REPORT ON SUNDAY’S MVCAN MEETING

MVCAN Meeting on Sunday featuring guest speaker Nicole Boucher.   Photo by Fabrice Florin

Our guest speaker Nicole Boucher from Color of Democracy spoke about her work at the California Donor Table through a network of committed donors. They are supporting grassroots groups working all year round in CA battleground districts. Two candidates for Marin District Attorney--Anna Pletcher and A.J. Brady--attended the meeting.

Nicole explained how down ticket races--from city council to the board of supervisors to district attorneys are crucial to winning California congressional districts. These local races are key to motivating voters of color, who along with white progressives, now make up more than half the electorate.

REPORT ON “SINGLE-PAYER” HEALTH FORUM

Health economist says single-payer pencils out for California! This past Tuesday, the MVCAN Healthcare team co-sponsored a Single-Payer Healthcare forum attended by more than 70 activists. The guest speaker was Dr. Peter S. Arno who co-authored a comprehensive economic analysis of California’s proposed single-payer plan SB 562, known as “Healthy California.”

During the forum, our guest speaker went step-by-step through the math and showed that not only is the single-payer plan affordable, but that, under single-payer, California businesses would actually save a ton of money!

So don’t believe the distorted headlines about single payer costing $400 billion--we’re currently paying more than that for health insurance that leaves many people with no coverage and many more with poor coverage.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Governor Brown signs the California Disclose Act!

The California Disclose Act is the real deal! Imagine almost every TV commercial for a ballot proposition beginning with five seconds of bold, readable type identifying the three top groups funding the political advertising spot. The same disclosures will apply to newspaper ads, radio spots, direct mail, even robocalls.

This is the toughest financial disclosure law in the nation. Our Marin State Assembly Member Marc Levine deserves a pat on the back for his co-sponsorship of the bill! Thanks to all the MVCAN members who worked to get it through!

MVCAN UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Sunday, Oct 29, 4:30-7pm -  MVCAN STRATEGY/MESSAGING TRAINING WORKSHOP.  All MVCANers welcome!
    Participate in a workshop on framing and messaging for your campaigns and team actions. RSVP to lucylitvak@gmail.com
    Sign up now - limited spaces available.

  • Saturday, Nov 11 -  MVCAN ANNIVERSARY EVENT
    Come celebrate 1 whole year year of community action and support MVCAN!  Get your tickets before they sell out: https://mvcan.eventbrite.com/



For more information on these upcoming events, see the listings following.

ACTIONS OF THE WEEK

ACTION 1: Contribute or volunteer with Jewish Family and Children’s Services to help victims of the North Bay fires.

Jewish Family and Children's Services (JFCS) is providing Emergency Assistance in Sonoma and Napa Counties for victims of the disastrous fires that are still raging.

Donate Online: https://www.jfcs.org/?page_id=11207

Or call 415-449-1256 to contribute via phone.

Since the JFCS is a large organization already well-established in the local areas of need, it is well-positioned to serve the communities very effectively. This organization serves all denominations and provides short-term food, shelter and counseling. Also, because (unlike some national charities) it is locally based, JFCS is able to provide long-term recovery support.

JFCS also expects to have an increased need for volunteers after the fires have been extinguished. Volunteer at sonoma@jfcs.org.

People needing immediate assistance should call JFCS at 707-303-1500, or email sonoma@jfcs.org

ACTION 2: Call or email Governor Brown to sign the Presidential Tax Transparency and Accountability  Act (SB 149).

(Friday, Oct 13 is the last day to call, and Sunday, Oct 15 is the last day for him to sign!)

Make Trump release his tax returns! This bill requires presidential candidates in California to make five years of their tax returns available to the public as a prerequisite to being on California’s presidential primary ballot. The bill, passed by the California legislature, has made its way to the desk of Jerry Brown. However, Governor Brown has not yet committed to signing the bill into law!

Call the governor and insist he makes presidential candidates demonstrate financial transparency! Ask him to sign SB 149.

Call Governor Brown at 916-445-2841 on Friday, Oct 13, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

You can also leave a comment for Governor Brown by email at: https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov39mail/

ACTION 3:  Protect Women’s Reproductive Choices by urging Governor Brown to sign two California state bills.

(Friday, Oct 13 is the last day to call!)

Please call or email Governor Brown and insist he sign into law two bills: the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act (AB 569) and the Mandatory Rape Kit testing (AB 41).

Call Governor Brown at 916-445-2841 on Friday, Oct 13, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

You can also leave a comment for Governor Brown by email at:https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov39mail/





ATTEND “FRAMING AND MESSAGING TO WIN” WORKSHOP


Continuing their exclusive workshop series for MVCAN members, professional organizers Lucy Litvak and Evan Bissell will facilitate a stand-alone workshop on framing and messaging for your campaigns and actions.

You will leave the workshop with:

  • Practices for aligning your media/communications strategy with your overall strategy.

  • New stories and messaging for your work.

  • An understanding of how narratives about race and class help to uphold the Trump/Ryan/McConnell regime.

  • A clearer understanding of the key frames and worldview that live in MVCAN’s work already.

Event: “Framing and Messaging to Win” Workshop
When: Sunday, October 29th, 4:30-7pm, Mill Valley
Where: Cooperman/Litvak residence Please RSVP to lucylitvak@gmail.com for address. (Suggested donation of $15-25 per person.)




GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE MVCAN ANNIVERSARY!

Come celebrate one year of community action at our anniversary party for MVCAN! Join us for an evening of music, art, and storytelling at the Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, on Saturday, November 11th at 7pm.

We invite you to reserve your seats early: popular events like this can fill up fast!

Get your tickets now:  https://mvcan.eventbrite.com/

Thanks to all of you who already bought tickets to the show! Can you help us spread the word about our party? Please invite your friends and neighbors to join us!

Ticket sales and donations will support the activities of MVCAN. If each of us can get a few friends to attend, we can raise thousands of dollars to support MVCAN in 2018.

For more info, or if you would like to volunteer, please email events-lead@mvcan.org We hope to see you at the party!

HELP PROTECT DACA NOW!

Join in a rally Monday, Oct 16 at 11:45 - 12:45 PM in San Francisco to support the “CLEAN DREAM ACT.”

Donald Trump’s racist, anti-immigrant regime is trying to hold the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program ransom in order to increase immigration enforcement and fund Trump's border wall. We need to stop Republicans in Congress from holding the Dream Act hostage! Insist Congress pass the “Clean Dream Act” with no strings attached!

More than 200,000 petition signatures supporting the act will be delivered to Leader Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco office during the rally.

Contact: Leader Nancy Pelosi: #CleanDreamActNow

Event: Rally for DACA and petition delivery to Nancy Pelosi’s office.
Where: 90 7th Street, San Francisco, California 94103
When: Monday, Oct. 16 from 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Click here to RSVP

GREAT ACTIONS FROM OUR TEAMS:

WOMEN’S RIGHTS TEAM: Submit your comment on Trump's latest attempt to cut birth control insurance benefits. This process has to consider public comments, and this is an efficient way to make your voice heard! Go to www.action.aclu.org  


ECO TEAM: Make these 5 Important Calls to Protect the Clean Power Plan!
EPA Administrator Pruitt has announced that the agency will start repealing the Clean Power Plan. With all of the recent back-to-back climate disasters, we cannot afford to let this happen! Click here to make 5 important calls that can fight this destructive move.


HEALTH CARE TEAM:  Support California Single-Payer Health Care (SB 562)
Join in an outreach event to engage members of the public and let them know about California single-payer health care.

Single-payer healthcare can shift revenues to California so that our state can provide affordable coverage for all! Encourage people to sign a petition urging Assemblyman Marc Levine to support Single-Payer Healthcare in California:

https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/medicare-for-all-weekend-of-action

What: Single-Payer Outreach Event
When: Saturday, October 14 at 11 am
Where: 4th Street Plaza, San Rafael


CIVIL RIGHTS/IMMIGRATION TEAM:  Attend “Race Matters” Workshops

Attend this great series of workshops sponsored by United Marin Rising  (throughout October):


Friday, Oct 13th - Healthcare Workshop  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/presentation-3-healthcare-tickets-37069754634

Wednesday Oct. 18th - Jobs and Economics Workshop

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/presentation-4-jobs-and-economics-tickets-37069968273

Saturday Oct 23rd - Environmental Housing Workshop    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/presentation-5-environmental-housing-tickets-37070293245

CONTACT OUR ACTION TEAMS

Much of MVCAN's work is done in one of our awesome 9 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.

Dump Trump's 25 active team members work on ways to remove Trump from power, with special focus on Russia collusion. This topic is hot!

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 has launched AIRLIFT, our first national project.  AIRLIFT funnels money to grass roots 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 it in the Huffington Post.

Electoral works to elect candidates for the 2017 state house and governor races, and other targeted races from now through the mid-term elections, following the recommendations of the flippable.org team, who are analyzing and selecting winnable races. The Electoral team uses phone banks and travel to targeted districts to talk with voters through phone calls and door-to-door canvassing, voter registration, and campaign volunteering.

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

Tech supports MVCAN through technology. If you have skills/interests in website design, maintaining our mailing lists or helping out with other automation tasks, we would love to talk to you.

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.

Help wanted! MVCAN seeks volunteers with web and video skills; people to table at public events, and people to welcome new members. In a few hours a week, you can make a huge difference! Interested? Contact Volunteer Coordinator Laura Boles.

Thank you for all you do!

– June, Bernard, Suz, Danny, Eileen, and everyone at MVCAN






We are Mill Valley and Southern Marin residents standing up for American values and democracy!