Tag Archives: Progressive Democrats of Benicia

Air Monitoring, Benicia elections, Lori Wilson CA Assemblywoman, Progressive Democrats of Benicia

3 Important Benicia Meetings this week, Wed., Thurs., Fri.

[Sorry for short notice. Here are 3 great opportunities to help shape Benicia’s future THIS WEEK! – BenIndy]

WEDNESDAY SEPT 4 (7pm tonight!)– Zoom in on School Board Candidates AND Ballot Measures!

The Progressive Democrats of Benicia (PDB) are hosting a candidate forum on Wednesday, September 4, at 7pm via Zoom (sign-in details on the PDB website).   This virtual event, which is free and open to all regardless of city of residence or political party, will feature interviews with Democratic candidates vying for local office.  (Find out more about the candidates on the PDB website.)

This is YOUR opportunity to engage with local Democratic candidates and gain insights into their positions on key issues affecting Benicia and to learn about the important measures on this fall’s ballot.  Everyone is welcome.

THURSDAY SEPT 5 – Air District hosting Informational Webinar on Refinery Corridor Air Monitoring Community Workgroup

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is launching a new program to take the first step to improve air monitoring during unplanned incidents at the Bay Area refineries.

We are hosting a webinar this Thursday (9/5) from 4-5 pm to provide community members with an overview of the particulate monitoring program and ways to get involved, including a community workgroup that will guide the program’s development and implementation. See the email below for additional details.

If you are interested in attending, you must register in advance using this link. Please also feel free to forward this message to others who may be interested in attending.

If you have any questions, you can reach us at bayaircenter@baaqmd.gov.

FRIDAY SEPT 6 – Assemblywoman Lori Wilson available for conversations in Benicia

Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson, California 11th District

Benicia’s Assemblywoman, Lori D. Wilson, along with her district and capitol staffs, will be at Benicia City Hall for a District 11 event, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept 6.

There are two options to meet with Wilson’s office:

    1. Wilson’s staff will be on site for drop-in discussions between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
    2. If you wish to speak with Wilson herself, you can schedule a 10-minute, one-on-one meeting between 1 and 4:30 p.m. Reach out to Tisha Simpson to schedule your time by emailing:  tisha.simpson@asm.ca.gov. Click here to send email.

All events are at Benicia City Hall chamber, 250 E. L St.

From Assemblywoman Wilson’s invitation: This event offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with your elected representative, where our dedicated District and Capitol staff will be ready to hear and address your concerns, ideas, and feedback.

  • 10:00 AM – 10:55 AM City Departments and Special Districts
  • 11:00 AM – 11:55 AM Local Businesses and Nonprofits
  • 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch
  • 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM Scheduled one-on-one appointments (no drop-ins)

Wilson’s website is https://a11.asmdc.org. You can link to her legislative proposals on the page.

Wilson is seeking her second full term in the Assembly. She is in a runoff election on Nov. 5 against Republican Dave Ennis.

Progressive Democrats of Benicia

Statement from Progressive Democrats of Benicia

The following is a statement from the Progressive Democrats of Benicia regarding recent untrue allegations made against them:

An individual’s allegations that the Progressive Democrats as an organization had anything to do with their firing are untrue.  As an organization, we did not write any letters or contact their employer.  The letter that was written to a local paper was not written by a member.  A letter to their employer was written by a member, but under the member’s own name.  We do not require our members to seek club approval before exercising their free speech rights and we do not control our members’ activities.

This club was not consulted and did not approve of any letters regarding the person in question.  In short, the Progressive Democrats of Benicia had nothing to do with their being fired.

The Progressive Democrats of Benicia do firmly support LGBTQ+ rights and recently had a speaker about the current threats and attacks on that community.  The individual’s website promotes the views of the American College of Pediatrics, which has been labeled a fringe anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

As a club, we believe people need to know the truth, and the truth is we had nothing to do with their firing.  But we wish they would not promote hate groups on their website.

Progressive Democrats of Benicia

LAST MINUTE ALERT: Benicia Progressive Dems April 11 meeting change!

MEMBERSHIP MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
IMPORTANT CHANGE OF PLANS!!
WE ARE MEETING OVER ZOOM!!

Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 7pm

By email, from Progressive Dems Steering Committee, April 10, 2023

This is the Progressive Democrats of Benicia’s final notice inviting our members, supporters and all interested Benicians to our Tuesday, April 11 meeting.

We were really looking forward to seeing everyone in person, but due to COVID and illness we are switching back to Zoom.  We look forward to seeing everyone in the future when we are all well.  Please see use the Zoom details below to sign in to our meeting.

TOPIC: PDB GENERAL MEMBERSHIP ZOOM MEETING
Time: Apr 11, 2023 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87967560168
Meeting ID: 879 6756 0168
One tap mobile: +16694449171

On Deck: Benicia’s Budget Crisis

As previously shared, the focus of the meeting will be “Benicia’s Budget Crisis: The Problem and Potential Solutions.”  Our city budget’s multimillion dollar shortfall stretches far beyond this year, into the indefinite future.  It forces all of us to confront some tough funding decisions:

  • What City services are at risk?
  • Is there a tax increase in the future?
  • How can we increase the City’s revenues?
  • What other solutions are available?

Mayor Steve Young, County Supervisor Monica Brown and Assistant City Manager Bret Prebula, who was Benicia’s Finance Director up until December 2022, will explain the nature and extent of this serious challenge and discuss potential approaches to generating revenue or cutting costs.  There will then be an opportunity for extended Q&A period.

See you on Tuesday, April 11, and remember: WE’RE MEETING OVER ZOOM.  Please invite your friends and anyone who is interested in keeping Benicia thriving.  We are really looking forward to seeing you all in person again one day soon in the future.

Kathy Kerridge
PDB Chair

350 Bay Area, Gas drilling, Keeping Watch on Earth News, Oil drilling, Progressive Democrats of Benicia, Take Action

ACTION ALERT – Support oil and gas drilling setbacks

ACTION ALERT

TAKE A STAND WITH PDB AND  350 BAY AREA ACTION
TO SUPPORT FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES
in demanding health and safety setbacks
from oil and gas drilling in California

SB 467, the Dirty Drilling Phase out and Setbacks bill, did not pass through the Natural Resources and Water Committee last week because it was ONE VOTE SHORT, but the fight is not over. 

The bill is now being amended to ensure that frontline communities are protected from toxic oil and gas drilling by requiring a 2,500 foot setback for the over 2 million Californians that live, work, go to school, and are cared for with oil and gas drilling right in their backyards.

Texas has setbacks—and CA does not. This harms mostly low-income and Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities. We have just a few days to get at least one vote to move this bill forward to protect the health and safety of our children, neighbors, friends, and workers from the oil and gas industry’s harmful practices. Here’s your chance to join the statewide VISÍON ALLIES Coalition and tell our lawmakers to do something for the health of Californians.

CALL THREE SENATORS NOW AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE 

The target is 1,000 calls to three Senators to urge them to vote YES when the amended bill comes back for a vote. 

Ralph Dennis, Benicia

Thank you for taking action today to secure the health and safety of vulnerable frontline communities. 

Ralph Dennis, Chair