctors who sell fake medical exemptions to parents. SB 276 is aimed at tracking doctors who create an inordinant amount of exemptions, who may not have even seen the child, or who use reasons for exemptions don’t follow CDC guidelines.

On June 20th, Assembly Member Monique Limón will be part of the Assembly Health Committee which will vote on this action. (Other members listed below) Go ahead and call your representative whether or not they’re on this committee.

Minimal script for your Assembly Member: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Assembly Member [___] to vote “YES” on SB-276. Children should be able to go to school without fear of preventable disease. Continue reading “Fri- 6/14: Et tu, Gavin? Tell the Gov. to read SB-276 – it just stops fake vaccine exemptions. Then ask Assemblymember Limón to vote it through the Health Committee.” →

Thurs 6/13: Stop the Trump administration from helping out world – class polluters on our dime.

“I have no idea why our government would issue loan guarantees to facilitate foreign investments for a product that is intended to prop up the faltering fracking industry, as well as to be shipped overseas,” – Leatra Harper, managing director for the FreshWater Accountability Project told Energy News Network.

Action –  Support Omar and Jayapal’s Amendment 105 in Rule II on HR 2740 – (Energy Appropriations Bill)

Trump wants to use our money from a federal clean energy loan program to build a mega-fracking/petrochemical plant in the middle of Appalachia with his best friend, the president of China. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Pramila Jayapal have introduced Amendment 105 in rule II to remind him of the rules. Make sure your legislator is on board too and supports adding this amendment to H.R. 2740 – Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020.

Minimum script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep. [___] to support the Omar-Jayapal Amendment 105 in Rule II on HR. 2740. Do not allow my tax dollars to support [the fossil fuel industry/this environmental catastrophe-waiting-to-happen.]

Contacts
Rep. Julia Brownley: email, (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779
or Rep. Salud Carbajal: email. (CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348
Who is my representative/senator?: hq-salsa.wiredforchange.com

Background

What many of us didn’t know yesterday, is that the government operates a loan program called Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act. (Wonk alert – 42 U.S.C. § 16513.) This program was created to fund energy projects that “avoid, reduce or sequester air pollutants or anthropogenic [human-caused] emissions of greenhouse gases”, i.e. innovative, clean energy technology to help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The kinds of industries that don’t have tons of lobbyists or give out huge campaign donations…

Continue reading “Thurs 6/13: Stop the Trump administration from helping out world – class polluters on our dime.” →

Sat. – 6/15: Ventura asks our legislators to do their job. Join us at the #Impeach Trump rally this Saturday.

Action #1 – Meet us on the sidewalk in front of our Ventura County Government Center on Sat. June 15th at 11:00 am.

“If we had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said that.” – Robert Mueller.

The Mueller report confirms what we’ve always known: Trump abused his authority, violated the law, and tried repeatedly to obstruct justice. These are impeachable offenses. With control of the House, Democrats should use their power to do the right thing and begin impeachment proceedings.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s resolution (H.Res.257) is a good step forward (See action #2 below). It’s time for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to exercise bold moral leadership and begin impeachment proceedings, so we can have the full, public inquiry that we deserve instead of dangerous inaction that enables a racist, xenophobic and law-breaking president. The last time an administration refused to comply with a congressional subpeona was at the beginning of the Teapot Dome Scandal. If our president is or has been involved illegal activities, we want to know. We are his boss. Not the other way around.

Come join us at the Ventura County Government Center at 800 S. Victoria (at the corner with Telephone) This is a peaceful, family-friendly and non-violent protest. Please bring a sign, American flags, your loudest voice and come dance to our great protest music soundtrack!

Afterwards, relax and join in the Juneteenth celebration in Oxnard!

10:00 to 5:00 pm at the Plaza Park in downtown Oxnard. Information here.

Action #2 – Remind our legislators that we expect them to do SOMETHING – like cosponsor H.Res.257.

Continue reading “Sat. – 6/15: Ventura asks our legislators to do their job. Join us at the #Impeach Trump rally this Saturday.” →

Tues 6/11: Making voting more accessible, especially to those with disabilities. Part 2: Federal legislation.

(Today’s actions from Americans of Conscience, quote from – Lisa Schur, Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations.)

See Part 1 here.

Although 25% of the U.S. population is disabled in some way, voter turnout in the disability community lags nearly 6 percentage points behind that of nondisabled people. Challenges include voter ID laws; inaccessible polling places; finding accessible election materials; and properly trained poll workers.

Action #1 – H.R.1/S.949 – “For the People” Act includes disability access improvements.

ANOTHER reason why HR.1 and the senatorial version S.949 are so important… These bills increase voting access for those with disabilities by increasing accessibility requirements at polling places, and giving out grants to help pay for necessary alterations. These bills also make registration materials and notices regarding voter roll purges more accessible and expand access to early voting and same-day voter registration. Extending hours helps not only those with schedules dependant on personal care attendants, but also parents of young children, and those with jobs that conflict with normal polling hours. Combo-scripts and contact info. below

Action #2 – H.R.865/S266 – the Rebuild America’s Schools Act will make many polling places more accessible.

Continue reading “Tues 6/11: Making voting more accessible, especially to those with disabilities. Part 2: Federal legislation.” →

Mon 6/10: He wants to frack CA over. Got 5 minutes? Try the new EASY comment generator! Deadline TONIGHT 11:59pm EST!

PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

Action: This is it, people! Start making comments! Public comment open until Monday night 6/10, 11:59pm EST  – NEW EASY METHOD!

Option 1 – “Super Easy” 5-minute comment generator.

The folks at Los Padres Forest Watch have created this nifty system to help you create an original (VERY IMPORTANT!) public comment on this issue.

Simply go here and follow their instructions.  5 minutes, one click and you’re done! No, you don’t have to read any further. You’re ready to go right now!

In fact, it’s so easy, please share on all your social media platforms and do a couple today before deadline!

Option 2 – More challenging – comment directly on BLM’s weird comment site.

Click to comment directly here.

For graphic instructions on using this strange portal, links to maps of open leases, government documents on this project including the “Draft EIS”, go here.

If you’re interested in this subject, we’ve collected lots of information for you to skim through here. Take one fact or issue, or as many as you want to create your comment. Comments don’t have to be long or extremely technical.
(In item #12 below, there are linked sources that specifically address the BLM EIS. They are being updated while you read this…)

Background

Continue reading “Mon 6/10: He wants to frack CA over. Got 5 minutes? Try the new EASY comment generator! Deadline TONIGHT 11:59pm EST!” →

Fri 6/7: Yes, you can do something. Pull out those orange T-shirts and be seen, pull out your phone and be heard. Join in!

Today is National Gun Violence Awareness Day…

Action #1 – Take a minute to remember what’s at stake. (Then do Action #3)

Action #2 – Go somewhere, do something.

Find an event near you here.

Continue reading “Fri 6/7: Yes, you can do something. Pull out those orange T-shirts and be seen, pull out your phone and be heard. Join in!” →

Thur 6/6: Do an “Interpretative” dance with the EPA – Write a comment to stop a dirty loophole in the Clean Water Rule. Deadline, Friday, 6/7.

How does a river catch on fire…13 times? Ohio’s Cuyahoga River caught fire because flammable petroleum products were being dumped directly into it, along with contaminated seepage from groundwater. Images like these from 1962 inspired the creation of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA).

Action – Write a comment on why Andrew is wrong before 11:59 pm EST Friday 6/7!

imageHey, remember this guy? Andrew Wheeler, fossil fuel lobbyist, Washington Coal Club VP and putative Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)? An earlier public notice period alerted him to Big Ag and Industry’s annoyance with requirements to get NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permits. And they didn’t think they should have to for releasing hazardous waste to groundwater systems with direct hydrologic connections to potable surface water. So Andrew issued an INTERPRETATIVE STATEMENT – the EPA and the Clean Water Act (CWA) would no longer protect the public from releases of pollutants from a “point source” to groundwater, regardless of the risks posed by hydrologic connections to potable surface water. If this rule change goes through, it’s another win for big agricultural, industrial and commerical polluters. Significant sources of water pollution, like agricultural storm water discharges and return flow from irrigated agriculture are already excluded the EPA’s charge. Now, this proposed regulatory loophole will allow polluters to avoid CWA liability by encouraging them to dispose of their problem wastes directly into local groundwater supplies, even when they know it flows into navigable, potable water. Already, a fifth of the United States, over 63 million people, have been exposed to potentially unsafe water.

Stop this now! Take 5 minutes to read some facts we’ve gathered, get mad, and write a comment. It doesn’t have to be long or technical. Just original. Comment here.

image.png Continue reading “Thur 6/6: Do an “Interpretative” dance with the EPA – Write a comment to stop a dirty loophole in the Clean Water Rule. Deadline, Friday, 6/7.” →

Wed 6/5: Making voting more accessible, especially to those with disabilities. Part 1: CA – Thank our legislators!

(Today’s actions from Americans of Conscience, quote from – Lisa Schur, Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations.)

35.4 million people with disabilities were expected to vote in the 2016 presidential election. That was an increase of 7 percent over 2012 and represented nearly one-sixth of the total U.S. electorate at the time.

Action #1 – Check to see if our state has Automatic Voter Registration.

We do. CA was the 2nd of 15 states to adopt the process that makes voter registration an “opt-out” instead of “opt-in” option when eligible citizens interact with government agencies, like the DMV in CA, that provide this service. “Automatic voter registration” (AVR) makes voting easier for those with disabilities by eliminating the need to submit paper forms that are not accessible to them.

Action #2 – Thank our state legislators for their record on voting accessibility.

Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson voted for the bill that created AVR – AB 1461 in 2015, as well as a lot of of other great voting legislation listed in the “Background” section below. Relatively new Assembly Member Monique Límon (2016) has also consistently supported voter accessibility legislation.

Minimal Script: I’m calling from [zip code] to thank [Senator Jackson/ Assemblymember Límon] for her efforts in bring fairness and access to all of California’s voters. Continue reading “Wed 6/5: Making voting more accessible, especially to those with disabilities. Part 1: CA – Thank our legislators!” →