Orinda

Endorsed by the Lamorinda Democratic Club

ORINDA MEASURE Z
ELECTION DAY: March 7, 2023

Outdoor drop boxes available 24/7
Orinda City Hall: 22 Orinda Way


Measure Z, on the March 7, 2023 special election ballot, will keep great teachers in Orinda schools.

Student achievement in Orinda schools ranks in the top 1% in California. However, out of over 1,000 school districts in California, Orinda Union School District consistently ranks in the bottom ten in per student funding.

Orinda teachers are among the lowest paid in our area and Orinda increasingly loses qualified and experienced teachers to San Ramon and other school districts that offer more competitive compensation.

Having a great teacher in the classroom is the most important element of providing a quality education. Vote YES on Z to help attract and retain quality teachers.

Find Out More: https://www.yesonz4orindaschools.org

 

Lafayette

Lafayette Climate Change Vulnerability

City of Lafayette Community Workshop on Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Tuesday, January 24, 6 p.m.

The Safety Element is a mandatory component of the City’s General Plan which identifies natural and man-made hazards and disasters that may occur and how the City can mitigate harm and damage to the community. A key component of the Safety Element is the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, which identifies and scores vulnerabilities that may be caused by wildfire, flooding, extreme weather, power shutdowns, climate change and other hazards in Lafayette.

Join the General Plan Advisory Committee and other community members at Tuesday night’s online workshop for a discussion about natural and man-made hazards, such as wildfire and landslides, and how we can ensure a safe and prepared city for all. There will also be the opportunity to share your experiences with hazards and disasters and provide feedback on the draft Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment. Visit www.PlanLafayette.org/Safety-Element to learn more and register.

January 24, 2023 Virtual Workshop: Draft Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment — CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP

Moraga

Moraga Housing Element

Town Council Meetings for Housing Element, General Plan Consistency, and Final EIR, January 18 & 25

The Town Council of the Town of Moraga will be conducting a special Town Council Study Session Meeting on January 18, 2023, and a formal Town Council Meeting on January 25, 2023, for the Housing Element, General Plan Consistency, and Final EIR.

The Town of Moraga Town Council will follow the January 18, 2023 Special Town Council Study Session Meeting with a formal Town Council Meeting on January 25, 2023. The Town Council will take action on the following items:

  1. Certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
  2. Adopting the 2023-2031 Town of Moraga Housing Element.
  3. Adopting of Moraga General Plan Text Amendments.
  4. An Ordinance to rezone Moraga Center.
  5. An Ordinance to rezone Rheem Park Area.

Please visit makemoragahome.org or the Agenda Center for more details.

Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill Public Hearing for City of Pleasant Hill Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan

The City of Pleasant Hill that the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider a recommendation to the City Council on a proposed City of Pleasant Hill Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. The Plan will serve as the City’s master plan document for the funding and installation of future bicycle and pedestrian facility improvements. The Plan has been reviewed by the Traffic Safety Commission and recommended for approval to the City Council.

The Public Hearing will be held by the Planning Commission starting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, via Teleconferencing

https://www.pleasanthillca.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=634

A copy of the draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan can be reviewed here.

Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek Public Meeting and Agenda Videos

https://www.walnut-creek.org/government/public-meeting-agendas-and-videos

Concord

Concord Special Meeting of the City Council re: Local Reuse Authority
Saturday, January 28, 2023 9 a.m. – Open Session

How to Watch the Meeting:

  • Watch on TV on Comcast Channel 28, Astound/Wave Channel 1026, and AT&T U-verse Channel 99
  • Watch the TV broadcast through the City’s website by following THIS LINK
  • Watching Live Streaming of the meeting by following THIS LINK
  • Join the Zoom webinar by following THIS LINK
    Webinar ID: 882 0905 7441
    Passcode: 656312

Tesla Park: Saved at Last

Great article in Bay Nature magazine, January 12, 2022 by David Loeb. And, no it has nothing to do with cars.

Please click on link to view article: https://baynature.org/article/tesla-park-saved-at-last/

CONGRESSMAN DESAULNIER INTRODUCES LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE TO SUPPORT AND PRESERVE LOCAL JOURNALISM

November 29, 2021
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), along with his colleagues Congressman Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Congressman David Cicilline (RI-01) introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at supporting and protecting local journalism, and honoring its role in bolstering our democracy, holding government accountable, and informing the electorate. The Saving Local News Act (H.R. 6068) would make it easier for newspapers to become non-profits, allowing them the flexibility to focus less on maximizing profits and more on producing quality content. The local news resolution (H.Res. 821) recognizes the importance of local media outlets to society and expresses the urgent need for Congress to help stop the decline of local media outlets.

https://desaulnier.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-desaulnier-introduces-legislative-package-support-and

CONGRESSMAN DESAULNIER INTRODUCES LANDMARK LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT WORKERS, TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE, PROMOTE CLEAN TRANSPORTATION, AND ADVANCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

November 8, 2021

Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) announced the introduction of landmark legislation to help transition our economy off fossil fuels to cleaner, renewable energy while simultaneously supporting workers, communities, and state and local governments. The Jobs for a Carbon Free Transportation System Act (H.R. 5896) takes a unique approach to addressing the intersection of three of the biggest challenges our nation faces: climate change, outdated infrastructure, and job insecurity.

REPRESENTATIVES DESAULNIER AND LEE PASS EFFORT TO EXONERATE THE PORT CHICAGO 50

September 23, 2021

Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) and Barbara Lee (CA-13) successfully passed a measure that directs the Secretary of the United States Navy to publicly exonerate the Port Chicago 50. The effort was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (H.R. 4350), which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 316-to-113. Passage of the effort comes seventy-seven years after the devastating explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Concord, California on July 17, 1944 that led to 50 sailors being unjustly convicted of mutiny.

 

Here are some of the bills we’re tracking…

Endorsed Legislation

 SB 988, The Miles Hall Mental Lifeline Act
AB 988, a bill that would create a new three-digit phone line (9-8-8) for suicide prevention and to provide an immediate localized emergency response by trained mental health professionals for individuals in a mental health crisis. The legislation has seven joint authors, including Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan.
 AB 20, The Corporate-Free Elections Act
AB 20, the Corporate-Free Elections Act, would prohibit business entities and corporations from contributing to candidates running for any state or local elected office in the state of California. Corporations and business entities contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to political candidates in California each election cycle.
 
SB 271, the Sheriff Democracy and Diversity Act
Current California law requires that candidates for the office of Sheriff possess a Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) certificate and some combination of salaried law enforcement experience.
These eligibility requirements severely restrict who can run for Sheriff; resulting in few competitive elections, a compelling lack of accountability that harms statewide efforts to reimagine public safety, and a lack of candidate diversity that has led California to have only four females, three Latinx individuals, and two Japanese-Americans holding the office of Sheriff while white males hold the office in the other 49 counties as of 2020, a result that does not reflect California’s demographic makeup.
SB 271 would repeal these restrictions, thereby allowing all registered voters to run for Sheriff, as was possible from 1850 through 1989.