President's Report

By Carol Fuller
As I write this, Democrats everywhere are still trying to get their heads around the concept of a President Trump, and are hoping our fears won’t be realized. It’s hard to figure out which front to defend first, but soldier on we must. We can only hope that the threat his presidency presents will lead to the increased involvement of millions of people to defend the values we hold dear.

This month there are at least two good opportunities to show up and be counted. One is the annual Roe v Wade 44 th Anniversary Brunch on January 21 st . The speakers this year have been on the forefront of assisting women in accessing reproductive health services both nationally and in California. Yamani Hernandes is the Executive Director of the National Network of Abortion Funds. Yamani will provide an overview of their work in assisting women access services in many parts of the country where there is no public funding for abortion, and clinics are few and far between. Their clients have many barriers to getting the services they need and to which they have a constitutional right, including funding for services, transportation, lodging, child care and a myriad of other challenges. You may believe that living in California where abortion is publicly funded, women would not face these kinds of obstacles, but you would be wrong. Samar Azam-Yu, Executive Director of ACCESS Women’s Health Justice, will give us a look at the difficulties low income women in California often face in getting the reproductive health services they need. For more information see the calendar in this issue of the Bellringer.

That same day there will be a local Women’s March in support of the national Women’s March being held in D.C. . It kicks off at Santa Cruz City Hall at 1:30 and ends at Louden Nelson Community Center, where there will be a rally with speakers and information tables. Again for more details see the calendar.

We must prepare to fight for a healthy and safe future for all. See you on the 21st.

Carol

831-423-2356

fulkins@cruzio.com

Legislative Update

By Maureen McCarty
In case you didn't get a chance to read the response by California Legislative Leaders following the Presidential Election, it's included here. The resolve of the Legislature to protect the health and welfare of all Californians is strengthened by the recent hiring of former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to serve as outside counsel. The State stands ready.

Joint Statement from California Legislative Leaders on Result of Presidential Election

Today, we woke up feeling like strangers in a foreign land, because yesterday Americans expressed their views on a pluralistic and democratic society that are clearly inconsistent with the values of the people of California.

We have never been more proud to be Californians.

By a margin in the millions, Californians overwhelmingly rejected politics fueled by resentment, bigotry, and misogyny.

The largest state of the union and the strongest driver of our nation’s economy has shown it has its surest conscience as well.

California is – and must always be – a refuge of justice and opportunity for people of all walks, talks, ages and aspirations – regardless of how you look, where you live, what language you speak, or who you love.

California has long set an example for other states to follow. And California will defend its people and our progress. We are not going to allow one election to reverse generations of progress at the height of our historic diversity, scientific advancement, economic output, and sense of global responsibility.

We will be reaching out to federal, state and local officials to evaluate how a Trump Presidency will potentially impact federal funding of ongoing state programs, job-creating investments reliant on foreign trade, and federal enforcement of laws affecting the rights of people living in our state. We will maximize the time during the presidential transition to defend our accomplishments using every tool at our disposal.

While Donald Trump may have won the presidency, he hasn’t changed our values. America is greater than any one man or party. We will not be dragged back into the past. We will lead the resistance to any effort that would shred our social fabric or our Constitution.

California was not a part of this nation when its history began, but we are clearly now the keeper of its future.