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Meeting notices

Our Next Meeting – Tuesday, March 12

MEMBER MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2024, 7:00 PM

ZOOM MEETING

___________________________________________________________________________

Dear members and supporters—

We are going to take a deep dive in our March meeting into a local issue that is making national news – California Forever.  There has been a lot of commentary about California Forever’s plans and ballot initiative. Here is your chance to see and hear for yourself what all the commotion is about, directly from some of those most involved.

Solano Together and California Forever

(Photo credits: Benicia Magazine, Greenbelt.org, CaliforniaForever.com, SolanoEDC.org.)

In order of appearance from left to right, our speakers from Solano Together will be Bob Berman, Chair of the Solano County Orderly Growth Committee, and Sadie Wilson, Director of Planning and Research at Greenbelt Alliance.

Our speaker from California Forever is Head of Planning Gabe Metcalf (read a recent interview with Metcalf here). Chris Rico, CEO/President of the Solano County Economic Development Corporation, will also be on hand to answer questions and provide economic insights.

This will be a rare opportunity to learn about this controversial proposal and the initiative that will be on the November ballot supporting it from all sides at once. 

Sheri Leigh will also share an announcement about Fiestas Primavera and other activities to stop the La Migra game that has become an unwelcome Benicia High School tradition.

Zoom Details

The link and sign-in information for most PDB membership meetings in 2024 is below. For the most part you can use this link, meeting ID, and passcode through 2024.  

Topic: PDB General Meeting
Time: Mar 12, 2024 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86273821941?pwd=WktDazJLaTJHVTBPNWd3dzlXaGd2Zz09

Meeting ID: 862 7382 1941
Passcode: 528756

One tap mobile
+16699006833,,86273821941#,,,,*528756# US (San Jose)
+16694449171,,86273821941#,,,,*528756# US

Please save the evening of March 12 for this important discussion. It has so far been rare to see both sides of this discussion in the same room, even if it will be a virtual room.  

2024 Election, Endorsements, Measure C, Meeting reflections, Solano County Board of Supervisors

Meeting Notes – February 13, 2024

MEETING NOTES
FEBRUARY 13, 2024

___________________________________________________________________________

Our January general membership meeting was held on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 7pm, via Zoom.

Agenda:

  • Call to Order
  • Quorum
  • Treasurer’s Report
  • Acknowledgements/Announcements
  • Program
    • Measure C – Sheri Zada and Damon Wright
    • Update – Christopher Cabaldon campaign
    • Fiesta La Primavera – Sheri Leigh
    • Solano County Board of Supervisors District 1 Candidates Forum
      • Cassandra James
      • Michael Wilson
  • Wrap Up – Next Meeting March 12, 2024

Announcements

  • Feb. 24 – Cooking with Alice – NSDC fundraiser with Congressman Mike Thompson
  • Feb. 24 – Passion for Performance, Fundraiser
  • Feb. 29 – Making the Democratic Process Work for You – Kathy Kerridge & Mary Ruth Gross, 350 Bay Area – Better World Event on Zoom
  • March 5 – Vote for SCDCC Representatives
  • May 18 – PDB Fundraiser – Champagne Brunch – SAVE THE DATE and join the planning committee to help with the event!

MEASURE C

Measure C on the March 5th ballot will fund critical facilities improvements for our schools

  • Building repairs and improvements
  • Classroom renovation and upgrades
  • HVAC system
  • Science and technology lab construction
  • Student access to computer technology
  • Improves health, safety, student achievement and security

We heard from School Board President Sheri Zada and Superintendent Dr. Damon Wright in support of this important measure. Dr. Wright fielded questions.

Endorsed Candidate Update

Christopher Cabaldon updated us on his campaign.

Fiesta La Primavera

Sheri Leigh updated us on her advocacy to dismantle Benicia’s La Migra’ games, and announced an alternative Spring Break celebration event in collaboration with the Solano AIDS Coalition: Fiesta Primavera,   taking place on March 23 at Gazebo Park in Benicia.

Solano County Board of Supervisors District 1 Candidates Forum

We heard from the two candidates who are running for County Supervisor for District 1, and both candidates fielded questions.   The candidates (in alphabetical order) are Cassandra James, incumbent, and Michael Wilson. Both candidates fielded questions from members.

Membership Poll

We have offered members an opportunity to vote on which candidate to endorse via the PDB website.  The bylaws state “New Members shall be entitled to vote on all Club matters sixty (60) days after payment of dues. Existing members, upon payment of membership renewal dues, shall be eligible immediately to vote on all Club matters.”

Meeting Link

Here is a link to the video recording of this important meeting! If asked, enter the passcode: skMZ^h59

Next Meeting: Tuesday March 12, 7:00 pm on Zoom

Don’t miss this important meeting!

 

Endorsements, Meeting notices, Solano County Board of Supervisors

Our Next Meeting – Tuesday, February 13

MEMBER MEETING
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024, 7:00 PM

ZOOM MEETING

___________________________________________________________________________

Our February meeting will be packed with election information and also exciting news about an upcoming event.

District 1 Supervisor Candidates

Last month we heard from the candidates running for District 2 for the Solano County Board of Supervisors.  This month we will hear from and vote to endorse one of the Democratic candidates, Cassandra James or Michael Wilson, who are running for District 1, a seat currently held by Erin Hannigan.

Cassandra James (left) currently serves as the Senior Community Development Specialist at the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development in San Francisco.  Michael Wilson is departing Supervisor Erin Hannigan’s District Representative.

To learn more about the candidates, click their names above to be redirected to their campaign websites, and click the links below to see how they responded to PDB’s Candidate Questionnaire in February 2024 and the Solano County Democratic Central Committee’s Candidate Questionnaire in December 2023.

CASSANDRA JAMES MICHAEL WILSON
PDB Feb. 2024 Questionnaire PDB Feb. 2024 Questionnaire
SCDCC Dec. 2023 Questionnaire SCDCC Dec. 2023 Questionnaire

Benicia’s Measure C, the State Senate Race & More!


Sheri Zada, president of the Benicia Unified District School Board, and BUSD Superintendent Damon Wright will tell us about Measure C on the March 5  ballot.  We will also vote on whether or not to endorse that measure.

Christopher Cabaldon has been endorsed by the Progressive Democrats of Benicia in his run for state senate.  He will fill us in on what we can do to help his campaign.

 

We will also have an announcement from Sheri Leigh about the upcoming Fiesta La Primavera to be held in City Park on March 23.

Renew Your Membership

Please remember that you should pay your dues now (thank you to those of you who have).  Only members who are current in their dues and have been members for 60 days will be able to vote in these endorsements.  You can renew your membership at this link: https://progressivedemocratsofbenicia.org/pay-dues-donate/.

Zoom Sign-In

Our Zoom meeting details are below.

The link and sign-in information for most PDB membership meetings in 2024 is below.  If we have an off-schedule or special meeting we may have a special link, but for the most part you can use this link, meeting ID, and passcode through 2024.  To download the invitation to your preferred electronic calendar system, you can click the link and follow the instructions below.  And we will always resend the Zoom details with our meeting notices.

Topic: PDB General Meeting
Time: FEb 13, 2024 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86273821941?pwd=WktDazJLaTJHVTBPNWd3dzlXaGd2Zz09

Meeting ID: 862 7382 1941
Passcode: 528756

One tap mobile
+16699006833,,86273821941#,,,,*528756# US (San Jose)
+16694449171,,86273821941#,,,,*528756# U

See you on Zoom, Tuesday, February 13 at 7:00 PM!