Health Care is a top priority for President-elect Obama, and he wants your help in designing a system that provides quality, affordable health Care for all Americans.

That's why the Obama-Biden Transition is asking people to give their own thoughts and ideas for how to fix the system at Health Care Community Discussions all across the country.

Join the Monterey County Democrats to discuss Health Care on Thursday, December 18th, from 6-8 pm at the HQ on Bonifacio Plaza in downtown Monterey.  Bring your ideas - we will provide snacks!

We will share our personal health care stories, identify common concerns, and discuss ideas about how to fix the Health Care System.

WHAT: Change.Gov Health Care Discussion
WHEN: Thursday, December 18th from 6-8pm
WHERE: Monterey Democratic Headquarters, 60 Bonifacio Plaza in Downtown Monterey

It is hard to believe that Travelodge workers have been denied justice for more than 4 years.  Unite HERE Local 483 has continued to rally for the cause of the workers ofr the Monterey Bay Travelodge on North Fremont in Monterey for four years now.  The contract for the thirteen Latino Travelodge workers expired in December 2003, the hotel owner, Kilsoo Seo, of Bethel Alaska, instituted his own demands without coming to agreement with Local 483.
The Monterey Bay Travelodge workers now face:

• ELIMINATION of all their health insurance,
• ELIMINATION of their pension plan,
• FREEZE of their hourly wages at $8.84, and
• an INCREASE in their WORKDAY by 30 minutes without pay (unpaid lunch break).

Let us stand with them.

What: Rally for the Monterey Bay Travelodge Workers: 4 Years of the Boycott
When: Thursday, December 18 from 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Where: 2030 North Fremont Street, Monterey

If you can, please bring food or gifts for the workers and their families.

For more information see the Boycott Website.

Got Food? Over 40,000 Californians Don't -
Help us Fight Hunger during the Holidays
In California, it's estimated that 10% of people have to skip or shrink meals to get by, including 3% who so lack food that they experience the physical pains of hunger.  Hunger can be hard to see in the US.  It's the mom feeding her kids oatmeal for dinner every night at the end of the month.  It's the senior making the can of soup with twice as much water to make it last longer.  And it's the kids standing in pantry lines with their parents eagerly inspecting the bags of groceries they receive.
 
You can help eliminate hunger in your community by joining forces with the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council and the Monterey County Democrats and donating your non-perishable food items to the Monterey County Food Bank.
 
Please bring your non-perishable food items to our offices at:
 
Salinas Valley                                                           Monterey Peninsula
CLC & Democratic Headquarters                           Democratic Headquarters
931 E. Market St. - Salinas                                      60 Bonifacio Plaza, Monterey

You can also participate in their virtual food drive.

Food will be donated to the Food Bank for Monterey County

To learn more about hunger and get involved visit:
The Monterey County Food Bank
Feeding America

How would you like to save money, make your family and friends happy and support Democratic values? You can, by shopping at a local Shop For Change!

We have a great selection of T-shirts, mugs, buttons, refrigerator magnets and more, featuring Barack, Joe, Michelle, Jill, and logos for Obama-Biden, the Inauguration and the Democratic Party.



One or more of our gifts can be yours in exchange for a donation as low as $1.00 - so drop by soon!

You can find a Shop For Change at these HQ locations:
Monterey Peninsula
60 Bonifacio Plaza, Monterey (click for a map)
Hours of operation: Mon: 3-6; Tue: 12-8; Wed: 12-6; Thu: 3-6; Fri: 12-3.  Call ahead for details: 333-0101.

Salinas Valley
931 E Market St. Salinas (click for a map)
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 9-5.

And coming soon: our web store
Very soon now you'll be able to shop online for our great Dem gear. Stay tuned for an update with the URL of our online store!