FEATURED IN THIS WEEK’S MVCAN NEWSLETTER (6/1/19):

  1. MVCAN MONTHLY MEETING - Special Guest Speaker!  Sun. June 2, 5:00 - 6:30pm at MVCC

  2. MVCAN IMMIGRATION CIVIL RIGHTS TEAM - Sun. June 2, 4pm

  3. JOIN MVCAN FOR GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE MARCH FOR GUN SAFETY -  Sat. June 8

  4. SAVE THE DATE - 3RD ANNUAL MVCAN PICNIC  - Sun. July 21 4pm

  5. ATTEND THE NETROOTS NATION NATIONAL CONFERENCE July 11 -13

  6. HUGE VICTORY IN BREAKUP OF UCSF-DIGNITY HEALTH CARE DISCRIMINATION DEAL

  7. REPORT ON CA STATE LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES: MEETINGS & CALLS WITH OUR STATE REPS

  8. FUN W/ MVCAN at MV MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

  9. REPORT  FROM NORTHERN CA GRASSROOTS SUMMIT 2020

  10. REPORT  FROM SF PRO-CHOICE PROTEST AND LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES

1

MVCAN MONTHLY MEETING - Sun. June 2, 5:00 - 6:30 pm


Join us at our June meeting and hear from special guest speaker, Emily Rusch, executive director of CALPIRG, a consumer group that stands up to powerful interests whenever they threaten our health and safety, our financial security or our rights to fully participate in our democratic society. CALPIRG brings the voice of the public to the halls of power on behalf of Californians.

One of MVCAN’s 2019 priorities is to help California lead the nation on progressive issues and policy. On Sunday, June 2, we are fortunate to be hosting the state director from this venerated public research, organizing, and lobbying organization. She will speak about how the California legislature works, as well as how citizen groups can lobby and affect policy outcomes in health care, democracy and the environment.

Emily will give us the latest on the political lay of the land in Sacramento!

The rest of the meeting agenda is chock full as well! So Join us!

MVCAN MONTHLY MEETING
Sun. June 2 - 5:00 to 6:30 pm
Mill Valley Community Center
180 Camino Alto

2

MVCAN IMMIGRATION/CIVIL RIGHTS TEAM MEETING

Sun. June 2

Immigration/Civil Rights Team Meeting
Sunday, June 2,  4 pm - 5pm (right before the MVCAN Monthly Meeting)
Lobby of Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto

Hear the latest on multiple active Marin Immigration/Civil Rights issues.


3

WEAR ORANGE FOR GUN SAFETY - GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE MARCH - Sat June 8, 12 - 2pm

MVCANers and Friends at 2018 Gun Safety March.

Please join Moms Demand Action and our community partners for National Wear Orange Weekend for the 4th Annual March across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. We march to show we are united in the belief that we can do more to stop gun violence. We march to honor victims and survivors of gun violence by taking action.

Last year’s large MVCAN contingent had a powerful and energizing march and we heard moving speakers on impacts of gun violence at the well-organized Vista Point rally.

San Francisco Marchers: Check-in at the Golden Gate Bridge Plaza at the south end of the bridge at 11:30 AM.

Marin Marchers: Check-in at Marin Vista Point at the north end of the bridge at 12:30 PM.

  • At Noon marchers from the SF side will start marching across the bridge to Marin.

  • At 1:00 PM there will be a rally and speakers at Marin Vista Point.

  • After the speakers, everyone will march south across the bridge to SF Golden Gate Bridge Plaza for a large group photo.

Bus info for MVCAN contingent:
If you would like to join MVCAN members at the North side of the bridge, meet at the Marin City bus stop (on Donahue St. and Terners, behind Gateway Center) at 12:10 pm to catch the public bus # 30 to Vista Point. (Golden Gate Transit). Northbound buses return hourly.

For more bus group info, contact Barbara Rowe at barbrowe@aol.com.

Carpools for MVCAN contingent:
If you would like to form informal carpools to the Marin Vista Point, meet at the Marin City Target parking lot at 12 Noon to proceed to the Bridge north side for rally and march.

For more carpool info, contact Leigh Ann Townsend at townsendleighann@gmail.com

Also, everyone please RSVP for headcount and updates at Gun Safety Bridge March.  

For those who pre-registered, an orange shirt will be available; others may want to show their solidarity by showing up in the official color, orange.

4

SAVE THE DATE - 3RD ANNUAL MVCAN PICNIC

Sunday July 21: 4pm - 7pm

LET'S CHILL OUT BEFORE WE TURN UP THE ACTIVIST HEAT!

MVCAN Annual 3rd annual Picnic Sunday, July 21, 4 - 7pm

Homestead Valley Community Center Meadow and Patio

315 Montford Ave, Mill Valley

Stay tuned for more details in June.

5

ATTEND NETROOTS NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2019  PHILADELPHIA - July 11-13

June Cooperman with Indivisible Founder Leah Greenberg at Netroots Nation 2017 in Atlanta.

For more than a decade, Netroots Nation has hosted the largest annual conference for progressives, drawing more than 3,000 attendees from around the country and beyond.

Join several other MVCANers at the premiere progressive conference in the US. You’ll learn more than you can imagine in 3 days. “Everyone who is anyone,” will be there - most major candidates and all major groups on every level . If you want to see how complex, how brilliant, and how powerful the Progressive movement is, come to Phillie and be wowed!

Netroots Nation 2019 Conference
July 11-13 in Philadelphia

Info and Register here: netrootsnation.org

Or for more info contact June Cooperman at juneellenc@aol.com

6

HUGE VICTORY IN STOPPING HEALTH CARE DISCRIMINATION IN UCSF-DIGNITY DEAL

Our voices of opposition were heard! On Tuesday, UCSF Chancellor Hawgood and UCSF Health CEO Mark Laret announced that UCSF will “respect and appreciate the diversity of opinions from multiple stakeholders both within UCSF and outside our University... Given the concerns, we will not continue to pursue the affiliation as it had been envisioned, which would have created a stronger link between UCSF Health and Dignity.”  They cited the “strong concerns” from many stakeholders as a significant factor in driving this decision.

Kudos to MVCAN Health Care issues leads Elyse Foster and Barbara Solomon, who spearheaded our petition-signing, letters to the editor, and UC Regents lobbying!

Also, thanks to all of you whose support and action created this victory! Note that the press coverage of this issue highlights your petition signatures in opposing the UCSF/Dignity affiliation. See the SF Chronicle: Following Outcry, UCSF Ends Talks To Expand Partnership With Dignity Health.

Also see, Kaiser Health News: UCSF Medical Center Backs Off Plan To Deepen Ties With Dignity Health.

7

LOBBYING OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES and CA STATE LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES

Together with the other Indivisible chapters in Marin, MVCAN undertook a call-in campaign to Assembly Member Levine and Senator Mike McGuire on several high-priority California bills. Almost all of the bills we supported passed!

Our state representatives, Levine and McGuire, voted yes on all of the bills that were actually brought up for a vote. Bills passed in one legislative chamber, will now go to the other one for action later in the summer. “AB” bills, which have originated and been passed by the Assembly, will move to the Senate for a vote, and “SB” bills, which have originated and been passed by the Senate, will go to the Assembly.

According to statewide Indivisible organizers, our Marin county effort generated among the highest number of calls to our legislators of all the counties in California. Go Team Marin!

  • AB 4 / SB 29 - Health4All - Expands access to Medi-Cal to undocumented immigrants of all ages. Passed.

  • AB 392 - Act to Save Lives - Changes the standard for use of deadly force by police from “reasonable” to only as a last resort and mandates de-escalation. Passed.

  • AB 32 - End Private Prisons - Prohibits CA Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitations from entering into or renewing contracts with private, for-profit prisons. Passed.

  • SB 200 / AB 217 - Drinking Water - Establishes a Safe Drinking Water Fund to provide secure access to safe drinking water for all Californians. Passed Senate.

  • AB 1217 - Issue Ad DISCLOSE Act - Requires disclosure of the top 3 funders of issue ads meant to influence legislative or administrative actions. Passed.

  • AB 1481 -- Just Cause Eviction -- Tenants without leases can only be evicted for certain reasons. Not brought up for vote in Assembly.

  • AB 1482 - Anti-Rent Gouging -- Rents cannot be increased more than CPI + 7% in any one year. Passed.

We are proud of our efforts to get these bills passed. In addition to the calls to lobby for these high-priority bills, MVCAN members met with our State Legislators and their staffs to urge their support.

Last Friday, Barb Rowe represented MVCAN in a meeting with Assembly Member Levine’s Legislative Director Kurt Schuparra to discuss California bills related to Civil Rights and Immigration issues. The meeting, organized by Lisa Bennett of Indivisible Sausalito, also included a number of other activist groups. At the meeting, the group emphasized our support for bills (in addition to those listed previously): AB 1185 - Sheriff Oversight Commission and AB 45 - Eliminating medical co-pays in state prisons and jails. Both of these bills passed the Assembly, with Levine voting yes on both!

Also, last Friday, MVCAN members June Cooperman and Larry Litvak participated in a constituent session with Senator McGuire in Novato. There was in-depth Q&A with the Senator about prospects for state action on health care and housing, among other issues. Thanks to Susan Morgan, IndiMarin for organizing!


8

REPORT BACK FROM MV MEMORIAL DAY PARADE 2019

A terrific time was had by all! Eileen Fisher leads as the Lady of Liberty!

Photo: Suz Lipman

Photo: Suz Lipman
Photo: Suz Lipman

9

REPORT BACK FROM NORTHERN CA GRASSROOTS SUMMIT 2020

Eileen Fisher and Susan Bolle represented  MVCAN last month at the Northern CA Grassroots Summit 2020.  Fifty leaders of local grassroot groups (Indivisibles, Swing Left, etc,) convened to discuss the newest developments for organizing, heading into the crucial 2020 elections. They strategized and shared best practices on methods to increase our outreach and take back the Senate and White House while holding on to the House in 2020.

This summit successfully brought grassroots leaders together early in the 2020 election cycle to build stronger coalitions towards our common goals.



10

REPORT BACK FROM PRO-CHOICE RALLY and VICTORIES

Leigh Ann Townsend and Kate Barrengos.

On May 21, NARAL Pro-Choice California, joined by MVCAN members and our allies across the country, participated in a Day of Action to “Stop the Bans” for abortion rights. The San Francisco rally took place at the NARAL office.  With over 500 events throughout the US, pro-choice activists made one thing abundantly clear - we are the pro-choice majority, and we won’t be silenced!

We’re making our voices heard. This week, with MVCAN’s help, we won even more  state victories when the College Student Right to Access Act (SB 24) and the California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act (SB 464) passed in the State Senate; they will now go to the Assembly for action later in the summer.

  • SB 24 expands abortion care at California’s public universities by requiring that the UC and CSU provide the abortion pill at campus health centers.

  • SB 464 promotes equality in reproductive healthcare and will reduce California’s high rates of pregnancy-related deaths among black women by addressing bias among providers.

11

PODCAST WITH MVCAN’S MAY MEETING GUEST SPEAKER FROM ROOTZ99 IN FRESNO

For those of you who missed the amazing Crissy Gallardo from 99Rootz, an Airlift-supported group in the Central Valley, Crissy spoke at our last MVCAN meeting.

Here is a terrific podcast that features Crissy and her partner, Alicia Olivarez, talking about how they returned home after graduating from UC Berkeley and Harvard to organize young people who live in the Central Valley. Using art, culture, healing, and political education, they're registering youth of color to vote and restoring a sense of pride in the Central Valley.

Check it out: Airlift Grantee - 99Rootz Podcast



2017 Orange marchers for MOMS DEMAND ACTION!

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JOIN AN ACTION TEAM

WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED in a specific issue or support area? Much of MVCAN's work is done in one of our 10 awesome action teams. Click the team name to read their latest news and find their next meeting.

Civil Rights/Immigration battles for justice and fair treatment of women, immigrants, working people and followers of all faiths.

Communications works on strategy, branding, messaging and program development for MVCAN. They are looking for bright ideas and people who want to make them happen.

Eco Warriors are engaged in change at the local, state and national levels, to impact the CA carbon tax, climate change, and community outreach and action.

The Economic Action team runs AIRLIFT, our first national project. AIRLIFT funnels money to grassroots groups in winnable 2018 districts. These are seriously vetted groups that work all year round in their communities–they get tangible results without blowing through millions of dollars. Read about Airlift in the Huffington Post .

Electoral is still celebrating the incredible outcome of the 2018 Midterms. Over the past 2 years, our dedicated group of volunteers called, texted and canvassed voters in our focus CA Congressional Districts along with NV & AZ. They helped win all 7 of the 7 flippable CA Congressional Districts, along with the Senate seats in NV & AZ. As we look to 2019, we are weighing many options which include strengthening the position of our newly elected CA House Representatives, voter registration drives and the state level elections in November--and of course, the Special Congressional Elections which will result in Trump Cabinet members being fired and replaced with Congressional Republicans.

The Events team creates special events to engage our friends and neighbors to take political action with MVCAN.

Health Care is forging ahead after their successful fight over the repeal/replace of ACA.

Tech supports MVCAN through technology.

Women's Rights fundraises and canvasses for NARAL and Planned Parenthood; supports women in public office(s); and engages in local, state and federal legislation for women's protection and rights.


NEW TO MVCAN?

Visit MVCAN.org to learn about the organization and strategies, join a team, read past MVCAN newsletters, and gain helpful Resistance tools.

WANT TO VOLUNTEER YOUR SKILLS OR TALENTS?

Numerous positions and jobs are available – one-time or ongoing.  Contact volunteer@mvcan.org.

Thank you for all you do!
– June, Bernard, Eileen, Rebecca, and everyone at MVCAN

MVCAN News brought to you by June, Annie and Eileen