Category Archives: Meeting notices

Meeting notices, Progressive Democrats of Benicia

March Meeting Cancelled

No meeting on March 18

Members and Friends of PDB,

We have decided to cancel PDB’s next General Membership meeting scheduled for March 18 at the Dona Benicia Library in Benicia. We’ve taken this action as a precaution due to concerns about exposure to COVID-19. Below are the latest recommendations from the City of Benicia issued on March 9:

CITY OF BENICIA UPDATE ON COVID-19 (3/9/20):

“…At this time, the City recommends that individuals evaluate opportunities to attend events, programs, recreation classes, etc., on a case by case basis. Older people and people with certain underlying health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example, seem to be at greater risk of serious illness and may want to be more conservative when deciding whether or not to attend events. The City has begun implementing enhanced facility cleaning to reduce potential exposure to COVID-19 as well as posting reminders about hand washing and other precautions.”

Here’s a link to the City of Benicia’s web page with coronavirus information, including the full March 9 press release – ci.benicia.ca.us/coronavirus.

And, here are links to additional information on the coronavirus:

Johns Hopkins CSSE Outbreak Tracker
CDC – What You Need to Know about COVID-19
CDC – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
CDC -Confirmed Cases in the United States (updated regularly)
Solano County Public Health Updates & Resources
OSHA Information for Workers and Employers
Sign up for CDC Updates here

Our next meeting is scheduled for April 22. We’ll share more information on the Earth Day program soon. In the meantime, please be cautious and follow the personal contact protocols recommended by healthcare officials:

    • Wash hands with liquid soap and water for at least 20 seconds; alcohol-based sanitizers may also be used.
    • Clean and disinfect any surfaces you or other people frequently touch.
    • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue (or your sleeve) when you cough or sneeze.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
    • Stay home if you are sick or feel sick (unless you are seeking medical care).
    • Avoid close contact with sick people.
    • Get the flu shot to protect yourselves and others from the seasonal flu.

Please be safe and stay informed!

Ralph Dennis
Chair

…REMINDER…

Have you paid your 2020 dues yet?  If you are a member of PDB, January was the month to renew your annual dues (unless you joined since October, 2019, in which case your initial membership and dues count for 2020).  PLEASE RENEW TODAY!

Meeting notices, Meeting reflections, Progressive Democrats of Benicia

Meeting of February 12, 2020 – Presidential Candidate Panel & Endorsement

Presidential Candidates’ Forum
& Endorsement Vote
Wednesday, February 12, 6:30pm, Dona Benicia Room, Benicia Library

In advance of the March 3 California Primary Election, we took an internal poll of our Progressive Democrats of Benicia in order to offer Benicians a PDB endorsement for a Democratic presidential candidate.  So we held a candidates’ forum at our February 12 meeting.

These are campaigns which were represented on the panel and the person speaking on behalf of their candidate:

    • Pete Buttigieg, Nick Fletcher (or representative), CA Campaign Political Director
    • Mike Bloomberg, Patty Mitchell, Regional Campaign Director, Contra Costa Co.
    • Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Constance Beutel, Benicia supporter/local activist
    • Sen. Bernie Sanders, Mark Van Landuyt, (2016 Sanders delegate/campaign organizer Contra Costa Co.
    • Tom Steyer, Luis Sanchez, (CA Deputy Political Director)
    • Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Anthony Galace, Oakland campaign office
    • (NOTE: Invitations were sent to the other campaigns but no responses were received.)

After the presentations by the candidates’ representatives, everyone present participated in a Q&A, and then PDB members voted to endorse the candidate of their choice.

Members not present had a week to vote online via the website.  The online Membership Poll went up on the website on 2/12/20 after the meeting.

Endorsement results were posted here on the website after online voting closed on 2/19/20.

Meeting notices, PDB news updates

PDB Chair Ralph Dennis: Meeting notice and much more!

Thanks for your calls to Sen. Dodd!
More calls to make!
Next Meeting Feb. 12

Members and Friends,

Ralph Dennis, PDB Chair

Thanks for all the calls to Sen. Dodd’s office last week on Senate Bill 386 – the bill failed to get out of committee and is dead for the Session. During the committee hearing, Sen. Dodd specifically mentioned “all the calls” he had received to vote no on the bill, which he said led him to have concerns about it. Remember, he went from a yes vote last year on this bill to a no this year – calls can make a difference!

We’ll be needing to call Sen. Dodd again soon on SB 54, the “plastics bill” that places a ban on single use plastics starting in 2030. The bill is probably coming to the Senate floor for a vote before the end of January, and Sen. Dodd supported it last year but rumors are he may be wavering. Industry lobbying against this bill is fierce. Watch for Call Alerts from us soon, and for Assembly Member Grayson, too.

Speaking of calls, Maggie Kolk was given call information by a member of the Marsh Creek Dems at the Women’s March in Walnut Creek last Saturday. We’re asking all of you to make calls to the Senate “jurors” (so-called Moderate Republicans) to urge them to vote for impeachment and removal. And, before that vote comes up, for them to support the calling of witnesses and all evidence.  Here is the information for calling.

Next Meeting. Our next general membership meeting is Feb. 12, Wednesday, 7:00 pm at the Benicia Library, Dona Benicia room. The featured discussion will be a “Presidential panel” of representatives from the campaigns of the Democratic Presidential candidates. Not a debate, but a discussion from them of their issues and campaigns and plans as President. We’ll allow lots of time for Q&A with the audience.  Afterwards, PDB members will have the opportunity to endorse one of the candidates in the CA March 3 Presidential Primary. Members will vote at the meeting or on-line via the PDB web site.

City Council, Tuesday night, Jan. 21! Don’t forget the City Council meeting this Tuesday night – discussion on moving elections from at-large to districts is scheduled and a vote by Council members is expected to be taken. [7pm at City Hall TONIGHT – Agenda and staff reports here]  Read more on the Benicia Independent: Roger Straw’s thoughts and letters to Council by others.

Monica Brown REELECTION! Monica needs neighborhood walkers for Benicia to ask for votes for Monica in the District 2 Board of Supervisors race. Monica is the candidate in that 3-way race who PDB endorsed, so we encourage you to help Monica in her bid for REELECTION. If you’re interested in doing a bit of walking to talk to your Benicia neighbors about Monica, please contact Stephen Hallett at [email protected].

Ralph Dennis
Chair