I decided to attend the 2024 Democratic National Convention. What a convention it was! Here are some of the highlights.

Welcome to Chicago
This year's convention was held in Chicago, Illinois.

Oops, he did it again.  Donald Trump saw something on social media that was supposed to be satire and published it broadly with some less than true embellishments. He saw a fake photo of his celebrity endorsement and then said, “I accept.”  I think he doesn’t understand what satire is.

The great Taylor Swift was chosen as his focal point here. Taylor Swift is a superstar who is also a sensitive and intelligent woman. Based on that, when I heard of her supposed endorsement of Trump (in an Uncle Sam outfit), I immediately went to the fact-checking websites.

Hot August nights aren’t just for our neighbors in Reno; the Democratic activism in Placer County is heating up as well.  The Placer County Democratic Central Committee will be endorsing Placer County Democrats for local races on August 14th.  After that our campaign operations will be in full swing supporting candidates up and down the ballot.

Did you feel it?  Did you get goosebumps and a little adrenaline rush when Biden announced he was dropping out of the race?  It’s not that we don’t adore Biden; we absolutely do.  But we also recognize the reality of how difficult it is for anyone to run for office, campaigning, and traveling full-time.  Doing so while simultaneously working at the most demanding job in the world challenges all incumbent presidents enormously.  Our beloved Joe has earned a pleasant retirement filled with expressions of gratitude and respect from us all.

As we approach the upcoming November election, we are thrilled to announce a strong roster of over 40 Democrats who intend to run for various local offices. Our community is fortunate to have dedicated individuals stepping up to serve on School Boards, City Councils, and Fire and Water Boards.

This is our 11th annual fundraising dinner, and it is especially exciting this year as we celebrate the presumptive nominee, Kamala Harris, at the Democratic Convention in Chicago, which begins on August 19, 2024.  This historic nomination has energized Democrats across our nation, and we celebrate the “native daughter” status of our former CA Federal Senator, CA Attorney General, and Alameda County District Attorney, in addition to being the current Vice President. The accomplishments of the Biden/Harris administration are significant, and her leadership as a true partner has been recognized by President Biden. As a former prosecutor, Kamala Harris is taking the fight to former President Trump, and the danger MAGA presents to our democracy.  

ACA 5 will be on the ballot in California this November. This is important because it will remove the harmful, discriminatory, and unconstitutional language of the 2008 Proposition 8.
 
ACA 5 means we will not rely on court rulings for equality. Instead, our state's and our constitution's laws will be free of discrimination.

Two words keep coming to my mind - unprecedented and complacency.
 
Both words are very relevant to Placer voters, especially the persuadable NPPs, who must vote with Democrats to protect our democracy from the real threats to our constitutional guarantees of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as we all learned in high school civics.  
 

Celebrating Success in the March 5 Primary!

We're thrilled to announce our success in the March 5 Primary elections! Our CADEM-endorsed candidates, Jessica Morse for CD3 and Neva Parker for AD5 have advanced to the November 5, 2024, General Election! Congratulations to both campaigns on this significant achievement, and let's continue to show our support to ensure their success in November. With your help, we can make it happen!
Both campaigns are gearing up for a series of house parties this spring, emphasizing direct personal contact with the candidates. If you're interested in hosting a house party, please contact the Morse campaign at houseparties@morseforcongress.com or visit the Parker campaign's website at www.nevaparkerforassembly.com. Your involvement can truly make a difference.

Sierra College is gearing up for its unique annual EARTH DAY festival on Thursday, April 25, from 10 AM - 3 PM. This isn't just any festival; it's a fun-filled day dedicated to celebrating our amazing planet and addressing the climate crisis. The festival is a hub of knowledge, offering resources on various environmental topics, from deforestation to managing water resources to starting a compost pile. It's a platform that promotes sustainability, encourages green lifestyle choices, and shares best practices. Moreover, it's not just about learning but also about taking action. Some groups participating in Earth Day offer volunteer opportunities for students or inspire them to engage in environmental activism.

I hesitated to blame my former colleagues, the esteemed members of the Fourth Estate, for the deterioration and manipulation of facts in today’s news reporting. However, any news organization that would consider hiring an election denier willing to overthrow a fair election is part of the problem—they all are. Our political system is now a kaleidoscope of normalized destructive lies because of misguided editorial decisions to seek balance rather than truth.

Was NBC serious, or was it a bad dream?

The March 5, 2024, Primary Election is our first big test in supporting our 2 CADEM endorsed candidates, Jessica Morse for CD3 and Neva Parker for AD5.  If your ballot is not yet in the mail nor delivered to a drop box or a Voting Center, it's THE most important thing for you to do as soon as possible. Of course, this is a Presidential election, and re-electing the Biden/Harris ticket is crucial for our democracy and freedoms. The federal Senate race is aggressively contested, and CADEM delegates did not endorse it. Choose carefully, and there could possibly be two Democratic candidates on the ballot in the November General Election.

In honor of Women's History Month, we take this opportunity to shine a light on some of the women whose accomplishments have contributed to our stories.

February 2024
February is a time for celebrations – everything from Black History Month to Valentine’s Day to President’s Day, including Leap Year on February 29.  If you are a senior citizen, you can remember when there were separate holidays for Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthday commemorations, but the need for a 3-day holiday weekend proved irresistible for the combination of a Presidents’ holiday on the third Monday of February as a result of the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill passed in 1968. It is still officially called Washington’s Birthday because Lincoln’s birthday had never officially become a designated Federal Holiday. 

As part of our commemoration of Black History Month, our Communications Committee is pleased to share this article from the National Education Association website.

These Black leaders had strong visions for the future of the labor movement, uniting broad coalitions for racial justice, worker rights, and the welfare of all.

When Webster reveals its word of 2024, it may well be anxiety. A common theme of many of our conversations is fear and concern over the future and the outcome of this year’s election. True, much is beyond our control, but there are concrete actions we can take daily to stave off helplessness and promote hopefulness.

The author of this list of Resolutions for Democracy is Jessica Craven. It’s a practical guide to embracing the election year chaos and thriving.

Yes, it is 2024, and goodbye to 2023! I hope your recent holiday celebration with family and friends was rewarding with many happy memories as well as being restful and healthy.  Politically, 2024 is a marathon through the Presidential Election in November, but first, we must sprint to the March 5 Primary here in California. Mark your calendar for the MLK event at the Johnson Springview Park in Rocklin on January 15 – come by to say hello and show support for our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.