Greetings Staunton Democrats and Happy Halloween ! My scary Halloween costume this year is Ben Cline ! Enclosed are more news, opportunities, future and past event details, and pleadings for volunteers and funds and whatever else we think of. We hope you will look forward to this post every Monday and use it to keep fighting for our democratic values and dedication to all members of our communities. If you wish to submit information to be published by the SDC then please email the information to publicity@staunton-democrats.care . We can publish to the blog weekly, and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc) more frequently. Please send all comments and feedback to publicity@staunton-democrats.care . And now for the show ! This week: Opportunities and calls for action ! The SDC Candidate Forum for the Win ! VOTE ! Our Democracy at Stake ! Events SDC Coffee The SDC blog - NEW Posts ! What is a living wage for Staunton ? News from our friends Ben Cline (Sigh!) Jennifer Lewi
Greetings Staunton Democrats !
Enclosed are more news, opportunities, future and past event details, and pleadings for volunteers and funds and whatever else we think of. We hope you will look forward to this post every Monday and use it to keep fighting for our democratic values and dedication to all members of our communities.
If you wish to submit information to be published by the SDC then please email the information to publicity@staunton-democrats.care . We can publish to the blog weekly, and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc) more frequently. Please send all comments and feedback to publicity@staunton-democrats.care .
And now for the show !
This week:
Urgent Action needed by Staunton City Residents !!!!!!
Opportunities and calls for action !
The SDC Candidate Forum for the Win !
VOTE !
Our Democracy at Stake !
Some Good News for the Planet
Events
Other Candidate Forums
SDC Coffee
Next SDC General Meeting
The SDC blog - NEW Post !
News from our friends
Democratic achievements and news
Meanwhile, the Republicans …
Ben Cline (Sigh!)
Jennifer Lewis (YAY !)
Staunton City Council and School Board races
From the Lincoln Project
URGENT ACTION NEEDED FOR STAUNTON CITY RESIDENTS !
The Staunton City Council will have a public hearing regarding what should be contained in Staunton's Legislative Program for 2023. This document represents Staunton’s list of priorities for the VA General Assembly session beginning in January 2023. This formal document is sent to our Virginia General Assembly members - Delegate Avoli and Senator Hanger.
The 2022 Staunton Legislative Program is here for your review,.
Things you urgently need to do:
Review the 2022 Legislative program (link above)
Pick one or more topics that you would like to write about - previous topics include:
Education
Pediatric Cancer Research
Certificates of Public Need
Chesapeake Bay Water Quality
Transportation
Libraries
Virginia State Parks
Broadband expansion
Solar Tax Incentives
Opioids
Fair Elections
Public Notice, Public Hearing and Public Procurement
Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability
State Aid to Localities for Law Enforcement - HN599
Criminal Justice Reform
Middle River Regional Jail Staffing and Transfer of Inmates to the Virginia Department of Corrections
First Responders
Economic Development
Plastics recycling Facility
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Planning District Commissions
Sovereign Immunity
Sales Tax for Food for Home Consumption
Water Quality
Cannabis Legislation Implementation
Oppose Eminent Domain by Private Utilities for Surveying
Oppose Stormwater Utility Exemptions
Oppse Land Use Control
Write a clear and concise email or letter for each topic that you feel should be a city priority and that you would like to be supported or enacted by the General Assembly in 2023.
Email to CityCouncil@ci.staunton.va.us Emails to this address become part of the official City Council records and they are seen by all City Council members.
Suggested topics people might want added for the 2023 General Assembly session are:
Protecting the legal right to an abortion
Expansion of voting rights
Removing Virginia’s Constitutional ban on same sex marriage
Repeal Right to Work
Affordable housing
Utilizing funds from the Inflation Reduction Act towards climate friendly infrastructure
.... But they won't be included unless the citizen's request them (in writing and in person by multiple people is best)
Go to the City Council Work Session and Meeting on 10/27/22
Opportunities and Calls for Action !
ANYTHING That You Can Do Is Helpful !
Where will your money go ?
Donations may be used in election related activities (mailings, radio issue ads, events for voter registration and candidate support, door to door canvassing for local regional candidates, etc).
Donations can also be used to support the SDC office and printing capabilities that are needed during the non-stop elections seasons. We are also looking towards the future since there is a Virginia Legislature election in a year then the 2024 elections. The fight is a continuing effort !
Join the Staunton Democratic Committee and Join an SDC Committee (SDC membership is required)
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. Without volunteers you would not be reading this very fine publication !
The SDC is trying to organize some canvassing efforts and some individuals are interested in canvassing their neighborhood on their own. Regardless, we NEED volunteers since leaflets don’t distribute themselves.
answer phones, talk to visitors, data tasks, distribute canvassing and electoral information, etc.
The Jennifer Lewis for Congress campaign needs volunteers to help. Get in touch with Peri Price at peri@friendsofjenniferlewis.
The SDC Candidate Forum for the Win !
The SDC sponsored non-partisan Candidate Forum was an incredible success on September 13, 2022 ! We learned a lot about the candidate positions and I, for one, am a better informed citizen as a result.
The SDC Candidate Forum video is located here.
VOTE !
Since the 15th, 19th, 24th and 26th Amendments to the Constitution guarantee a right to VOTE, I think we ought to exercise that right !
Voter registration is over after today
Early Voting started September 23, 2022 and continues through November 4, 2022.
Early Voting Hours: 9-5, M-F located in the Staunton City Hall Lobby at 116 W. Beverley St
OPEN Saturday from 9-5 for Early Voting on October 29, 2022 and November 5, 2022
Send your selfies after you vote with your “I Voted” sticker visible to: publicity@sawdemocrats.care and we may post them in this newsletter and blog !
More voters !
Our Democracy at Stake !
The Conservative Judge Who Saved Democracy With A Twitter Thread. You have heard from this judge before.
Some Good News for the Planet
Events !
Candidate Forum
Jennifer Lewis and Ben Cline
October 25, 2022
Lexington Virginia
Please consider going to this event and showing support for the Democrats running for the Lexington local elections (FYI - Nicholas Betts, Chair of the Lexington Democratic Committee is running for City Council) as well as Jennifer Lewis. See you there !
An article from Irvin Peckham (Outreach Chair for the Harrisonburg Democratic Committee) - he talks about the Forum and Cline and Lewis. Very good !
SDC Coffee at Serendipity – NEW DAY ! Serendipity has changed their hours so we have changed the date and time of the SDC Coffee to:
The first and third Thursdays from 9-11 AM. The next SDC Coffee is on Thursday October 20.
What could be better than sitting at a local coffee shop with a great cup of their fresh brew (supplied by the SDC) and talking to compatriots about the news of the day.
I have been attending the SDC Coffee at Serendipity Java Bar and Eatery since I joined the SDC in May 2022 and have met wonderful people and learned much in the subsequent discussions.
This happens on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 9-11 AM.
Donations are welcome to help pay for the coffee or you can order something else for yourself (including food).
Serendipity is located at https://bit.ly/3Pru44b .
From Staunton Visioning - Election Day is a month away. On that day, about half of Staunton's Voters will likely vote. You can help by taking a shift as a poll greater at the Ward of your choice! Click the link below to sign up-bring a friend. We will provide all the supplies you need including literature for the local candidates etc (working on a canopy, table and chairs at each location). Thank you in advance for taking the time to help move Staunton forward.
The SDC Blog
The SDC blog is coming along slowly but nicely. There are 6 sections.
Learning from our Readers - We are now publishing letters to the editor from our readers. Three letters just this week. Go read them to appreciate our fellow local Democrats.
Staunton Democrats Speak ! - this section is more issue specific and currently has articles like “Vote Like Your Pants Are On Fire !” and “Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, is my HERO !”
Ben Cline. Where’s the beef ? - this section is dedicated to the appalling and anemic performance of our current VA 6th District Congressional Representative. With your help we can retire this section on November 9, 2022. Snippets of his record will occur weekly in this Email with more discussion of the bills and vote on the SDC blog.
Thoughts from Yvonne Surette - New Post ! - Yvonne is a well known local columnist who always (to use a basketball reference) swishes her jumpshots.
Democratic achievements - Democrats are generally humble people and think more about the world as a whole rather than just themselves. Thus, we are generally very bad at tooting our own horn when we do something good. Talking points included.
Community Voices - In this section the Staunton Democrats hope to soon publish content from users and organizations from the Staunton area that have a unique perspective on life and where they fit into the American melting pot. There are many voices that are not often heard so we hope to help them ! This may include contributions from the LGBTQ community, from younger voters, those who are struggling to help others and those who are just struggling. We want to hear about your lived experience. Knowing and caring about our neighbors better is why we are Democrats.
New Section coming - a section called something like “Thoughts from the Chair” does not encourage you to be sedentary but gives us the insights of the SDC Chairperson.
Of course I am going to ask for volunteers and writers and any ideas and feedback you may have.
The SDC blog is at https://blog.sawdemocrats.care
Urgent Issue for Augusta County
Greenville Distribution Center
A growing number of Greenville area residents in Augusta County are alarmed at the prospect of rezoning a large piece of property near Riverheads High School along a mostly two lane Route 11.
More information and how you can learn, participate and voice your concerns:
Information from the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley - go here first !
Reports from the media:
What is a Living Wage for Staunton ?
MIT has a living wage calculator - you can check what a living wage should be in Staunton or other communities across the country. The link will take you to the data for Staunton.
On a related topic from NPR “Men in unions may make $1.3 million more in lifetime than men not in one, study says”
News from our friends
From Cindy Connors at the Staunton Visioning Coalition Steering Committee:
Greetings all !
With just over two weeks until early voting begins, our candidates Alice, Brad, Michele, Fontella, Kristin and Stephanie need our active support. What can you do ? We have lots of great suggestions! Don't stop reading here...check them all out and choose the best ones for you.
Volunteer on Election Day:
The Staunton Visioning Coalition plans to have a table/information supporting our candidates at each voting location.
We need volunteer "Captains" to adopt each of the 5 polling locations to assist with volunteer recruitment, set up and clean up.
We need pairs of volunteers to work two hour shifts (with the exception of the first shift). 6-9am, 9-11am, 11am-1pm, 1-3pm, 3-5pm, 5-7pm
We need canopies and tables.
The locations are:
Ward 1 Third Presbyterian Church 1313 Barterbrook Rd
Ward 2 Christ United Methodist Church 1500 Churchville Ave
Ward 3 Gypsy Hill Park Gym 229 116th Regimental Rd
Ward 4 Seventh Day Adventist Church 1000 North Coalter St
Ward 5 Memorial Baptist Church 224 Taylor St
RSVP to stauntonvisioningcoalition@gmail.com if you are interested in Captaining a location (we have a captain for Ward 4). A sign-up sheet will be sent at a later date for the shifts, but we are happy to hear from you now if you are interested.
Educate yourselves on all the candidates:
There have been several articles in the Augusta Free Press (no need for a subscription), hopefully they will cover all the candidates soon.
Alice Woods: https://augustafreepress.com/woods-seeks-to-bring-unity-of-purpose-to-staunton-city-council/
Eric Curren: https://augustafreepress.com/why-would-anybody-want-to-run-for-staunton-city-council-erik-curren-gives-his-reasons/
Brad Arrowood: https://augustafreepress.com/talk-about-the-city-we-want-brad-arrowood-runs-for-staunton-city-council/
Michele Edwards https://augustafreepress.com/focus-on-good-governance-michele-edwards-is-running-for-staunton-city-council/
Yvonne Wilson https://augustafreepress.com/diversity-of-ideas-yvonne-wilson-is-running-for-staunton-city-council/
Communicate your support for our candidates
Door Knock - the number one way to help candidates earn more votes
Donate - help them pay for materials to connect with donors
Write your own letter to the editor - News Virginian is currently the only paper we are aware of doing LTEs - https://newsvirginian.com/site/forms/online_services/letter_editor/
Share your support on your social media pages - write your own post or share from their sites
Reach out directly to the campaigns and offer assistance:
Democratic Achievements and Related News
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson starts her term with a roar !
What would Stacy Abrams do on her first day as Georgia Governor ? The answer is at the end and I wholeheartedly agree (not surprising since I have been a long term healthcare provider - hint, hint !). A very good interview with one of my Democratic Party heroes by one of my favorite youtube commentators.
This is the way America should be. Warning, a heartwarming story of a famous American family and foreign visitors ! This occurred in the late 1960s during the height of racism in our country.
Remember to vote BLUE in Roevember !
Meanwhile, the Republicans …
Now do we know who Youngkin really is ? McAuliffe was right about Youngkin being a MAGA Republican.
Ben Cline (sigh!)
This section of the SDC Weekly Email has been voted the hands down favorite of our readers ! Not really but like a fender bender on the highway you cannot avert your eyes from Ben Cline’s appalling voting record !
More detailed information about Ben Cline’s voting record is located on our Staunton Democrats Speak ! Blog – Ben Cline has his own section called “Ben Cline. Where’s the beef ?”
Here is a compilation of what we know about Ben Cline so far based on his voting record - What does it tell you ?
Two good articles from Clinewatch which detail his flaccid performance at the Jennifer Lewis-Ben Cline debate in Winchester on October 1.
Cline’s fact-challenged performance in Winchester. Clinewatch points out that Cline is “proud member (along with some of the most extreme members of Congress) of the far-right House Freedom Caucus and the proud recipient of a campaign endorsement from Donald Trump” and “Cline is more interested in posing as bipartisan in front of certain audiences than he is in being bipartisan.”
The SDC is trying to host the video on our site as well. Will let you know when that happens.
Remember to vote BLUE in Roevember !
Jennifer Lewis
The October 1 debate between Jennifer and Cline can be viewed on her facebook page.
More about Jennifer at:
Staunton City Council and School Board Races
The Staunton Newsleader has summary profiles of some of the Staunton, Augusta and Waynesboro School Board candidates.
From the Lincoln Project
Now for a little bit of clever fun - Trumperton
Thanks for reading !
If you have any suggestions or corrections then please email to publicity@staunton-democrats.care and put Feedback for Weekly Email 10/17/22 in the subject line.
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