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 !
Events
Jennifer Lewis-Cline Candidate Forum
SDC Coffee
The SDC blog - NEW Posts !
The Consequences of Overturning Roe
News from our friends
Democratic achievements and news
Meanwhile, the Republicans …
Ben Cline (Sigh!)
Jennifer Lewis (YAY !)
Staunton City Council and School Board races
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,.
EXAMPLES I SENT !
So here are some examples of emails I sent to the City Council as possible contributions to the 2023 Staunton Legislative Program: More examples are here.
Protecting the legal right to an abortion - I oppose any change in the Virginia abortion law that further restricts access to abortion as detailed in - https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title18.2/chapter4/article9/
Reproductive and Women's Health Care - I oppose any restrictions in prescribing medications such as birth control pills, IUDs, other reproductive methods since they are also used as therapeutic treatments for other non-reproductive health conditions. As a healthcare provider, the patient, family and I are the best people to decide the appropriate treatment for any patient's health conditions and the interference of politicians that do not have the training and a license to practice medicine is unethical and unwarranted.
Education - I agree with the Section A - Education - from the 2022 Staunton Legislative Program except:
My suggested changes to Section A-5 - all HVAC and other renovations should be upgraded to use HVAC and water heating systems that are high efficiency and compliant with the recommendations from the Inflation Reduction Act. These may include heat pumps for heating and air conditioning, heat pump water heaters. Geothermal systems are also a good option.
Solar Tax Incentives from the 2022 Legislative Program - change name to “Energy and Climate” - details below
Energy and Climate
Solar Tax Incentives - I agree with Section I - Solar Tax Incentives - in the 2022 Staunton Legislative Program. In addition, Staunton should ask for a city wide assessment of possible solar panel installation and to assist home and property owners to decide on individual solar feasibility for their situation.
Urban Forests - ask for funds to do a city wide assessment of the feasibility and benefits of planting trees. It is well known that “urban forests” reduce air and water pollution, alter heating and cooling costs, increase real estate values, improve physical and mental health, strengthen social connections and are associated with reduced crime and increased active living and neighborhood pride. See this article from the USDA/US Forest Service - https://www.fs.usda.gov/ccrc/topics/urban-forests and this from the EPA on using trees and vegetation to reduce heat islands https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-trees-and-vegetation-reduce-heat-islands . Also in line with Staunton’s DEI Commission there is this EPA article on “Heat Islands and Equity” https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/heat-islands-and-equity .
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Assistance Office - ask for funds to establish an office that can:
Assist home and property owners to connect with businesses that can assess homes and properties for energy upgrades and apply for IRA tax incentives or rebates.
Provide city wide education to residents, home and property owners about the IRA incentives.
Fair Elections
I agree with Section K of the 2022 Staunton Legislative Program with the following additions:
The General Assembly should condemn the establishment of Governor Youngkin’s establishment of the Election Integrity Unit. There has been NO significant election fraud that would warrant the establishment of this expensive office with 20 + lawyers and staff. It is a complete waste of taxpayer money and it is simply a political stunt meant to perpetuate an information fraud.
I oppose any degradation of the Automatic Voter registration as outlined in https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+sum+HB235 .
I oppose lessening the time period for early voting and vote by mail
I oppose any restrictions in methods of registering to vote including online, local voter registration office hours of operation or decrease in personnel, locations to obtain voter registration forms.
I oppose restricting the types of approved voter ID
I support moving to same day registration and elimination of a deadline for voter registration.
I oppose massive voter purging
I support a ban on “voter caging” to prevent challenges to voter eligibility by individuals who are not election officials unless the challenge is accompanied by an oath under penalty of perjury that the challenger has a good faith factual basis to believe the person is ineligible to vote or register to vote.
I support a state holiday for each November election day to allow voting by working individuals.
I support HR 1 For the People Act of 2021.
Single use bag tax - I support a single use bag tax across all cities and counties in Virginia.
The Virginia Tax website shows the following:
Any city or county in Virginia may impose a 5₵ tax on each disposable plastic bag provided to shoppers in local grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies. The city or county needs to pass an ordinance to begin applying this tax. The store collects the tax at the time of the sale. Money raised by this tax goes to support environmental cleanup, litter and pollution mitigation, or environmental education efforts, or to provide reusable bags to recipients of SNAP or WIC benefits. ……
Change to:
Any All city cities and or counties county in Virginia shall may impose a 5₵ tax on each disposable plastic bag provided to shoppers in local grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies. The city or county needs to pass an ordinance to begin applying this tax. The store collects the tax at the time of the sale. Money raised by this tax goes to support environmental cleanup, litter and pollution mitigation, or environmental education efforts, or to provide reusable bags to recipients of SNAP or WIC benefits. ……
Remove prohibitions to marry - Removing Article 1, Section 15-A of the Virginia Constitution and codifying the affirmative right to marry regardless of the sex or gender of the parties. I support SJ 5 of the 2022 session titled “SJ 5 Constitutional amendment; fundamental right to marry, same-sex marriage prohibition”.
“SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
Constitutional amendment (second reference); marriage; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry. Repeals the constitutional provision defining marriage as only a union between one man and one woman as well as the related provisions that are no longer valid as a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015). The amendment provides that the right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of persons and requires the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions and agents to issue marriage licenses, recognize marriages, and treat all marriages equally under the law, regardless of the sex or gender of the parties to the marriage. Religious organizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity have the right to refuse to perform any marriage”.
Repeal Right to Work laws - I support the 2021 House of Delegates session bill - “HB 1755 Right to work; repeals provisions of Code that refers to denial or abridgement”.
“SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
Right to work. Repeals the provisions of the Code of Virginia that, among other things, prohibit any agreement or combination between an employer and a labor union or labor organization whereby (i) nonmembers of the union or organization are denied the right to work for the employer, (ii) membership in the union or organization is made a condition of employment or continuation of employment by such employer, or (iii) the union or organization acquires an employment monopoly in any such enterprise”.
SO YOU CAN DO IT TOO !
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
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.
.... 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
After you enjoy yourself at the SDC Coffee, you can wander down to City Hall and VOTE EARLY !
Send your selfies after you vote with your “I Voted” sticker visible to: publicity@staunton-democrats.care and we may post them in this newsletter and blog !
More voters !
Our Democracy at Stake !
Georgia blows away record for early midterm ballots cast on first day - hopefully mostly Democrats !
Over 5.5 million people have voted early across the country. There is a 70% increase in early voting in Georgia compared to the 2018 midterms. North Carolina is up 114% in absentee ballots. Florida is up 50%.This may indicate a strong turnout this year. Hopefully, this portends a Dem wave !
Events !
Candidate Forum
Jennifer Lewis and Ben Cline
October 25, 2022
Lexington Virginia
Please consider attending 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) and Jennifer Lewis. See you there!
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 November 3.
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 .
After you enjoy yourself at the SDC Coffee, you can wander down to City Hall and VOTE EARLY !
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 - NEW Post ! 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 - 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 - NEW Post ! 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
The Consequences of Overturning Roe
A good video from MSNBC and an interview with Cecile Richards. Peril Of Abortion Bans To Women's Health Becomes Dreaded Reality
From the Center for American Progress Women’s Initiative - Women’s and Doctors stories from the front lines - very emotional.
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.
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
The Biden administration says that the federal deficit fell in half from the year before
G.O.P. voter fraud crackdowns falter as charges are dropped in Florida and Texas. So much for the massive election fraud. Now we are wasting mucho money on an Election Integrity Unit in Virginia.
U.S. economy is likely rebounding just before the midterms, despite inflation. GDP, the broadest measure of economic activity, is expected to have risen roughly 2.9 percent between July and September, according to a tracker from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
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.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to rally with GOP election denier Kari Lake in Arizona
As a result of Youngkin campaigning for Kari Lake, he should be considered an election denier by fiat.
And in Texas:
The choice is kids or guns. Texas gives DNA identification kits to public school students. “Members of the U.S. armed forces are fingerprinted, their DNA is collected, and the information is kept on file and in storage. It is a precaution for those terrible situations in which a body needs to be identified and an acknowledgement of the danger inherent in serving in the military. That Texas officials think schoolchildren should take the same precautions as troops who go into battle speaks volumes about the twisted priorities that have protected gun rights at the expense of children.”
And other Republicans.
GOP would use debt limit to force spending cuts, McCarthy says which could include cuts to Medicare and Social Security. McCarthy did not mention adding $2 trillion to the debt that the Republicans passed the 2017 tax cut for the rich.
Be afraid, be very afraid. Republican plans for the House.
Republicans stand for:
Limiting your rights and freedoms
Mandating what you can do with your body
Mandating who you can and cannot love and marry
Party and cult figure over country
Denialism over fact, logic and critical thinking
Supporting rich Americans over you and me
Supporting Putin and authoritarians (Remember who spoke at CPAC ?) over democracy
Add to this list by emailing me at publicity@staunton-democrats.care .
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 ?
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.
Thanks for reading !
If you have any suggestions or corrections then please email to publicity@staunton-democrats.care and put Feedback for Weekly Email 10/24/22 in the subject line.
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