Mon. 4/12 – Justice files for Monday. Let’s make some change.

Action #1: ~~Economic justice file: “Bridging the digital divide” – Help the Westside Community Council get a grant for Chromebooks for Ventura Westside Library. Comments due today by 4pm.~~
Action #2: ~~Environmental justice file: LAST DAY TO GET THIS BASIC SAFETY BILL FOR DRILLING through the CA Senate!~~
Action #3: Economic Reparations file: “YES” on SB 796 – Return Bruce’s Beach back to the Bruce Family.

Action #1: Economic justice file: “Bridging the digital divide” – Help the Westside Community Council get a grant for Chromebooks for Ventura Westside Library. Comments due today by 4pm.

Example script (personalize this with your own experiences/writing voice):

“Legislative/Hearing Body”: City Council
“Select a Topic”: Agenda Item Number/Topic
“Agenda Item Number/Topic”: Item 12A, a-e.
“Recommendation”: Support Recommendation.

To Peter Gilli, Community Develoment Director, and City Council Members,

I am writing in support of the Westside Community Council’s “Bridging the Digital Divide” project, which would acquire computers that could be checked out by seniors and low income patrons of the Westside/ Avenue Library with the use of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) funding. This resource will remove barriers to civic engagement for constituents who do not have the economic wherewithal to own computers or other devices, by allowing access to online services and meetings, such as city council meetings, medical care, and online jobs, when the library’s computer lab is closed at night. Laptop lending programs are already common in universities and colleges to help students who can’t afford their own.

As the purpose of CDBG funding is to help in the development of viable communities, decent housing, and expanded economic opportunities for low- to moderate-income persons, utilizing it to supply laptop computers, tools necessary to navigate in our modern society, this is an appropriate use of this funding.

How to submit your comments:

PUBLIC COMMENTS- All interested parties are invited to be present and be heard. Written communications may be directed to VENTURA CITY COUNCIL, 501 POLI STREET, VENTURA, CA 93001 https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/publicinput
Please submit written or emailed comments no later than by 4:00pm on Monday, April 12, 2021.

More information:

Tonight’s agenda is here. A copy of the DRAFT 2019-2020 Action Plan Amendment and the DRAFT 2021-2022 CDBG Funding Plan will be available for review on the City’s website at: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/2042/CDBG-and-HOME-Programs

Action #2: Environmental justice file: LAST DAY TO GET THIS BASIC SAFETY BILL FOR DRILLING through the CA Senate!

(Original post here.) The Senate’s Natural Resources and Water Committee is meeting TOMORROW MORNING, and despite having a majority of Democrats, there’s no guarantee that this commonsense health and safety bill for the oil and gas drilling sites will pass. VISION is asking everyone to call these four committee members and asking them to vote YES on SB 467.

Wondering if this issue affects you personally, or your kids, or your family? Click on this map here, or this site. Negative health effects of drilling have been recorded not just within the 2500′ setback limit, but up to 9.3 miles away, not including possible pollution in the water table. Mandated buffer zones are common in other oil-producing states, including Colorado, North Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. New York, Washington, and Maryland already banned fracking. It’s time for California to do the same.

Alternate script from 350 Conejo: “My name is ______________ and I live in _____________ . I am calling to ask Senator Hertzberg / Eggman to vote YES on SB 467 when it comes up for vote in the Senate Natural Resources Committee on April 13.Oil and gas extraction threatens the health and safety of our community. We need 2500-foot setbacks for extraction from homes, schools and other sensitive areas.We also need a managed decline from well stimulation methods like fracking, and we need a just transition for workers, which SB 467 will provide. This is win-win for climate, for workers, and for our communities. Thank you.“

Take a moment to thank our awesome legislators Sen. Monique Limón and Asm. Steve Bennett for their authorship and support of this bill.

Contacts:
State Senator Monique Limón (SD-19): SAC (916) 651-4019, SB (805) 965-0862, OX (805)988-1940 email
State Assemblymember Steve Bennett (CA-37): SAC (916) 319-2037, SB (805) 564-1649, VTA (805) 641-3700 email
Not your people?:findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov.

Action #3: Economic Reparations file: “YES” on SB 796 – Return Bruce’s Beach back to the Bruce Family.

“I hope that the media will use the right word when you report this story today. The county isn’t gifting anyone anything. The county is returning property that was inappropriately taken. We are returning to the Bruce family… property that they rightfully owned.”- LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell

These were the words of L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell at this morning’s press event to announce the county’s plans to return Bruce’s Beach property to the descendants of its rightful owners: Willa and Charles Bruce, the Black entrepreneurs who first purchased the property and built a resort to serve Black families, who were denied access to most Southern California beaches. After suffering harassment by White neighbors, the city of Manhattan Beach seized the property through eminent domain in 1929 at a fraction of its worth, obstensibly to build a park, which wasn’t actually realized until the 1960’s. (Read the whole shameful story here.)

Civil rights activists have convinced the county to return its ill-gotten gains. However, restrictions from the state limit its ability to sell or transfer the property back to the Bruce family. Senator Bradford announced new legislation, S.B. 796, which would exempt the Bruce’s Beach property from these restrictions and enable the county to return the site to its rightful owners. The legislation is co-authored by Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Muratsuchi.

The bill is going to the Senate Natural Resourcs and Water Committee on 4/27.

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] to ask Asm/Sen. [__] to support S.B. 796, to remove restrictions from land in Manhattan Beach that prevent it from being returned to the descendants of the Bruce family, its rightful owners.