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Opposition to Citizen’s United-Repost

Club member, Ray Sortuno wants the Club to take a formal position against Citizen’s United, which is a Supreme Court case that essentitally grants coporations 1st amendent rights as their granted to individuals.

He would like the Club to consider endorsing the following language to use in letters to our representatives:

We the people, not we the corporations.

 We, the El Cerrito Democratic Club, reject the Supreme Court’s ruling in “Citizens United” and other related cases, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.

 The Supreme Court is misguided in principle, and wrong on the law.   In a democracy the people rule.

 We move to amend,

 “…corporations have no conscience, no feelings, no beliefs, no thoughts, no desires.  Corporations help structure and facilitate the activities of human beings, to be sure, and their “personhood” often serves as a useful legal function.  But they are not themselves members of “We the people”  by whom and for whom  our Constitution was established.”

        Supreme Court Justice Stevens,  January 2010.

Club members present at the May 27 meeting can make amendments to this language and/or vote to endorse it.

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ECDC Endorses Ballot Measures for May/Jun 2014

At the April 22 endorsement forum, the ECDC endorsed the following:

YES on C: Parcel Tax for Medical Services — West Contra Costa Healthcare District  (2/3 approval Required)

To maintain local emergency room care and continue to provide critical medical services, such as intensive care, care for heart attacks, emergency respiratory care and cancer treatment, shall the West Contra Costa Healthcare District be authorized to levy an annual special tax of fourteen cents per square foot of building area per parcel, with annual audits by an independent oversight committee?

YES on E: Contra Costa Community College District (55% voter approval required)

To upgrade educational facilities at Diablo Valley, Contra Costa, and Los Medanos Colleges, and the San Ramon and Brentwood centers, and help prepare students for jobs and college transfer by modernizing classrooms and labs, building facilities for health, medical, science, and technology training, and implementing earthquake safety, accessibility and infrastructure improvements, shall the Contra Costa Communty College District issue $450 million of bonds at legal intrerest rates with independent oversight, audits, and all funds spent on local sites?

YES on H: West Contra Costa Unified School District (55% voter approval required)

To repair and upgrade neighborhood schools, shall West Contra Costa Unified School District improve earthquake safety, seniors and handicap accessibility; update science, computer labs, remove asbestos, hazardous materials, and lead-based paint; bring all West County schools up to the same quality; meet fire codes, contstruct, equip facilities, thereby increasing public safety, by issuing $270 million of bond the State cannot take away, at legal rates, with strict citizens oversight, annual audits and no money for pensions or administrators salaries?

YES on L: Kensington Police Protection and Community Service District (2/3 voter approval required)

 Kensington Community Center Bond Measure – To meet community needs of Kensington residents by moderizing the aging Community Center (Youth Hut), improving earthquake safety, meeting fire and health safety codes, reparing the roof, updating the kitchen and restrooms, updating spaces for youth programs, meetings and events and providing disabled access, shall the Kensington Police Protection and Community Service District issue up to $2 million in bonds, proceeds of which cannot be taken by the State and requiring independent citzens’ oversight?

 

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April Meeting Preview

Club Meeting

Tuesday, April 22

6:00 p.m.

Zion Presbyterian Church

545 Ashbury Ave

We’re keeping it local for the April meeting. We’ll be hearing from candidates in County-wide (contested) races and about a number of ballot measures. We will be endorsing candidates in contested races so if you want your vote counted, please attend. The Club will also consider endorsing language opposing Citizen’s United.

We’ve all heard the shocking and disappointing news (and alleged allegations) surrounding Leland Yee. He did attend our February Endorsement Forum where the Club made no endorsement in the Secretary of State race. And because a picture is worth a thousand words, the Executive Board wanted to reflect our opinion of the matter by removing the photo of Leland Yee from our website.

Congratulations to our VP of Membership, Mister Phillips on his appointment to the California Democratic Council.