Something to think about

On a long, summer Sunday afternoon you could do worse than spend some time reading the N.Y. Times. There are always a variety of opinions to think about and argue about. Today the Times has a collection of opinions on what higher gas prices mean to American society. The varied ideas range from a suggestion that high gas prices accentuate the differences between higher and lower income people because of the necessity of gas in American lives to cheering thoughts about how high gas prices will stimulate faster development of alternative fuel. Not all of the writers can be correct and only time will reveal which guesses come closer to the truth, but all of them are thoughtful and worth considering as we suffer through the changes we've all felt from higher gas prices. 

Who's on the Net?

Although most Californians agree that the Internet is very important in daily life, many people do not have convenient access to it. As reported in the S.F. Chronicle, home access to the Internet is closely connected to both income and ethnicity. It's certainly no surprise to most of us to learn that families with incomes below $40,000 are much less likely to have a computer at home, especially one with a Broadband connection, than families with higher incomes. Computers cost a significant amount of money and a Broadband connection is a regular expense that cuts into spending for food, gas and recreation. San Francisco's plan to have free wireless Internet service throughout the city has not materialized, but it's important to remember that access for all citizens is important. Public libraries and schools make computers with network connections available to the public, but many other facilities might also provide these connections. With some help from foundations and government grants, recreation centers and community organizations might also provide public access to computers. The Internet has become a crucial part of our news dissemination system. With important national and local elections coming up in the fall, it's time for some public spirited citizens to step up and try to close the digital gap in allowing people better access the latest facts and opinion on what is going on in our government.

Coping with gas prices

We have plenty of problems to talk about in the Bay Area these days, especially wildfires, but somehow we can't resist talking most often about gas prices. Most people haven't done much to save gas, except perhaps for a few extra trips on BART or Muni, but everyone worries about what the future will bring. Quite a few people are looking at Smart Cars those strange little things with a toy car look, but it's hard to figure out how it would feel to drive on on an actual highway. Today the San Jose Mercury-News has given us a chance to find out. This is a refreshingly down-to-earth account of one person's experience in driving a Smart Car. As usual there are pros and cons, but now that we are all looking for alternatives to the standard American car, it's good to know how many of the innovative solutions being considered would actually work for us. We all know things have to change, so let's consider all the options.

Important Commission meetings

The California Commision on the Status of Women is a hard-working but quiet group whose mission is to serve the women and girls of California, and be the vehicle through which all their voices can be heard. With the advice and support of elected officials, the commissioners can create a realistic agenda for women and girls, and make great strides forward.

During June and July the Commission is holding public meetings and inviting individuals and organizations to bring their comments and recommendations to the Commission. At the San Francisco meeting on June 19, a wide range of topics were covered:

• Reproductive rights
• The treatment of girls in the juvenile justice system
• Support for incarcerated women and their families
• Domestic violence
• Support for rape crisis centers
• Discrimination against employees with family care responsibilities
• Support fro breast cancer research
• Human trafficking
• Decriminalization of prostitution
• Support for women entrepreneurs
• Fighting childhood obesity and inactivity

This is only a sample of the issues brought before the Commission. Other topics will be raised at future hearings in San Diego and Fontana. Information from the hearings will help the Commission set its legislative agenda and its recommendations for administrative action and studies of issues. To follow the Commission's activities and learn more, go to www.women.ca.gov

LWVUS Convention Day 2 & 3;

One of the highlights of the Sunday plenary sessions was an address given to the convention by The Honorable John Kitzhaber, Former Governor of Oregon, "The Unfinished Business of the Baby Boom Generation; Health Care for the 21st Century".  Governor Kitzhaber spoke to the two sides of the Health Care crisis Financing and Delivery. He observed that politicians are focusing the conversation about financing and the national conversation needs to be about how health care is delivered. Governor Kitzhaber soke especially to the Baby Boomer generation and the need for them to solve this problem for future generations or the costs will overwhelm everything in the National economy. His thoughtful, passionate plea to the delegates received a standing ovation  and more than a  few moist eyes. The address was a very thoughtful  prelude to the program later adopted by the delegates for a Health Care Program to educate members and communities in order to be able to do Health Care advocacy as needed during the coming national conversations.

Sunday a panel on CLimate Change moderated by Sarah Diefendorf pressed a call to action for the delegates. Dr. V.Ramanathan, UC San Diego,  spoke to what we know and what we don't know about the causes global warming; what we can change and effect to slow the damages of climate change and what we can't alter . His efforts to compress his graduate seminars to limited remarks were successful. Heather Kaplan from OXFAM America also had compelling stories about the great harm that is already being felt disproportionately by poorer developing nations and OXFAM is looking to the League to participate in efforts to educate and advocate for changes and solutions. 

The LWVUS Board Proposed Programs were adopted along with a program for a Multi Level  Education and Advocacy campaign about Global Climate Change and a new study of the National Popular Vote Compact.

There is always so much to absorb at the conventions; all of the caucuses about different proposals that might be considered, Workshops available about all aspects of League work and Program, networking with delegates and hearing about what they are doing in their communities. It is inspiring to participate in a convention and leaves you with a wonderful feeling about the LWV organization and all of the sensational people and the work they do in their communities States.

There were over 600 voting delegates in attendance this year and another 400 participants and observers. 

Convention Day One

From the convention;First Day: Delegate briefings at 9:00AM ( a short course on how to figure out what's going on at convention)10:00 AM
The first hot item for all of the California delegation( 100 strong) was a proposed concurrence on Redistricting that was going to be offered by the Oregon and Virginia delegations. If approved by two thirds of the delegates the language of the proposal would be added to the LWVUS existing position on Redistricting and Reapportionment. LWVC President Janis Hirohama encouraged all California delegates to attend the caucus hosted by Oregon and Virginia delegations to discuss the potential negative impact of that proposal on the Voters First Redistricting Initiative headed for the California November Ballot.

The LWVUS has a very broad position on Redistricting and reapportionment that was first adopted in 1966 and subsequently refined after Supreme Court rulings and emphasizes equal populations, compliance with the Voting Rights Act and all other applicable laws. Like many of the League's positions it is broadly written so that the LWVUS and the States that use LWVUS positions have many opportunities to put forward the League's core positions.

The new language offered by the Oregon and Virginia delegations provided a one size fits all solution to redistricting in much greater detail. One of their concerns was that Congress would someday follow through on a bill to set redistricting standards and the League would not have strong enough guiding principals to lobby effectively.

There were concerns expressed by State League's that already had a position or had had success implementing a system that worked for their State that a more expanded, detailed position would not support what they had in place in their States. Others , expressed the concern that it contained language that might be volatile buzz words in their communities and hamper efforts to reform the redistricting process in their State.

It was interesting to hear from States who had reformed their redistricting processes and were quite happy with the outcomes. Some of the States have redistricting commissions with equal divisions that are absolutely partisan or intentionally include Leadership from the State government in combination with other non-partisan independent members.

Long into the night, Saturday,leaders of the California delegation and others worked with Oregon and VIrginia to change some of the language of the proposal before it was brought to the floor of the plenary session on Sunday for consideration. There were significant enough changes that the California Leadership told us they would reluctantly support the proposal.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco delegation ( 4 delegates and our Program Manager), pepped up from non stop meetings on our first day and a wild introduction to parliamentary proceedings and a prolonged debate about changing the Rules of Convention at the first Plenary Saturday afternoon, had our own lively debate over dinner, about the Redistricting proposal and came to consensus at the end of dinner that the whole issue needed more study and that the proposal, though well intentioned to give more guidance before the redistricting happens in 2011 should be voted down.
Ultimately, the Redistricting Concurrence was moved for consideration, and subsequently moved for adoption .After intense and impassioned debate, the motion to adopt failed the required two thirds vote .

The League convention begins

The League of Women Voters of the United States is convening its national conference in Portland, Oregon this weekend. Women, and a few men, from all over the country will gather to discuss issues of the day and to make decisions about League priorities for the future. With the country facing a national presidential election in the fall, there are many issues under discussion. The League has always stood for the importance of civic action and the inclusion of all citizens in national decisions.This year promises more action on these issues. For the next several days, this blog will have posts direct from Portland so readers will be able to follow the actions taken by the League and the stories behind them. It should be fascinating reading.

Big changes coming

San Francisco's historic Presidio may be changing dramatically over the next few years if the recommendations of a report released today are implemented. The changes include building a hotel and a building with three theaters as well as a museum of modern art. The old Herbst Exhibition Hall as well as other buildings will be demolished if this plan is adopted. This being San Francisco, you can expect a lot of arguing about whether or not the plan would be an improvement, but it is certainly a bold vision and would have a major impact on the Presidio and the area around it. This is something that civic-minded citizens will want to know more about. The public is invited to comment until July 31, and there will be public meetings held. For further information go to the Presidio Park Trust website.

A webcast to watch

During this quiet weekend, now that the excitement of the primary campaigns are over and we can take a breather before the general election campaign begins, take the time to watch a speech given by Bill Moyers at the Media Reform conference in Minneapolis this week. Most of us have seen Bill Moyers on PBS even though we may not watch his program regularly. He has alerted us to many of the problems and dangers facing Americans over the years. Now he talks us about the dangers of media conglomeration which is narrowing the scope of news we can access from newspapers and television. As the FCC allows more and more consolidation of media in many markets, the number of reporters and columnists shrink. Fewer points of view are aired in the mainstream media, and those that do appear are shaped as often by advertisers as by facts. Anyone who cares about the future of democracy in our country should pay attention. It's worth listening and thinking about his message.

Thinking about water

Governor Schwarzenegger has told us that the state is now officially short of water and all of us should prepare to conserve. Of course this hits farmers worst of all, and we all suffer when vegetables and fruits are not as available as we expect, but it will hit private homes too. Looking back, it's easy to see that periodic droughts are normal in California, but every time one comes along it feels like a new assault on our way of life. As all those green lawns begin to turn brown, homeowners regret the time and energy they spent nurturing them. Perhaps it is time to think more seriously about replacing lawns with artificial turf that never needs mowing and looks good through all weather conditions. California wasn't made for green lawns and our attempts to build an artificial "green and pleasant land" are a mix of nostalgia and fantasy. The ever-changing landscape of an arid state can be beautiful if we work with nature instead of against it, and for those who still long for year round green--modern science has developed realistic looking turf that works.

Test for voters

Today is Election Day, but do California voters remember they are expected to go to the polls? Back in February, if you can remember that far back, there was great excitement about the presidential primary, but today's vote doesn't seem to have many people excited. According to the S.F. Chronicle, the voter turnout is expected to be very low despite the importance of the issues. Too much of the publicity surrounding elections focuses on candidates and the endless struggle to displace one candidate by another in the legislature. Actually, ballot measures are often more important than personnel. There are no term limits on ballot measures and the decisions we make at one particular election will influence the way our government works for years into the future. This may not be the best way to make public decisions, but it is the system we have chosen. There are several important measures on the ballot today, so go out and vote and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. If you have questions about what we're voting for, visit http://www.smartvoter.org for more information.