Susan Jordan, a candidate for State Assembly District 35, has earned the endorsement of two highly respected women’s organizations, the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee (SBWPC) and the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC).

Beth Schneider, President of the SBWPC board, praised Jordan as a “highly competent candidate with broad knowledge in key areas of concern to the citizens of Ventura and Santa Barbara and with a 16-year history as an advocate for women’s health and reproductive justice.”

The Santa Barbara group, which can endorse both women and men, chose to sponsor Jordan’s candidacy. The highly coveted Sponsorship is reserved for those candidates who show they are strong and proactive leaders on the issues of importance to the organization and its membership. SBWPC commended Jordan for her work as a health care advocate, statewide environmental leader, successful businesswoman, and as the former chair of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission.

“Susan has been an effective advocate for key environmental laws and policy, including defeat of an LNG project in Ventura County, and legislation on coastal land use,” the SBWPC wrote.

In the early 1980s, as a volunteer for the National Women’s Health Network, Susan led a seven-year campaign to gain FDA approval for a barrier method of birth control still in distribution today. After a successful career in the private sector, Jordan founded the California Coastal Protection Network (CCPN) in 1999 and serves as its executive director. CCPN is considered one of the top environmental advocacy organizations in the state and Jordan has received numerous awards for her precedent-setting work.

Jordan also has gained the endorsement of the National Women’s Political Caucus,  a multi-partisan, multicultural grassroots organization dedicated to increasing women’s participation in the political field and creating a political power base designed to achieve equality for all women.

“We need women like Susan Jordan in Sacramento today,” said Celeste Weingardt, immediate past president of the California NWPC.  “Her incredible work ethic and experience will serve her district and the women of California well.” Weingardt pointed out that women make up a small minority of the Assembly today and their numbers are dwindling.

Jordan is deeply honored to be recognized by these two well-respected and effective groups. “I am very grateful for their commitment to my candidacy and I intend to honor that commitment by mentoring other women candidates. The Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee has a long and distinguished history in the community and NWPC’s excellent advocacy has benefited women across the U.S.”

For further comment, please email jordan4assembly@gmail.com or call (805) 252-6271.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – Assembly candidate Das Williams is pleased to announce that he has received a new labor endorsement of his campaign for the 35th Assembly District:

International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 46

ILWU Local 46, which represents longshoreman and warehouse workers at Port of Hueneme, now joins a number of other unions which are already in support of Das Williams’ campaign, including the Santa Barbara Police Officer’s Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 952, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 413, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 186, Ironworkers Local 433, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 484, Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local 273, Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, and UA Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 114.

“I am so grateful to have received such an overwhelming amount of support from local labor in this race,” said Das Williams. “I’ve worked hard on the Santa Barbara City Council to create jobs and opportunities for our working families, and I will continue to fight for them in the Assembly.”

Das Williams is running to succeed termed-out Assemblymember Pedro Nava in 2010.

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Das Williams grew up on the Central Coast and is a product of local public schools. In 2003, Das Williams became the youngest person ever to be elected to the Santa Barbara City Council, and was re-elected in 2007. Das has worked as a teacher, a policy aide for former Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, and a community organizer working to stop the development of a Wal-Mart in Ventura and enact local living wage laws in Santa Barbara and Ventura. Das serves on the Peabody Charter School Board and is a national board member of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Das received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley and holds a graduate degree in Environmental Science & Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA – A Children’s Literacy Fair will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2009 to promote children’s literacy and increase the number of books available to children in local schools. This is the first time the event is being held. It is co-sponsored by Borders and Westlake Learning, and will run from 10am to 2pm at the Borders Thousand Oaks store, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.

Four local children’s book authors will be on hand doing book readings and signings. There will also be reading-related activities for children and free give-aways. Local schools in Simi Valley, Moorpark, and the Conejo Valley have been invited to provide a list of books they need for their libraries. During the event, Borders will offer the books for sale, coordinating the effort so duplicate book purchases are avoided and all schools receive an equal benefit from the event.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the community to come together to support our local schools by purchasing books to be donated,” said Stephen Fofanoff, one of the coordinators of the event. “It’s important for us to not only say that we should support our children’s education, but that we actually take the steps necessary to make it a reality. The more people who come out to support an event like this, the better it is for students in all of our schools. The kids will benefit for years to come because school libraries will have more resources to offer them.”

The authors who will be at the event are: Barbara Jean Hicks, Mary Ann Fraser, Carol Heyer, and Chris Warnock.

After the event, Westlake Learning will hand deliver the books that have been purchased to the local schools who participated in the event. Also, present at the event will be local community leaders, including Marta Jorgensen, congressional candidate from the 24th district.

“Education has to be our local community’s priority,” Jorgensen said. “We can’t wait for government or someone else to fix our schools, we have to be proactive at the local level because we don’t have time. Children are in school now. With the latest round of budget cuts, our schools are really suffering, and generally educational resources are the first thing to go. We can make up the difference when we come together as a community to support our schools when they need help the most.”

THOUSAND OAKS, CA – A Children’s Literacy Fair will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2009 to promote children’s literacy and increase the number of books available to children in local schools. This is the first time the event is being held. It is co-sponsored by Borders and Westlake Learning, and will run from 10am to 2pm at the Borders Thousand Oaks store, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.

Four local children’s book authors will be on hand doing book readings and signings. There will also be reading-related activities for children and free give-aways. Local schools in Simi Valley, Moorpark, and the Conejo Valley have been invited to provide a list of books they need for their libraries. During the event, Borders will offer the books for sale, coordinating the effort so duplicate book purchases are avoided and all schools receive an equal benefit from the event.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the community to come together to support our local schools by purchasing books to be donated,” said Stephen Fofanoff, one of the coordinators of the event. “It’s important for us to not only say that we should support our children’s education, but that we actually take the steps necessary to make it a reality. The more people who come out to support an event like this, the better it is for students in all of our schools. The kids will benefit for years to come because school libraries will have more resources to offer them.”

The authors who will be at the event are: Barbara Jean Hicks, Mary Ann Fraser, Carol Heyer, and Chris Warnock.

After the event, Westlake Learning will hand deliver the books that have been purchased to the local schools who participated in the event. Also, present at the event will be local community leaders, including Marta Jorgensen, congressional candidate from the 24th district.

“Education has to be our local community’s priority,” Jorgensen said. “We can’t wait for government or someone else to fix our schools, we have to be proactive at the local level because we don’t have time. Children are in school now. With the latest round of budget cuts, our schools are really suffering, and generally educational resources are the first thing to go. We can make up the difference when we come together as a community to support our schools when they need help the most.”

SANTA BARBARA, CA – Santa Barbara City Councilmembers Das Williams and Helene Schneider today called on the City Council to oppose new Federal offshore oil drilling. Williams and Schneider requested that the city council vote in favor of sending a letter to the Minerals Management Service opposing any new Federal oil leases off the coast of Santa Barbara. The Minerals Management Service, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is currently preparing a proposed oil and gas leasing program that includes potential new oil leases in the Santa Barbara and Ventura Area. The City Council voted in favor of sending the letter by a 5 to 1 vote.

“Allowing new Federal oil leases off our coast would be disastrous to our efforts to end oil drilling,” stated Councilmember Das Williams. “This plan would have negative impacts on our local economy, put our environment at risk and open the door to additional new oil facilities both on and off shore. We need to be focused on stopping oil development and reducing consumption, while investing in green technologies like alternative fuels and solar power.”

The Santa Barbara City Council has a long history of opposing oil drilling. The City’s General Plan states that the City should “continue efforts to prohibit new oil exploration, drilling and production in the channel and to cause the termination of existing leases and the removal of platform structures.”

“We are constantly facing new environmental challenges. It is important that the City of Santa Barbara oppose any new Federal oil drilling lease and that we use any means possible to bring a definitive end to all new and existing oil drilling,” said Santa Barbara Councilmember Das Williams. My goal is simple, to put an end to oil development and protect our coast from new projects that bring new drilling to our coast.”

SANTA BARBARA, CA – Santa Barbara City Councilmembers Das Williams and Helene Schneider today called on the City Council to oppose new Federal offshore oil drilling. Williams and Schneider requested that the city council vote in favor of sending a letter to the Minerals Management Service opposing any new Federal oil leases off the coast of Santa Barbara. The Minerals Management Service, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is currently preparing a proposed oil and gas leasing program that includes potential new oil leases in the Santa Barbara and Ventura Area. The City Council voted in favor of sending the letter by a 5 to 1 vote.

“Allowing new Federal oil leases off our coast would be disastrous to our efforts to end oil drilling,” stated Councilmember Das Williams. “This plan would have negative impacts on our local economy, put our environment at risk and open the door to additional new oil facilities both on and off shore. We need to be focused on stopping oil development and reducing consumption, while investing in green technologies like alternative fuels and solar power.”

The Santa Barbara City Council has a long history of opposing oil drilling. The City’s General Plan states that the City should “continue efforts to prohibit new oil exploration, drilling and production in the channel and to cause the termination of existing leases and the removal of platform structures.”

“We are constantly facing new environmental challenges. It is important that the City of Santa Barbara oppose any new Federal oil drilling lease and that we use any means possible to bring a definitive end to all new and existing oil drilling,” said Santa Barbara Councilmember Das Williams. My goal is simple, to put an end to oil development and protect our coast from new projects that bring new drilling to our coast.”

 By: Jay Kapitz

The President did an excellent job of presenting the extent of the health care crisis, the need for reform and the elements of his own plan to try to address it. Sadly all Repubs and enough Dems are bought and paid for by big insurance and pharma so that the public option is still huge long shot.  We must have the Kucinich amendment so that single payer health care can be fought for in California.

It turns out that fact challenged Birthers, Deathers, Corporate Financed Tea Baggers, Town Hall Yellers, Congressional Hecklers, Ditto Heads and Beckophants are not a real factor in the health care debate other than further marginalizing what is left of the Republican Party.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – Santa Barbara City Councilman Das Williams today announced that his campaign for the 35th Assembly District received the endorsement of the Santa Barbara Police Officers Association (SBPOA), which represents 130 sworn police officers in the Santa Barbara area.

“Das Wiliams’ experience and solid track record on public safety issues are the reasons why Santa Barbara’s police officers support his candidacy in this race,” said Charles McChesney, president of SBPOA. “In the midst of city budget deficits, Das Williams found a way to maintain local law enforcement and other vital public services, and has consistently demonstrated a clear and unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe. Das Williams is unquestionably the most qualified individual to represent this District, and I am calling on all of our region’s public safety officials to join SBPOA in supporting his campaign.”

SBPOA is one of dozens of organizations, unions, and other notable state and local leaders to have endorsed Das Williams for Assembly since his campaign kick-off announcement just two months ago.

“I am deeply honored to have the support of rank-and-file police officers who put their lives on the line every day for the people of this state,” said Das Williams. “I know that government has no more important responsibility than to make sure its citizens are safe, and in the Assembly I’ll continue to fight hard to ensure that public safety officials have the resources they need to protect our streets and neighborhoods and return home to their families at the end of each day.”

Das Williams is running to succeed termed-out Assemblymember Pedro Nava in 2010.

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Das Williams grew up on the Central Coast and is a product of local public schools. In 2003, Das Williams became the youngest person ever to be elected to the Santa Barbara City Council, and was re-elected in 2007. Das has worked as a teacher, a policy aide for former Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, and a community organizer working to stop the development of a Wal-Mart in Ventura and enact local living wage laws in Santa Barbara and Ventura. Das serves on the Peabody Charter School Board and is a national board member of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Das received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley and holds a graduate degree in Environmental Science & Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

During last evening’s presidential address to a joint session of congress, Rep. Joe Wilson pointed and shouted, “You lie,” as the President said there was no coverage for illegal immigrants in his healthcare plan. Wilson left the House chamber immediately after the end of the speech.

After the session, appearing on Larry King Live, Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) said, “Totally disrespectful. No place for it in that setting or any other and he should apologize immediately.”  Later that night, Wilson attempted to call President Obama to apologize personally but instead ended up speaking to Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel. Wilson then issued an official statement saying, “This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the President’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility.”

On last check Rep Wilson’s website is “down for maintenance” and his Wikipedia page has been frozen. Progressives were not happy with the disrespect his words showed toward the presidential office, so they took action with literally thousands of twitter users linking to the Act Blue fundraising page for Joe Wilson’s opponent, Rob Miller.  At a little after midnight PST they had donated over $77,000 to help defeat Wilson.

During last evening’s presidential address to a joint session of congress, Rep. Joe Wilson pointed and shouted, “You lie,” as the President said there was no coverage for illegal immigrants in his healthcare plan. Wilson left the House chamber immediately after the end of the speech.

After the session, appearing on Larry King Live, Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) said, “Totally disrespectful. No place for it in that setting or any other and he should apologize immediately.”  Later that night, Wilson attempted to call President Obama to apologize personally but instead ended up speaking to Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel. Wilson then issued an official statement saying, “This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the President’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility.”

On last check Rep Wilson’s website is “down for maintenance” and his Wikipedia page has been frozen. Progressives were not happy with the disrespect his words showed toward the presidential office, so they took action with literally thousands of twitter users linking to the Act Blue fundraising page for Joe Wilson’s opponent, Rob Miller.  At a little after midnight PST they had donated over $77,000 to help defeat Wilson.