November 2005
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'Special' GOTV (Get Out The Vote) Edition
Table of Contents
SFYD Important Dates
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GOTV
Get Out The Vote with SFYD
Please joint SFYD Members as we sponsors these dates/times with the following campaigns we've endorsed. Contact prez@sfyoungdems.org to sign up and for more information.
Saturday, Oct. 29th, 10:30am, Precinct Walking, Phil Ting for Assessor, 1540 Market/Van Ness, www.philting.com
Tuesday, Nov. 1, 6:30-9:00, Phone Bank, Campaign for Teen Safety, 1663 Mission, Suite 460, http://www.noonproposition73.org/
Thursday, Nov. 3, 5:30-8:30, Phone Bank, Phil Ting for Assessor, 1540 Market/Van Ness, www.philting.com
Friday, Nov. 4, 8:00pm-2:00am, PARTY, League of Pissed Off Voters Party, Studio Z
Saturday, Nov. 5, 10:30am, Precinct Walking, Jose Cisneros for Treasurer, http://www.josecisneros.com/
Monday, Nov. 7, 6:30-9:00, Phone Bank, Alliance for a Better California, 1338 Mission, www.betterca.com
Tuesday, Nov. 8, All Day Visibility, Ting & Cisneros, TBA
SFYD OCTOBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
7:00 PM
TBD Join
the Young Dems for our monthly SFYD Meeting on Wednesday, November 9,
2005! As always, we will have a eventful program with informative and
entertaining speakers as we discuss the important issues of our time, particularly the day following the Special Election!
Guest Speaker: Westly 2006 Political Director, Steven Aronowitz
For more information contact SFYD President Owen Stephens (prez@sfyoungdems.org)
Click here to to join SFYD, renew your membership or pay dues!
Membership Meetings are generally held the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm. |
California Young Democrats Tahoe Retreat
2005 Lake Tahoe Retreat
When: Friday November 11-Sunday November 13, 2005
Where: Lakeland Village Resort, South Lake Tahoe, CA
A Weekend of Intensive Workshops, Dynamic Speakers, and Loads of Fun!
Workshops: Running for Office; Landing a Job in Politics; Media and Rapid
Response; Fundraising Made Easy; Making the Union Connection; 2006 Issues
and Battlegrounds
Resort Amenities: Lake Front Property; Free Shuttle to Casinos & Night
Clubs; Heated Pools/Hot Tubs; Sauna; Full Kitchen in Cabins
There will also be an endorsement vote for the 2006 Governor Primary. Be
among the first to register and serve as one of SFYD's 15 voting delegates!
SFYD SPECIAL ALL INCLUSIVE REGISTRATION PRICE: Only $70 (instead of $95) if
you sign up and pay at or before the November 9 SFYD Meeting
SFYD Registration price covers: housing (large group style, bring a
sleeping bag), all workshop materials, Friday night reception, Saturday
breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Sunday breakfast, and fun CYD souvenirs
REGISTRATION (either):
- Reply to prez@sfyoungdems.org ASAP to reserve your space.
- Cash, check or credit card information is due no later then Wednesday
November 9 at the SFYD Meeting
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President's Column
by Owen Stephens
 *Click* The final countdown has begun to Special Election 2005.
You know how important this election is, we have three very important
local races, a slew of intruiging local issues to vote on, and a big,
expensive, set of special election propositions to defeat!
Every member of the San Francisco Young Democrats who puts in an hour
of volunteer time between now and 8:00 pm on Election Day will
potentially have an direct effect on how many people show up at the
polling place. Your time and effort is needed, as San Francisco will
be the anchor that puts a stop on the Governator's right wing driven
ship.
Take election day off and sign up for one or more volunteer shifts at
www.sfyd.org!
Register as a member of SFYD today by linking to http://www.sfyoungdems.org/SFYDSite/membership.htm.
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Reese's World: Perspectives from the Editor
THE POLITICS OF NO
or
How I Learned to Sing thru the 'Special' Election Bug-A-Boo
by Reese Aaron Isbell
 What is there left to do when you're forced against a wall? When you don't want something and you don't ask for something and it's forced upon you, what are you left with? Arnold has forced us to have a 'Special' Election no one wants and no one likes, except for the right-wing special interests of his, and so we have to get out and mobilize and vote, and VOTE NO.
It ain't pretty and it ain't nice, but that's the reality of this 'Special' Election. All there is to say to this 'special' election is "No, No, No, No, No, No." "Six times No." "No on 73; No on 74; No on 75; No on 76; No on 77; No on 78." "No on 73-78." "Nix the first Six" statewide propositions. However you want to say it, it's a lot of 'NO.'
And tell me, who among us likes to say 'No' anyway. I mean, when one goes to vote, one generally likes to vote 'For' something rather than against. We like to vote 'for' politicians that support our rights and our beliefs. We like to vote 'for' policies in which we believe. We like to support our ideals.
But when the right-wing governor shows his true right-wing nature and puts on the ballot his right-wing proposals right out of the right-wing Rove/Bush playbook, we have to do what we can to tell him 'No.' And while this may not be that appealing, it's vital that we fight this right-wing play. We know what's at stake. Not only is this 'Special' Election all about seeing what they can get away with, but it's a precursor to more 'special' right-wing ploys to determine our lives and our voices next year and the year after.
Take Prop. 73. It's a stealth anti-choice measure that pretends to be a simple 'family values' measure that no one could disagree with. But we know the truth, we know the hidden agenda, we know the right-wing language and the deceptive anti-choice play, and we know we must vote 'No.' The point is that this is part of the larger anti-choice, religious right action by which we know they'll be swooping in with bolder and badder initiatives in the next year or two should this one pass.
And we know that they're waiting and watching to see how well it does, and the rest of these right-wing proposals, so that they can get the ball rolling on their anti-marriage equality ballot initiatives and other anti-people initiatives that they're ready to put on the ballot next year. The better they do this November 8th, the more prepared and excited they'll be to work against our rights next year and the year after on many an issue.
So while we don't like to go to the polls and vote 'against' anything, we must use this 'special' opportunity and vote NO as much as possible on the statewide measures. Just think like our strong Independent Women Destiny's Child and sing along with me as you vote:
We'll be Voting No, No, No, No, No (NO)
While we're Singing No, No, No, No, No (NO)
I don't think Arnold's ready for this Nelly.
All the Voters, Democratic, Throw them hands up at me!
Cuz Arnold's just a big bug-a-boo.
'Nuff said.
Reese Aaron Isbell, M.P.P.
Newsletter Editor
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SFYD Endorsements for November 2005
| San Francisco Elected Officials | | Treasurer | | | City Attorney | | | Assessor | Phil Ting
www.PhilTing.com
415-661-2080
945 Taraval Steet, #219
San Francisco 94116 |  | | | | San Francisco Propositions | For descriptions and full legal text of these propositions,
click here. | | A - Community College District General Obligation Bonds info | Yes | | B - Street and Sidewalk Improvement Bond info | No position | | C - Ethics Commission Budget and Outside Counsel info | No position | | D - Appointment of Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors info | No position | | E - Election Date of the Assessor - Recorder and Public Defender info | Yes | | F - Neighborhood Firehouses info | Yes | | G - Access to Underground Parking at Golden Gate Park info | Yes | | H - Firearm Ban info | Yes | | I - No Military Recruiters in Public Schools, Scholarships for Education and Job Training info | Yes | |
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Proposition 73 is the wrong choice for California
by By Nicole Sarabia - Rivera
In case you're still wondering, Proposition 73 is a bad law. Proposition 73 is the ballot measure that would require doctors to give parents a 48-hour notice before performing an abortion on a minor. The "parent's right to know" sounds like a good idea on paper, but it takes compassion to understand that not every parent is as fortunate or thoughtful as your own. This proposition betrays a class bias. It assumes every family can sit down and calmly make a decision about what to do when a teen becomes pregnant.
Guess what? Some parents go bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.
It wasn't too long ago when we Young Democrats were in high school. I know that we can all remember one of our friends who, if they had become or were pregnant, would be better off not telling her parents. We are also still young enough to give teens credit and know that, if a young woman is forced to tell her parents and possibly risk being thrown out of her home or looking for an unsafe answer in a back alley, she is more likely to go to that back alley.
What the proponents of this proposition don't share with voters is the fact that a 1991 study of unmarried minors having abortions in states without parental involvement laws found that:
· 61 percent of the respondents reported that at least one of their parents knew about their abortion.
· Of those minors who did not inform their parents of their abortions, 30 percent had histories of violence in their families, feared the occurrence of violence, or were afraid of being forced to leave their homes.
· Minors who did not tell their parents were also disproportionately older (aged 16 or 17) and employed.
· Among the respondents who did not inform their parents of their pregnancies, all consulted someone in addition to clinic staff about their abortions, such as their boyfriend (89 percent), an adult (52 percent), or a professional (22 percent). (Henshaw & Kost, 1992)
The way to reduce abortion is not through a law that requires frightened young women to face the wrath of their parents. It's about increasing communication - about sex, about choices, about consequences. That is what prevents an accidental pregnancy in the first place.
What you may also not know about this proposition is that it will require doctors to report the names of these teens to the Department of Health Services. The niggling question in my mind is for what reason does the Department of Health Services need to know the names of these women? Furthermore, this would also let the Department keep track of how many abortions each doctor is performing. Who's to say the names of these doctors and the number of abortions they have performed won't end up in the wrong hands?
Keep our teens and our doctors safe. Vote no on Prop. 73.
For more information about Prop. 73, visit the Campaign for Teen Safety - No on Prop. 73 Web site at www.noonproposition73.org
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Vote Early and Often
San Francisco brings listening to the former Mayor of Chicago's advice easy. At least the first half of it, I don't expect them to install rapid fire ballot action anytime soon. Which isn't to say the process was slow, I was in and out of the voting booth in 15 minutes, and that included the time it took to be interviewed by a news reporter.
Early voting is going on now down at City Hall in Room 48. There are about 30 voting stalls set up, with five stations to fill out the necessary paperwork. Early voting is open from 8am to 5pm Monday-Friday and 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday from now until election day, so vote early! If you would prefer to vote from the comfort of your own home, they even let you take the ballot home with you. Just remember, when you seal the envelope, put your name and address on the back and SIGN IT. It's not valid if it's not signed. This is essential! I know, I almost forgot to do it, and fortunately the voting staff noticed.
The ballots are refreshingly simple, all of the Republican's bad initiatives are on the front of the ballot, and all of the more or less reasonable ones are on the back. Which is to say voting no on 73-78 is easy because it's all on one page! Turn it over, and there are the ones you might want to vote yes to (see "Other Articles" for our clubs theories on how to vote).
Being a politically active club, many of our members will be busy on election day, so this is a way to take care of your civic duties, and make sure nothing comes up last minute that might keep you away from the polls. Life can be surprising sometimes, so plan in advance and vote early!
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On the Mark in Sacramento
From the Desk of Assemblyman Mark Leno
"We were beaten, tear gassed, and trampled by horses on that bridge. We paid a price, but that's what it took to bring voting rights for people of color in America."-The Honorable John Lewis, Democratic Congressman from Georgia.
In order to take part in our nation's democracy two hundred years ago, you had to be white, male and wealthy. Giving people of color and women the right to vote were hard fought battles that did not happen overnight. As we prepare for the November 8th Special Election, I would like to reflect on why our participation in the electoral process is crucial, and why we can't take it for granted any longer.
This year we celebrate two major milestones in the right to vote. Prior to the passage of the 19th Amendment, the right to vote was reserved for less than half the population-men. In particular, through disenfranchisement of men of color and poor men, only privileged white men took part in the voting process. Women were treated as the property of their fathers, and then of their husbands. Their voice in public matters was not heard and, when they did speak up through protests and civil actions, was belittled and ill-received. Prior to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the right to vote was systematically denied to almost all people of color-men and women-throughout the United States.
Due to the addition of Section 203 to our Constitution in 1975, language assistance was mandated for communities with large populations of limited-English speakers. When American citizens look to exercise their right to vote, it is of little use if they cannot understand the materials before them. In San Francisco, ballot materials are printed in many languages, and the ballot cards themselves are specifically printed in Chinese and Spanish along with English, to provide equal access to members of our community who may not be fluent in the English language.
Section 203 and other key provisions of the Voting Rights Act will be up for renewal next year in Congress. We must preserve these important provisions over the next year. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will be leading the charge for their renewal and for a national discussion on the integrity of our electoral process.
Thousands of courageous men and women fought for suffrage in America. People like Alice Paul, who refused to believe she was ahead of her time in demanding voting rights. Women had been campaigning for the right to vote since 1848. By 1917, Alice was frustrated with the slow progress of justice. She and others were sent to jail for their loud and constant protests, where she endured abuse in an attempt to silence her.
Other heroes include Bob Moses, who in the summer of 1964 helped organize 900 volunteers to protect African Americans in Mississippi from the violence they experienced when attempting to vote. He and others had spent the previous three years going door to door, enduring the southern racism and violence to help register African Americans to vote. Unfortunately, it was not until two white activists and an African American activist were killed that summer that the nation finally took notice of the injustice in the South. Alice Paul and Bob Moses and thousands like them are true American heroes.
We honor each of these American heroes simply by voting in every election. The importance of voting has never been more clear. Governor Schwarzenegger has called for a special election this November 8th specifically to benefit from a low voter turnout. His right-wing agenda could never pass in a general election. He and George Bush are cynically betting that most of us are not paying attention and will stay home rather than vote November 8th. When Governor Schwarzenegger rants 'let the people speak' what he means is let as few people speak as possible so that he can usurp our democracy from the legislature and the voting public. Together we can stop him. Vote No on Propositions 73-78 and Yes on 79 and 80.
Ultimately, we must remember the words of Congressman John Lewis who wisely states, "We cannot forget that people sacrificed and died for the right to vote. They didn't die in Vietnam or Iraq. They didn't die in South America or Eastern Europe. They didn't die in Africa or Southeast Asia, they died right here in the United States, trying to exercise their Constitutional right to vote."
Yours,
Mark Leno,
Assemblyman, 13th District
P.S. The Fall Edition of "The Leno Report" is now available. Additionally, should you have questions or thoughts, please feel free to contact me at any time through my District Office at 415-557-3013 or keep updated on the web via: http:www.markleno.com
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Alliance for a Better California
Join us at the Alliance for a Better California Campaign
by Robert Haaland
 Dear friends,
We are just days out from Election Day. Can you take Election day
off and help us defend our state from radical right interests that are
trying to take over our state?
I don't need to tell any of you what we have at stake, but let me
assure you that our ability to fight to elect pro-worker leaders, safeguard
choice, and provide a decent wage and health care for Californians is all in
jeopardy if we don't win big on November 8.
We know that San Francisco will vote our way – but unless we have
1,200 volunteers on Election Day - turnout won't be high enough here to
carry the rest of the State.
So, I'm hoping that once again you will step to the plate in a big
way. The stakes are simply too high not to.
We need:
Election Day Volunteers: We need more than 1,200 people to take
Election day off and volunteer in San Francisco to win. Six hundred from the
local labor movement and six hundred from the community.
10-Day Volunteers: these folks are able to walk precincts, phone
bank, and be available to do GOTV for 10-days preceding the election. You
must be available for the following days: 10/28-30, 11/4-8.
4-Day GOTV Volunteers: people able to join us for the four days
preceding the election to help with phones, precinct walks, and general
field operations. You must be available the following days: 11/4-8
Already, you and many others have sacrificed so much on this
campaign - now is the time that we all pitch-in and ensure victory.
Please contact me with any questions or to let me know the role you
wish you play until Election Day at 415-503-5797. Our office is located at 1338 Mission Street, between 10th and 9th Street. Don't let Arnold Proposition
you. Vote November 8th.
Thanks for making the difference.
Robert Haaland
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SFYD Needs You: Recruitment for Committee Assistance
 Are you
interested in event planning? Do you want to have an active voice in
the SFYD program agenda? If you're saying yes, then join the SFYD
Program Committee! Contact Nicole Rivera at nicthebrick@gmail.com
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VOTE NOVEMBER 8TH
Make sure you, your family, your friends, your coworkers, your community,
everyone votes this November 8th. San Francisco Voter information can be found
here: http://www.sfgov.org/site/election_index.asp?id=4431
Statewide information can be found here: http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/statewidespecial.htm
And, of course, don't forget SFYD's Endorsements when you VOTE.
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