THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
It is full summer as I write this ... beautiful long sunny days with clear blue skies ... true California weather. We are very fortunate to live in such a wonderful place. Currently there are so many issues of concern to League members at every level of government that it is hard to decide where to focus. I try to remember to "think globally while acting locally" and to keep a positive attitude for the future. We CAN make a difference and we must try to do so.
The League did not take a vacation this summer as considerable activity has been going on. Our new board will meet on August 20, before you receive this newsletter. Welcome to our new board members: Danielle Smith (Secretary), Timmi Sellers (Government), Eileen Tremain (Publicity), Ruthann Donahue (State and National Action), and Wolfgang Haas (member at large).
The Handbook Committee has prepared a new and improved Handbook that you will receive before our first General Meeting on September 10, thanks to the hard work of Jeanne Melaugh and Sandy Smith.
We had a small turnout for the lecture we cosponsored on Single Payer Universal Healthcare in California late in June. Those present did hear an excellent and informative presentation. It was convincing that this option would be far better for California than the current situation. The Kuehl bill, SB 921, which supports this approach (and has been endorsed as our first choice by LWVC) has been put off by Ms. Kuehl to the next session to have a better chance of passage.
Action continued in our fight against Senator McPherson's SB149, the proposal to dissolve the directly elected water board of the Monterey Peninsula and replace it with mayoral appointees. The bill was heard in the State Assembly Local Government Committee. Robin Tokmakian, LWVC Natural Resources Director and our former president, testified before them against the bill on July 1st. The LWVC supported our position with a strongly worded letter to McPherson, thanks largely to Robin's efforts. This committee favorably amended the bill, and it went to the Elections Committee on July 8.
The LWVMP wrote our representative John Laird, and he finally took a position against SB149. Laird's support was crucial in causing the bill to be amended. I drove to Sacramento to testify before the Elections Committee on July 8, with League members Molly Erickson, Fran Farina and Judy Lehman. It was my first time representing the League in the Legislature, and it was a terrific experience. The bill is still being worked on in committee. On July 6, the LWVMP wrote to Assemblyman Laird supporting the priority of affordable housing to receive any new water mandated by the bill. Also, a letter was written on August 8th to Assemblymember Steinberg stressing our concerns about the amendments to SB149.
Action was also taken in the form of written comments on the Marina Heights EIR, housing on Fort Ord (letter to FORA), and cruise ship emissions in Monterey Bay. Thanks to Phil Smith, Jean Esary, and Janet Brennan for their efforts. A joint letter from the LWVMP and the LWVSV was sent to the editors of all the county newspapers recommending approval of Measure Q, the one-half percent Natividad Sales Tax.
Our September "Lunch and Learn with the League" General Meeting will present Measure Q in depth. Please plan on being there. We will continue to meet at the Elks' Lodge in Monterey, with easy parking, good food, excellent conversation, and information on the issues of the day. See you soon!
--Marilyn Maxner,President
