Category Archives: Kari Birdseye

Benicia Artist Yard Sign Auction is LIVE!

Support for Kari Birdseye & Terry Scott – our Benicia City Council candidates

(NOTICE: AUCTION EXTENDED TO 8PM ON THURS. AUG 15.)

Montage of artist yard signs for Kari Birdseye and Terry Scott – view and bid on these and many more at the AUCTION.

Scores of Benicia artists have created original, handmade campaign yard signs to support our two favorite candidates, Kari Birdseye and Terry Scott which will be installed in yards all over town, and widely posted on social media.

From the Artists: “Our hope is that all the signs find homes in front of Benicia domiciles, and that we raise some serious money for the two campaigns. And finally we hope this helps get Kari and Terry seats on our City Council. Our vibrant and genuine affirmations in the form of campaign signs will balance the negative campaigning we may soon see from Big Oil interests. Thanks for your support ~ have fun bidding!”

Here’s how you can get your sign!

Click on this link: runmyauction.com/kariterry.php
(or use and share the QR code) to make bids and purchases in the Artist Sign Project Auction.

>>NOTE: The Auction ends at 8pm sharp on Wednesday, September 14. (NOTICE: AUCTION EXTENDED TO 8PM ON THURS. AUG 15.)

Thank you for supporting Kari Birdseye and Terry Scott for Benicia City Council. Let’s show what grass roots can do! All proceeds benefit the campaigns.

Benicia’s Kari Birdseye quoted in coverage of California Democratic Party convention

By By Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, June 1, 2019

Hickenlooper who? California Democratic Convention delegates anxious to winnow field of candidates

[1 of 36 photos] SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 1: Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) acknowledges the crowd as she speaks during Day 2 of the California Democratic Party Convention at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 1, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO — Some of the 15 presidential contenders schmoozing delegates Saturday at the California Democratic Convention are so popular, they need no introduction but their first names: Bernie, Kamala and Beto.

Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (if you can pronounce it), are right up there on the name recognition scale, too.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 1: Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks during Day 2 of the California Democratic Party Convention at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 1, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

“When you get below that, who the heck are they?” asked Orange County delegate Doug Harding, outside the main hall Saturday afternoon.

“We love ‘em, but they need to leave.”

Some delegates clearly subscribe to “the more the merrier” mantra and scrambled for selfies Saturday with any candidates who passed through the Moscone Center. But others are anxious to winnow the huge field of serious presidential contenders — 24 by most counts — hoping to earn the Democratic nomination to take on President Trump in 2020.

“I can identify up to about five,” said Becky Curry, 64, a delegate from Lake County who felt lucky to see the likes of U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts make speeches Saturday. “When I get down to Bennet, Hickenlooper and some of the other Bs, they fall into the same category — I don’t know them.”

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 1: Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke speaks during Day 2 of the California Democratic Party Convention at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 1, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Marianne Williamson? John Delaney? Michael Bennet? While the author, the former Maryland congressman and Colorado’s U.S. senator have their acolytes, the enthusiasm on Saturday among California’s 3,400 Democratic delegates, based on the applause scale alone, seemed reserved mostly for the household names.

It wasn’t for lack of enthusiastic speeches by the candidates.

US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders addresses a rally at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California on May 31, 2019. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images

“Our president is a coward,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said in a speech from the main convention hall Saturday. “That’s not what we deserve.”

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii criticized Washington politics as “of, by and for self-serving politicians and the rich and powerful. This must end.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s voice was already hoarse when she took the stage, saying, “I don’t have money, but I have grit” and received an ovation when she left the stage.

But when Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., said he woke up next to his husband Saturday morning thanks to a single vote on the U.S. Supreme Court, the San Francisco crowd let out a prolonged cheer.

“The riskiest thing we could do is try too hard to play it safe,” he said.

The unfortunate task of following him fell to Rep. Eric Swalwell from Dublin, who has been a frequent pundit on CNN but still struggles to gain name recognition. And when former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said “socialism is not the answer,” the extended booing nearly drowned him out.

Delegate Gail Cain from Orange County called the large field of candidates “crazy,” especially since “they all have the same thing to say.”

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the frontrunner, was a no-show, opting out of the California convention — a decision that didn’t sit well with some of the delegates.

“To ignore us like this is a big mistake,” said Kari Birdseye, a delegate from Benicia. “He should have showed up.”

She also held disdain for candidates who didn’t seem to be in it for the right reasons: those she believes are angling to raise their profiles or be tapped for cabinet posts.

Still, “what’s important is that we’re going to be unified behind our candidate no matter what,” she said. Alluding to Trump’s 2016 win, she added, “we learned that the hard way.”

“Final Word” forum, Saturday, Nov. 3

The Final Word Forum was challenged by the Valero/Labor PAC but went on as scheduled.  See the video here:  youtube.com/watch?v=9CB2Dd6qcS0  


[PREVIOUS NOTICE] – Mark your calendar and plan to attend this Saturday – this could be a VERY interesting forum, and your last chance before the election to ask questions and express your thoughts about recent negative campaigning by corporate giant Valero Services, Inc. and its affiliates.

Please show up WAY EARLY!!  We’ve learned that oil industry people will try to pack the house and dominate the debate. 

Details…

CITY TO HOST CANDIDATES FORUM TO ADDRESS NEGATIVE MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN AND “HIT PIECES”

“The City of Benicia code(Sec 1.42.110) allows for a last minute candidate forum to allow candidates to address last minute “hit pieces” and to respond to inflammatory statements and misinformation.

This forum does not always happen but, given the amount of negative campaigning happening in the City Council race, the City’s Open Government Commission will sponsor such a session this Saturday, Nov. 3 from 9-11am at the City Council chambers.

The event will be televised live on Ch. 27, and rebroadcast at 7pm on Sunday and Monday nights, Nov. 4 and 5. It will also be streamed on the City website.

The forum will be moderated by Open Government Commission Chair Bonnie Silvera, with assistance from two other OGC members.  Questions from audience will be written on 3×5 cards and selected by OGC members. Questions will be addressed to all candidates.  Only questions that deal with the purpose of the forum will be addressed.  Candidates are asked to speak to the issues and not make personal comments about other candidates, especially in a negative manner.