Comments Due by November 22

The Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley resolved earlier this year to support the full and complete cleanup of the Santa Susan Field Lab.  Countywide help is  needed now on this critical environmental and public health issue.

The most contaminated place in Ventura County is the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, where reactors and rockets were tested.  One atomic reactor suffered a partial meltdown there in 1959; at least three other reactors had other accidents; there were thousands of rocket tests.  Radioactive and chemical contamination resulted.

For decades, the fight to get the site cleaned up has raged.  Finally, we have a breakthrough:  the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and NASA, which operated key parts of the site, have agreed to a cleanup to background levels of contaminants.  In short, if they detect contamination from their activities, they will clean it up.  This is what the community has sought for so long.

An initial comment period resulted in over 1700 comments in favor of the agreement-in-principle—absolutely remarkable.  If you commented then, thanks!  But DOE has now asked for a second, final round of comments, on the final, legally binding Agreement.  It is frustrating to have to comment a second time, but we are near the finish line. [You can find the Agreement and related documents at http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/SiteCleanup/Santa_Susana_Field_Lab/SSFL-Cleanup.cfm and get more information about the SSFL issue  http://www.rocketdynecleanupcoalition.org.]

ACTION NEEDED:  Whether you commented before or not, PLEASE send in a comment NOW urging that the final Agreements be immediately signed.  (Comments are due no later than November 22.)

Click here to send an email comment: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5393/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4690

Speaker pro Tempore of the Assembly Fiona Ma is joining the Ventura County Democratic Party’s massive efforts to get out the vote for local Assembly candidates Ferial Masry, Diana Shaw and Das Williams this weekend.

Ma, a Democrat from the 12th District in San Francisco and the second highest ranking member in the Assembly, will be visiting local Democratic Party field offices on Saturday and Sunday in a “Meet and Treat” event.

At 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Ma will rally volunteers at the Simi Valley Democratic Party Headquarters, 2904 Cochran St., for 38th District Assembly candidate Diana Shaw. Phone banks are running here through Monday evening, 12-8 p.m. Information: (805) 210-6061. To volunteer for Shaw, contact info@ElectDianaShaw.com or (661) 367-2434. Phone bank from the comfort of your home through the Democratic Alliance for Action by contacting  phonebank@daa.org.

Diana Shaw can win this election if we can get Democrats to vote. The voter registration gap in the 38th Assembly District has closed. Voters know the Republican incumbent isn’t representing them, and Diana will make sure their voices are heard in Sacramento.

At 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Ma will visit Ventura County Democratic Party Headquarters at 1760 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo, to meet with supporters for 37th District Assembly candidate Ferial Masry.

Phones will be in heavy rotation until election day for all endorsed local candidates at the Camarillo office. To see the endorsement list, visit www.venturacountydemocrats.com/candidates. To volunteer, call (805) 987-2300.

The Masry campaign is running phone banking and precinct walking out of the Thousand Oaks Democratic Headquarters, 702 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday through Tuesday, election day. Volunteers are asked to bring cell phones and/or laptop computers. Information: (805) 633-6006. Come help us win Audra Strickland’s open seat, and keep a Republican big oil lobbyist out of the Assembly!

On Sunday, a visit from Speaker pro Tempore Ma to the Das Williams for 35th District Assembly headquarters, 534 South A Street, Oxnard, will kick off a neighborhood walk 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Phone banks will operate from 10 a.m-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday. Walks will be 3-6:30 p.m. on Monday and 2-8 p.m. Tuesday. Information: (805) 253-3139.

Whether as an educator, councilmember, or community organizer, Das Williams has stuck to his values and fought for his community for 15 years. He’s been able to pass living wage laws, advocate for transit service increases, expand hundreds of jobs, and protect classroom funding.  We have one of the most energetic grassroots operations in the area, and we need you to be a part of it to fight off a $200,000 attempt by oil companies and others to attack Das.

For more information on other county election activities call (805) 633-6006.

Featuring – Scary Meg Whitman look-alike contest, Italian Buffet,  Beverages, and “to die for” appetizers and desserts. $20 per person

Date and Time – Saturday, October 30^th at 7:00 p.m.

Address – 1005 Meadowcrest Street, Newbury Park.

RSVP to Debbie at 498-7151, or Teri at 818-597-9725.

SOCIAL NETWORKING AT 6:15PM – MEETING AT 6:45PM

Office Location: 702 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. between Rancho and Moorpark.  The office is also the location for the Ferial Masry for Assembly campaign.

Activities for the weekend of October 2 and 3:

TIM ALLISON FOR CONGRESS GROUP WALK – 10 AM to 1:30 PM.  Just show up and  join in.  Contact Nancy at nancyfrawley1@verizon.net for more info.

FERIAL MASRY FOR ASSEMBLY CALLING AND WALKING – Saturday, Oct. 2, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m, Sunday, Oct. 3, 1-5 p.m.  Please help out.  For more information, call (805) 633-6006.

BOXER, BROWN COMBINED CALLING – laptops and cell phones are set up for calling this weekend or anytime.

SIGNS and MATERIALS for all or our endorsed candidates are available at the office.  Visit www.conejodemocrats.com for our endorsed candidates list.

Please call the office before coming as we are staffed by volunteers – 805-633-6006.  More info – call Jay Kapitz – 818-889-1039.

After years of efforts by nearby residents and their elected representatives concerned about radioactive and chemical contamination at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL), a breakthrough agreement has been reached between state and federal agencies.  It would require the Department of Energy (DOE) and (NASA) to clean up all the detectable contamination at their parts of SSFL, under supervision by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC).

SSFL is a former nuclear reactor and rocket testing facilities located in the Santa Susana mountains overlooking Oak Park, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Simi Valley, the West San Fernando Valley, Woodland Hills, and Westlake Village.

This agreement is an extraordinary breakthrough, which, if signed and implemented, will finally permit the people who live in the area surrounding SSFL to breathe easier about their health.  A public comment has been opened about the proposed deal.  PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL NOW IN SUPPORT OF THE CLEANUP AGREEMENT TO:  ssfl@dtsc.ca.gov, or by regular mail to Susan Callery, Public Participation Specialist, DTSC, 9211 Oakdale Ave, Chatsworth, Ca 91311.  Comments must be postmarked or emails sent by October 1.

Basic Points to Make (in your own words):

I strongly support the Agreement-in-Principle for cleanup of the contaminated Santa Susana Field Laboratory.  I am grateful to the state and federal agencies who reached this agreement, to the elected officials who helped get us to this point, and to those in the community who worked so hard and long pushing for thorough cleanup of the contamination.  I urge that it be quickly signed and made into a final, binding, and legally enforceable agreement.

Please join us Sunday, September 26, 2010, 5 PM to 8 PM in the garden at the Kapitz family home in Oak Park.

We are presenting awards to and mingling with our excellent local and statewide elected officials including  Supervisor Steve Bennett and many others.  We are also featuring our candidates for Congress, statewide and local offices.

Enjoy live music & fabulous silent auction items. Cost includes catered dinner, dessert and beverages including wine and beer.  Lower cost is for payment before September 1.   Individuals: $35/$40; Seniors: $30/$35; Students: $20/$25.

Golden Oak Sponsor – $250
Silver Oak Sponsor – $100

Sponsorships include dinner and notices in future invitiations and announcements.

Special rates available for special needs or limited means.  Call for info.

We will be using the proceeds from this event to finance our precinct operations, newsletters & website which will benefit all Democratic candidates and issues.

Pay by mail at:  DCCV, Box 4421, Thousand Oaks, CA  91359.

Pay by credit card - http://www.actblue.com/page/garden2010

RSVP: info@conejodemocrats.com or 818-889-1039.  Please RSVP even if you mailed your check or sign up by credit card link.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING OF THE DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF THE CONEJO  VALLEY
THOUSAND OAKS LIBRARY, 1401 E. JANSS ROAD

SOCIAL NETWORKING AT 6:15PM – MEETING AT 6:45PM

Program – Local Economic Outlook – Guest Speaker Gary Wartik, Thousand Oaks Economic Development Manager. We will discuss club business and welcome new members.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING
AT THOUSAND OAKS LIBRARY, 1401 E. JANSS ROAD

SOCIAL NETWORKING AT 6:15PM – MEETING AT 6:45PM

Post Election Review and Recap with Political Science Expert – Dr. Jose Marichal of CLU.  

Please join us for Dr. Marichal’s always excellent analysis.

DCCV – WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING
AT THOUSAND OAKS LIBRARY, 1401 E. JANSS ROAD

SOCIAL NETWORKING AT 6:15PM – MEETING AT 6:45PM

Local, County and State Candidates Forum

Candidates for 37th Assembly District, County Treaurer abd County Judges will appear.

The DCCV Spring Series continues with the fourth and final Pre-Primary Forums. Candidates for local, county and state offices will present their positions to and answer questions from our club members and guests.