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. | Office Hours October 1, 2020 (Tonight!) at 5:00 pm
You're invited to the LWVP "Cocktail" Hour this evening (October 1, 2020) at 5:00 pm! Join us on Zoom for an informal conversation about the Ins & Outs of voting in Alameda County for this election. If there is time and interest, we will do a deep dive into the Pros & Cons for State, County and Local ballot measures. There are 34 days until the November election.
The Zoom room will be open from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. You don't have to be a League member to join. Come for five minutes, the whole hour or anywhere in between. We hope to see you there! (Adult beverages optional!) |
LWVP Presents Candidate Forum on October 8, 2020
The League of Women Voters of Piedmont will host a virtual Candidate Election Forum on Thursday, October 8, 2020, from 7:00 pm to 8:20 pm. The forum will feature all candidates running for City Council and School Board and will be broadcast live on KCOM and on our YouTube Channel. Each candidate will be given two minutes to present an opening statement, followed by a question and answer session where each candidate will have one minute to answer each question. The LWVP candidate forums have been well attended, and provide an opportunity for residents of Piedmont to ask the candidates questions about the issues that are most important to the community. This year will be no different, despite the format shift from in-person Q&A to a virtual format. In fact, we may see a wider range of residents in attendance because of the convenience of watching from home.
Questions for the candidates can be submitted to lwvpiedmont@gmail.com prior to the forum. We also need volunteers to help at the forum. Please attend and volunteer if you can! | Voting Ins and Outs
- Check your voter registration using either the County or State website.
- Vote by mail ballots will be mailed to every registered voter in California on October 5th. Sign up for ballot tracking here.
- The online voter registration deadline is October 19th, but same day registration is available in person through November 3rd.
- If you plan to mail or put your vote by mail ballot in a drop box:
- 24-hour ballot drop boxes are available from October 5th through 8pm on November 3rd.
- There is a drop box in Piedmont on the corner of Highland Way and Mountain Ave., near the Wells Fargo bank.
- Mailed ballots must be postmarked by November 3rd.
- Alameda County will begin processing vote by mail ballots on October 20th, so return your ballot early!
- If you plan to vote in person or drop your vote by mail ballot at a polling place:
- There are 100 voting locations in Alameda County; you may vote or drop off your vote by mail ballot at any of them.
- Piedmont Veterans Memorial Building is one of the voting locations.
- The voting locations are open from 9am to 5pm Saturday 10/31 through Monday 11/2 and from 7am to 8pm on Tuesday 11/3.
- Use Voter's Edge and the Easy Voter Guide to learn about your ballot!
- See map of polling places near Piedmont below (click for larger image)
|  | Unable to Attend Last Week's LWVP Events on Election Polling and Racial Equity in Housing?
On September 20th, LWVP hosted pollster Amy Simon who spoke about interpreting election polls and how the climate of polling is different this year. Watch the recording of Ms. Simon's presentation and question and answer session on the LWVP YouTube channel.
On September 24th, LWVP co-sponsored an event with the Piedmont Racial Equity Campaign and Piedmont Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee. The panel addressed the history of racial segregation and housing in Piedmont, and steps that our city can take to achieve a more equitable future. Read a recap of the event in The Exedra and watch the recording of the panel on YouTube. | Long-Time LWVP Member, Ann Chandler, Resigns from Role Presenting "Agenda Insights"
Long-time LWVP Member, Ann Chandler, was surprised when LWVP President Lorrel Plimier recently stopped by her house with a framed photo of Ann signed by Lorrel and 11 former Piedmont League presidents expressing their thanks for Ann’s approximately 30 years of service on our local board or in board support positions. Ann resigned this year from her long-time role presenting “Agenda Insight” for the League on KCOM before each City Council meeting. She was also the League’s City Council observer, often alerting members to issues of interest to the League.
In past years Ann chaired the Nominating Committee several times, and served as Vice President, Secretary, and Publicity Chair.
“Agenda Insight” is one of the League’s “sensitive positions” meaning that the person is one of the “faces of the League” and must remain impartial on all issues, national, state and local. After years of impartiality, Ann decided that she wanted to take an active part in the current campaign to support Measure UU, Piedmont’s bond measure for a new aquatic facility. Ann thought it was an ideal time to make way for a new person to follow the City Council for the League. She will remain an active member of the League and says she looks forward to seeing everyone in person again.
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LWVP Dues Reminder
Thank you to all who have paid your 2020-21 LWVP dues! There are still a few members whose payments we’ve not yet received. Your tax deductible dues were due on or before August 31, 2020 at $75 Individual, $70 Senior, $110 Household, plus any welcome donations.
Please either pay online here, or mail a check to LWVP, c/o Chris Krenn, 220 Palm Dr, Piedmont 94610. If you have misplaced your login information, you can reset your login here using your email address and first name by clicking the “Forgot My Username/Password” button. (We suggest changing your username to your email address for convenience.)
Your Membership chair & Treasurer thank you!
Linda McClain and Chris Kern
| Pros and Cons for Piedmont Ballot Measures
There are two City of Piedmont ballot measures that will be on the ballot for the November 3rd election. Measure UU authorizes the City to issue up to $19.5 million in general obligation bonds to finance the costs of improvements for the Piedmont Community Pool and adjacent areas. Measure TT amends the Piedmont City Code to increase the existing real property transfer tax to $17.50 per $1,000 of transfer price. LWVP has endorsed both of these measures. Read the Pros & Cons for Measures TT and UU here. | Join the Diversity Film Series for Waging Change
The Appreciating Diversity Film Series is proud to present the inspirational new documentary, WAGING CHANGE.
To be shown online on Wednesday October 14, 2020, 4:00-5:00 pm, with a post-film discussion from 5:00-6:00 pm with Saru Jayarman, leader of the One Fair Wage movement, and Abby Ginzberg, filmmaker.
Waging Change, completed just before the coronavirus hit, shines a light on the difficulties faced by restaurant servers and bartenders. The majority of people who serve food in the U.S. restaurants are paid a federal sub-minimum wage of only $2.13 an hour and are forced to depend on tips to feed themselves and their families. Women, who hold two-thirds of all tip-based jobs, are especially affected. Their reliance on tips can lead to pervasive gender discrimination, sexual assault, and sexual harassment at the hands of customers, co-workers, and bosses-and can leave them with little ability to speak up. Read more about the film and discussion here.
Interested in viewing the film? Register here and you will receive an e-mail with a link. The film showing is free.
| Next LWVP Board Meeting October 7, 2020
The next Board Meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 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. | |