LA Greens General Meeting - October 19, 2005 7pm
The meeting was called to order at 7:20 pm by facilitator Derek Iverson and interim co-facilitator Erin Schmidt. Christine volunteered to be timekeeper. Patrick/Michael notekeeping.
1. INTROS: Those who attended included: Linda, Christine, Michael Rochmes, Elena Popp, Lex, Dave, Tony, Alex Montanez, Regina, Ken, Les Amer, Denise Robb, Patrick Meighan, Byron De Lear... apologies to any I missed.
2. ELENA POPP was introduced. She is running for Assembly in the 45 District, to fill the seat currently held by Jackie Goldberg. Though she's a Democrat, she's a possible cross-filing candidate, and the State Party is currently debating/exploring this option. There are not currently, as far as we know, any Greens running in this race. She is an unabashed liberal, and wishes to vote in Sacramento as one, and be an antidote to the typical "moderate" Democrat. Elena is a lesbian. Elena was asked, by Jackie Goldberg, to run for the seat. She supports IRV and Clean Elections.
3. DAVID SANCHEZ'S CAMPAIGN was slotted to speak, but no one from his campaign attended. (See Item 10)
4. IRV UPDATE: Patrick Meighan and David Holtzman met with Greig Smith's legislative assistant in a somewhat futile effort to get him to sign on to IRV, in principal. The fight continues.
5. GLENDALE HILTON CAMPAIGN: There will be a rally in front of the Glendale Hilton, in support of the workers, their effort to unionize, and against the hotel's practice of forcing workers to work through breaks. The rally will be on Wednesday, October 26th, at 5pm, at 100 W. Glenoaks, in Glendale (between Brand and Central). There is free parking available north of the hotel, off Brand. If anyone would like further information, please contact Patrick Meighan at 310.770.5564
6. NEW MEMBER SPEAKOUT:
Dave Webb- lives in the neighborhood; registered Green for the presidential election. Supportive of Nader, who made him want to join the Greens. Interested in IRV. Found us on the Internet through Quakers.
Ken- Interested in recycling. In his apartment, there were 39 units but no recycling.
Lex- Frustrated with things currently going on. Looked us up on the Internet. Disappointed with Lyndon LaRouche youth group.
Lex's friend- Came with Lex.
7. DOO DAH PARADE PLANNING:
Saturday/Sunday before Thanksgiving? We need an ad-hoc committee, costumes, and a theme. Budget. Possible theme: Don't Panda to the Corporations! Linda nominated Lisa and Cathy because they missed the meeting.
8. NO TABLING REPORT
9. BALLOT INIATIVES: No official endorsements because we do not have quorum.
A. Prop 73
Planned Parenthood speaker (Regina). No on Prop 73 campaign. Requires pregnant girls to notify their parents before having an abortion. Redefines abortion in our state constitution to be the killing of an unborn baby, which is part of a national anti-choice campaign. Doesn't think government can legislate good communication. Currently 90% tell at least one parent. For the other 10%, the main reason cited was fear of violence. This would lead to girls trying to get illegal abortions, or they try to self-induce, which is very dangerous. Right now it is polling 45-45. Expecting about a 16% turnout for this election. Asking for volunteers for phone banking.
Alex: Thinks parental notification might be a good thing. This is just notification, not parental consent. This would lead to reporting of statutory rape.
Need to protect confidentiality of reproductive health services.
Dave- There is a Trojan horse in this proposition: the redefinition of a fetus.
Denise: Proposal to endorse a No vote on Prop 73. Approved by consensus.
B. Prop 74
Alex: Public school teachers: lengthens period before a teacher gets tenure. Within the first few years, if you get two back-to-back negative reviews, you will be fired. There is already a way to fire teachers. Now no teacher has a guaranteed job. After two years, a teacher only has a guarantee to go before a committee. This is trying to blame teachers for all the problems with schools.
Consensus for a No on 74.
C. Prop 75
Les: Prohibits using public employee dues for political actions without getting employee consent. You don't have any choice over how your tax money is spent, or how companies spend the money you pay for products. This would lead to people who agree to put the money for political purposes being reported to the FPPC. Recommends no vote.
Shareholders are not asked their opinion on this issue.
Consensus for a No Vote.
D. Prop 76
Les: changes state budgeting system to limit spending to previous year's spending plus a little. This is worth considering. If the state doesn't get its budget done by July 1, there are a number of things that just don't get done. This would address that. The way the state budget is set up, the school system is given highest priority with guaranteed money. Les would vote Yes.
Denise says this is a shift of power to the executive, which is a dangerous thing, especially for Greens, who believe in decentralization.
Yes- 1 vote,
Not Yes – 8
Supermajority supports No.
E. Prop. 77
Denise: Redistricting. Limits gerrymandering. CalPIRG and Common Cause are supporting this. Gerrymandering is not good government. One question: Why does it have to happen next January, one year before the next election? Based on contiguous areas that have the same amount of people.
No position.
Prop. 78:
Derek: California State Pharmacy Assistance Program
WHAT IT WILL DO:
Summary Prepared by the State Attorney General:
Establishes discount prescription drug program for certain low- and moderate-income Californians. [$29,000 annual income and below for individuals; $58,000 annual income and below for family of four -- ed.] Authorizes Department of Health Services to contract with participating pharmacies for discounts and with participating drug manufacturers for rebates.
HOW SHOULD GREENS VOTE ON IT:
NO.
This measure has received support from Big Pharma, (see San Francisco Chronicle 7/13/05, which details how Pfizer, Merck, and GlaxoSmithKline each contributed $8.5 million to their industry's "California Initiative Fund." and while at first it doesn't sound like such a bad idea, it's really just a watered-down version of Proposition 79. Proposition 78 politely asks for what Prop 79 demands.
Prop. 79: Cheaper Prescription Drugs for California Act
WHAT IT WILL DO:
Summary Prepared by the State Attorney General:
Provides drug discounts to Californians with qualifying incomes. [$38,000 annual income and below for individuals; $77,000 annual income and below for family of four -- ed.] Funded by state-negotiated drug manufacturer rebates. Prohibits Medi-Cal contracts with manufacturers not providing Medicaid best price.
HOW GREENS SHOULD VOTE ON IT:
YES.
This looks to be worthy of support. It calls for some bold measures to regulate Big Pharma in California, and that can only help us. Among other provisions, Prop 79 makes it a crime to engage in profiteering with prescription drugs (amazing it wasn't a crime already, eh?) That's huge, and a step Prop 78 does not even contemplate.
F. Prop 78: Consensus No.
G. Prop 79: Alex: would this work against universal health care? Derek: this would establish price fixing. Linda: This would allow the state to negotiate drug prices.
Consensus Yes.
H. Prop 80: This would put back regulation on the electric utilities. Deregulation did not work. Consensus for Yes.
Prop Y: Allows schools to buy computers and software that will not last the life of the bond. The group didn't feel that we had enough information to recommend a position.
10. DAVID SANCHEZ: City Council 14th District. Most radical district in LA with large Latino population. Running because he is tired of political machine. Founder of Chicano Moratorium organization/community. Donna Warren is one of his campaign managers. Usually in the 14th district (Villaraigosa's old district), only 10,000 people vote, so victory is possible. This Monday protest at parking ticket office. 668 LaFayette Parkway 10AM. Was registered Green but Democratic Party slanders Green candidates, so he changed his registration.
11. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Linda: Ballona groups want letter of support for acquiring parcels for urban recreation parkway.
Byron: Met with San Fernando Greens last week. Meeting organized by Peter Camejo. Garnered support from MAPA. Spoke at Clean Money Campaign meeting.
Denise: People should go see Corntato, a play featuring Derek Iversen. And buy stuff.