La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club

Join us for our next general meeting, Wednesday, Aug. 4, to hear about what you can do to stop the Republican campaign to recall Governor Gavin Newsom, as well as learn about how you can protect yourself against scammers who prey on seniors.

We’ll hear from Ryan Hurd, executive director of the San Diego Democratic Party, to learn what the party is doing to keep Gov. Newsom in office, and how you can—and should—help.

The recall is unpopular, but the unfair nature of this election means it’s going to be tough to defeat the recall anyway. The Republican backers of the recall are taking a leaf from the national playbook; they can’t win fair elections so they find loopholes in the law and exploit those cheat codes. But we can stop them. Find out how.

And we’ll also hear from a couple of experts on how confidence artists rip off older Americans, and what you can do to protect yourselves and your loved ones. Our speakers are Kevin Durawa, of the California Contractors State License Board, and Jackie Wiley, from the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Scammers claim to be building contractors, or the IRS, they promise too-good-to-be-true deals or make dire threats of criminal prosecution. Find out what you can do.

Join us on Zoom Wednesday, Aug. 4. Programming starts at 7 pm, with unstructured conversation starting 6:30 pm. Zoom link.

Hopefully this will be our last Zoom meeting—we’re planning a triumphant return to regular meetings at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Community Drive, La Mesa, Wednesday, Sept. 1. Mark your calendars!

ALSO: Here’s what you can do starting now to stop the recall:

Even though California is strongly Democratic, we cannot be complacent about the recall. Republicans are strongly in favor of it; Dems seem less motivated. Unless the NO vote on the recall is over 50%, the Republican with the most votes will become Governor.

You can help contacting voters via phone banking, texting or canvassing on Days of Action in selected areas. You can also create your own initiatives such as tabling at community events, having a house party, calling friends, etc.

Phone banking: Thursday nights from 6-8 pm. Sign up at sddems.link/norecall

Texting: Sign up at bit.ly/recalltexting

Canvassing et al: Check on norecallsd.org for links, talking points, handouts etc.

Your own initiatives: Email info@sddemocrats.org. The Party can help with promotion and materials.

Ransomware and other computer crimes are big business, with cybercrooks attacking our oil infrastructure and healthcare facilities. At the July meeting of the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club, we heard from two experts about the threats — and how you can protect yourself.

• Seth Hall, who leads techLEAD, a San Diego organization of technologists listening, engaging, advocating and defending on the technology issues of our time. .
• Antonio Adams, senior advisor at Southern California Edison, responsible for developing security solutions helping to ensure reliability of electricity to more than 15 million users. Additionally, Adams serves in the US Navy Reserves, and previously served as the Senior Intelligence Officer for Cyber in Asia and Critical Infrastructure at the Director of National Intelligence. He holds a Bachelors Degree in International Security from San Diego State University, a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity from Norfolk State University, and is currently completing his Executive MBA at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Seth and Antonio talked about the overall threat of cybercrime and ransomware. This type of crime is becoming more dangerous, following multimillion dollar attacks on the Colonial Oil pipeline that triggered gas shortages on the East Coast, and – close to home — a ransomware attack on Scripps Health that threatened lives. How big is the threat, and what can and should we be doing about it?

They also discussed how can we protect ourselves and individuals.

And Seth talked about the importance of digital rights, particularly regarding privacy and surveillance, broadband access, net neutrality, and more.

Also, join our next meeting Wednesday, Aug. 4, 6:30 pm for informal social time, 7 pm for the general meeting, on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82072702753?pwd=aThYeEcwZ0loMFJ0N0psYjBoaFJ1dz09

From our friends on the county central committee: The statewide day of action to Stop the Republican Recall is this Saturday, July 24, when we’ll be phoning San Diego County voters to ensure that they plan to vote NO. Our phonebank on Zoom will be from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., with training and support provided in the meeting. If you haven’t already signed up, please do so here to let us know you can make it: sddems.link/action

Here’s the overview of our local recall campaign plan from last night’s meeting: More details to follow as voting begins next month. Thanks for helping in any way you can! We hope to see you this Saturday.

At the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club July 7 meeting — that’s this Wednesday — learn more about the threat of cybercrime — and how to protect yourself — as well as why digital rights are important. We’ll also hear about the threat posed by cyberattacks on utilities, and what we can do about that.

We’ll meet on Zoom Wednesday July 7 at 7 pm, with pre-meeting socialization at 6:30 pm. All are welcome. Here’s the Zoom link. Join us!

Our first speaker will be Seth Hall, who leads techLEAD, a San Diego organization of technologists listening, engaging, advocating and defending on the technology issues of our time. The organization affiliated with the worldwide digital rights organization, the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Seth will talk with us about three subjects:

• The overall threat of cybercrime and ransomware. This type of crime is becoming more dangerous, following multimillion dollar attacks on the Colonial Oil pipeline that triggered gas shortages on the East Coast, and – close to home — a ransomware attack on Scripps Health that threatened lives. How big is the threat, and what can and should we be doing about it?
• How can we protect ourselves and individuals?
• The importance of digital rights, particularly regarding privacy and surveillance, broadband access, net neutrality, and more.

And our second speaker is Antonio Adams, senior advisor at Southern California Edison, responsible for developing security solutions helping to ensure reliability of electricity to more than 15 million users. Additionally, he serves in the US Navy Reserves as an Intelligence Professional with 17 years of total service.

Before working for Southern California Edison, Antonio served as the Senior Intelligence Officer for Cyber in Asia and Critical Infrastructure at the Director of National Intelligence. He holds a Bachelors Degree in International Security from San Diego State University, a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity from Norfolk State University. He is currently completing his Executive MBA at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Meeting details once again: We’ll meet on Zoom Wednesday July 7 at 7 pm, with pre-meeting socialization at 6:30 pm. All are welcome. Here’s the Zoom link. Join us!

P.S We’ve penciled in a Zoom meeting for August, on the 4th, and we’re optimistic we’ll get to see all of you in person once again for our September meeting, on the 1st of the month.

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We had an outstanding June meeting, where we talked about racism, climate change and other threats, with educator and policy expert Judy Ki, the Anti Defamation League’s Matthew Brown, and the Sierra Club San Diego’s Peter Anderson. Watch the video now:

Ki, who was recently appointed by Mayor Todd Gloria to the Asian-Pacific Islander Advisory Group, talked about “The Intersectionality of Racism and Misogyny.”

Brown, the ADL’s associate director of law enforcement initiatives and community security, discussed trends in racism and extremism — including some threats here in San Diego.

And Anderson spoke on the threat of climate change — globally, nationally, and right here in San Diego — and what we can and should be doing to mitigate the danger.

And join us Wednesday, July 7, when we’ learn more about the threat of cybercrime — and how to protect yourself — as well as why you should care about your digital rights. Our speaker will be Seth Hall, who leads techLEAD https://techleadsd.org, a San Diego organization of technologists listening, engaging, advocating and defending on the technology issues of our time. We’ll meet on Zoom Wednesday July 7 at 7 pm, with pre-meeting socialization at 6:30 pm. All are welcome.

Here’s the URL

Join us for our next meeting, Wednesday June 2 at 7 pm where we’ll hear from experts talking about racism, extremism, and climate change, both here in San Diego and worldwide.

We’ll hear from Judy Ki,

We’ll hear from Judy Ki, educator and policy expert, recently appointed by Mayor Todd Gloria to the Asian-Pacific Islander Advisory Group. She’ll talk about “The Intersectionality of Racism and Misogyny.” We’ll also hear from Matthew Brown, Associate Director of Law Enforcement Initiatives and Community Security for the Anti-Defamation League.

Then the Sierra Club San Diego’s Peter Anderson will speak about the threat of climate change — globally, nationally, and right here in San Diego — and what we can and should be doing to mitigate the danger. San Diegans will see more frequent, intense, and prolonged heat waves and decreased air quality; dwindling freshwater supplies and increased water costs; more frequent and intense wildfires and storms; potential electrical disruptions; and rising sea levels. Peter will talk with us about what we can expect, and what we can do.

The meeting starts at 7 pm Wednesday, June 2, on Zoom. Join us early, at 6:30 pm, for unstructured conversation.

Here’s the Zoom URL.

2021 is an important election year

Dr. Akilah Weber’s recent election to the California State Assembly was a great day for San Diego Democrats — but it opened the door to a dangerous future. Dr. Weber was an important Democratic voice on the La Mesa City Council, and the city will hold a special election to fill her seat.

What’s at stake is the Democratic majority on the La Mesa City Council. If we lose here, Republicans get a foothold to try to reclaim dominance in San Diego, California, and national politics. We lose our seat on SANDAG, now filled by La Mesa City Council Member Jack Shu, who’s doing a great job, and we lose on other appointments and policy issues.

We’ve already seen several Democratic candidates announce for that La Mesa City Council seat, presenting a danger of diluting the Democratic vote and handing that seat over to the Republicans. That can’t happen. San Diego Democrats need to unite behind a single candidate for the La Mesa City Council seat. Other candidates need to drop out of the race — but not drop out of sight. We need plenty of Democrats to run for other local offices, with the full support of the party.

Also at stake this year is the California gubernatorial recall election. Governor Newsom is looking good now, with the state coming out of lockdown, COVID in defeat, and the economy roaring back. But all that could change. This year is looking like a hard fire season, with possibilities of broad blackouts, and Gov. Newsom would be blamed.. Special elections have very low turnout, with recent polls showing that Republicans, who vote in special elections more than Democrats, favor recall.

Democrats barely won in 2020. Polling data shows that we’re losing working people to Republicans, despite the GOP being a party that hates them.

We need to fight to keep the gains we made in 2020, and push harder — or lose San Diego, California, and America, to the party of Trump, Qanon, and insurrection.

Stop the Cottonwood Sand Mine

Our fight continues to stop the Cottonwood Golf Club in Rancho San Diego from becoming a 214 acre open-pit sand mine in the Sweetwater River. A resolution has been passed and supported by the San Diego County Democratic Party as well as other local Democratic Clubs and Caucus groups to oppose this project. The resolution will be taken to all County Board of Supervisors in the next month and we ask the La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club to join in supporting this resolution. We’ll take a vote on that at the June 2 meeting. Come to our meeting and vote then.

Visit https://www.stopcottonwoodsandmine.com for more information and to find out how you can keep Informed. And read the resolution opposing the mine.

That’s quite an agenda! We’ll see you 7 pm Wednesday, June 2, on Zoom. Join us early, at 6:30 pm, for unstructured conversation.

Here’s that Zoom URL again.

Watch the video of the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club meeting May 5, 2021, featuring La Mesa City Council members Jack Shu and Colin Parent, discussing police reform, climate action, homelessness, traffic, and finding a replacement for city council member Dr. Akilah Weber, recently elected to the 79th state Assembly district.

We also heard from Mejgan Afshan and Patricia Dillard, two candidates running for Dr. Weber’s seat.

Following that, we talked with Dave Myers, a 30-year-veteran of the San Diego County sheriff’s Department, about law enforcement reform and also about the rise of extremist groups and hate groups in San Diego.

And join our next meeting, Wednesday, June 2, at 7 pm, when we’ll have a speaker from the Sierra Club talking about climate change, and we’ll also talk so more about political extremism and hate in San Diego. That’s on Zoom: lmfdems.com/zoom

We’re excited to see you Wednesday evening, May 5, for a fantastic meeting talking about police and criminal justice reform, local planning issues, and more, with guest speakers La Mesa Council Members Colin Parent and Jack Shu, as well as Dave Myers, a criminal justice reform advocate and former commander of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.

We’ll kick things off with Parent and Shu, talking about local issues, starting with police reform. The La Mesa Mayor and City Council tapped 11 members for a Community Police Oversight Board, working with an independent police auditor to investigate serious incidents and misconduct complaints involving La Mesa police officers, which included rioting in downtown La Mesa, with heavy property damage that included the destruction of two bank buildings.

Also on the agenda: Climate action. La Mesa was one of the first cities in San Diego County to adopt a Climate Action Plan. What concrete measures are being taken to mitigate the climate catastrophe on a local level.

We’ll check in on the La Mesa City Council Homeless Action Plan, adopted in February. How is the city working to reduce homelessness?

What plans are being developed to ease traffic congestion around construction of apartments and condos on University Avenue? What are other traffic and transit plans for San Diego?

And we’ll talk about plans to replace Dr. Akilah Weber, a city council member who was recently elected to represent the state 79th Assembly District.

Then we’ll be joined by David Myers, former commander and 33-year veteran of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and criminal justice reform advocate. Myers was the highest ranking openly gay employee in the department, and ran for sheriff in 2018 against his boss and 9-year-incumbent, Bill Gore. Myers was fired for his candidacy.

Myers says: “Two years ago, when I was running for San Diego County sheriff, many of my fellow law enforcement officers lambasted me for appearing in a photo with a woman holding a Black Lives Matter sign at a Transgender Day of Remembrance event. I was excoriated for being anti-police, accused of supporting anarchists and judged unworthy of wearing the law enforcement badge. My response then, as now, was that until our police chiefs, sheriff and elected officials acknowledge their role in perpetuating systemic racism in law enforcement and policing, there can be no real, sustainable change toward a truly equitable criminal justice system.”

Myers is working to expose Sheriff Gore as incompetent. Abuses include hundreds of jail deaths, millions paid in unlawful death lawsuits, deputies with multiple sexual misconducts charges, and failure to release the names of people who died in jail to families for up to 6 months.

The meeting’s at 7 pm Wednesday May 5 on Zoom, with social time starting at 6:30 pm.

Here’s the Zoom URL.

Or watch on our YouTube channel.

Watch the video of the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club general meeting for April 2021, spanning San Diego, Sacramento, and schools, to discuss the current pandemic crisis, re-opening, and beyond.

Kicking things off was San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, who talked about re-opening, COVID-19 counter-measures, homelessness, police and more.

Following Mayor Gloria was presumptive Assembly Member-elect Akilah Weber, who looks to be handily beating the opposition in the April special election in the 79th Assembly District, talking about her plans once she gets to Sacramento.

Chardá Bell-Fontenot, vice president of the La Mesa-Spring Valley board, joins us after being targeted by racist attacks following her comments connecting early school reopening with racism.

Then Ms. Bell-Fontenot was joined by Gregg Robinson, trustee for the San Diego County Office of Education Governing Board; Richard Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified School District Governing Board; and Cheryl Robertson, Vice President of the Lemon Grove School Board and a board member for our club, to discuss school reopenings, the psychological toll of the pandemic year on students, charter schools, and reasons for hope.

Also:

• Mark your calendars for our next meeting, Wednesday, May 5, when we’ll hear from La Mesa City Council members to talk about priorities for that city, as well as Dave Myers, a 35-year law enforcement veteran, criminal justice reform advocate, and progressive, to talk about the state of right-wing extremism in San Diego and criminal justice reform.
• Become a member, pay your dues, or contribute to the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club.. Your support helps elect Democrats to local offices, and brings you programming like this. (And if you can’t afford to donate, you’re still welcome. We leave pay-to-play for the other guys.)

We’ve got another fantastic meeting in store for you Wednesday, April 7, 7 pm. We’ll kick things off with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria; he’ll talk with us about the big issues facing the city, including reopening, homelessness, housing and more.

Following Mayor Gloria, we’ll hear from local school officials, to talk about reopening and the other major issues facing education in our district.

Chardá Bell-Fontenot, vice president of the La Mesa-Spring Valley board, joins us after being targeted by racist attacks following her comments equating early school reopening with white supremacy and slavery.

We’ll also speak with Gregg Robinson, trustee for the San Diego County Office of Education Governing Board; Richard Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified School District Governing Board; and Cheryl Robertson, Vice President of the Lemon Grove School Board and a board member for our club.

Meeting starts at 7 pm on Zoom, with social time at 6:30 pm. We’re going to try something new for that social half-hour; rather the usual delightful conversational free-for-all, we’re going to ask members to share things they want to talk about: Politics, family events, gardening triumphs, hiking and activities—whatever’s on your mind. Kind of an open mike night. We’ve all been feeling isolated for a year, let’s use that time to make connections.

Here’s the Zoom URL.

And until then, here are three ways you can support Ms. Bell-Fontenot:

• Watch the video of the board meeting, so you’ll know exactly what actually happened, and speak knowledgeably about it with your neighbors.
• Leave a comment supporting her at the school board site.
• Sign this petition in support at change.org.