Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
| | The Voter
The official newsletter of the
League of Women Voters of Piedmont, CA.
Vol. 38, Issue 4 | October 26, 2026 |
October 2026 with the
LWV of Piedmont!
In this issue:
- A Message From Our President
- Voter Information
- Voter with the League
- Advocacy with the League
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Mark Your Calendars!
- Unite and Rise 8.5
- Water Spotlight
- Reminder
- Weekly Virtual "Lunch with the League"
But first, let's welcome our new members:
Nancy DeRoche and Nancy Walters
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A Message From Our President
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Dear LWV of Piedmont Members and Friends,
On October 4th, our League collaborated with Girl Scout Temescal Service Unit 303 to host "Girls and Democracy", where Daisy, Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts from Piedmont and Oakland learned about democracy and citizenship. This well attended event featured a talk with Piedmont Mayor Betsy Andersen and Councilperson and LWV CA Co-President Lorrel Plimier, painting a protest sign and learning about the qualities of good citizenship--like the importance of voting. Please read more about it from this article in The Exedra HERE.
As we wind down this midterm election season, please look forward to joining us in person at the following events:
First, we have just a handful of spots left for our luncheon fundraiser n Friday, October 30th, at the Piedmont Center for the Arts at 801 Magnolia, from 11:30AM-1PM . We are pleased that leading political scientist and author, Dr. Seth Masket from the University of Denver will be our speaker and Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen will be introducing him. Learn more about this event and purchase your tickets HERE.
Next, for the third year in a row, we will be hosting a table at the Piedmont Adult Recreation Expo, on Sunday, November 15th from 2-4PM at the Piedmont Veterans Memorial Building, 401 Highland Avenue, Piedmont. Please sign up HERE to volunteer to share about the League to our community. This is always a fun event so be sure to attend and check out all the great offerings for adults our community offers.
Finally, continue to Save the Date - Monday, 12/14, 5-6:30pm, for a December Member Mixer! Drop by for some hors d'oeuvres and something to sip. This time we're holding this fun, free, members only festive event at Piedmont Community Church's Clara Barton Room (off the courtyard). Save the date--more information and registration link coming your way soon!
In League, and on behalf of the Board,
Lisa Gardner
President, League of Women Voters of Piedmont
|  | | Get the 411 on Voting
With the election season in full swing, you are probably getting a steady stream of pamphlets and mailers. And that’s in addition to the information offered by newspapers, radio, TV, e-mail, and social media. Would you like to have an efficient way to learn about the candidates and propositions, and be an informed voter?
VOTE411.org can help with that! Produced by the nonpartisan League of Women Voters Education Fund, on VOTE411:
• Candidates list their three priorities, explain their qualifications to hold office, and answer questions.
• Answers are side by side, so that voters can compare them directly.
• There’s no ranking. No endorsement. No spin.
• VOTE411.org costs nothing, requires no institutional endorsement and keeps the judgment where it belongs — with the voter.
And there is more! VOTE411.org includes:
• Your complete ballot, including measures.
• A description of the position the candidate is running for.
• Your registration status.
This “one stop shop” also lets you register to vote and confirm key election dates.
Be an informed voter with VOTE411.org. | |
To find out what is going to be on your ballot, and check your registration, you can go to www.vote411.org .
As the general election primary election day--November 3, 2026--nears, these sources will have updated information about voting by mail and/or polling places near you.
| | | | Candidate Forums
On September 29th at Piedmont City Hall’s Council Chambers we hosted our first in-person candidate forum since 2018! The event featured five candidates for the Piedmont City Council race. Please check out the forum on our YouTube channel HERE.
On Saturday, October 3rd the League of Women Voters of Oakland (LWVO) hosted a candidate forum for Peralta Community College District Trustee, Area 5. Two candidates are running for this race. Please check out this forum on the LWVO's YouTube channel HERE. Thank you, LWVO for hosting this forum! | | | |
VOTE WITH THE LEAGUE
Local and State
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Our League’s Board of Directors has voted to endorse Piedmont’s Ballot Measure GG (See its wording and fact sheet below, and look for the LWVP's Pros and Cons, on this measure, to be published soon on VOTE411.org). You can also go to this website to learn more: www.YESonGG.com . And, just released, check out a new video from the "Yes on GG" campaign and spot some of your LWVP board and fellow community members HERE!
The League of Women Voters doesn't endorse parties or candidates, but we do take positions on ballot measures based on current program positions and/or on League principles. Measure GG is aligned with the League of Women Voters of California's Position on State and Local Finances.A modest increase in the transfer tax rate from 1.3% to 1.75% would generate approximately $1.5M in needed additional revenue for Piedmont’s general fund each year, and would be more in line with neighboring cities. The transfer tax is only incurred when real property is conveyed from one owner to another; the responsibility for the transfer tax is negotiated, and often split between the buyer and seller. All revenues from the transfer tax stays in Piedmont. We urge voters to join us in supporting Measure GG in the November 3 election.
"Shall the measure, providing funding for City of Piedmont’s essential city services, such as police, fire, and emergency medical response; and maintenance of aging City buildings, parks, stormwater drains, roads and sidewalks, by increasing the real estate transfer tax from 1.3% to 1.75% to be more in line with neighboring cities and to generate approximately $1,500,000 annually in general tax revenue until ended by voters, be adopted?"
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Measure GG Fact Sheet
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Piedmont’s local real estate conveyance tax (“transfer tax”) was first approved by voters in 1968, nearly 60 years ago. It was increased by voters in 1993 to its current rate of 1.3%, or $13 per $1,000 of the purchase price).
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Berkeley and Oakland have tiered transfer tax rates:
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For the sale of a $2.5M home in Oakland, the transfer tax would be 1.75%
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For a $2.5M home sold in Berkeley, the transfer tax would be 2.5%
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The City of Albany is also asking voters to adopt a tiered transfer tax this November. If approved, a $2.5M home sold in Albany (under the new measure) would incur a transfer tax of 3.0%.
City Attorney Impartial Analysis (posted 08/03/2026 to 08/13/2026)
Direct Argument in Favor of Measure (posted 08/03/2026 to 08/13/2026)
Direct Argument Opposed to Measure GG - None filed
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|  | Are you looking for guidance on state Ballot Measures? Check out the League of Women Voters of California's resources for analysis and recommendations here and see the graphic below for a quick reference.
| | Phone Bank with the League for
No on Prop 39
Join the League and phone bank for the No on Prop 39 campaign, Sign up HERE for current available times.
As ballots are being received by voters, we need all hands on deck to connect with voters about the dangers of Prop 39. It is critical that voters hear the League's voice on this anti-democratic measure. You'll get clear training, a script, and be able to do it from the comfort of your living room sofa on your own computer or phone. And using the campaign's special system means your personal phone number will not be revealed.
Read more at the No on Prop 39 website HERE. There will be more chances to engage but since voters are going to start to fill out there ballots this weekend, the Thursday and Friday phone banks are very important.
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Enough is Enough: Commute Every Death Sentence
TELL GOVERNOR NEWSOM: A MORATORIUM IS NOT ENOUGH
|  | | VOLUNTEER WITH US
We are an all volunteer organization with "jobs" that range from once in a while tasks, like tabling for events or programming coordination, to full year positions. See this issue's President's letter above for current one time opportunities available coming up.
We currently have these volunteer roles, which can be done with a friend, ready to be filled:
- VP of Membership: Assist us with welcoming new members and participating in member socials and events.
- Program Committee Member: Join a group of fun, passionate volunteers to make a difference in our community through curated events.
- NEW! - Webmaster: Do you have a creative knack with website design, and a few hours a month to assist with keeping ours up to date? If so, please consider joining our small team of web hosts to update our website to offer our community a fresh new look.
For more information, please contact Lisa Gardner today by email at Lgardner555@gmail.com or by phone 510-867-9221.
YOUTH: We are registered to provide volunteer service hours. Students who would like to collaborate with the League of Women Voters for events, volunteerism, or to interview a Board Member, please send an email request to President, Lisa Gardner, AND include one parent or guardian in the email, at LWVPiedmont@gmail.com.
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LWV of California Events
Stay connected with other Leagues in California and their events HERE.
| | | The League of Women Voters of Piedmont Presents:
Winning and Losing:
How Do Our American Political Parties
Remember and Forget?
with Dr. Seth Masket
When: Friday, October 30, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Where: 801 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont, CA
Registration is required. Members $40, Non-Members $45. Space is limited. Purchase your tickets HERE.
The League invites guests to socialize with friends old and new, enjoy a catered lunch, learn more about the League, and explore insights and contradictions about how our country's two main political parties operate. |  | Near the eve of the November 3, 2026 election, University of Denver Professor Seth Masket will shine a light on some of the surprising differences between how our political parties deal with losses–and fight for survival. Appealing to voters of all parties, this talk by a leading scholar will raise important questions—and point out intriguing dynamics–about party identity, and how parties and their voters deal with wins and losses and hopes for the future. Piedmont Mayor Betsy Smegal Andersen will introduce the speaker.
Visiting here from Colorado, Masket is hosted by the League of Women Voters of Piedmont. His deep real-time research via interviews with party leaders, insiders, and voters reveals insights and contradictions into how our country’s two main parties operate…from grassroots to top leadership. His just-published book (June 2026), The Elephants in the Room: How Trump Voters Seized the Party from Republican Leaders and prior volume (2020), Learning from Loss: The Democrats 2016-2020, are based on real-time investigations and conversations, and provide unique–and remarkable–insights. With his dry sense of humor, he’ll help answer the very timely question, How did we get here? | | | Dr. Seth Masket is a professor of political science at the University of Denver. He researches and teaches about political parties, state legislatures, and campaigns and elections. Masket regularly contributes to Politico, the NYT, and to The Smotus Report Substack newsletter. His recently-published books are based on real-time investigations and conversations and provide unique–and surprising–insights. Masket holds a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and a doctorate from UCLA. He was the Senior Visiting Scholar at the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions at Vanderbilt University in 2024-25.
For more information on Seth Masket visit: https://www.sethmasket.com/
|  | | In the September 1st, 2025 issue of The Voter, we explained the LWV-US Unite and Rise 8.5 movement. The goal is to motivate 8.5 million Americans to take nonviolent action in support of our democracy.
As we enter the mid-term elections, the final phase of Unite and Rise 8.5 August-October is: Power Rising for Midterms.
October's Unite and Rise 8.5 theme is: Final Push, Election Observation, and Voter Protection.
Our main focus this month will be to encourage our Piedmont League to engage our friends and family towards voter education, early voting and voter protection.
Here are some other core actions you can choose from to #EmpowerVoters #DefendDemocracy and #BuildCommunity with us:
- Utilize VOTE411.org resources to help voters research candidates and ballot measures.
- Promote early voting.
- Host "Ballot Parties" to help voters leverage resources on Vote411 and determine who to vote for, as well as ensure people voting by mail complete all the required steps so that their ballot is counted. Also, don't forget the League of Women Voters of California has Ballot Recommendations HERE.
Check out this short informative video about Unite and Rise 8.5 courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Austin Area and find ways to support Unite and Rise 8.5 in our community.
For more information, go to www.lwv.org/uniteandrise and commit to being a part of this vital initiative for democracy.
YOUTHS: We are registered to provide volunteer service hours.
Students who would like to collaborate with the League of Women Voters for events, volunteerism, or to interview a Board Member, please send an email request to President, Lisa Gardner, AND include one parent or guardian in the email, at LWVPiedmont@gmail.com. |  |  | | WATER SPOTLIGHT – October 2026
Welcome to Water Spotlight, a monthly series from the League of Women Voters of California Water Interest Group, featuring expert-written articles for local league newsletters. The purpose is to educate members on California's complex water issues-covering history, law, environment, infrastructure, and policy - while exploring solutions and future.
This month's topic is FLOODS by Paul Burke and Jane Wagner-Tyack.
El Niño will cause floods, mudflows, and mudslides. Dams can break. Flood insurance and/or “Difference in Conditions” policies are needed to cover landslides, mudflows, quakes, and floods. If the premium looks high, the risk is high. Get it now. It takes at least 30 days to start. No insurance covers mudslides. Inland, the main risk is rain. The Great Flood of 1861–1862 made the Central Valley a 300-mile inland sea. Floods this big are expected every 140-200 years. Coastal risks include storm surges, waves and sea level rise.
Read this month's Water Spotlight article in full HERE.
You can also learn about the City of Piedmont's El Niño preparedness HERE.
The above image was generated from this FEMA Flood Hazard Zones link found HERE.
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Join or Renew Your LWVP Membership!
Continue your commitment to empowering voters and defending democracy by joining or renewing your membership with the League. The new system, through LWVUS, allows you to pay what you want (with a minimum of $20), and to set up auto-renewal. Membership lasts for one year after joining or renewal (on a rolling basis). To renew, please click HERE.
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Weekly Virtual “Lunch with the League”
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Join us for a weekly virtual lunch date with LWV of Piedmont, President Lisa Gardner. Come learn about our plans, discover opportunities to get involved, share your ideas for events, activities, or projects, or chat local, state, national or global politics!
Registration is required.
Drop in for a bit or stay for the whole hour. Tuesdays, 12-1PM. Zoom registration HERE
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We're social. Connect with us!
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Not yet a member of LWVP?
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