URGENT ACTION BY MEMBERS NEEDED BY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

The El Cerrito Democratic Club endorsed the City of El Cerrito’s Measure R, a one-cent sales tax for 12 years to maintain current levels of public safety, including police services, neighborhood patrols, crime prevention programs, and rapid 9-1-1 response times, as well as after-school programs for children and teens and city parks, playfields, paths and open spaces. 

A bill on the Governor’s desk, AB 1342, would allow Measure R (if passed by the voters in November) to be implemented. Current State law limits the amount of taxes that can be levied. This bill makes an exception for the City of El Cerrito.

We need to support this bill!

If it doesn’t get signed, Measure R cannot be implemented-meaning our City will not have the revenue it needs to support the services we expect, want and deserve.

Here is a link to the legislation:

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB1324

You can call or email the Governor

Here is the website for submitting your comments:

https://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php

Be sure to pick AB 1324 from the topics list.

Here is his phone number if you want to leave a voicemail, instead:
916-445-2841

Here are some talking points:

Local economies are still struggling from the Great Recession and in El Cerrito, local property values have declined. Meanwhile, El Cerrito residents have also faced a rise in property crimes

AB 1324 is a practical, responsible bill that will allow Contra Costa cities like El Cerrito to maintain critical local services, such as current levels of public safety and police services, including neighborhood patrols, crime prevention programs, and rapid 9-1-1 response times.

El Cerrito needs local control over local funds, for local needs. AB 1324 simply allows local residents to determine what services they want, and how they want to pay them.

AB 1324 is a narrow, practical, responsible response to the Great Recession, declining property values, and increased property crimes.

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ASAP.

ECDC Endorsements – Nov 2014 Election

A crowd of about 80 people was in attendance for our August endorsement forums at El Cerrito High School. ECDC Executive Vice President Greg Lyman moderated five sessions, and the ECDC made the following candidate endorsements:

  • Tony Thurmond – Assembly District 15
  • Al Miller – Stege Sanitary District
  • Dwight Merrill – Stege Sanitary District
  • John Marquez – Contra Costa Community College Board

The club made no endorsement in the West Contra Costa School Board race. Seven candidates and two surrogate speakers attended the forum, and the resulting vote split meant that no candidate achieved the 60% threshold required to earn the club’s endorsement.

In the West Contra Costa Healthcare District race, no candidates attended the forum, and on the endorsement ballot no candidate crossed the 60% threshold.

Following some procedural votes the club unanimously voted to endorse

  • Andy Katz – East Bay MUD

Finally, the club considered El Cerrito’s proposed extension of Measure R, and voted to endorse the Yes position. Following a member inquiry, the ballot measure language can be found on the Contra Costa elections website.

  • Yes on El Cerrito Measure R

The club will consider endorsements in additional races, including El Cerrito City Council and Kensington PPCSD, at the Aug 26 and Sep 23 club meetings.

2014 Endorsement Forum

Our Endorsement Forum for the 2014 November election will be held in the El Cerrito High School cafeteria on August 23. Full details will be available once candidate filing has closed, but here are the races that we are considering:

  • Assembly District 15
  • West Contra Costa Unified School District Board
  • Stege Sanitary District Board
  • El Cerrito City Council
  • Kensington Police Protection and Community Services District
  • AC Transit Board – At-large
  • West Contra Costa Healthcare District Board
  • Contra Costa Community College District – Ward 1
  • Kensington Fire Protection District

Additional details on the agenda and voting will come once the filing period has passed.

ECDC endorsements are made in each election cycle according to our by-laws (pdf). Only members in good standing for 30 days prior to the endorsement forum may vote, and the ECDC may only endorse Democrats in any race whether partisan or non-. A candidate must be selected on 60% of the members present to gain the club’s endorsement.