FEATURED IN THIS MONTH'S MVCAN NEWSLETTER (6/29/21)
UPCOMING EVENTS
JOIN US IN PERSON! MVCAN ANNUAL PICNIC SUNDAY, JULY 25, 3-6pm, Tamalpais Valley Community Center
ELECTORAL/LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS: Join Phone Banking, Contact Feinstein On Voting Rights Act, Get Update On Newsom Recall, Sign “No First Use” Petition
WRITE POSTCARDS TO VOTERS IN SWING STATES
WHERE WE'VE BEEN & WHAT WE’VE DONE
MVCAN HOSTED CONGRESSMAN JARED HUFFMAN AT OUR MAY MEETING
VICTORY ON MILL VALLEY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
MVFREE HOLDS GEORGE FLOYD MEMORIAL EVENT
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COME RECONNECT AT THE 5TH ANNUAL MVCAN PICNIC!
SAVE THE DATE: Tamalpais Valley Community Center
Sunday July 25 - 3pm-6pm
LET'S CHILL OUT BEFORE WE TURN UP THE ACTIVIST HEAT
Come celebrate the success of past, current, and future actions in MVCAN!
We are thrilled to be back in person together after the long hiatus! Please join us and bring your friends who would like to plug into MVCAN. We’ve had a great time schmoozing and dancing at our previous annual celebrations with friends new and old! Our fabulous activist partners from around Marin are also welcome.
MVCAN 5th Annual Picnic and Celebration
Sunday, July 25, 3pm- 6pm
Tamalpais Valley Community Center, 203 Marin Ave, Mill Valley
Keep an eye out for future MVCAN bulletins with additional event details.
Hope to see you there!
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ELECTORAL ACTIONS
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO DISENGAGE!
This is no time to sit on the sidelines - Our democracy is in urgent danger!
Take action! In partnership with Democracy Action Marin, help call voters in states that have Democratic Senators who are reluctant to reform the filibuster to enable passing the voting rights act, S1 "For The People."
We’re calling Arizona and West Virginia voters using an auto-dialer (so you’ll talk to many more people) and then patching them through to their own Senators.
Join our virtual phone bank every Saturday 3-5pm (PT)—except July 3.
Sign up for Phone Banks on Sat. July 10 and 17
We expect the revised bill (the Manchin version, Stacey Abrams-approved) to come to the Senate floor in the next few weeks.
Our team of experienced leaders will give you all the tools and training you need to call voters.
CALL SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN TO SUPPORT VOTING RIGHTS
We urge everyone to call our own Senator Feinstein to ask her to pass the “For The People” Act using whatever means necessary including reforming the filibuster.
Please call Senator Feinstein every single day with Stacey Abrams' Fair Fight Hot Call Summer program.
To automatically connect with our Senator, call 888-453-3211.
Sample script:
Senator Feinstein, I want to ensure the votes of all Americans are protected. I urge you to Vote “Yes” to pass the For the People Act and repeal the filibuster, if needed, to ensure this Act is passed.
And please send this along to family & friends—all over the US, especially those who live in WV, AZ, NV, ME, DE, VT, VA, NH. (Note that the callers in these states will need to call their own senators and urge them to support the “For the People” Act.)
We expect the revised bill (the Manchin version, Stacey Abrams-approved) to come to the Senate floor in the next few weeks.
UPDATE ON NEWSOM RECALL ELECTION
The special election will take place early this Fall--at a cost of over $215 million. Although we don't yet know the exact date of the election, it could be as early as August.
There will only be two questions on the ballot. Just VOTE NO ON QUESTION 1: "Should Governor Newsom be recalled?" If 50% +1 vote no, the recall is stopped and question 2 ("who shall replace him") becomes irrelevant and obsolete.
SIGN PETITION IN SUPPORT OF SENATOR WARREN'S NO FIRST USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS BILL
Support Senator Elizabeth Warren's No First Use of nuclear weapons bill, pending in the Senate and supported by a number of co-sponsors, including Senator Feinstein.
Please sign their petition HERE.
Passage of the Act would make it the policy of the United States to never use nuclear weapons first in a conflict. This would instantly lower the risk of nuclear war and carve out a path that other nuclear-armed nations could safely follow.
Note that MVCAN member Jim Hirst who is working to get signatures for this petition has long been active in the 40 year-old Mill Valley-based citizen diplomacy organization, Track Two, as was the late Ruth Friend, an MVCAN member and Jim's partner. Track Two is currently engaged in building support for this bill.
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WRITING POSTCARDS TO VOTERS IN SWING DISTRICTS
Our high impact postcard program continues in swing Districts where we are writing to registered Democrats and liberal-leaning Independents (ages 25-45) who voted in 2020 but skipped the 2018 midterm elections. Many in this age group are parents that are receiving the $300 per month per child benefit as an outcome of the Democratic administration. Let's remind them of Democrats' dedication to more income equality and encourage them to vote in 2022!
We are also writing to recent voter registrants in swing districts.
Note: Bob Haar will be away until mid-July. Please, contact Judy Leedy at politicaljudyl@gmail.com for additional info or voter names and addresses while he is away.
SAMPLE POSTCARD - TO BE HANDWRITTEN
Dear [Voter Name] –
Democrats passed a new federal tax credit for families with children.
It provides $300 a month per child to help with groceries, housing, and
medical expenses, and will cut childhood poverty in half.
Every Republican in Congress, including Young Kim, voted against it.
Remember that in 2022.
[Your First Name], volunteer
Thanks for all your help!
WHAT WE DID
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SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENT FOR MILL VALLEY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
A landmark 40-unit affordable housing development has been proposed for an excellent location adjacent to the Public Safety Building near Hauke Park at 1 Hamilton Dr. Thanks to all our members and affordable housing advocates, like MVFREE, who petitioned, wrote letters and emails, and called in live during the recent Mill Valley City Council meeting.
Our MVCAN-initiated petition in favor of moving the project forward garnered more than 750 signatures, providing a major counterweight to local opponents. At the end of the meeting, the Mill Valley City Council voted 5-0 to move the proposed 1 Hamilton Dr project to the next step of selecting a potential developer and performing necessary studies and design proposals.
For an helpful discussion of these issues, see the Marin IJ article by Lorenzo Morotti: Mill Valley’s Affordable Housing Initiative Sparks Community-angst
Also, check out a must read opinion piece by Vicki Larson in the IJ: Affordable Housing Is Great Unless Its In Your Hood.
To learn more see the Mill Valley City report on the project here: STAFF REPORT
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REPORT BACK FROM MONTHLY MEETING WITH CONGRESSMAN JARED HUFFMAN
Last month’s MVCAN meeting had more than 75 attendees who heard updates and insights from Rep. Huffman followed by a lively Q and A session.
Thanks also to Electoral team leader Susan Bolle for taking time at the meeting to cover the timeline and actions needed to protect democracy and maintain the Democratic majorities.
To watch the meeting videotape on the home page at MVCAN.org, click HERE.
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POWERFUL MEMORIAL EVENT FOR GEORGE FLOYD
HELD BY MVFREE
To honor the anniversary of the George Floyd’s murder, a moving event was hosted by MVFREE (the Mill Valley Force For Racial Equity And Empowerment) at the Mill Valley Depot Plaza. More than 100 neighbors gathered to place flowers and hear moving insights from a range of speakers to mark the memorial day together.
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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 Team 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 The Electoral Team is phone banking, texting and sending postcards to pass voting rights legislation in Congress and win Special Congressional Elections-- all laying the groundwork for the 2022 Midterms. Our team of experienced electoral leaders will coach you from start to finish, providing you with the background you need to talk with voters.
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
