The Greater Oxnard Organization of Democrats (GOOD Club) will host a forum on Wednesday, Jan. 11 featuring Jason Hodge and Hannah-Beth Jackson, candidates for the 19th State Senate District. The event begins at 7 p.m.

Each candidate will be asked to give a five-minute introduction and then will answer questions provided by GOOD Club members. At the end, each candidate will have another five minutes for a concluding statement. The forum will be moderated by Caleb Donner. If time permits, the audience will be invited to ask further questions in writing.

The event, which will be held at Café on A, 438 S. A Street, Oxnard, is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. More info: (805) 216-7672.

For more information on the GOOD Club, visit http://greateroxnarddemocrats.com/

Allen Dirrim holds a sign on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Telegraph Road in Ventura to show his support for health care workers speaking out against cuts to public health programs. Dirrim is a member of the Greater Oxnard Organization of Democrats. Photo by Richard Quinn for the VC Star.

Do you care about the City of Oxnard?
Do you know who is running for Office and what their vision is for our city?
Want to know what is really happening in Oxnard?

Then be a part of….

Oxnard City Council & Mayoral Candidates Forum
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Thursday, October 14

South Oxnard Community Center
200 E. Bard Road, Oxnard
Corner of Saviers Rd. & Bard Rd.

Understand the issues! Know the candidates! Ask your questions!

Information provided bilingually
Refreshments • Child Care provided if registered

The forums will consist of asking candidates 5 prepared questions and giving them only a few minutes to answer. Audience questions will be selected as time permits.

For more información call
Aracely Preciado at 805-824-6039
or preciara@yahoo.com

SPONSORED BY: Voz Hueneme, CAUSE, Arts4Action, LULAC, SEIU 721, El Centrito de la Colonia, La Hermandad Mexicana TN, Future Leaders of America, United Farm Workers, and others.

Angela Sanbrano will speak on the implications of the Arizona Anti-Immigrant law, S.B.1070.  She is a Chicana, born in Juarez, Mexico, and grew up in El Paso, Texas. Currently she is serving a second term as board President of NALACC (National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities). In 1985 she became national Executive Director of CISPES (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) and a year later was recognized as one of the strongest Mexican American advocates for Central American peace as co-director of Peace Action, the largest peace advocacy organization in the U.S.  In 1995, she joined CARECEN Los Angeles and in 1997 was became its Executive Director serving the immigrant community until 2007.  In 2005 she was elected member of the National Board for the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) and as trustee of the Hazen Foundation.  She graduated from Pitzer College in Claremont and received a Law Degree from People’s College of Law in Los Angeles. She lives in La Verne with her husband, Jim Sanbrano.

The Greater Oxnard Organization of Democrats meets July 14 at 7 p.m. at the Cafe on A, 438 South A Street in Oxnard.  Free refreshments.

At last month’s meeting we were happy to see that there are some really good Democrats running for local nonpartisan offices. As Democrats we are lucky to have such good choices. The only thing is that we cannot rely on luck to get them elected. The two County Offices that have open seats must be filled by Democrats. The local Republican Party has made it clear  where its focus is; they want to dominate the local scene. They are even challenging one of their own on the County Board of Supervisors. Low voter turnout usually hurts Democrats. We have worked hard to get a Democratic majority in the County. What good is all that work if we do not take advantage of it? We must get out the vote! If Democrats can take those seats a big message would be sent to the other side that they better look out for us in November.
Also at the April meeting candidates running for County Democratic Central Committee stood and introduced themselves. This is the first time that I can remember when most of the districts have challenges. This level of interest is encouraging. I wish I could say the same for our own club. This is a very important election year and we struggle to increase our level of participation. I am asking that all of you consider increasing your level of participation. That participation can come in many ways. Volunteer for a committee or to help get out the vote in your neighborhood. Make a financial contribution. Fund raisers cost time and money to put on. Writing a check for any amount is a big help in getting our message out. If your level of participation is just coming to our meetings, keep coming – all levels help.
Bill Gallaher, President

The following transferring students have won $500 each through Good Club scholarships: Richard Bejar, a single father active in extra -curricular affairs, hoping to earn a degree in Economics from Arizona State University; Anna Castro, a single parent who helps at her daughter’s preschool and at a women’s and children’s homeless shelter–she plans to be the first in her family to graduate from a university, and aims for a career in social services. Johnny Garcia Vasquez is headed for UC Berkeley as a political science major with the eventual goal of becoming a lawyer. Johnny has been president of ASG at Oxnard College, a voting delegate to the California Community College Student Senate, also active helping Pedro Nava, Save the Whales and Amnesty International. He is a peer counselor to the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project. Other recipients: Jasmin Henry also plans to become a lawyer after getting a degree in Criminal Justice. She would like to work as a Public Defender for juveniles. Cesar Lopez wants to become a mechanical engineer–his interests include nano technology and alternative fuel sources. Cesar, as an AB540 student, is not eligible for federal or state aid, but his father, who recently passed away, taught him to be a “fighter, not a quitter.” Cesar is involved with CAUSE.
There are six winners among the continuing students: Giovanna Alatorre was Valedictorian of her high school even though she had only been in this country a few years. Maria del Carmen Jimenez is the single mother of five children, who left an abusive marriage and has worked in many areas. She is involved in her children’s school and hopes to get a certificate in accounting, before transferring to a four-year school.
Vanessa Mayo has very clear goals; She plans to transfer to San Diego State next year to earn a degree in nursing, eventually hoping to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Her particular interest is in children born with birth defects. At Prototypes, a women’s shelter, Vanessa works with infants and toddlers.
Carol Peterson aims for a certificate in Restaurant/Hospitality Management, a field in which she has thirty years of experience. Her ultimate goal, however, is to teach food safety after she earns a degree from Cal Poly Pomona. She is currently a pastry chef, and volunteers at Food Share. Oscar Rodriguez is a strong supporter of migrant education, and tutors ESL students. He sees education as this country’s great equalizer. He has first-hand knowledge of the life of a field worker, and appreciates the work of his parents. He plans to become a mechanical engineer who can, by his designs, help save the environment. After some years of experience as an engineer, Oscar hopes to get a teaching credential. Richard Silvey kicked years of addiction to change his life and use his experience and education to help others change their lives. He currently manages Khepra House and is interning as a counselor. Richard has been inducted into the international honor society of two year colleges, Phi Theta Kappa.
The Good Club can be proud of helping these students achieve their goals, particularly since some of them have been unable to purchase all of their textbooks. The scholarship certificates will be presented on  April 25, Casa Lopez, from 5 to 7 pm.

Norma Van Riper

Informational Discussion of the Oxnard 2030 Plan by Chris Williamson and Mike Stubblefield,

moderated by Edward Castillo.

“The 2030 Plan of the City of Oxnard,” is a topic that goes to the very heart of the city as emphasized by moderator Castillo, who allowed each speaker five minutes for an opening statement and three minutes each to answer subsequent questions from the audience.
Chris Williamson, Ph.D., Senior City Planner, stated that his specific purpose in coming to the city had been to work on the 2030 plan. He stressed that the plan was as much a finite goal as a process with two priorities: Public safety and quality of life/environmental issues. He elaborated on the intersecting of two concerns: long-term interests, especially sustainability as advocated by the Sierra Club and short-term interests as especially advocated by development for profit (build & sell, then get out).  The 2002 “Visioning Project 2020” had a huge emphasis on SOAR; in 2005, the General Plan took up remaining issues.
Mike Stubblefield introduced himself as a resident of El Rio and a member of the Sierra Club concerned for the past 20 years specifically about the future of Ormond Beach. His and the Sierra Club’s main goal is to have all land south of Hueneme Road protected in the 2030 general Plan. He also explained that there is a 5095 acre sub parcel that is being considered for light industry. Coastal restoration for the protection of wetlands in the interest of eco-tourism is their primary goal for Ormond Beach.
In the question and answer session the following topics were addressed and more specifically developed:
Green energy plans under discussion by the city: recycling to transform trash into energy; off-shore wind-farms; solar panel requirements of all new industrial developments, as well as some retro-fitting requirements. Harnessing ocean resources, such as desalination and wave energy. A wave generator near Point Conception is still in an experimental stage; desalination plants are very energy intensive, no green benefit for Oxnard, which is already in the process of cleaning brackish waters for agricultural use. Guarantees of water supply, considerations of costs in context of enormous rate of growth. Acknowledgement of a general consensus by the public on Ormond Beach, Del Norte and the water issue. Reconsiderations of higher density housing; pedestrian traffic, mass transportation possibilities. The Housing Plan, begun in 2008, should be adopted in June or July 2010.
Green space per capita, should be more than 20 acres per capita set aside. Various proposals for development of the Ormond Beach area, such as residential, agricultural, hotel, tourist facilities, have been rejected by the city; Halaco needs to be cleaned up and protected. Migratory bird fly zones must be protected from proposed wind farms and along Ormond Beach. Another public hearing is planned.
Frequency of up-dating the General Plan, suggestions to review it every five years, particularly important because of rising sea-levels. So far the Plan has already cost 1 ½  million.
In the closing statements, Williamson reiterated the respect of the City for SOAR principles and CURB lines; looking at 30 possible sites that are right for affordable housing development. Stubblefield reported that the California Coastal Conservancy has designated $200 million for the Ormond Beach Project. He warned against any consideration of building along the coast line due to the anticipated rise of the sea level between 2’ and 8’ within the next fifty years.

Ruth Maria Capelle

“I hope we shall… crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and to bid defiance to the laws of our country.”
~Thomas Jefferson-November 12, 1816

92% of Americans believe special interest contributors BUY VOTES!  Gallup Poll 1995.

Now is our chance to change this with a “yes” vote on Proposition 15, which creates a pilot program for voluntary public financing for Secretary of State candidates in 2014 and 2018.  Prop. 15, the California Fair Elections Act will appear on the June 8, 2010 ballot. It imposes strict reporting requirements and prohibitions on campaign spending for participating candidates.  It bans participating candidates from raising money from lobbyists, their clients, or anyone else.  Voluntary state tax contributions and registration fees on lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers will pay for the funding of qualified candidates.  The registration fees will be raised from $12.50 per year to $350.  It ensures that only candidates who show broad support and agree to strict spending limits would receive funding.  It would be enough to run competitive campaigns.  ”Clean  Election” laws work and have been adopted in seven other states and two cities.  If you want to see that money from special interests no longer shuts out the rest of us, then please join the 130 people who met at the Camarillo Library on Sunday March 14th.  It may seem that Prop. 15 would pass easily, but the Institute for Government Advocates, a lobbyist trade group, not surprisingly, is opposing it.

“It is money, money, money!  Not ideas, not principles, but money that reigns supreme in American politics.”
~Senator Robert C. Byrd, West Virginia

Let’s get money out of our campaigns and go to WWW.YesFairElections.org <http://www.YesFairElections.org>  to volunteer and/or contribute financially.

Sandee Bates, Eco Dems Chair

NON-PARTISAN RACES

Let’s face it – four years ago the County Republican Party spent lots of money in the non-partisan Board of Supervisors race to defeat Democrat Jim Dantona over Republican Peter Foy. Non-partisan elections came out of the closet so to speak. We have always said that we should use local non-partisan races to help develop future legislators. And some of us hard core Democrats have said “there are no non-partisan offices.” What the Republicans did in 2006 is only a small prelude to what could happen now. This June two county, non-partisan, elected offices are open with no incumbent running: Ventura County Clerk Recorder, a very important position that oversees the Elections Division, and Treasurer Tax Collector, equally as important. Remember Treasurer Tax collector is the position that Audra Strickland wanted. Democrats have a rare opportunity to get like-minded, non-partisan office holders elected. We might not have the money the other side has, but we have the numbers. Now getting out the vote becomes more important than ever. For a county office 51% of the vote must be obtained to avoid a run off election. Run off elections mean that more money has to be raised and much more work has to be done. That’s why June is so important.  If Democrats can sew this one up in June we have more time to concentrate on partisan races in November. At our April meeting we will be inviting all Democrats running for non-partisan office to come and speak to us. I hope you will attend to show them support and encouragement.
Bill Gallaher, President

Oxnard Planning Director, Chris Williamson, and Sierra Club Chair, Mike Stubblefield will discuss Oxnard’s proposed 2030 General Plan at GOOD CLUB on Wednesday March 10, 2010 at 7:00 PM.        

Some answers will be provided by Chris Williamson, who is the principal planner for the City of Oxnard and Mike Stubblefield, newly installed Chair of the Los Padres Chapter of the Sierra Club.  They will discuss the history, process, legal requirements and details of the proposed 2030 General Plan for the City of Oxnard, which was put on hold by the Oxnard City Council at the meeting of February 9. 2010. Mr. Williamson will reprise his presentation to the City Council on February 9.  Mr. Stubblefield will discuss the Sierra Club’s concerns about the General Plan.

In early February, hundreds of people sent letters to the Oxnard City Council, and several dozen testified during a standing-room only public hearing, to express their concerns about the 2030 General Plan’s  proposals for  Ormond Beach wetland area,  Jones Ranch, water supply, traffic, school placement,  industry, jobs and housing affordability issues .

 The City Council postponed a final decision on the 2030 General Plan pending more public outreach and discussion about the plan.

 The Greater Oxnard Organization of Democrats (the GOOD Club) meets at 7:00 p.m.  at the Café on A, 438 South A Street, in downtown Oxnard .  Visitors are welcome.  For further information call Carmen Ramirez at (805) 485-8026 or e mail inquiry at ramirezmcar@gmail.com .