Meeting will be held on April 24, 2018 at the Presbyterian Church at 545 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito 94530.

Meeting begins at 6:30 PM. Arrive at 6 PM to enjoy Pizza for $5/ slice.

Agenda for the Business Meeting

1. Minutes of March 27, 2018 Meeting
2. Treasurer’s Report
3. Consideration of Club Endorsements
4. Program

Consideration of endorsement for the Peace Pledge

Background of Peace Pledge

Ann Schwartz of the Peace Committee of the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club will discuss the “Peace Pledge” (below) which her Club is hoping legislators will sign and other political clubs will endorse:

As a candidate for a U.S. public office in 2018 — or as someone currently occupying a U.S. public office, as the case may be — I pledge to support and advance these four aims:

1. Ample funding for community-based violence prevention programs and effective regulation of the manufacture, sale, transfer, and use of firearms.
2. The non-violent resolution of international conflict and the abolition of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.
3. The sharp reduction of government military spending, and conversion from a military and fossil-fuel based economy to a sustainable economy that meets such civilian needs as health care, education, housing, mass transportation, renewable energy, and ending poverty.
4. The provision of re-training and alternative employment for soldiers and military industry workers, enabling them to apply their experience and skills to civilian production.

In keeping with the above aims, I will not knowingly accept any campaign donations from military contractors or fossil fuel corporations.

Consideration of endorsement for the 11^th Congressional District.

Background Regarding the candidates

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier is the incumbent that represents El Cerrito in California’s 11th Congressional District which includes a majority of Contra Costa County.  For more information on the congressman, go to:   https://desaulnier.house.gov/

His opponent is a Democratic candidate, Dennis Lytton, who is a union rep (AFSCME) for BART. Here is the link for Dennis’s campaign website: https://www.google.com/search?q=dennis%20lytton

PROGRAM

Recent reports of federal agents working with ICE to gather undocumented citizens in Northern California for possible deportation have raised many local concerns.  Even though the El Cerrito City Council voted last year to make El Cerrito a “Sanctuary City” questions remain as to how local residents may be treated when harsh federal policies are implemented.

The speaking guests for the April 24^th El Cerrito Democratic Club will provide a timely review of what our county and city are doing to support safety and justice for immigrant families and individuals in Contra Costa County:

• Ali Saidi, Contra Costa County Public Defender will discuss the pilot program approved by the County Board of Supervisors, Stand Together Coco, which seeks to assure that all people in the county, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, are afforded their constitutional rights and protected from any actions or policies that result in discriminatory or unlawful treatment. Stand Together CoCo is a rapid response program that seeks to provide legal, educational and training services to those impacted by anti-immigrant policies or actions in Contra Costa County.
• Paul Keith, City of El Cerrito Police Chief will discuss the police department’s approach to being a Sanctuary City and how it hopes to assure that residents are protected from any actions which unduly impact undocumented residents living among us.  Chief Keith was instrumental in supporting efforts helping to designate El Cerrito as a Sanctuary City.