Our regular office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Our address is 2345 14th Ave., Suite 7, Downtown Vero Beach.
Newsletter Highlights
We have a school board candidate who needs petitions signed to get on the ballot, learn how to help in the School Board Candidate section
Find out how you can help those in Ukraine in the Ukraine section
Canned food items are needed for United Against Poverty. See the Local section for more details.
Fridge Update
Thank you to Adriana de Kanter, our former DEC Chair, for donating a new refrigerator! We appreciate your continued support of our office. And Stacey Klim appreciates having a refrigerator for her lunch again.
Thank you, Adriana!
School Board Candidate
Cindy Gibbs is running for Jackie Rosario’s seat on the school board. Please sign her petition (which you can access here: https://adobe.ly/33eLpve) and drop it off at the Democratic Headquarters. You can also stop by the office and sign a petition and grab some to share with your friends! Let’s get her on the ballot!
Below is a list of resources from a friend of Stacey Klim’s who is from Ukraine and living in the U.S.
If you feel compelled to do something, below is a compiled list of organizations that can use our financial help, today. I’ve tried my best to vet them. I selected organizations that work on the ground, that have been in existence for a while and have an established infrastructure. Most have been doing this work since 2014 when the conflict in eastern Ukraine first started.
If the link directs you to a Ukrainian version, there is usually an option to change to English, or use Google translation.
If you are not able to give, I thank you for your moral support. Please continue supporting the sanctions and pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia. It is the darkest hour for the Russian people as well. 💙💛
**Organizations on the ground:**
1. “Hospitallers" (Госпітальєри) is a volunteer-based medical battalion operating on the front lines in Ukraine, providing first aid to wounded soldiers and civilians and equipping paramedics. It has been operating in eastern Ukraine since 2014.
Donation instructions, including Western Union, PayPal and Venmo: https://www.facebook.com/hospitallers/posts/3151434121808141
FB: https://www.facebook.com/hospitallers/
2. Ukrainian Women Veteran Movement (Жіночий ветеранський рух) – NGO focused on the advocacy and protection of the rights of women veterans and servicemen. Currently mobilizing rapid response headquarters to support the war efforts, deploying medical training, distributing first aid kits, making Molotov cocktails, etc.
3. Voices of Children (Голоси дітей) – This charitable foundation offers psychological and psycho-social support to children who have suffered war trauma. The group has been working in various villages and towns along the frontline in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. They are currently providing a crisis hot line and psychological support to parents and children affected by the conflict.
Learn More: https://voices.org.ua/en/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/vocukraine/
4. East SOS (Восток SOS) – NGO started in 2014 as a volunteer civil initiative and a hotline by activists of Luhansk and Crimea. They provide assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs), assist in the evacuation of people from the conflict zone, collect and distribute humanitarian aid. Now coordinating and distributing information on evacuation resources, shelter information and crisis hotline.
Learn More: https://vostok-sos.org/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/vostoksos
5. Come Back Alive (Povernys Zhyvym) - Since 2014 this charity has been providing the military with auxiliary equipment, thermographic cameras, night vision devices, specialized software, drones, personal body protection, training, and other supplies.
Donate: https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate/ (Select “help the Ukrainian Army and click TO CONTRIBUTE – this will take you to a CC payment form)
Learn more: https://savelife.in.ua/ (sorry for the limited English translation, this group is legit).
**World/Western Organizations:**
1. UNICEF is a UN agency that provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. It had 4 operating offices on both sides of the conflict for the past 8 years, trucking water to conflict-affected areas; delivering health, hygiene and emergency education supplies, providing psycho-social care to children traumatized by the chronic insecurity and working with municipalities to ensure there is immediate help for children and families in need.
Donate: https://www.unicef.org/ukraine/donate-now
Learn more: https://www.unicef.org/ukraine/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/UNICEFUkraine
2. United Help Ukraine – a US-based 501(c)(3) whose mission is receiving and distributing donations, food and medical supplies to Ukrainian IDPs (internally displaced people) and families of wounded or killed in Ukraine. Currently it’s delivering first aid kits and other emergency supplies to the front lines, according to a Facebook post.
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:
We often hear, "Where are the Democrats"? Please help me in identifying local events that should include the Democrats of Indian River. We are proud to stand up for democracy and we want Indian River County to know it! We need your help. Together, LET'S GET LOUD!
We had a great turnout at the downtown get-down Main Street Market Friday night. We had so many people stop by to sign petitions, ask questions, buy merchandise, and sign up for the club. We got over 50 petitions signed for each Joann Terry and Cindy Gibbs. We sold several t-shirts and had over 10 requests to join our club!
We were able to help Rebekah Jones collect the 5,381 petitions to be on the ballot against Matt Gaetz. She is now on the ballot!!! To everyone that signed a petition, GREAT JOB!!
The Dem Club monthly meeting will be in person on Thursday, March 10th at 6 p.m.
The Democratic Club NEEDS A CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER. Currently, this very important position is vacant. If you are interested or have questions or candidate suggestions, please contact Claudia Martino at [email protected] or 954-290-5661. The election will be held at the Club's next meeting, March 10.
Below is the slate of candidates:
President Wendy McDaniel
Vice president Jadie Barringer
Secretary Caryl Zook
Treasurer (to be determined)
Director Yolonda Anderson
Director Clay Wild
Remaining in office for their terms ending 2023 are Directors Valerie Daly, Fred Grumann and Karen Adelman.
Treasure Coast Young Democrats
The Treasure Coast Young Democrats will have their monthly membership meeting on Tuesday, March 8th, at 7:00 p.m.
The location for the meeting is:
Bonefish Mac’s
662 SE Becker Road
Port St. Lucie, FL 34984
TRAININGS
Voter Registration
Registering voter is key to getting candidates elected. We will be offering two training sessions via Zoom. Here are the dates and times:
Wednesday, March 9th, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Monday, March 14th, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
As President Biden Is Creating Jobs and Fighting Inflation, Rubio and DeSantis Carry Water for Donald Trump and Rick Scott
Last night, President Biden used his State of the Union to make the case directly to Americans that his agenda is delivering for working families by lowering costs, creating jobs, increasing wages, and getting our country moving again. Biden also used the opportunity to show that under his leadership, the country, and the world, stands united in opposition to Vladimir Putin’s horrific war on Ukraine.
Today, it appears that President Biden struck a chord with most Americans - with 71% of those who watched reacting positively. After the speech, 62% said that Biden's economic agenda would move the country in the right direction, a 12% jump compared to before the speech.
President Biden also received praise for his historic nomination of Miami-native Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Representative Frederica S. Wilson said, “I’ve known her and her family since she was a little kid and I’m overjoyed that President Biden chose this phenomenal woman as his pick. I will dance in the streets of Miami when she is confirmed.”
When asked about Donald Trump calling Vladimir Putin “savvy” and a “genius,” Rubio jumped at the chance to do a little PR work for the former President, saying Trump was just being “sarcastic.”
For his part, DeSantis also refused to condemn Trump’s comments praising Putin, and went a step further by declining to follow the longstanding protocol of sending Florida National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. for the State of the Union.
Are you signed up for Vote by Mail? Not sure if you are? Want to sign up for vote by mail? Now is the time to check or sign up! The fastest and easiest way to do that is to call the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections office at 772-226-4700.
LOCAL
Book Banning Update
On Monday, the School District of Indian River County School Board voted 4-1 (Jackie Rosario voted No) to approve the policy Superintendent Dr. Moore presented around the recent book banning initiative by “Mom’s for Liberty”. The new policy allows parents to decide which books their children will have access to. This is done through the online parent portal through the school district.
It is worth noting that the “Mom’s for Liberty” group, that have been screaming about parental rights for over a year at school board meetings, are now angry over this policy. Which is why Jackie Rosario, a beloved member of the “Mom’s for Liberty” group voted no. It’s ironic that when the district decides that parents have a right to choose, the parental rights group is angry. That’s because this isn’t about parental rights. It is about control and taking over the public education system.
To read more about this policy and the board approval, click here:
United Against Poverty is running very low on canned food items for their grocery program. If you are able to donate items, you can bring them to the office during our office hours, or you can donate them directly to United Against Poverty.
GYAC Open House
If you haven't had to opportunity to attend the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, here is your chance!
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Each week we feature a letter that was written to the TC Palm in opposition to Democrats or our ideals. We then ask that you write a response back. It’s time we start speaking out as a collective and correcting the disinformation printed in newspapers. Staying silent is accepting, and we must fight for our democracy.
This week, the letter author misunderstands public education. Instead, he is advocating for our education system to be profit based. If you are a former educator, help him understand by responding to him. Here is the letter:
Free public education does not require education in public schools
The Feb. 20 column by Adam Bryn Tritt, “Our public schools are for the country and our democracy,” confuses free public education with public schools. In fact, you can have free public education without a single “public school." A system of educational vouchers for private and religious schools, along with a homeschooling option, could provide free public education for every child in America.
Such a system based on parental choice would surely do a better job of educating our children, including our poorest children, than the public schools are doing. Despite unprecedented levels of U.S. public school funding, U.S. scores in math, reading, and science literacy have been steadily dropping for over a decade according to the Program for International Student Assessment every three years PISA measures the abilities of 15-year-old students in 79 countries around the world, and most recently ranked the U.S. 31st in math literacy.
9:00 a.m. – IRC County Commission
For agenda and meeting information go to
https://ircgov.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
5:00 p.m. – Democrats of Indian River, DEC Steering Committee Meeting
Meeting via Zoom. Contact Stacey at [email protected] for meeting link.
6:00 p.m. - Sebastian City Council
For agenda and meeting information go to https://www.cityofsebastian.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=343&month=2&year=2021&day=17&calType=0
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:
