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League of Women Voters of Santa Monica
Last Call for Saturday's Lunch      
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Our Mission
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.
Diversity Policy
The League of Women Voters of Santa Monica in both its values and practices, affirms its belief and commitment to diversity and pluralism, which means there shall be no barriers to participation in any activity of the LWV on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin or disability.
 

September 13, 2015  

FALL MEMBERSHIP LUNCH THIS SATURDAY
Guest Speaker City Manager, Rick Cole

Rick Cole has been the Santa Monica City Manager since late June. He comes with extensive experience in city government, most recently as Deputy Mayor for Budget and Innovation for the City of Los Angeles, overseeing five city departments with over 3,000 staff.

Before that he spent 15 years as a city manager, first in Azusa, then in Ventura. During those years he was recognized by several national organizations including being one of the "Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers" by Government Technology Magazine. Before that he served 12 years on the Pasadena City council and was Mayor when they adopted a visionary General Plan.

On Saturday Cole will focus on the top priorities recently adopted by the city council: Congestion, too many cars on our streets; affordable housing and funding; and issues involved in trying to close the airport with a slightly lower priority on those issues involving homelessness and a continuing collaboration between the city, the school district and the college.

It is interesting to note the League has local positions on the first four of these. Matching concerns.

Here is a flyer you can share with a friend. This is a free, pot luck event.  A wonderful opportunity to introduce someone new to the League.
LWVUS News
 CALL TO ACTION
Elizabeth MacNamara, our LWVUS President sent this message last week.
 
The campaign finance reports for the first half of the year are in-and they're even worse than I feared.

Far worse.

If you had any doubt that this year's explosion of Super PACs is giving a tiny number of billionaires extraordinary influence over candidates, check out a few numbers:
  • Millions of dollars raised by Super PACs backing presidential candidates in the first six months of this year: 258
  • Millions of dollars raised by Super PACs backing presidential candidates at this point in the 2012 cycle: 16
  • Number of persons contributing at least $1 million to a Super PAC: 58
The story couldn't be more clear-and the threat to our democracy more urgent.

Super PACs, which are supposed to operate independently of candidate campaigns, have instead become a massive loophole that candidates and billionaires are using to evade campaign contribution limits.

Barely even pretending to be independent, they are taking over such core campaign operations as TV ads, direct mail, phone banking, and even Get-Out-the-Vote operations.

And they're making candidates deeply dependent on a few incredibly wealthy backers.

The League of Women Voters is leading the fight to put some teeth back into the law-and we need you to take action today.

As always, thank you for your support!
 
LWVC Higher Ed Study
graduates-sm.jpg This will be excellent information as we prepare for our study meetings after the first of the year,
 
LWVSM has been invited to join the Santa Monica Democratic Club on Wednesday, September 30th from 7-9 pm for "A Conversation about Education" at the Santa Monica Public Library, Main Branch located at 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401 in the Martin Luther King Auditorium.  We are honored to have State Senator Ben Allen, Santa Monica College Board of Trustaee Member and LWVC Study committee member Louise Jaffe, and Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District Board Member Richard Tahvildaran Jesswein.  Our guests will share their insights about policy and budget priorities in education, from cradle to career and beyond, in Santa Monica and throughout the state.  Q&A to follow.  Parking available, light refreshments, public invited, no charge.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
September 19, 11:00a.m.
Fall Membership Luncheon
Guest Speaker: City Manager Rick Cole
Private home, directions with RSVP to Pres.
This is a special opportunity to bring a prospective member and introduce them to the League as well as meet our new city manager in a small group setting.
RSVP to Ann Williams for address and directions.

September 26, 10:00a.m. 
County Fall League Day--Voter Outreach 
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Pasadena
Ideas for reaching non-voters and getting out the vote.
More information and a reservation form are here.

September 28, 6:30p.m. 
Regular Board Meeting 
All members are welcome
Call or email for location 

September 30. 7:00p.m
A Conversation About Education
Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium
Santa Monica Main Library
Hosted by Santa Monica Democrat Club 
 
October 24
Save the date 
Consensus meeting on Constitutional Amendments
Time and location to be determined.
      
November 14, 1:00p.m. 
Save the date 
Consensus meeting on Money in Politics
Location to be determined 
DID YOU KNOW?
starfish.jpg
Seascape 
is now available on line at the above link. Never again wanting information the day after the paper hits the recycling! 

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League of Women Voters of Santa Monica
P. O. Box 1265
Santa Monica, CA 90406
Phone: 310-692-1494
www.lwvsantamonica.org  

 

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