In This Newsletter:

Local GOP to Challenge Kingsburg Pride Resolution
Writers Alliance on Letters to the Editor
Governor Newsom Democrats’ Big Programs

Harvey Milk Leadership and Action Forum 

CD22 Democratic Candidate Forum

Fresno Taxpayers Pay for Police Killings

Immigration and COVID Resources Event

Councilmember Soria Seeks Community Input

BWOPA Salute to Sisterhood

Democratic Party Website and HQ

Writers Alliance on Letters to the Editor

There is a lot of misinformation in social media and local newspapers. A collaborative team based in Placer and El Dorado counties has formed the Writers Alliance to have their voices heard loud and clear. A supportive group of writers can make a difference.
     While there’s no magic formula, published letters share common characteristics. Become familiar with the guidelines to structure an effective letter.

Thursday, May 20
Putting Our Talents to Work: Building a Writers Alliance 
6:30 p.m.–8 p.m.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvfuqgrz8pEtA9d89puETkeKXBUg9LED5A
     The Writers Alliance is a collective of talents—writers, researchers, editors and publicists. In what role or roles do you see yourself?

Facebook Event Page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/809958799729120

If you missed the first seminar on May 6th, you can watch the session here.

Governor Newsom and Democrats’ Big Programs

Under Governor Newsom’s $100 billion California Comeback Plan, California will come roaring back from this pandemic. Newsom’s plan provides a multipronged approach to providing immediate relief to Californians that need it most. Among the largest investments will be a tripling of the state’s direct stimulus effort to include a total of $11.9 billion in direct cash payments to Californians. Newsom’s Plan will expand the Golden State Stimulus to middle-class families, meaning two-thirds of California taxpayers will qualify for a stimulus check of at least $600, and families with kids will now benefit from an additional $500.
     The California Comeback Plan includes the largest statewide renter assistance program in the country, helping qualified low-income Californians pay back 100% of their back rent and rent for several months into the future, giving billions to Californians to pay their overdue utility bills, and setting up a one billion dollar grant program to help people who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. This will give California’s workforce critically needed opportunities to earn and learn, go back to school, or start their own business.
     The California Comeback Plan features $20 billion to reimagine public schools and reduce class sizes. This would be the highest level of state school funding in California history, taking advantage of a time when most of the wealthiest Californians saw their finances grow during the pandemic. We can transform public schools into gateways for equity so that every child has a chance to thrive.

• $15 billion for K-12 public schools

• $2 billion to create college savings accounts for kids

• $3.4 billion for universal pre K

Harvey Milk Leadership and Action Forum

This forum, to be held remotely on May 20, will feature LGBTQ community leaders and explore different ways members of the LGBTQ+ community can get involved and take action to advance the interests of our community. Panelists will talk about running for office as openly gay people, leading by your values, getting involved in campaigns, organizing, volunteering, getting involved in causes and starting nonprofits and creating spaces for community growth. This is an LGBTQ+ focused forum but is open to all and should be highly informative for all.

The webinar will be hosted via zoom. Register at:

https://bit.ly/fsd-event

You can learn more about Fresno Stonewall Democrats at www.fresnostonewalldemocrats.org, or Fresno Stonewall Democrats on Facebook.

CD22 Democratic Candidate Forum

There will be a forum for the Democratic candidates in Congressional District 22 who are vying to unseat the unstable conspiracy theorist Devin. The event will be held on May 22  from 10 a.m. to noon.

Register on Zoom at: https://tinyurl.com/CA22Forum

Fresno Taxpayers Pay for Police Killings

Fresno residents pay in both blood and money for the long history of police shootings, suffocations and violence. Fresno has suffered multiple high-profile instances in the recent past that have both cost lives and left taxpayers to foot the bill for millions of dollars in settlements to the victims’ families. In each case, the shooting was claimed to be legally justified and in compliance with the Fresno Police Department policy, followed by an agreement to settle for millions of dollars. To a layperson, that indicates the city does not actually believe the legal system would agree with that “justified” assessment. Now, even after an insurance payout, Fresno government coffers will be drained by $6 million this year in settlements
     The Fresno Police Department, long-time domain of current mayor Jerry Dyer, receives an immense proportion of the entire city’s funding. In the past, it has received around 80% of the city’s discretionary fund. In 2021, police spending is set to be twice what it was in 2019, driven in part by the large settlement costs for police officers killing Fresnans.
     With Mayor Dyer now overseeing a $40 million budget increase over two years for the police department he ruled over for decades, that money needs to come with a monumental amount of scrutiny attached. We can see that the police force he built in that time is not working for Fresno; so many things need to change. New police chief Paco Balderama has our hopeful attention, but there is a long questionable history in the Fresno Police Department.

Immigration and COVID Resources Event

The Education and Leadership Foundation will hold an immigration services and vaccination event on May 22. The event will feature resources and aid regarding issues of citizenship, DACA renewal, public charge information and rent relief, in addition to Covid-19 testing and vaccine administration.
     Vaccines appointments will be available from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for anyone age 12 years or older. Covid testing will be held from 9 a.m. to noon.

     To make an appointment, call one of the following:

    CBDIO: 559-499-1178        ELF: 559-291-5428

BWOPA’s Salute to Sisterhood

Democratic Party Website and HQ

The Fresno County Democratic Party website is the best place to get regular updates on upcoming events in the area, as well as information on ways to get involved. There is also information on scheduled meetings from the many Democratic clubs in Fresno County.

https://fresnocountydemocrats.org/

The Democratic Party HQ (1033 U St.) is open 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Monday–Friday. Call 559-495-0606 or e-mail [email protected] for information or to volunteer.

Support your local Democratic Party by making a donation via ActBlue or by mailing a check to Fresno County Democratic Party, P.O. Box 5795, Fresno, CA 93755.

Our newsletter is prepared by Francis Horan.

Democratic Party Headquarters: 1033 U Street, Fresno, CA 93721

[email protected]
559-495-0606

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