RE-ENVISIONING SAFETY IN AMERICA

The horror of George Floyd's murder has inspired a deep debate about re-envisioning Public Safety in America.  The call to “Defund The Police!” does not mean the elimination of law enforcement -- it means divesting money from bloated police budgets and investing instead in people to deal proactively with addiction, homelessness and mental illness. Gun-toting police aren’t the answer to these problems.  So many police shootings occur in the context of these issues.  

Militarizing the Police hasn’t reduced crime. Neither has throwing more and more money at police departments.  It’s time to try something different.  Eugene, Oregon has been diverting money from its police to the hiring of medics and social workers to address addiction issues, mental illness or homelessness ---and it’s been very effective.

The latest Los Angeles City Budget was slated to devote 54% of discretionary funds to the LAPD.  Now, in response to the protests, the City Council is considering cutting between $100 and $150 million from Mayor Garcetti's original budget. But this is merely rolling back a yearly hike in spending — it's not the serious change that’s needed.  New York's City Council is talking about cutting $1 billion from their police budget, so LA could make more drastic cuts and fund needed community services. This would also free up police officers to do things they are uniquely suited to - such as solving crimes!  

Black Lives Matter has put together a powerful proposal along these lines.  You can read it at: https://peoplesbudgetla.com.

We’re asking LA Residents to call their City Council members and ask them to get serious about a new approach to public safety -- substantial cuts to LAPD and moving the money into community services for crime prevention and for non-violent crisis resolution. Tell them his is the moment for real substantive change, not merely trimming around the edges. Here is a list of Los Angeles City Council members:

CONTACT YOUR LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT

Map of Council District Boundaries

AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRATIC ACTION SOCAL MARCH 3, 2020 PRIMARY ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS

From February 22nd - March 3,  2020, California will be holding it's Democratic Primary election. Voters who are  "non-affiliated" to any party will have to either re-register Democratic Party or ask for a "CROSSOVER BALLOT" otherwise your vote will not be counted.  We no longer vote at precincts.  We vote a "VOTING CENTERS".  There will be other "down ballot" elections of City Council members, State Senators and judges, measures and propositions included with this election. To find out more about the new voting system I urge you to go to this link. LA COUNTY REGISTRARS .

Below is a list of endorsements, and if you'd like to know an explanation our endorsements please click here.   If you would like to know how we pick our endorsements click here.

If you would like a PDF copy of our endorsements to print out click here

OUR ENDORSEMENTS

The presidential election cycle soaks up our collective attention while special elections for State Assembly, seats on City Councils, and School Boards are regularly won with less than 20% of voters casting a ballot.

We are slowly changing the culture and tradition of political insiders backed by big-money winning low-turnout elections. Here, in Los Angeles City Council District 12, we have a chance to hasten the pace of that change. Local political machines are buzzing with 15 candidates competing in the special election to fill the seat after the incumbent resigned to take a private sector job.

I am a strong supporter of Dr. Loraine Lundquist because she represents what government could be. I got to know Loraine during our campaign for Assembly in 2018; she was an Assembly District Delegate who asked a series of thoughtful questions and then decided to support our issues based candidacy.

At first, I knew Loraine’s background as an astrophysicist, sustainable solutions faculty associate at CSUN, and neighborhood activist made her a great person to have helping on the campaign. She brought experience and perspective. She listened, learned, and made valuable input at all stages of the campaign. She managed her time and family commitments as well as anyone and was able to help with everything from endorsement questionnaires to phonebanking. Dr. Lundquist is smart, committed, and hard-working.

As I got to know her better, I knew Loraine Lundquist should… and would run for office in her own right. But it wasn’t her evidence based scientific approach that made me realize she would be a great elected representative, it was her personality and character. I got to see her with her kids, her husband, her students, and I trust her. She is honest, humble, and authentic. Dr. Loraine Lundquist is thoughtful and balanced. As a mother, she is caring and empathetic. She is the kind of person I want representing me on the Los Angeles City Council.

And I am not alone. Loraine has been racking up endorsements from the Americans For Democratic Action, Los Angeles Times to the National Women’s Political Caucus California. As a climate scientist, it is no surprise she has been endorsed by the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters, Bill McKibben, Food and Water Action, and the Sunrise Movement -- Los Angeles Hub. She is the only candidate with endorsements from any chartered Democratic Clubs (SFV Young Democrats, New Frontier Democratic Club, North Valley Democratic Club). Her list of endorsements is impressive and diverse.

Loraine Lundquist is the right person, at the right time, for this important position. Her election to the Los Angeles City Council would be a big deal. It is past time that scientists and women had a more prominent role in the future of government. From the conservative Northwest San Fernando Valley, she is a bridge builder who will address the looming challenges of climate change by creating clean energy jobs and a implementing a comprehensive plan towards a more sustainable way of living. Through compassion and a sense of responsibility, she will lead us in addressing our housing crisis and helping our unhoused neighbors. She will, with her character, depth and honesty transform our politics into something we can be proud of.

Join me in donating, volunteering, and voting for Dr. Loraine Lundquist for Los Angeles City Council District 12.

With Respect,
-Ankur Patel

ADA PRESENTS BIG EVENT "COMEDY TSUNAMI"

SATURDAY MAY 4 AT 6:00 PM WE INVITE YOU TO COME TO A MADCAP COMEDY EVENT FUNDRAISER FOR THE ADA

IF YOU BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE ONLINE YOU GET A DISCOUNT.  PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Last Sunday, February 24th, there was a Brunch Fundraiser held at  ADA members, Jerry Manapearl and Jan Goodman's Home. The purpose was to  raise money for Jackie Goldberg's election campaign for LAUSD SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 5, which will be held March 5th.  The sponsors were, the ADA, PDSSM, Syilvia Aroth & Dante Cacace, Tom Camarella & Ronnie Jayne, Lila Garret from KPFK Radio, Jan Goodman and Jerry Manapearl, Patricia Hoffman& Gene Oppenheim, M.D,Nancy Niparko & Will Ryan, Dorothy Reik, Harvey Wasserman .  ADA member Paul Newman, so graciously, provided the Lox and Cream cheese. 

This well attended event included such movers and shakers as, ADA President and MC Clifford Tasner; KPFK's own Lila Garret; Diablo Nuclear activists Myla Reson and KPFK's Harvey "Sluggo" Wasserman; actress and activist Mimi Kennedy who currently stars on CBS sitcom 'MOM"; ADEM50th district Progressive Slate winners; activist and Pacific Palisades Democratic club President, outreach director for Healthcare for All, Champion Erika Ferensten; Santa Monica's city councilman Kevin McKecown, Santa Monica Rent Control member, and Chair of the Santa Monica Rent Control Board Anastasia Foster.  ADEM54 delegate Tom Camarella from Culver City, ADA longtime member Rick Tuttle and the guest of honor Candidate Jackie Goldberg.

The brunch had a really nice spread with bagels, Lox , cream cheese and onions.  Salads and other goodies were available on the menu along with lemonade and coffee. After a few hours had passed, on that beautiful sunny day, it was time to hear Jackie Goldberg talk about what the issues were and the solutions she was offering.  She filled Jan and Jerry's living room with many concerned people regarding Charter Schools and the effects on the Public school system and the solutions to them.

We were able to raise $5000.00 to help Jackie's Campaign.

CLICK here to view the video of Jackie Goldbergs eloquent presentation

ADEMS 2019

As we watch Donald Trump and the Republicans dismantle democratic institutions, destroy the idea of a progressive income tax, demonize women, Gays, people of color and Muslims and despoil our fragile planet, we have to determine what kind of Democratic Party is equipped to take them on and reclaim our society and our nation. For 26 years, the Democratic Party has made a devils bargain with the same corporations that their Republican colleagues have gotten into be with. We at ADA do not believe that an elected official that takes money from the fossil fuel companies can solve our Climate Crisis, nor one that takes money from Insurance and Pharmaceutical companies can help to usher in Medicare For All. We want to see a Democratic Party that is unapologetically Progressive and Populist and not reliant on corporate cash.

Every 2 years, 7 women and 7 men from each Assembly District are elected to be delegates to the California Democratic Convention. For over 10 years, there have been Progressive slates of delegates running and winning in Southern California. These delegates work to pass resolutions and approve legislation and endorse candidates that represent the People of California and not the corporations. And by and large, progressive slates have won most of the districts that they run in. But this year, the Corporate Centrists in the Party have decided to assemble their own slates so they can wrest control of the Party from the Progressives. They even brand themselves with progressive titles like “The Grassroots Slate.”

But we’re not falling for it. ADA SoCal has endorsed Progressive Slates in a number of districts and we are counting on our members to come out and vote for each of these slates at the scheduled Assembly District Election Meeting (ADEM). Most of these slates have ADA board members and members running on them. Some feature activists we’ve worked with on issues like Medicare For All. It’s important that you vote for everyone on the slate - so we can guarantee that our bold progressive activists get to represent you in the California Democratic Party!

If you don’t know what your assembly district is, please go to this site: http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov

And if it’s one we’ve endorsed, just click on your district below. You can see who’s on the slate as well as the date and time of the ADEM. And if it’s not, please check progressiveslates.org and see if your district is listed there.
Some more excellent slates are listed at: adems.vote

Please come out and participate in this process! A small number of people can make a huge difference in the direction of the Democratic Party so we’ll be equipped to take on Trump and the Republicans and reclaim our democracy!

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Any registered Democrat living in the district is eligible to vote. On-site voter registration is available for those not registered as Democrats.

Please come out and participate in this process! A small number of people can make a huge difference in the direction of the Democratic Party so we’ll be equipped to take on Trump and the Republicans and reclaim our democracy!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DECEMBER 22,2018 WINTER HOLIDAY PARTY HOSTING FOR ADA, PDSSM & PDDA-LA     Pictured clockwise from upper left, Bob Zaugh, Marcy Winograd, Ann Kim, Jody Evans, Krishna Kant, Kevin De Leon, Dorothy Reik, and Jan Goodman.          PDSMM/PDA/PDA-CA + ADA Annual Holiday Party   Dec 22  5:00 - 9:00 pm     Special Guests Congressman Ted Lieu and Kevin de Leon   State Senator Ben Allen, PDA Executive Director Alan Minsky, Lila Garrett, Dr. Bill, PDA-CA Chair Mike Thaller,  Russell Greene, Susie Shannon, Jodie Evans, Ani Zonneveld, Harvey Wasserman & Many More!   Pot Luck Dinner First Name A-D: Appetizers   E-L: Salad or Veggies   M-S: Main Course   T-Z: Dessert Jan & Jerry's House 939 San Vicente Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90402 Corner of San Vincente & Larkin RSVP: JanJerry2@gmail.Com Or dorothyreik@pdsmm.org