Meeting of October 13 – Election MONTH, focus on Mayor and Council

Meeting of Tuesday, Oct. 13, 7pm, on ZOOM…

No more “Election Day” – this is Election Month!
Ballots have arrived – help is needed NOW!

OUR GUESTS on Oct 13:
Mayoral Candidate Steve Young
and City Council Candidate Terry Scott

PDB’s meeting on Oct. 13 focused on Benicia’s Mayoral and Council races. Our endorsed candidates, Steve Young for Mayor and Terry Scott for Council, discussed their campaigns and provided suggestions on how we could further support their election to office.

During the meeting we also discussed how we should prepare for possible “election problems” on Nov. 3 and afterwards. Here’s the link to an article that raises such concerns and what we can do to prepare: 10 things you need to know to stop a coup (by Daniel Hunter of 350.org, on WAGING NONVIOLENCE.org).  Mary Susan Gast presented Hunter’s 10 points and encouraged all of us to sign the pledge to Choose Democracy, and sign up for a training. Here are links:

As one of our members wrote, “It’s always best to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. We are in a situation where if Trump tries to stop the counting of votes, then we need to be prepared to act in the face of a coup.  And we need to call it what it is.”

In the meantime, here is information on tonight’s Benicia Candidate Forum and on mail-in ballots, and also what you can do to counteract actions already being taken by Trump supporters to suppress voter turnout.

Everything you need to know to VOTE EARLY

ELECTION DEFENDERS

  • Trump supporters disrupted early voting in Virginia. On the second day of early voting in Virginia, a group of right-wing Trump supporters gathered outside a polling location – waving flags and chanting in a clear attempt to intimidate voters.
    • That’s why Women’s March is partnering with Working Families Party, Movement for Black Lives Electoral Justice Project, and dozens of other organizations around the country to organize Election Defenders at local polling places on November 3rd.
    • Sign up now to become an Election Defender and join a training to make sure everyone can vote safely no matter what. Join a training session here – a virtual 3-minute training session (choose one, scheduled for 4:30pm on Tuesday, Oct 6, 13 and 20).

Virtual Town Hall Oct. 15 – Updates on the Solano Groundwater Sustainability Process

Please join us for our upcoming
Virtual Town Hall
October 15th
6:00-8:00pm

Do you live, farm, or work in the Solano Subbasin? We want to hear from you! Join as at our Fall Virtual Town Hall to get latest the updates on the GSP development, ask questions, and share your perspective. During this live, virtual event we’ll be covering:

  • Updates on the Solano GSP Development Process
  • Our Community Engagement Plan
  • The Solano Subbasin Preliminary Surface Water System Water Budget

We’ll have several breakout sessions where participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and give their input.  Click here to view the agenda.

This meeting will be held on Zoom; all participants must register in advance. Spanish translation will be available at this event.

Your voice is an essential part of this process – please join us!
Click Here to Register for the Virtual Town Hall


Solano & SGMA Resources

We recommend watching the video or exploring one of the websites below before attending the Virtual Town Hall, to help you understand some of the basics of the Solano Subbasin and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).


Spread the Word

If you know of neighbors or community members who use or care about groundwater, including farmers, ranchers, households with wells, and community groups focused on water, environment, or economic development and you think they might be interested in receiving this information, please share this newsletter and invite them to sign up for email updates on the Solano Subbasin GSP website.  Thank you for your participation.

September 19 – conversation with Reps. Thompson and Bustos

Letter from Mary Jane Bowker of Rep. Mike Thompson’s office:

Dear Activists,

Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 19th from 11:30-12:30!

We are thrilled to invite you and your extraordinary volunteers (no charge!) to a conversation with Congressman Thompson and Representative Cheri Bustos. Representative Bustos is Chair of the Democratic Congressional Committee, where she’s leading the effort to protect and expand our new Democratic Majority. Hear firsthand about the status of the House races across the country, which races to focus on with money and grit as we get close to the finish line.

I am contacting all the leaders of the activist organizations in District 5, covering Napa, Sonoma, Lake Contra Cost and Solano counties.

Please send this invitation to your group of activists and have them RSVP to www.mikethompsonforcongress.com, go to events on September 19th

Please RSVP by Friday, September 18th, and I will send the Zoom link within 24 hours of the call.

We look forward to a robust conversation!

Marching to the finish line!
Mary Jane Bowker
Phone 707-226-8989
[email protected]

Equity & Justice For All