Candidates Forum for Cotati Recall election Nov 17th 2009
Organized by the League of Women Voters.
Candidates: George Barich, Susan Harvey, Linell Hardy, Eric Kirchmann
Apologies for the two interruptions caused by lack of tape and battery power.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Cotati Recall Candidates Forum
Candidates Forum for Cotati Recall election Nov 17th 2009
Organized by the League of Women Voters.
Candidates: George Barich, Susan Harvey, Linell Hardy, Eric Kirchmann
Apologies for the two interruptions caused by lack of tape and battery power.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Erin Carlstrom Elected as National Committeewoman
Erin Carlstrom, Chair of Sonoma County Young Democrats
Elected National Committeewoman, representing
All California Young Democrats on National Stage
Who: Sonoma County Young Democrats Chair Erin Carlstrom
What: Unanimous Election as California Young Democrats National Committeewoman
When: Sunday, October 25th, 2009
Where: California Young Democrats Biennial Retreat, Tahoe, CA
South Lake Tahoe, CA -- Chair of Sonoma County Young Democrats (SCYD), Erin Carlstrom, was elected by acclamation this past Sunday as California Young Democrats National Committeewoman, representing Democrats under age 35 from across California on the national stage.
Carlstrom, a Santa Rosa resident and graduate of Yale and Pepperdine Law School, has worked tirelessly over the past year to expand the membership of the Sonoma County chapter and to increase participation and influence of Young Democrats in all areas of public life.
“I am honored and humbled by this election, and look forward to representing California Young Democrats across the country as we work to build upon the tremendous victories in 2008, and expand participation of young voters across the state,” said Carlstrom. “We’ve shown that Young Democrats truly are the margin of victory for Democratic candidates in every corner of the state.”
Locally, Sonoma County Young Democrats continue to work to elect our endorsed candidates, including Susan Harvey in the Cotati City Council Recall, Mike McGuire for 4th District Supervisor, Michael Allen for 7th District Assembly, and Noreen Evans for 2nd District State Senate.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Cotati Recall
George Barich has misrepresented the position of the Sonoma County Young Democrats in the campaign to recall him from the Cotati City Council. The young Democrats strongly urge a "Yes" vote to recall Mr. Barich. The unauthorized use of our logo and the illegitimate use of our organization’s name by the opposition to the recall only further demonstrate his lack of ethics and the need for his removal from the Cotati City Council.
The Sonoma County Young Democrats have endorsed Susan Harvey, a qualified and ethical planning commissioner in Cotati, to replace Barich. We believe that a public official should be an individual of character. Mr. Barich’s actions have demonstrated not only a lack of character, but a lack of integrity.
The Sonoma County Young Democrats support the recall. We support Susan Harvey. We do not support George Barich, or his incredibly inappropriate behavior while on the Council. His latest stunts have done nothing to improve his reputation in our eyes, nor those of the community.
The blog post shown below discusses the constitutional merit of the Cotati recall process, and is not specific to the current recall. This post is not reflective of the official position of SCYD, rather, it is an expression of an individual member's opinion, which is valued and protected. However, as above, the position of the Sonoma County Young Democrats is in favor of the recall.
If there is any confusion on this matter, please contact chair@sonomacyd.org.
On November 17th 2009 Cotati will be deciding whether or not to recall City Council Member George Barich and replace him with another candidate. Barich is now walking Cotati, knocking on doors in what looks like a losing battle to retain his seat. Barich needs 50% of the voters to vote "NO" on the recall, despite the fact that he was elected to the city council with only 16.4% of the votes, and the two candidates who finished ahead of him in the 2008 race each got 20.2% of the votes.
One of the most fundamental aspects of Democracy is the protection of minorities from the oppression of the majority. This is expressed in the value of fundamental and equal rights, rights which cannot be repealed by majority decision. This is what the Bill of Rights represents. This should also mean equal right to democratic representation. The way city council elections are conducted in Cotati allows minority opinions a chance for a voice on the city council. George Barich is that minority opinion on the Cotati City Council, who notably stands out from his fellow council members with his fiscally conservative opposition to federal stimulus money and the proposed sales tax increase, which would help Cotati's budget problems. But if Barich can be recalled by simple majority, the minority that he represents has been robbed of their equal access to representation.
The way recall works essentially means that any elected, who is not part of the majority, could be recalled and replaced by a majority approved candidate. It is a problem very similar to the Gerrymandering of districts where minorities are isolated to favor the ruling majority. The democratic problem becomes even more apparent when you look at potentially absurd election results. There are 3 candidates running for George Barich's city council seat, which means that one of them could be elected with as few as 34% of the votes. Thus Barich could garner more "NO" on the recall votes (e.g. 49.9%) than the top replacement candidate, and still be recalled and replaced by a candidate with fewer votes.
Recall George Barich
George Barich
Alternate Candidates:
Linell Hardy
Susan Harvey (Endorsed by Sonoma County Young Democrats)
Eric Kirchmann
The Sonoma County Young Democrats have endorsed Susan Harvey, a qualified and ethical planning commissioner in Cotati, to replace Barich. We believe that a public official should be an individual of character. Mr. Barich’s actions have demonstrated not only a lack of character, but a lack of integrity.
The Sonoma County Young Democrats support the recall. We support Susan Harvey. We do not support George Barich, or his incredibly inappropriate behavior while on the Council. His latest stunts have done nothing to improve his reputation in our eyes, nor those of the community.
The blog post shown below discusses the constitutional merit of the Cotati recall process, and is not specific to the current recall. This post is not reflective of the official position of SCYD, rather, it is an expression of an individual member's opinion, which is valued and protected. However, as above, the position of the Sonoma County Young Democrats is in favor of the recall.
If there is any confusion on this matter, please contact chair@sonomacyd.org.
Cotati's Recall Procedure
By Kim OJ (please note disclaimer above!)
On November 17th 2009 Cotati will be deciding whether or not to recall City Council Member George Barich and replace him with another candidate. Barich is now walking Cotati, knocking on doors in what looks like a losing battle to retain his seat. Barich needs 50% of the voters to vote "NO" on the recall, despite the fact that he was elected to the city council with only 16.4% of the votes, and the two candidates who finished ahead of him in the 2008 race each got 20.2% of the votes.
One of the most fundamental aspects of Democracy is the protection of minorities from the oppression of the majority. This is expressed in the value of fundamental and equal rights, rights which cannot be repealed by majority decision. This is what the Bill of Rights represents. This should also mean equal right to democratic representation. The way city council elections are conducted in Cotati allows minority opinions a chance for a voice on the city council. George Barich is that minority opinion on the Cotati City Council, who notably stands out from his fellow council members with his fiscally conservative opposition to federal stimulus money and the proposed sales tax increase, which would help Cotati's budget problems. But if Barich can be recalled by simple majority, the minority that he represents has been robbed of their equal access to representation.
The way recall works essentially means that any elected, who is not part of the majority, could be recalled and replaced by a majority approved candidate. It is a problem very similar to the Gerrymandering of districts where minorities are isolated to favor the ruling majority. The democratic problem becomes even more apparent when you look at potentially absurd election results. There are 3 candidates running for George Barich's city council seat, which means that one of them could be elected with as few as 34% of the votes. Thus Barich could garner more "NO" on the recall votes (e.g. 49.9%) than the top replacement candidate, and still be recalled and replaced by a candidate with fewer votes.
Recall George Barich
George Barich
Alternate Candidates:
Linell Hardy
Susan Harvey (Endorsed by Sonoma County Young Democrats)
Eric Kirchmann
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Health Care Reform
There are two arguments for health care reform, the ethic and the economic. There are over 40 million Americans without health insurance, which means very limited access to health care. That is more than 1 in 10 Americans whose health is unnecessarily at risk. That means not getting preventative care, not catching ailments in time before they get serious, not getting the necessary medicine, and potentially becoming chronically ill or dying before time. Sitting by and letting 10% of our population suffer in this way when we have the power to stop it is simply unethical. It is unworthy of us not to help our neighbors in need when they suffer so basic a need as adequate care for their health.Most uninsured Americans are so because they cannot afford health care, and those who have it and pay for it, can probably understand that. Though your health may be priceless, the price insurance companies put on it seems excessive. Though America has the best specialists in the world, the phrase "you get what you pay for" is not always true. America pays almost twice per capita for health care of what some European countries and they cover everyone. Not surprisingly the statistics show them to be overall more healthy and living longer.
Obama's health care reform is aimed at reducing the cost and increasing the accessibility of health care. Cost is in it self a hindrance to accessibility, but another accessibility issue is the insurance companies. Today insurance companies are your gateway to health care, and if you are sick they would rather close the gate than help you though it, because that is the way they make their money. You can be sure that your doctor would love to treat you, and equally sure that your insurer will try to get out of paying your bill. Would you not rather have your gate keeper's goal be a healthy population than his own healthy wallet? That is why a public non-profit option is essential to health care reform.
In California some are willing to go even further with a Single Payer Universal Health Care system and with good reason. Not only does a universal health care system affirm in practice that every life is equal and valuable, but its solidarity also prevents predatory insurers from undermining the funding of health care for everyone. In Obama's reform people can still chose private insurers, and the insurers will make sure that they only have the healthiest of customers, so that they can keep the hospital gates closed and their wallets full. Unfortunately every dollar that goes into the insurance companies' wallets is a dollar less spend on actual health care.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Budget Deal Finally Reached
The Sacramento Bee has just reported that State lawmakers have finally reached an agreement to end our State's budgetary crisis. CNN has also confirmed this with the Governator. Reportedly, the representatives were able to do minimal (if any) damage to the already faltering school system with the caveat that the state had to shift "costs into the future and [capture] funds from cities and counties".
"Compromises" such as this only serve to reaffirm our purpose in the Young Democrats. Shifting the cost into the future is kicking the problem to us: the future of California. If the elected officials in Sacramento want us to deal with the problem tomorrow, rest assured they will hear what we have to say today.
"Compromises" such as this only serve to reaffirm our purpose in the Young Democrats. Shifting the cost into the future is kicking the problem to us: the future of California. If the elected officials in Sacramento want us to deal with the problem tomorrow, rest assured they will hear what we have to say today.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Protectionism Dumbs Down SMART
SMART have opted for the American style heavy train over the lighter European model in a 9-2 vote. That in spite of the apparent advantages of the lighter model such as higher efficiency and less noise. The American model's primary advantage seems to be that it was the only feasible option under the current regulatory environment. The cost of seeking waivers to run the European model train, and the Federal Transit Administration’s Buy America requirements, were simply too high for SMART to endure. So in the end only two of the SMART board members decided to play the part of Don Quixote fighting the windmills of protectionism.I can understand having to work with political reality to get the train on rails, but Charles McGlashan, a Marin supervisor and chair of the SMART board, even went on record for protectionism saying that: "Buy America is a good public policy". Lets be clear here. The protectionist regulations like Buy American means that Sonoma and Marin residents will get an inferior train. It is not inferior because American producers cannot compete with foreign producers, but because the protectionist laws means that they do not have to. They can produce inferior quality, but still get the deal, and the transit customer suffers.
Buy American is a fake mantle of patriotism and it is time that it is shelved and anyone who wears it be ridiculed. The G8 unanimously warned that protectionist measures would worsen the global economical crisis, but populists still managed to get their way. The SMART trains are just one very concrete way that consumers suffer from protectionism, it's hand in shrinking effect on the economy unfortunately remains invisible to the people who continue to lose their jobs and homes.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Big T and His Giant Tricycle
“Look out the window! What is that?” I asked my neighbor at the bar of one of the handful of nice restaurants in downtown Cottonwood.
“Oh that’s Big T,” He said, as though people drive strange contraptions through town here every day. For all I know maybe they do. I looked to my friend Aaron for conformation and found him looking over my head at our bar mate with a distinct conspiratorial smile as though to say, “She’s from California. She’ll never understand.”
Maybe I won’t understand, but I would have loved to get a closer look at Big T’s vehicle. From a distance it looked like a giant tricycle with a motor and two raised seats in the back. It was sort of like a car with three wheels and no top. It was rigged with lights, and it sparkled in the eerie darkness of the monsoon clouds backlit by a full moon. He drove in a couple of lazy doughnut circles before pealing down the deserted street.
The conversation turned to rock crawling vehicles, and I tuned it out thinking about Big T’s American flag bandana, and wondering why anyone would possibly get on a giant motorized tricycle without a helmet. This is again a sign that I am far from home, since aside from Aaron who works with people who’ve had traumatic brain injuries, I seem to be the only person who is at all concerned about Arizona’s lack of helmet law. The prevailing wisdom is, “If you’re stupid enough to get on a motorcycle with no helmet than you deserve to die.”
Statements like these leave me very confused about Arizona. People here, especially in the rural northern section, say please and thank you, they go to church, and they spend time with their families. I think most would say family and community are important to them. It seems odd to me that people, who are kind and considerate, would be so inconsiderate about other people’s deaths. Furthermore I think it’s pretty inconsiderate of helmetless motorcycle riders to crash and die. Not only does this leave a hole in their heads, but a hole in their families as well. And once we’ve paid to air life the crash victim to the nearest hospital, and in the event that he has no health insurance paid for all of his care, and if he survives, all of his rehabilitation, and if he is paralyzed or brain damaged, services for the rest of his life, there will be quite a hole in the tax payers wallets as well. All this might be prevented by asking Big T to wear a helmet over his American flag bandana, when he rides his giant tricycle.
“Oh that’s Big T,” He said, as though people drive strange contraptions through town here every day. For all I know maybe they do. I looked to my friend Aaron for conformation and found him looking over my head at our bar mate with a distinct conspiratorial smile as though to say, “She’s from California. She’ll never understand.”
Maybe I won’t understand, but I would have loved to get a closer look at Big T’s vehicle. From a distance it looked like a giant tricycle with a motor and two raised seats in the back. It was sort of like a car with three wheels and no top. It was rigged with lights, and it sparkled in the eerie darkness of the monsoon clouds backlit by a full moon. He drove in a couple of lazy doughnut circles before pealing down the deserted street.
The conversation turned to rock crawling vehicles, and I tuned it out thinking about Big T’s American flag bandana, and wondering why anyone would possibly get on a giant motorized tricycle without a helmet. This is again a sign that I am far from home, since aside from Aaron who works with people who’ve had traumatic brain injuries, I seem to be the only person who is at all concerned about Arizona’s lack of helmet law. The prevailing wisdom is, “If you’re stupid enough to get on a motorcycle with no helmet than you deserve to die.”
Statements like these leave me very confused about Arizona. People here, especially in the rural northern section, say please and thank you, they go to church, and they spend time with their families. I think most would say family and community are important to them. It seems odd to me that people, who are kind and considerate, would be so inconsiderate about other people’s deaths. Furthermore I think it’s pretty inconsiderate of helmetless motorcycle riders to crash and die. Not only does this leave a hole in their heads, but a hole in their families as well. And once we’ve paid to air life the crash victim to the nearest hospital, and in the event that he has no health insurance paid for all of his care, and if he survives, all of his rehabilitation, and if he is paralyzed or brain damaged, services for the rest of his life, there will be quite a hole in the tax payers wallets as well. All this might be prevented by asking Big T to wear a helmet over his American flag bandana, when he rides his giant tricycle.
