Alliance San Diego Newsletter

March 1, 2022

Hi John,

Welcome to the all-new Alliance San Diego e-newsletter. This coming year, we will share more about why we are building collective power to create a more inclusive democracy. In 2022, we are particularly focused on issues of Voting & Governance, Equity & Access, and Safety & Justice.

My name is J’nyka and I started with Alliance San Diego as a volunteer to make a difference in my community. It was 2014, an election year, and I helped call voters to educate them about Proposition 47, a measure that would decriminalize our communities by reclassifying some non-violent felony level offenses to misdemeanors. I remember talking to one voter, and after explaining the ballot measure, they started to cry. Those were “tears of joy” they said. They told me their life would dramatically change if the measure were to pass. It would remove felonies that had prevented them from applying for a job they had always wanted.  The measure passed, in part because of our outreach to the community. On days when I feel the weight of the movement, I think back to this conversation as a reminder that our work has a real-world impact. 

Many years later, I’m an official part of Alliance San Diego, on their civic engagement team, and right now we’re talking to community members about how to access resources they need to survive and thrive. For the past several months, our team has been knocking on doors, sharing vital information about the COVID-19 vaccination and where community members can receive it for free. This outreach effort, in partnership with the San Diego Unified School District, ensures parents and students in low-vaccination areas have equitable access to vaccinations. Working with my team, we have talked to more than 5,500 people and counting. We are bridging the gap between communities and resources, and growing our collective power. That’s how we build an inclusive democracy, and why I’m grateful to be a part of this work. 

The San Diego City Council is set to vote on a Sidewalk Vending Ordinance today, March 1st. If passed as currently drafted, the ordinance would make it nearly impossible for sidewalk vendors to operate in an equitable manner to provide for their families. Sidewalk vendors deserve to be treated fairly with access to the resources and the economic opportunity they need to thrive in the community.  Alliance San Diego along with our partners in the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium (SDIRC) are advocating for an ordinance that's fair, particularly for those most impacted by the pandemic. 

It’s an election year and your vote can help ensure we are shaping a California that works for all of us. It’s an opportunity to vote for representatives that will listen to diverse communities so that we can continue working towards an inclusive democracy. This week, ballots will be mailed to voters living in Assembly District (AD) 80 to decide on a new representative to fill the vacant seat left by Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez. AD80 includes parts of Chula Vista, National City and San Diego. Voting will begin on March 7th and all ballots must be mailed or cast in person on or before April 5th. Later this year, all San Diego County voters will have a chance to participate in the June primary and November general elections to vote for their choice of candidates and ballot measures. We encourage you to check your voter registration now or register to vote to ensure your voice is heard. 

Public safety depends on public trust, but there can be no trust in border agents if they are allowed to get away with harming and sometimes killing community members. Alliance San Diego and our allies recently uncovered shadow units operated by Border Patrol whose stated purpose is to “mitigate the liability of agents and the agency.” We revealed documents that showed these ‘Critical Incident Teams’ (BPCITs) destroyed, altered and withheld evidence in the investigation of agents who killed Anastasio Hernández Rojas, a longtime San Diego resident, and in many other cases. We continue to unearth the illicit activity of BPCITs and have called for congressional investigations and local prosecutions of agents for obstruction of justice. We will keep you posted as the story evolves. 

We're a group of 22 change agents. We believe we can grow our collective people power to create impactful and lasting change. In 2022, we are building a future where everyone can thrive regardless of who you are or what neighborhood you live in. Friend, thank you for being our supporter and ally. We look forward to working with you to build an inclusive democracy.

Alliance San Diego
P.O. Box 12266
San Diego, CA 92112
United States 

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