Hello ,
It’s just one week until our June 15th meeting featuring a presentation by Angela de Joseph, founder of Woman of Color Roar Media.
We will also consider endorsements in the following races:
Chula Vista Elementary School District Board, Seat 1
Chula Vista Elementary School District Board, Seat 3
La Mesa City Council (2-at-large seats)
Encinitas Union School District, (3 at-large seats)
Please join at Elijah’s Restaurant, located at 7061 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, 6:30pm. If you can’t make it in person, join virtually here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpdOihqz0vGtOTpRtm29AUFVGLin2leJJ3
Happening Tuesday! A message from the San Diego County Democratic Party’s RISE Committee:
A lot has been riding on this Primary election. When I look at local returns, in addition to cheering on top Dem candidates and feeling compassion for those who are experiencing disappointment, I am shaken by the vast number of conservative voters who support MAGA values as evidenced by the results that are still being tallied. I am reminded that - even in sharply contested Dem-on-Dem races, we have far more in common than we have differences, and in order to build the world we want to live in, we must come together. Unity is action.
Here is an opportunity! Show up (call-in or in person) THIS Tuesday for the County Supervisors we worked so hard to elect in prior cycles and who show up to fight facism every day. Please sign up and share with like-minded folx.
At every meeting of the Board of Supervisors, our elected Democrats are under persistent verbal attack. Several members of the public speak both in-person and virtually at other meetings around the County of San Diego, undermining good governance and good-faith civic engagement. Often for our County Supervisors, Chair Terra Lawson-Remer, Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe, and Chair Pro Tem Paloma Aguirre, the public comments are sexist, racist, and mock physical appearance rather than offer constructive policy criticisms.
These women leaders and the staff who support them are tough. They walk in and get business done no matter what threats and insults are hurdled their way - every single day.
We work so hard to elect good people, but they often then govern with little sustained support. This is the work we are building with the San Diego County Democratic Party’s RISE Committee. Founded and named by former Chair Becca Taylor, the “Readiness, Inclusion, Support, and Education” Committee is growing capacity to act around San Diego in public spaces that could stand to have some powerful, positive presence. Many community members are regularly doing their own actions at their local school board, council, and agency meetings. RISE is working to build a sustainable action-oriented arm under the umbrella of our County Dem Party under the leadership of Chair Will Rodriguez-Kennedy.
If you would like to volunteer at formal RISE actions, including to Support the Supes this week, sign up here! bit.ly/DemsRISE
Let’s come together to support the phenomenal Democrats who are doing the work for all of us and our communities at the Board of Supervisors. If you’re attending in person - wear pink if you’d like to demonstrate solidarity. More info below!
Suggested comment themes during non-agenda public comment:
Say your name and community, and say one good thing a Supervisor has done for your community
Praise a County agency for how well staff is serving the community (ie, food distribution as federal resources are being inhumanely cut; functional permitting processes, a joyful civil wedding ceremony, etc)
Specifically name one policy our Democrats have supported (oversight of the Otay Mesa Detention Center, protecting all San Diego residents from violent federal overreach, leading with compassion generally, etc)
How to sign up to speak in person or by calling in:
The county website has detailed information on how to sign up and what to expect here: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cob/bosa/requesttospeak.html
Sign up to speak in person or virtually before June 9 here::
https://publiccomment.sandiegocounty.gov/#events
Register to speak for “Non-Agenda Public Communication”
• Use the form to sign up for an in-person or virtual non-agenda public comment before 9:00 a.m. (https://bit.ly/callformonica) If you have any difficulty, the Clerk can help.
• Under “How are you attending?” select “In Person” or “Virtually.” If you are appearing virtually, the last four digits of your phone number will be read aloud in the meeting when it is your turn to speak.
• Under the question: On which agenda items would you like to speak?” Select the first option: “Non-Agenda Public Communication.”
Be Prepared!
If attending in person, up to three hours of free parking is included in the underground garage, mid-block on Ash Street between Pacific Highway and North Harbor Drive.
Address: 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 310
The first five people (5 in person and 5 appearing by phone) are randomly selected to speak at the beginning of the meeting and the remainder of registered speakers are taken at the end of the agenda. The Chair typically allows two minutes for non-agenda public comment, but sometimes this is shortened, so also be prepared to speak for one minute. If you attend in person in the morning but cannot stay the whole day, you can leave and electronically submit a new speaker slip to call in instead.
In Person: Check in with the Deputy Clerk to let them know you have arrived. When your name is called, line up on the arrows behind the podium until it is your turn to speak. The timer on the podium tells you how much time you have remaining.
By Phone: Dial in to the conference line using the instructions in the e-mail reminder. You’ll be notified when you are next in line to speak. When it is your turn to speak, begin your comments after the prompt.
Prepare to Ignore Hate Speech!
At every meeting of the Board of Supervisors, there are people who make combative, toxic comments singling out the elected officials, including the Supervisors by name, and deploying insulting rhetoric. Do not engage. Sit with allies and friends. Focus on being light and bearing witness. They would love nothing more than to instigate an incident or conflict that centers themselves and their unhelpful agenda. If you don’t feel you can experience taunting and nasty remarks without responding, please use the call-in virtual comment option instead. Protect yourself and this collective action and the Supervisors.
If you sign our RISE interest form, we will email a reminder prior to the meeting. Speakers may sign up to speak on as many agenda items as they wish, as long as comments are relevant to the topic. Those who are attacking Democrats often speak on every single item, and invent insults and accusations that are tangentially on topic. For controversial issues that challenge Trump’s overreach into our communities, MAGA extremists show up in force. Our presence and voices will matter so much to those who share our values.
Let’s give back to our Supes who give so much! They deserve our presence and support as often as we can show up. We need unprecedented engagement for these unprecedented times.
Let’s unite in action!
We hope to see you on June 9!
Sara Ochoa
Amalia Martinez
RISE Co-Chairs
Thank you,
Cathie Hyatt
DWC President