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Happy one-year anniversary of your swearing in President Biden and Vice President Harris!

Thank you for your leadership, Mr. President and Madame Vice President! You are role models who value democracy, decency, fairness and honesty. You believe in an America for ALL Americans and we will support you at the local and state levels to make sure that happens! We pledge to fight for voting rights in Florida. We’re looking forward to the next three years under your leadership and your policies crafted for a better America and a better world!
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Office Hours

Our regular office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Our address is 2345 14^th Ave., Suite 7, Downtown Vero Beach.

Newsletter Highlights

* Education Group starting! See the Get Involved Section
* TEXTERS Needed! See the Get Involved Section
* Precinct Captains Needed! See the Democrats of Indian River Section
* MLK Parade See the Get Involved Section


MLK PARADE

What a wonderful way to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.! All arms of the Democrats of Indian River participated in the parade on Monday. A HUGE shoutout to Wendy McDaniel, Club President, for organizing the float and providing the trailer. Thank you Wendy!


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GET INVOLVED

Roe v. Wade Anniversary

Saturday, January 22nd is the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the ruling that legalized abortion access in the United States. For nearly 50 years, anti-abortion extremists have been chipping away at those protections, and this year they are trying to repeal Roe entirely. Representative Erin Grall, from Vero Beach, just filed a 15-week abortion ban that, if passed, will heavily restrict access in our state.

Come out and show her that we will not stand idly by while she works to strip away our right to reproductive healthcare! Sign up for the Protest HERE:
** [link removed] ([link removed])


Please keep in mind that during this time we need to wear masks, social distance, and stay home if sick in order to keep each other safe.

Date: Saturday, January 22nd
Time: 11am-12:30pm
Location: Vero Beach, FL (RSVP in the above link for location)

Education Group

If you watched or read the news lately, you know our public education system is under attack. All over the country “Moms for Liberty” and “Parental Rights” groups are jamming up school board meetings demanding books be removed, masks be removed, CRT stop being taught (it isn’t), and school districts bow down to their every whim. In opposition, groups are starting to form to counter these attacks on our public education system.

Locally, a group of parents and concerned community members have been speaking at our school board meetings and writing letters to provide an alternate voice of reason. We are beginning to organize and need more help. If you are interested in joining a team working to preserve our public education system, please email ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
for more information.

Texters Needed

We have purchased a new texting program to reach out to voters in Indian River County. We are looking for volunteers who can send texts. It’s very easy and can be done from your couch or dining room table. All you need is a computer, no phones needed! If you are interested, email Stacey at ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
and she can send you more information about how the program works.



DEMOCRATS OF INDIAN RIVER


Democratic Executive Committee

Do you want to be part of the team that votes DeSantis out? Do you want to meet your like-minded neighbors? Are you tired of sitting by while Republicans get elected over and over?

Consider signing up to be a precinct captain for your local area. Precinct captains create relationships with their neighbors, help lead up Get Out the Vote efforts, and work with a fun team.

If you live in the following Precincts, we could use your help:

1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 14, 15, 20, 22, 24, 28, 29, 32

Contact Stacey at:
** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
if you want to participate.


Democratic Women’s Club

The next DWC Book Group meeting will be at 2:00 p.m. on January 28^th on Zoom. Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost our Democracy and Still Could by Representative Adam Schiff will be discussed. If you are not a Book Group member and would like to attend please contact Rita Milelli at
** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])




Democratic Club of Indian River

The Democratic Club will hold its annual election at the March meeting. Below is the slate of candidates:

President Wendy McDaniel
Vice president Betty Morrow
Secretary Caryl Zook
Treasurer Yolonda Anderson
Director Kelly Miller
Director Jadie Barringer
Director Clay Wild


Please contact Claudia Martino [email protected] if you have any questions.


FEDERAL

Joanne Terry Announces Run Against Posey

STATE


DeSantis Intervenes in Redistricting

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ surprise move this week to submit his own aggressively partisan proposal for redrawing congressional district lines in Florida, one that goes farther to protect GOP interests than any map the Legislature was considering, is an indication of just how far he’ll go to tighten his grip on the state’s Republicans and secure a possible White House bid.

How far? Egregiously far.

Read more at:
** [link removed] ([link removed])



Erin Grall’s Mississippi Abortion Bill Gets Early OK

Much like her “Parental Rights” bill, Erin Grall didn’t do much work to research the abortion bill being fast tracked in the state legislature.

When state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, asked Grall if she consulted with medical experts to select 15 weeks as the mark for a ban, Grall replied, “that’s what’s in the Mississippi law.”

You can read more here:

** [link removed] ([link removed])



LOCAL


Land Visioning Workshop

The Indian River County MPO will be hosting another “Land Use Visioning” workshop on February 03, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Intergenerational Center. This will build on the activities from the first workshop held back in October. It is a wonderful opportunity to see what the future has in store!

Information regarding the MPO Land Use Visioning Study can be found online at :
** [link removed] ([link removed])


Space will be limited and to ensure seating, please register at this link: ** [link removed] ([link removed])





Election Worker Class

If you are interested in becoming an election worker, the Supervisor of Elections will be conducting orientation classes on:

Wednesday, January 26^th - 10-12 a.m.
Wednesday, January 26^th – 2-4 p.m.
Thursday, January 27^th - 10-12 a.m.
Thursday, January 27^th – 2-4 p.m.

The Election Worker Orientation classes is at the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections (4375 43rd Avenue, Vero Beach). Please call Jenny Davis at 772-226-4720 to RSVP for this class. This class is only for new Election Workers and you are only required to attend one orientation class.

Faces of Eve – Fundraiser for Gifford Cultural Center

The fundraiser for the new Gifford Cultural Center is called the Faces of Eve Collaboration. To raise money for the Center, you can purchase the Faces of Eve coffee table art book. Please order your copy today in the link below! They also welcome sponsorships, the various levels are listed on the Rally-Up fundraising page.

** [link removed] ([link removed])




LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


This week we are highlighting a couple of great letters to the editor printed in the TC Palm.


Biden's significant accomplishments are there for all to see

The Jan. 9 letter from Anthony Napolitano referred to President Biden as “this sorry excuse we have for a president …."

To him I say, here are some of Biden's accomplishments:

$1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package approved.

Approximately 70% of Americans are fully vaccinated.

Over 6 million jobs added.

A record-high stock market (The Dow was near 30,000 in January 2021; now at 36,000-plus).

40 Biden-nominated judges confirmed.

4.2% unemployment (was 6.3% in January 2021).

New jobless claims at a 50-year low in December 2021.

Child poverty cut in half.

Napolitano complains about the Jan. 6 committee investigation regarding an outright assault on our democratic process. Has he forgotten the millions spent by the Republicans a few years ago on the Benghazi investigation, which revealed no wrongdoing by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton?

Carmen Gintoli, Port St. Lucie

It's hard to imagine some still believe that Donald Trump won in 2020

It amazes me that people still believe the Big Lie that the election was stolen.

Some claim that the number of votes cast for Joe Biden is proof. There are two reasons that the vote count was so high. Donald Trump is very good at bringing out the racist vote; unfortunately for him, he is also very good at bringing out the anti-racist vote.

Secondly, one of the major political strategies of the GOP has been to make it difficult for folks who live in Democratic precincts to vote. This is usually accomplished by restricting polling locations and limiting voting booths. A single parent working two jobs cannot practically devote hours to record her single ballot. With COVID-19, concessions were made to allow for a safer election process. This meant many were able to cast mail-in ballots that did not require missing work or arranging child care.

Otherwise the evidence is quite strong that there was no significant fraud in the 2020 election. Every serious study has confirmed this, as have numerous courts. Voters must be registered and submissions of ballots are recorded in connection with the respective registration. The number of votes matched the record of votes cast by registered voters. If there were rampant voting fraud there would have to be tens of thousands of arrests.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick offered up to $1,000,000 for evidence leading to the conviction of someone perpetrating voter fraud. His only payment was $25,000 to Eric Frank, a poll worker who discovered a 72-year-old Republican who voted in his son's name. The scant cases discovered have mostly involved Trump supporters including four in The Villages in Florida.

Republicans are currently passing laws that will allow them to once again inhibit Democrats from exercising their franchise.

John Tierney, Fort Pierce


CALENDAR


Thursday, January 20, 2022

6:00 p.m. – Democrats of Indian River, DEC Meeting
Meeting via Zoom. Contact Stacey at ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
for meeting link.


Monday, January 24, 2022

12:00 p.m. – School Board Discussion Session, School District of Indian River County, 6500 57th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32967

6:00 – 8:30 p.m. – School Board Business Meeting, School District of Indian River County, 6500 57th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32967
For agenda and meeting information go to
** [link removed] ([link removed])



Wednesday, January 26, 2022

6:00 p.m. - Sebastian City Council
For agenda and meeting information go to
** [link removed] ([link removed])



Thursday, January 27, 2022

9:00 a.m. - Indian River Shores City Council
For agenda and meeting information go to ** [link removed] ([link removed])




COVID TESTING, STATISTICS AND VACCINATIONS



Our current Risk Level in Indian River County is “Very High”. Please be careful out there and stay safe.


Testing

If you are looking for a testing site, which is becoming harder to find, you can see a list of locations here:

** [link removed] ([link removed])




Statistics

A great place to check statistics for Indian River County is on Covid Act Now. You can access it here:
** [link removed] ([link removed])




Vaccinations

3rd shots are now available from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson.

You can search for vaccination locations and details by clicking here:

** [link removed] ([link removed])







TIDBITS


That's all Democrats!
Stay Safe out There!
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Democratic Executive Committee of Indian River County
2345 14th Ave.
Suite 7
Vero Beach, FL 32960
USA
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