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Annual Dinner Review

by Carla Hansen

In case you missed it, our regular October Club meeting was replaced by our annual dinner and fundraiser.  A huge thank you and appreciation is extended to the volunteers who helped set up, breakdown, serve food and drinks and organized the dinner. The evening was a success and it couldn’t have happened without all of the volunteers.

The evening at the Kensington Community Center was filled with music, tasty food, drinks and our fabulous keynote speaker, the Honorable Betty Yee.  Our Board of Equalization representative spoke about how being raised by immigrant parents who owned a small-business  in San Francisco instilled values of community, equality and public service  that she carries with her in her work as an elected. Betty Yee also spoke about her many accomplishments on the Board of Equalization and her upcoming race for State Controller.  Our Assembly member Nancy Skinner dropped by fresh from the BART negotiations table to update the Club on progress being made.

Eighty-five attendees mingled, networked, and of course, ate and drank. You could not turnaround without running into an elected official or a candidate.

Member Rita Xavier posted a number of photos to the Club’s Facebook page.

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November Events

  • Kensington Fire Protection District Board Meeting – Wednesday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m.  Kensington Community Center, 59 Arlington Ave
  • Kensington Police Protection and Community Services – District Board Meeting–Thursday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. Kensington Community Center, 59 Arlington Ave
  • Author Talk with Tom Peek-Reading and Discussion of Book Daughters of Fire – Tuesday, Nov 12, 7:00 p.m. 6510 Stockton Ave, El Cerrito
  • House Party for Betty Yee-Hosted by Hilary and Kip Crosby – Sunday, Nov. 17, 11:00 a.m. Address provided upon RSVP-(510) 375-5647 or hilandkip4betty@gmail.com
  • El Cerrito City Council Meeting – Tuesday, Nov. 19, 7:00 p.m. City Council Chambers, 10940 San Pablo Ave
  • Diablo Valley Democratic Club Meeting–Push Back on the Supreme Court: How Get Rid of Citizens United – Tuesday, Nov 19, 7:00-9:00 p.m.,Ygnacio Valley Library 2661 Oak Grove Rd, Walnut Creek
  • El Cerrito Planning Commission – Wednesday, Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m. El Cerrito Council Chambers, 10940 San Pablo Ave
  • El Cerrito Democratic Club Meeting – Tuesday, Nov. 26, 6:00 p.m. 545 Ashbury Ave El Cerrito 
  • Hercules Democratic Club Holiday Fundraiser – Sunday, Dec. 1, 6:00-8:00 p.m., La Revolucion Restaurant, 3190 Klose Way, Richmond
  • El Cerrito Environmental Quality Committee presents: Film Rebels With A Cause – Saturday, Dec. 7, 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Rialto Cinemas 10070 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito
  • Democratic Party of Contra Costa County Holiday Party – Thursday, Dec 12, 6:00 p.m. IBEW 302 Hall, 1875 Arnold Drive, Martinez
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Government Shut Down Fall Out

by Carla Hansen

Remember the 16-day government shut down debacle of October 2013? Sometimes our political memory gets a little fuzzy. As the  inncessent news coverage reminded us everyday how disfuntional the House and Senate have become, I couldn’t help but wonder if any good to come of it. Could this be the catalyst for a more-compromising less- brinkmanship type of governing? My only solance came in one word: Midterms.  I read an article by Shadee Ashtari at the Huffinton Post:

“The shutdown that furloughed 800,000 workers and cost the U.S. economy $24 billion dollars has largely been pinned on House Republicans, making many of them vulnerable in the 2014 midterm elections.

“Numerous polls have shown that a majority of Americans assign a larger share of blame for the shutdown to congressional Republicans, who tried to tie government funding provisions to defunding the Affordable Care Act.

“Even prominent Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) have criticized their colleagues in the House for damaging the GOP’s image.

“Fifty-four percent of Americans now oppose Republican control of the House, according to a CNN-ORC poll released on Monday. And a series of polls commissioned by progressive advocacy group Moveon.org and conducted by Public Policy Polling released in batches over the last several days indicate Democrats may have enough momentum to take back the House.

“Democrats only need to lock up 17 additional seats in the November 2014 midterm elections to secure a House majority. The new polls show the recent government shutdown may cause as many as 37 Republicans to lose their House seats next year.

“PPP pollsters surveyed 61 Republican-held congressional districts around the country from Oct. 1 through Oct. 18. They concluded that ‘Democrats not only have an opportunity to take back the House of Representatives next year, but that they could win a sizable majority if voter anger over the shutdown carries into 2014.'”

Continue reading at: HuffingtonPost.com