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Join Us for We the People: Jan 6th Day of Remembrance & Action

January 6th Day of Remembrance and Action

Join us on Thursday evening, January 6th at 6:00 pm at the Benicia City Park Gazebo for a Day of Remembrance of the attack on Congress and the American democratic process. We are holding this candlelight Vigil both as a day of remembrance and to say that in our country, the voters decide the outcome of elections.

It’s been a year since a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, leaving five people dead, scores injured, and an untold number of legislators, staffers, journalists, and others there for the certification of Joe Biden’s victory traumatized.

Our Vigil will be one of hundreds of events across the county remembering the January 6 attack. More than 100 activist groups are banding together with vigils and voter registration events. We urgently need to support federal legislation to protect and expand voting rights. The future of our democracy is in our hands.

During our Vigil at the Gazebo, Mary Susan Gast will read from a collection of poems by local poets on the events of January 6, 2021.

Please join us at the Gazebo on Thursday, January 6 at 6:00 pm to support democracy, the rule of law, and actions to fight the suppression of voting rights.

Meeting notices

General Membership Meeting January 11, 2022 7:00 PM

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

 

We’re ready to kick off 2022 with our first General Meeting on January 11 at 7:00 pm. Headlining the program is Congressman John Garamendi, who has announced that he is seeking re-election in the newly designed California 8th Congressional district, which now includes Benicia and Vallejo.

Following Congressman Garamendi, we’ll continue our discussion from our last meeting in November on proposed changes to club bylaws, including consideration of a new name for our club, and address filling some vacant officer and steering committee positions.

We’re still meeting via Zoom. Watch for the zoom link which will be sent closer to the meeting date.

Benicia is now part of Congressional District 8. The newly designed voting districts are based on results of the 2020 Census. Benicia is now part of the 8th Congressional district which has been represented by Congressman Garamendi since 2009. The new district stretches from Vacaville in the north to El Cerrito in the south and includes the cities of Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules, Antioch, Pittsburg, and Martinez in Contra Costa County and Fairfield, Suisun City, Vallejo and Benicia in Solano County. On Dec. 20, 2021, Congressman Garamendi announced he is running for reelection to Congress. We look forward to hearing from our new Congressman and his plans in Congress for 2022. Have your questions ready!

During the January 11 meeting, we’re providing as much time as Congressman Garamendi needs to address the club as well as to allow for Q & A.

Club changes.

  1. During our November meeting, we discussed possibly changing the club’s name. We will continue the discussion on a possible name change to allow members who weren’t present in November to share their thoughts. Here is a summary of pro and con comments provided by members thus far. A vote on a name change can take place only after the proposed change has been presented to membership at a preceding meeting. The Jan. 11 meeting will be considered first notice for any motion(s) that arise during this meeting.
  2. We will also announce plans to fill two officer positions: the Vice-Chair position has been open for some time, and Ralph Dennis is stepping down as Chair effective February 8, 2022. Club officers serve two-year terms, and PDB’s next officer elections are January, 2023. If an office is vacated, new officers can be appointed to serve out any remaining terms of a vacated office until elections are held.

Please review the comments on a possible name change for PDB, specifically keeping or dropping the word “Progressive.”

Also, annual club dues are payable beginning in January. Annual dues are $20 per member. See our website for payment information.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 7:00 pm. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments!

Climate change, Fossil fuels, Renewable energy

Take these timely actions!

Take these timely actions in just a few minutes’ time to help save affordable rooftop solar and to stop drilling oil and gas wells next to homes, schools, and hospitals.

Save Rooftop Solar in California! Sign the Petition by November 30

Our investor-owned utilities are again lobbying for a change in rules that would make rooftop solar prohibitively expensive. This time they’re trying it at the Public Utilities Commission. Sign the petition to stop them!

Setback rules for oil and gas wells

Stand up for environmental justice in California! On December 1 at 5:00 pm CalGEM is holding the first of two workshops to collect public comments. Once you register for the workshop you can speak for up to two minutes to the regulators who have written draft proposed setback rules for oil and gas wells. Provide your comments on why you think the 3200′ setback rule proposed is critical and why it must be for all drilling and not just new wells. Your public comments in support of the health and safety of frontline communities will make an impact!

Big Oil pays workers to call in and drown out our voice. Let’s show up in force! Please join the workshop, provide your brief comments, and show your support!

Learn about expected sea level rises throughout the Bay Area

Sea Level Rise and Shoreline Contamination Workshop, December 8 and 9. What will the coming rise in sea level – and ground water – do to the San Francisco Bay Area, and what can we do about it? Learn more at this community/government workshop.  Learn more about the workshop and  RSVP here!