Political Responsibility through Informed and
Active Participation
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. |  | Tomorrow! LWVP Virtual Program: Housing the Homeless in the Time of COVID-19
Margot Kushel, MD, the Director of the UCSF Center of Vulnerable Populations and the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at ZSFG, will present her latest research on solutions to housing the homeless in the time of COVID-19. Her research aims to prevent and end homelessness and mitigate the effects of housing instability on healthcare outcomes. Dr. Kushel works with diverse stakeholders to implement programmatic and policy changes based on her research. She is the primary investigator of several multi-year studies on homeless populations in the Bay Area from 2012 to the present.
This program will take place on Tuesday, March 2 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Register here for the Zoom information. You can watch the program on our YouTube channel as well. Dr. Kushel will answer audience-member questions from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The program is free and open to the public.
Dr. Kushel is a Professor of Medicine at University of California San Francisco, Division Chief and Director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, and Director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. She is a practicing general internist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Dr. Kushel's research examines the causes and consequences of homelessness and housing instability, with the goal of preventing and ending homelessness and ameliorating the effects of homelessness on health. She speaks at a local, state and national level about homelessness, and provides testimony to legislative bodies. She received her AB from Harvard College, her MD from Yale and completed residency, chief residency and fellowship in internal medicine at UCSF.
| Take Action: Support the For the People Act
The For the People Act is the democracy reform bill the American people want and deserve. This legislation will put power back into the hands of American voters by making voting easier and more accessible and by modernizing future elections. Over the last two years, we saw it pass the House or Representatives, but get stalled at the Senate. The House is set to vote on the For the People Act in the first week of March and it is imperative that it passes. The For the People Act addresses some of the most pressing issues facing our democracy because it will:
- Restore the Voting Rights Act
- Modernize our voter registration system
- Update the public financing of elections through small donor matching funds
- Curb partisan gerrymandering, and
- Make campaign contributions more transparent.
Contact your Representative TODAY online or through the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and tell them Vote Yes on the For The People Act. Put control of our government back where it belongs—into the hands of the people. Rep. Barbara Jean Lee (District: CA13) can be reached at (202) 225-2661.
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Bay Area League Day: Saturday, March 6, 2021
There is still time to sign up to attend Bay Area League Day on March 6. This year's "Equity in Action" theme reinforces the League's focus on creating more equitable communities. The three-hour event begins at 9:30 am with entry via Zoom starting at 9:00 am.
League Day opens with an historical perspective that acknowledges the League's difficult history with racism and spells out equity definitions. The keynote speaker is San Francisco Foundation CEO Fred Blackwell, a nationally recognized community leader on equity and economic inclusion.
The panel about equity implementation includes leaders in the field Darlene Flynn, Director of Oakland's Department of Race & Equity, and San Jose's Director of the Office of Racial Equity, Zulma Maciel. It also includes Carolyn Wysinger, the president of SF Pride.
Then, Paulina Gonzalez-Brito, executive director of the community group the California Reinvestment Coalition, will talk about the economic impacts of racism. She'll be joined during the presentation by Sarah Treuhaft, vice president of research at PolicyLink, and Kiku Johnson, executive director of the Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa County.
Additionally, Assemblymember Ash Kalra of San Jose will make a presentation about legislating equity policy. League Day concludes with closing remarks by Stephanie Doute, CEO of LWV California.
Be part of this major League educational event. Registration information is available online.
See you March 6!
| Climate Action in Piedmont
On February 1, 2021 the Piedmont City Council unanimously approved a second reading of proposed energy reach codes. The reach codes are local building energy codes that reach beyond statewide requirements for energy use in building design and construction. Piedmont is one of the first cities nationwide to adopt reach codes for energy efficiency and appliance electrification in new and existing residential buildings. Learn more here. |  | Essay Contest
The League of Women Voters of Piedmont is sponsoring its second annual essay contest. The contest is open to all high school juniors and seniors who are currently enrolled in Piedmont High School or Millennium High School or who are residents of Piedmont. This year's 250-500 word essay must be submitted by April 17, 2021 and will answer the question "Given the fragility of democracy as evidenced by the insurrection of January 6, 2021, how can your generation work to ensure that democracy in the United States is strengthened for future generations?" There is a $500 prize awarded to the first place essay. For more information and details on submission, please visit our website.
| Next LWVP Board Meeting March 10, 2021
The next Board Meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be virtual.
Please contact LWVPiedmont@gmail.com for details, or check our calendar. All members are invited to attend. | |