Because This Is America!
Weekly News, Updates, and Events
We As Democrats Believe:
"The racism and the anti-Semitism and the conspiracy theories and the crazy, violent rhetoric -- these are features of today's Republican Party. They are not bugs."
Eugene Robinson, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist
Suggest a future quote?: Click here to send to the Editor
Biden Pushing 'American Rescue Plan' to Deal with Health, Social and Economic Crises
After a flurry of executive orders designed to deal quickly with some of the damage done to the nation during the Donald Trump presidency, President Joe Biden is now turning toward shepherding a $1.9 trillion COVID relief rescue bill through Congress. The proposal, called the American Rescue Plan, is designed to sustain families and business until COVID-19 vaccines become widely distributed. Biden said he will try to persuade Republicans to support his proposed legislation, but he said the measure has to pass even if no Republicans are on board. “The crisis of human suffering is in plain sight, and there’s no time to waste,” Biden said. “We have to act, and we have to act now.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he is willing to use the budget reconciliation process to pass the legislation, and that process would allow Democrats to use their slim Senate majority to get it done.
Among other provisions, Biden's plan includes:
Direct payments of $1,400 to most Americans, bringing the total relieve to $2,000, including December’s $600 payments
Increasing the federal, per-week unemployment benefit to $400 and extending it through the end of September
Increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour
Extending the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums until the end of September
$350 billion in state and local government aid
$170 billion for K-12 schools and institutions of higher education
$50 billion toward Covid-19 testing
For more details on the American Rescue Plan, see the CNBC article here.
Republicans Leaving Their Party in the Wake of Capitol Attack
Donald Trump’s time in office ended with more North Carolina Republicans leaving the party than in any other month in his presidency, according to the News & Observer (See the article here). The Capitol riot that broke out after Trump’s speech on Jan. 6 led some North Carolina Republicans on a march of their own. But they went to the NC State Board of Elections to change their party affiliations.
In just over two weeks, from Jan. 7 to Jan. 22, according to data from the elections board, 59% of 10,766 changes to voter registration came from Republicans re-registering as unaffiliated. Of that 59%, 40% came from the six, mostly urban counties of Cabarrus, Durham, Guilford, Mecklenburg, Orange and Wake. Those counties comprise only 24% of the state’s registered Republicans. In all, Republicans lost 5,855 voters during that time period. Democrats gave up only 210 voters.
Local COVID-19 Deaths Continue Amid Slow Vaccine Rollout
While New Hanover County has administered thousands of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, the coronavirus continues to grow in the county, according to the Star News. See the article here.
The Public Health department reported on Friday that an additional 20 people have died as a result of the disease. There were also 1,151 new cases of COVID-19 in the county. The 20 individuals who died were over the age of 65 and at risk of severe illness because of age and underlying health conditions, according to Public Health. On Tuesday, a record high 254 new daily cases were reported.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center and Wilmington Health are partnering with the health department to administer vaccines, but supplies entering the county are limited. Several times last week appointments to register online for vaccines opened and were filled within minutes, according to the Star News article here. Health officials recommend checking the Websites below frequently to catch appointments as they become available.
NHRMC: Vaccinations can be scheduled at nhrmc.org/coronavirus or by calling (910) 662-2020 when appointments are available. NHRMC now has an email list available for anyone to sign up to receive notifications when COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available. The link to sign up can be found here.
Wilmington Health: Vaccinations can be scheduled at WilmingtonHealth.com/COVIDvaccine or by calling (910) 407-5115 when appointments are available.
If you are under 65 you are be eligible to receive a vaccine now under an overlooked provision of the North Carolina plan if you are a "home caregiver to a medically fragile child or adult." Click here for details.
Volunteers Sought to Organize 4 Precincts
We have 4 precincts that need organizers ASAP: H01, M07, W18 and W28.
You do not have to live in the precinct to volunteer to organize it. The work involves attending the precinct training on Wednesday, phone calling an emailing, setting up a Zoom meeting or working with a Zoom facilitator to set it up, conducting the meeting, electing Precinct Officers and County Convention delegates and submitting a meeting certification which reports the results.
If you can help, please email Susanne Werner (2nd Vice-chair),
[email protected], using 2021 Precinct Organizers in the subject line.
EVENTS
Meet Bobbie Richardson, Candidate for NCDP Chair -- February 1st
When: Monday, February 1st, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom: [link removed]
Bobbie Richardson has been serving as First Vice Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, and with the Resignation of Wayne Goodwin as NCDP Chair, she is now running to replace him. Bobbie is a former member of the NC House of Representatives who represented parts of Franklin and Nash Counties from 2013 to 2018. Prior to that, she had a 35 year career as an educator in North Carolina public schools, and holds undergraduate and Masters degrees from NC Central University and a PhD from Chapel Hill.
Precinct Organization Training -- February 3rd
When: Wednesday February 3rd, 6:30 pm
Where: Zoom. Details TBD.
The 2021 Annual Precinct Meetings are going to look very different than in previous years because of Covid-19. We are encouraging everyone to hold their meetings remotely, which means the whole process, including the meeting report, will also be different.
Susanne Werner will hold a training by Zoom for precinct officers and organizers on Wednesday, February 3 at 6:30pm. As soon as the NCDP precinct meeting packet is available, we will be sending it electronically (instead of in printed form) to meeting organizers along with lists of former meeting attendees, active members, and 2020 volunteers.
Precinct Organization Meetings should be scheduled between March 6th and March 20th. The meeting options are:
· In person (not recommended due to Covid risk)
· Zoom
· Zoom Cluster
· Conference Call
If you have questions, contact Susanne Werner, 2nd Vice Chair,
[email protected], (910) 409-5509.
Winter Meeting of State Executive Committee -- February 27th
When: Saturday, February 27th
Where: Zoom. Details TBD.
Among other things, this meeting will select the slate of NCDP Officers for the next two years. If you are interested in serving, tell any of the present NHCDP Officers.
Precinct Organization Meetings -- March 6th - March 20th
When: March 6th - March 20th
Where: TBD by Precinct Organizers. Some on Zoom
These organizational meetings are critical to our effectiveness going forward to 2022 and 2024.
Upcoming Democratic Events To Note On Your Calendar
2021 County Convention Meeting – Saturday, April 10th
2021 (Makeup Date) County Convention Meeting – Saturday, April 17th
2021 Congressional District Convention Meeting – Saturday, May 22nd
2021 Summer SEC Meeting – Saturday, August 7th
Best,
Richard Poole, Chair
News Content by James Cummings
If you have any announcements, comments, questions or concerns regarding this email series, please contact the Editor here.
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| Paid for by the New Hanover County Democratic Party |
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Mailing Address:
NHCDP
PO Box 3446
Wilmington, NC 28412
Office Address:
5041 New Centre Drive
Wilmington, NC 28403
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