League News

Lisa McLain League News, Mountain View Whisman School District, Observer Reports

Mountain View Whisman School District Meeting October 2017

MVWSD Board Meeting, October 5th and 19th, 2017

2016-17 California Assessment Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Report

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System is a collection of tests based on California’s state adopted content standards. Since the 2014-2015 school year, MVWSD students have taken CAASPP tests in grades 3-8 for English Language Arts and mathematics and in grades 5 and 8 for science. Test scores for the 2016-2017 school year were recently released.

In 2016-2017, the District’s average score in English Language Arts remained flat compared to the previous year – 66% of students met or exceeded the standards tested. In mathematics, the District saw a 2% increase in overall scores with 62% of students meeting or exceeding the standards tested.

The District outperformed the state in all areas and outperformed the county in all areas except with English Language Learners, who lagged behind by 3% in mathematics and 4% in English Language Arts. Scores at some individual schools dipped, but Castro’s English Language Arts scores increased from 39% in 2015-2016 to 45% and in mathematics from 32% the previous year to 41%.

School sites are using the CAASPP results to develop school site plans to address student learning that will be presented to the Board in November. Individual school data and comparisons across subgroups can be found in the CAASPP Board Report.

Response to Instruction Update

Response to Instruction (RTI) is a three tiered framework used by the District to provide academic intervention and/or enrichment based on individual student needs. Students receive targeted instruction in small groups or one on one. RTI was first piloted at Castro in 2015-2016. Castro staff focused on improving literacy, and literacy scores at the school have increased each year since. In 2016-2017, the pilot was expanded to include Bubb, Monta Loma, Theuerkauf, and Landels. For the 2017-2018 school year RTI is being implemented at all school sites, but each school site is allowed to tailor the program to meet their students’ needs. With 1 additional teacher per 300 students, the program will cost $1.6 million this school year.

Workforce Housing Proposal and Study

Dr. Rudolph and the Trustees discussed different approaches to address the high cost of housing for teachers in MVWSD. Teacher salaries range from $60-114 thousand in the District, and the average cost of a single family home in Mountain View is around $1.5 million.

A multi-pronged approach from the District might include building housing, working with outside partners, and looking at teacher compensation. The Santa Clara Unified School District built below market rate apartments available to teachers and staff to rent for up to 7 years with an eye toward allowing tenants to save toward a down payment while renting. MVWSD is also exploring next steps with Landed, a company that provides teachers with half of their down payment up to $120 thousand. The District is currently doing a compensation study and will discuss those results in the future.

English Learner Update

English Language Learners (ELLs) make up 24% of the District’s students as of October 2017. The District Quality Review carried out in 2015-2016 found that “The provision for English Language Learners across the District is ineffective, inconsistent, and, in many cases, counterproductive.” In response, the Board previously set a goal to revise the District’s English Language Learners program so that 80% of students reach English language competency within 6 years. The District plans to do so by 1) implementing the Sheltered Instructional Observation Protocol (SIOP), an instructional model targeting English Language Learners across the curriculum, in 2017-2018, and 2) implementing an evidenced based early learning language acquisition program for K-3.

The District researched five different programs to provide targeted support for English Language Learners in K-3: Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL), Accelerated English Program, Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach (CALLA), Sheltered Instruction Observational Protocol (SIOP), and Guided Language Acquisition and Design (GLAD). Based on cost and the overlap with existing programs, District staff recommended that the District further consider GLAD, continue implementing and evaluating SIOP, and possibly develop it’s own program drawing on elements from the different programs researched.

Enrollment Priorities Task Force

The Enrollment Priorities Task Force (EPTF) members were selected and had their first meeting on October 24th. The meetings are not filmed, but the District will provide regular updates to the community and the Board. More information about the EPTF is included in the September LWV report.

— Devon Conley, Observer

Lisa McLain Foothill-De Anza Community College District, League News, Observer Reports

Foothill-De Anza Community College Trustee Meeting October 2017

Foothill-De Anza Trustees 2017

October 2:  De Anza President Brian Murphy told the trustees that the Flint 4-level parking structured been successfully upgraded to 2010 earthquake standards just in time for the beginning of fall quarter.  It parks about 2000 cars, so the athletic fields being used for parking for the last 15 months are back to being athletic fields.  The trustees today approved four final change orders totaling $0.91 million, bringing the final cost to about $27 million.   The state of California, Measure-C bonds, and FHDA’s own bonds each paid about one third.

   The trustees also authorized an additional $266,746 to Noll and Tam Architects for parking and circulation at Foothill College, expanding lots 5 and 6.

— Terry Terman, Observer

Lisa McLain League News

Civil Discourse Committee Meeting October 2017

Civil Discourse Committee October, 2017 Report

Civil Discourse is now a Santa Clara County Committee – and Has a New Civil Discourse Tool

Our Cupertino-Sunnyvale Committee has been approved by the Santa Clara County Council as a County Committee – giving us more exposure for public announcements for our events. With a broader platform to share our work within the County, we can more easily announce our events within the Bay Area – and reach a wider audience. Being part of the County LWV means we can use County communication tools to share our message, meetings and trainings.


The group met on October 22nd to learn the Focused Conversation Method (a Technology of Participation tool for participative gatherings) with members of Los Altos Mountain View and Cupertino-Sunnyvale Leagues and a Cupertino Rotary member. Based on theories developed to encourage community conversations and participation, we learned about the method and practiced it with several conversations. Our practice topics included:

  • The Longterm Success of an NGO
  • How to deal with the Trump takedowns
  • Walking the dog when Mom is away
  • The impact of mobile residents on a community
  • How to get Puerto Rico the help it needs


We now have a new way to talk with each other and with groups that encourages participative communication – and a model conversation to use at family Thanksgiving get-togethers for a non-controversial dialog!

We will be facilitating a “Bridging the Divide” workshop for the San Mateo County Leagues on October 24 (like the one Martha Cox did for Santa Clara County Leagues) and look forward to continuing outreach for the Bay Area.

Our next meeting will be Sunday, December 10, 2017, when we will work on our 2018 action plan. We invite you to join us at 10277 Vista Knoll Blvd, Cupertino. Please contact communications@lwvcs.org to RSVP.

Lisa McLain League News

Select Committee on Higher Education November 2017

Ellen Wheeler and Eleanor Yick attended the November 1, 2017 meeting of the Select Committee on Higher Education convened by Assemblymember Marc Berman. The purpose of the meeting was to update California’s Master Plan for Higher Education. The committee heard from experts and members of the public regarding multiple issues involving higher education and the needs of today’s students and society. San Jose State University President Dr. Mary A. Papazian opened the meeting. One striking statistic offered by researchers is that for every 1,000 9th graders in California only 305 of them will graduate from college.

Both Ellen and Eleanor were part of the prior LWVC study on Public Higher Education in California. They prepared a paper copy of the study results for each member of this select committee and gave them to an aide to Marc Berman for distribution. Some audience members also requested copies of the study following the public comments made by Eleanor.

Lisa McLain League News, Mountain View City Council, Observer Reports

Mountain View City Council Meeting October 2017

Sanctuary City and Anti-Registry Policy Considerations

On October 24th, the Mountain View City Council adopted policy language pertaining to the City’s role in federal immigration law and to the potential creation of a Muslim registry. Specifically, the language states that the City does not use “resources to create, implement, provide investigation or information for enforcement, or otherwise assist or support any government program requiring the registration of individuals, creation of a database of individuals, and/or detention relocation or internment of individuals on the basis of religion, national origin, or ethnicity.” Further, the Council adopted language stipulating that it is neither the City’s mission nor role to enforce federal immigration laws, and that the City’s law enforcement will not arrest any person on the basis of any civil immigration laws.

The Council had originally directed staff to explore Sanctuary City and “anti-registry” policies during the goal-setting process, but after Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 31 (the California Religious Freedom Act) and Senate Bill 54 (the California Values Act), staff recommended no further action, as these laws essentially implemented these policies at the state level. During the meeting, there was significant public support for stronger measures, including for model Sanctuary City and “anti-registry” ordinances. The Council accepted some, but not all, of the actions proposed. Accepted actions include, prohibiting conditioning of City benefits and services on immigration status (unless required by law), removing immigration status from City applications and forms, and allowing for the presentation of an identity document by the individual’s nation of origin when a driver’s license or identification card is an acceptable form of evidence of identification.

The Council agreed with the Police Department that existing City law enforcement policies pertaining to immigration law sufficiently protect members of the immigrant community in the City. The Council was not comfortable eliminating the discretion of law enforcement to contact the federal government in certain, rare instances when current law enforcement policy allows such contact.

Los Altos School District – Transfer of Development Rights

In a study session on October 3rd, the Council provided additional direction on a program that could potentially allow the Los Altos School District to more easily acquire land in the San Antonio area for a tenth school site. The “transfer of development rights” (TDR) process provides a funding source to support development of a public school by allowing private property owners to purchase and utilize the development rights of the potential school site at another property. The sale of these development rights reduces the land acquisition cost for the school district.

To enhance the viability and attractiveness of the program, the Council supported allowing the conversion of residential floor area to office floor area through the transfer, waiving public benefit contribution requirements for the floor area transferred, and allowing the transfer of floor area outside of the San Antonio area. Additionally, the Council supported a contribution of $6 million per acre, up to $23 million, of Park Land Dedication funds to the Los Altos School District to assist with the purchase of open space, with the understanding that the City will have access to the open space or recreational facilities constructed on the new school site.

Magical Bridge Foundation – All-Inclusive Playground

The Magical Bridge Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by the community members who coordinated and successfully created the Magical Bridge Playground in Palo Alto, an “all-inclusive” playground accessible to everyone, regardless of disability or age. All-inclusive playgrounds go “beyond ADA requirements by utilizing designs and equipment that help address physical, mental, and development needs.” On October 3rd, the City Council directed staff to execute a contract with the Foundation and to apply for up to $2 million in matching grant funding from the Santa Clara County All-Inclusive Playground Grant Program. Under the agreement, the Magical Bridge Foundation will assist the City with the design of the playground as well as with fundraising. The Council selected Rengstorff Park as the preliminary site for the all-inclusive playground.

Automated Guideway Transit Study Update

Over the past two years, the City has been studying the feasibility of an off-street “Automated Guideway Transit” (AGT) system that would connect the jobs-rich North Bayshore area with the Downtown Transit Center. Four transportation technologies have been studied:

  1. Aerial Cable Transportation – systems that carry passengers in cabins suspended by cables. Examples include gondolas and aerial trams.
  2. Automated People Movers – automated rubber-tired or steel-wheeled transit systems featuring large capacity vehicles operating on a fixed guideway. Examples include monorails and Maglevs.
  3. Automated Transit Network (ATN) – these include Personal Rapid Transit and Group Rapid Transit systems. They provide point-to-point service and can bypass other stations to get to the passenger’s destination.
  4. Autonomous Transit – driverless vehicles capable of integration with mixed-flow (non-exclusive right of way) traffic.

On October 17th, the Council provided direction to focus on the newer, emerging technologies – Automated Transit Network and Autonomous Transit. Although less mature, City staff recommended these technologies because they potentially could provide the greatest passenger experience, serving anticipated travel demand between North Bayshore and Downtown, and they allow for greater flexibility in expanding the system to serve other areas of the City. Council further directed exploration of at-grade elements, which means that Autonomous Transit technologies could have lower infrastructure impacts on the City if current infrastructure can be utilized (rather than utilize an entirely new aerial or dedicated off-street structure). The study is projected to be finalized in 2018, when Council will be provided proposed next steps.

— Lucas Ramirez, Observer

Lisa McLain League News, Observer Reports, Rental Housing Committee

Housing Committee Update October 2017

News from the Mountain View Rental Housing Committee

Background:

On November 8, 2016, the residents of the City of Mountain View voted to adopt Measure V, also known as the Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act (CSFRA), to stabilize rents and to provide just cause eviction protections for certain rental units in Mountain View.

Effective December23, 2016 rent levels and rent increases for covered rental units built before February 1, 1995 must comply with the CSFRA.  As of this writing, single family homes, condominiums, duplexes, and mobile homes are not covered by the CSFRA.

For more background go to the Mountain View website:

http://www.mountainview.gov/council/rental_housing_committee/default.asp

Rental Housing Committee Meeting 10/23/2017

Unfinished Business

Rental Housing Committee Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Budget and Rental Housing Fee

With the adoption of Measure V, a new program with dedicated resources was created in the City of Mountain View which requires independent funding for its operation.  The Rental Housing Committee (RHC) must establish a budget for implementing the provisions of the CSFRA and the staffing to accomplish this.

On October 9, 2017 the RHC confirmed a budget which was a ‘best estimate’ proposed by the City staff in the amount of $2,590,915 which included these items: staffing, general operating costs, 3rd party professional services, an IT system and a one-time reimbursement of the City’s advanced funding.

To fund this budget, the landlords of roughly 16,788 Mountain View rental units will initially be charge $155 per unit per year.

The City recommended that this Budget and Rental Housing Fee be approved.  With much discussion between all members of the RHC, Legal Staff and City Staff, eventually the RHC approved this budget.

Public Hearing

The public was not at all happy with this decision and once this budget and rental fee was adopted by the RHC the line was quickly forming to speak their 3 minutes directly to the committee with their opinions:

Budget much too large, salaries for staff are excessive, RHF is too high and who should actually pay this fee varied from 100% Renters to a 50-50% shared split Renters-Landlords etc., etc.

Upon hearing these very passionate opinions the committee did recommend that they continue this discussion at the next meeting.

New Business

Rental Housing Committee Meeting Schedule

Schedule as presented was adopted.

— Tamara Lewis, Observer

Lisa McLain League News, Mountain View Los Altos High School District, Observer Reports

Mountain View – Los Altos High School District (MVLA) Meetings October 2017

Mountain View – Los Altos High School District (MVLA)

October 9 and 23, 2017

Consulting firm, TBWB Strategies, presented the results of a public opinion poll on a possible bond measure to upgrade school facilities.  They conducted 611 interviews of likely voters in a June election.  Support for a bond measure is well above the required 55% to pass, and is not affected by the dollar amount of the bond.  MVLA currently has the lowest tax rate of any school district in the county.  They recommend putting the school construction bond measure on the June 2018 ballot.

Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) presented the Facilities Masters Plan, including on both campuses: new two-story classroom buildings to accommodate expected increased enrollment; new student services buildings; new auxiliary gyms; library and cafeteria improvements; and needed repairs and improvements.  Also included is a new building for Freestyle Academy and needed repairs to Alta Vista, Adult Education and District office buildings.  The rough cost estimates are: LAHS $108M to $119 M, MVHS $121M to $133M, and Freestyle Academy $20M to $22.5M. The total estimated cost, including the repairs to other buildings, contingencies, and expenses is $270M to $295M.The Board requested a prioritization of elements of the plan in order to perhaps leave some things out to reduce the cost. The QKA presentation is available at:

mvla.net/files/user/519/file/Draft%20MVLA%20Facilities%20Master%20Plan%2010_23_17.pdfT

The Board approved a contract with California School Boards Association (CSBA) for their Agenda Online service which provides a web-based application and hosting service that enables the district to create board meeting agendas, attach or link to supporting documents, record minutes, and publish it all on the web.  The service will meet the requirements of a new law that says agendas must be searchable.

The Board approved a limited number (net 78) of intra-district transfers from LAHS to MVHS for 2018-2019, available in an open enrollment period to incoming 9th graders, because LAHS has reached its maximum facility capacity.

The board heard presentations on the Computer Science and Engineering Departments from MVHS and LAHS, a Progress Report for the 2016 Special Education Study, the PEAK (Pathways, Exposure, Academic connection and Knowledge) program for AVID students (a collaboration with MVLA Scholars), and the AP Success Project at LAHS (working with the Stanford University Center to Support Excellence in Teaching).

—  Sally Ahnger, Observer

Lisa McLain League News, Los Altos City Council, Observer Reports

Los Altos City Council Meetings October 2017

Notes for Los Altos City Council-October 2017

October 10, 2017

The City Council adopted the ordinance for Density Bonus Regulations and the ordinance for Commercial Transit Zone amendments which had taken up much discussion time in the September city council meetings. In addition, City Council authorized and adopted under the consent calendar, notice of completion of the illuminated crosswalk replacements, the Covington Road bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and the annual pathway rehabilitation project.

The main discussion concerned the lease renewal proposal from Children’s Corner which has leased rooms in the Hillview Community Center since 1981. The current lease is up in September 2018, and Chris Jordan, City Manager, has recommended that the council not agree to the proposed terms for a new lease.

Parents of pre-K children filled the chambers to support the terms for renewal of the contract. Speakers for Children’s Corner discussed its options: negotiate with the city for space, find a new location, or go out of business.

The City Council’s Financial Commission asks both Children’s Corner and the council to consider the exclusive use of public space for the pre-school vs. maximum use of the public land; the risk of long term contract with a private entity; and the problem of transparency in the process of selecting tenants. Also at the September 26 study session before the council meeting, 3000 additional square feet for the new Hillview Community Center and $2 million had been approved. With this information the City Council asked staff to renegotiate with Children’s Corner a lease to include a monetary contribution from Children’s Corner to build the space and the lease to be included as part of a 10-year financial plan discussion.

October 24, 2017

The City Council discussed a citizen’s proposal for amendments to the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. They requested additional information from staff and the City Attorney before further decision. Item was continued to a future meeting date.

The City Council considered an elevator tower height waiver for the project at 4880 El Camino included in the affordable housing design. Looking at reports from the Planning and Transportation Commission, the problem was disagreement among members about the building heights in the neighborhood and extending the original project height for disability access to the rooftop deck structure open space. The council considered and adopted a waiver allowing elevator height to 16 feet eight inches above the structure’s rooftop.

The Council appointed Council Member Jean Mordo and Council Member Lynette Lee Eng as alternate to the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on South Flow Arrivals to San Francisco International Airport to focus on aircraft noise. They authorized the City Manager to work with neighboring cities to hire a consultant to assist in this effort. Also, Council authorized the City Manager to retain the services of an expert consultant to assist the city in evaluating the situation with aircraft noise related to SFO arrivals.

— Claire Noonan, Observer

Tricia Jordan League News

Joe Simitian: Listening to Trump’s America

September 16th in Palo Alto City Chambers.

 

Who Voted for Trump?

Joe opened his remarks by reporting on the percentage of the electorate that voted for Trump November 2016.   Across the US, 46% voted for Trump. Trump garnered 32% of the vote in California. In Santa Clara County, it was 21% and in the City of Palo Alto it was 12%.   Joe made the point that we live in a bubble, in a bubble, which is not a surprise to anyone.

Joe visits three counties that had voted for Obama, flipped and voted for Trump

In February and in May of this year, Joe visited three counties in three different states. He selected counties that had voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012, but had voted overwhelmingly for Trump in 2016. The first county, Robeson County in North Carolina, is rural with 135,000 residents. It is a “majority-minority” county, of which 70% are of African-American, Latino and Native American. Democrats outnumber Republicans by a factor of five to one.   In 2016 Trump took 60% of the vote, with Clinton getting less than 30% of their vote.

The second county he visited was the Cambria County in Pennsylvania. It is rural with about 144,000 residents.   Its key industries have been coal and steel.   County population is over 95% white – of German, Irish, Italian, Polish, and other European countries. 62% of the voters are registered Democrats and 31% as Republican. Trump won in 2016.   Democrats hold most local offices.   Obama won in 2008 in a close race and gained 40% of the vote in 2012.   In 2016 Trump won with over 66% of the vote to Clinton’s 30%.

Macomb County in Michigan has 850,000 residents, of which over 85% are white.   Located next to Detroit, its industry has included GM, Ford, and Chrysler manufacturing plants.   It has had a large working class, socially conservative population that has favored Democratic candidates at the federal and local level. It is viewed as a bell weather for national elections.   Obama won the county in 2008 and 2012 with over 53% and over 51% of the vote.   In 2016 Trump won with 54% of the vote.   During Obama’s presidency unemployment decreased from 16% to 6%.

These three counties reflect the six to ten million Americans who had previously voted for Obama, flipped and voted for Trump in 2016.

The purpose of Joe’s tour was to listen, learn and not take action, but try to understand.

Joe Conducted a Listening Tour

Joe spent a week in each county and talk with a wide range of residents including city workers, police officers, firemen, small business owners, elected officials, retirees, party activists across the whole spectrum of voters.

Simitian asked people why they voted for Trump. The responses did not get into issues like ObamaCare, terrorists, social issues, or racism. He did hear an earful on Hillary Clinton, however. In one town the Democratic mayor, said he would’ve voted for Joseph Stalin before he would vote for Hillary Clinton.

In these counties, the Republican establishment did not want to talk to Joe, a Californian Democrat.

Common negative comments about Hillary Clinton:   They did not trust Hillary Clinton.   They were concerned about her emails, Benghazi and the Clinton Foundation. They considered her corrupt, condescending, elitist, and “snooty-hooty.” Gender was an issue.   Many, including older women, said that they did not feel comfortable with a woman president. Many commented that it was clear that Hillary stayed with Bill just to advance her career. They could not see her as Commander-in-Chief and running the military. Older white blue-collar voters didn’t want a woman president.

People in the audience asked if Joe Biden would have won the election. Many Democrats think so. Some commented that Bernie Sanders was more electable that Hillary Clinton. We’ll never know.

Trump was viewed as the lesser of two evils. Even union members and their leadership did not promote support for Clinton. Some consider yard sign distribution as a barometer of voter attitudes, and it showed a clear lack of enthusiasm for Hillary Clinton. Lawns were dominated with Trump signs. Some were home-made and showed up everywhere.

The local Republican operations were stronger than the Democratic operations. They were fast responding and better organized.   The local Republican headquarters claimed to have had a wait list for Trump signs. They announced a day that they would be open to get out Trump signs. On that day over 1000 people showed up; they gave out 3000 signs. It was a good tactic to build momentum around Trump. Many voters thought that their vote would count more in 2016, and could make a difference. It did.

Disconnect between Democratic National Campaign and Local Voter Interests

The Democratic national campaign emphasized abortion-rights, bathroom gender rights, marriage equality and other social issues. Local voters asked why do liberals have to push such a liberal social agenda? The Democratic presidential campaign and its candidate did not seem in touch with local issues. In these counties, the local office holders often were Democrat. Many local Democratic candidates ask for endorsement by the NRA. An interesting side-note: In some of these counties the Monday after the Thanksgiving weekend is viewed a holiday. This is the first day that deer hunting season opens up.

When Tim Kaine, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, spoke to the town he started to also speak in Spanish. That did not go well with the local electorate who were concerned about their jobs going to Mexico. This was another example of the disconnect between the national campaign that seemed to be focusing on what these counties thought were fringe issues, and were thought to be issues of big cities.

In Michigan, many commented that the Democrats need to stop being the party that “knows best.”

Why were the flaws of Trump overlooked? Trump focused on Jobs

Henry David Thoreau, who is often viewed as speaking for the working man, wrote “the mass of men led lives of quiet desperation, and go to the grave with the song still in them.”   Simitian commented that in these counties, many voters led lives of desperation, but not quiet desperation.

In Macomb County, manufacturing jobs requiring only a high school degree paid $60-$65,000 a year 25 years ago. That was enough to support a family.   Then in 1994 NAFTA was signed.   Many companies moved manufacturing jobs to Mexico. Now with a high school degree you can only get a job paying $20,000 – $25,000.   Available jobs need only low skills and suffer from high turnover of staff.   A high school graduate’s earning ability is only 45% of what it was in 2001.

Voters told Joe that they couldn’t vote for the “same old, same old” policies. Governmental policies were not helping them.   Their area did not benefit from TARP funding. They asked where do our taxes go? They felt that a vote for the next Democratic candidate would be a “rinse and repeat” operation.

Michigan residents said that the goal for many was to get out of Michigan. To stay, meant working harder, earning less money, with no benefits, and no pension plan.   They experienced the decline and fall of the US auto industry since 1978.   They felt the brunt of decades of a declining economy.

The current attitude is that the federal Government does not give a damn about Michigan or Pennsylvania. At the federal level, nobody listens, nobody cares, nobody does anything.

These voters liked Trump’s message.   Trump’s emphasis on creating jobs. Being tough on trade. False hope is better than no hope. It is time to shake up the snow globe. Hillary Clinton is like milk left in the refrigerator too long.   Hillary Clinton is part of failed government. They are not surprised that a president candidate who is like the inevitable snake oil salesman would come along. Maybe Trump could have said it better but at least he said it.

In Conclusion: Why should we in California care about these Voters?

We all need to consider what we should do next.   Why should we care?   Because it is risky to let people make desperate choices. California is a donor date. Californians give more federal taxes then we get back to the state.   We should care how these funds are used outside California.

It is politically dangerous, morally wrong, and expensive to look the other way. We need to listen. We need to act. That doesn’t mean we have to give up on our values. We must stand up speak out and push back. We must confront and conquer the hard truths.

As a country, we need to provide meaningful work and a livable wage to our residents. How we will go about that is a topic for another day.

Julie Cates, LWV Los Altos-Mountain View.

 

Lisa McLain League News

Healthcare Update October 2017

The League of Women Voters of California supports in concept SB 562 (Lara and Atkins)

The LWV California has advocated for a single payer health care system for more than a decade.

We recognize the Affordable Care Act is not perfect and we are continuing to push for reform and support in concept with the passage of SB 562, the Healthy California Act. (Of note, Senator Sanders has introduced S. 1804- Medicare for All 2017 in the United States Senate.)

We have known for decades that a single payer system like Medicare for all will save money and lives, but progress has been slow. This is clearly changing and it’s a direct result of the volunteer work to build the grassroots energy around Medicare for All.  

The California 2017 legislative year ended without the Healthy California Act (SB 562) moving forward. This means it is now a two-year bill that can move forward in 2018. BUT…Speaker Anthony Rendon, when he put the bill on hold in the Rules Committee, stated SB 562 was held “indefinitely”. So for the bill to move forward we must continue to build our powerful movement and make sure our leaders step up and make it a reality in 2018 with SB 562.

 The Cassidy-Graham bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act:

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that under the Cassidy-Graham bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, California would lose $78 billion in federal money for the Medi-Cal insurance program for the poor and in federal subsidies for low-income residents who buy health insurance through Covered California, the state exchange created under the Affordable Care Act—more than any other state.

— Carol Kuiper, VP-Program