Fresno Dems Feb. 24, Newsletter

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Newsletter: February 24, 2020
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** In This Newsletter:
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Our Endorsed Candidates (#Endorsements)

California Democratic Party in Fresno (#CADEM)

Your Vote and the Voter’s Choice Act (#Voters-Choice)

Janz for Mayor (#Janz)

Bliatout for Congress (#Bliatout)

Central Valley Voter’s Guide (#Voter-Guide)

Trump’s Threat to Hmong Refugees (#TrumpHmongThreat)

Green New Fresno Town Hall (#GreenHall)

Volunteer Orientation (#Volunteer)

Democratic Clubs in Fresno (#DemClubs)

Donations of Office Supplies Still Welcome (#Office-Donations)

Save the Date! (#SaveDate)


Congressional District 4:Brynne Kennedy ([link removed])

Congressional District 16: No endorsement
(3 Democratic candidates: Jim Costa ([link removed]) , Esmeralda Soria ([link removed]) and Kimberly Williams ([link removed]) )

Congressional District 21: TJ Cox ([link removed])

Congressional District 22: Bobby Bliatout ([link removed])

Assembly District 31:Joaquin Arambula ([link removed])

Mayor of Fresno:Andrew Janz ([link removed])

Fresno City Council District 4: Tyler Maxwell ([link removed])
Superior Court Judge: Douglas Triesman ([link removed])


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The California Democratic Party is working in Fresno County for the 2020 election cycle. Through the Fresno County Democratic Coordinated Campaign, we will be canvassing and phone banking voters through the March 3 Primary election to educate voters on the new voting system, get out the vote and encourage voters to support Democrats [link removed].

We need to improve on the record turnout levels of 2018, and you can help us do that. Contact us now to participate: 559-495-0606 or dems@ (mailto:[email protected]?subject=RE%3A%20CADEM%202020) .

Fresno County is converting to the Voter’s Choice Act beginning with the March 2020 Presidential Primary election. All registered voters will receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot, which can be mailed postage-free or returned to a drop box or a Vote Center.

Fresno County will have a minimum of 50 Vote Centers and a minimum of 33 secure drop boxes, which will be equitably distributed throughout the county. Vote Centers will provide a high level of service and will be open at least four days with 10 Vote Centers open 11 days, including weekends. For more information or questions, visit www.votefresnocounty.com ([link removed]) or call 559-600-VOTE.

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Now is a crucial time for Fresno Democrats. The Janz campaign is canvassing, phone banking and postcarding, all coordinated from the Janz headquarters at 1755 W. Bullard Ave.

Janz’s Republican opponent Jerry Dyer, the hand-picked favorite of Lee Brand, has recently become the target of a racial discrimination lawsuit for his time as police chief. The City of Fresno already has paid out $300,000 in previous racial discrimination suits against Dyer, on top of more than $800,000 in legal fees defending him.

During his 16-year tenure as police chief, Dyer maintained a remarkably clean image even when his second in command was charged as the kingpin in a drug-trafficking organization. By the end of his reign, Dyer was drawing a salary larger than that of the police chief of New York City. An astonishing 80% of the Fresno General Fund is spent on public security while under Dyer our police force has been periodically ranked as the worst in the nation for misconduct, lack of transparency and violence.

Fresno deserves better. For more information on how to elect Janz and help Fresno’s future, visit [link removed] ([link removed]) or call 559-363-993

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Bobby Bliatout’s campaign for Congressional District 22 ([link removed]) is out in full swing to unseat Devin Nunes, one of Trump’s most vocal supporters. The campaign is looking for volunteers to make phone calls, walk neighborhoods or help out in other ways. Phone bank events are being held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 pm. Saturdays are for taking to the walking routes in one of two shifts, either from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

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David Brehe, a Pasa Robles resident has created a fantastic guide to voting in Fresno County during this upcoming election. View the whole thing here: [link removed]

This work is not only a valuable collection of resources on registration, candidate and issue research, and voting. This guide also provides very useful frameworks for how we can frame our thoughts when we struggle to navigate through the muddy quagmire of modern politics as we plan our voting. The author gives neutral yet actionable tips on how to transform reading up on politics from a fruitless headache into a process that can actually leave you feeling confident you are making the right decisions.

The Trump administration under Mike Pompeo is currently negotiating with Laos to allow the US to deport 4,716 noncitizen Hmong and Lao residents from across our country. Analysts say these particular deportation orders are largely based on older criminal convictions, some from the teenage years of individuals long since rehabilitated. These people were welcomed into our country originally because Hmong and Lao cooperation with the US during the sprawling Vietnam war meant that after the US withdrawl, staying in or returning to their original homeland could be a death sentence.

This issue is crucial to the Central Valley, as Fresno was one of the two primary destinations of the initial refugee migration. In 2010 there were already 24,328 people of Hmong descent living in Fresno City, making up 4.9% of the city's population. On a larger scale are between 50,000 and 60,000 Laotians, Lao Hmong and Cambodians in Fresno County.

For these residents the threat from the Trump administration is familiar. Since 2018 the Republicans have made multiple pushes to erase roadblocks that limit the administration’s ability to deport US residents, particularly Hmong and Lao. These latest talks with Laos are the result of a campaign of visa sanctions Trump has been using to apply pressure to that country among others with similar issues.

In response to this latest push, Rep. Betty McCollum, (D) Minnesota, has vowed to introduce legislation to the House floor to head off the deportation. Writing to Secretary of State Pompeo, McCollum said it was “unconscionable to deport individuals to any country in which the U.S. knowingly puts them at physical risk.” Politicians in Wisconsin have also voiced their opposition, but as of yet our California Representatives are not making headlines on this issue.

The Hmong Democrats Club meets the fourth Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. in the Democratic Party HQ at 1033 U St., Fresno. The club president Vicky Vang can be reached at (559) 349-8304.


On Tuesday February 25th at 5:30 pm, a town hall meeting will be held in Fresno at the Legacy Commons Apartments to engage our city on ways to move toward a more healthy and sustainable future. Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) welcome you to an evening of food, community, and discussion with your Fresno neighbors and local organizations. A specialist in the subject of solar on multifamily affordable housing will be there as well as other local experts.

This town hall will be focused on a California Green New Deal, which we're envisioning as a package of policies that will allow us to overcome the climate crisis and build healthy, just communities where everyone benefits from the economy. Our aim for this event is to engage local workers and communities and gather their input on what policies are most needed. For more information or to register see: [link removed] ([link removed])

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The Fresno County Democratic Party is always looking for volunteers, and we have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities. If you are interested in volunteering, the Democratic Party provides orientation sessions at the HQ (1033 U St., downtown Fresno). Contact us today to participate: 559-495-0606 or dems@ (mailto:[email protected]?subject=RE%3A%20Volunteer%20Orientation&body=Hello%2C%20I%20am%20interested%20in%20participating%20in%20the%20volunteer%20orientation%20mentioned%20in%20the%20Feb.%2024%20newsletter.%0A%0A) You can scan or click the QR code to sign-up too.

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Special orientation sessions are held periodically at Dem HQ.

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There are 16 Deomcratic clubs in Fresno that coordinate for the betterment of our community. These include Young Democrats, Stonewall Democrats, Hmong Democratic Club, the Fresno County Democratic Women’s Club and many other clubs across Fresno, the Valley and the Foothills.

If you or anyone you know are interested in joining a Democratic Club, you can contact the Fresno Democratic Headquarters for more information at 559-495-0606 or dems@ (mailto:[email protected]?subject=RE%3A%20Democratic%20Clubs&body=Hello%2C%0AI'd%20like%20to%20find%20out%20more%20about%20local%20Democratic%20Clubs%20mentioned%20in%20the%20Feb%2024%20Newsletter.%0A)

The Fresno County Democratic Party does lots of work organizing and supporting important political ventures throughout the county and those activities require some supplies. The Democratic Party HQ could use donations of reams of paper (color and white) and other fundamental office supplies. It’s not glamorous, but copy paper, Post-It notes, pens, notepads and other office supplies are needed to support our efforts. And we can always use food and snacks to feed our volunteers.

We earnestly solicit donations for any of these materials and heartily thank those who already have given supplies. Giving such things is an easy way to make a small impact on the political landscape of our county.


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Feb. 22, 2020: 11-day Vote Centers open. From 2/22 - 3/3/2020.

Feb. 25, 2020: Last day for application for a vote-by-mail ballot to be MAILED.

Feb. 29, 2020: All Vote Centers open (4-day & 11-day).

March 3, 2020: California Presidential Primary Election ([link removed]) (7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

March 6, 2020: Last day for Registrar to receive ballot postmarked no later than March 3.

April 17, 2020: Fresno County Democratic Party Annual Spring Fund-Raiser ([link removed])

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Our newsletter is prepared by Francis Horan.
You Can Help Elect Democrats in Fresno County!
Donate ([link removed])

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** Democratic Party Headquarters: 1033 U Street, Fresno, CA 93721 ([link removed])

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