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Serving the people of San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Morgan Hill & Gilroy
February 2024
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President's Message
Short month is full of events
A brief but sweet (appropriate for Valentine's Day) message for February. Our 2024 election year launch event was a huge success. See photos below. Thank you to everyone who joined us that day and joined in the conversation about the future of our democracy. We hope to see you many more times in the coming months.
February is full of League events and activities, some hosted by our League and some presented by other Leagues in the county. There is something for every interest so please look carefully at the list of opportunities.
Diane
Diane McNutt, President
Diane.McNutt@lwvsjsc.org
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Sad passing of LWV national president Dr. Deborah Turner
Dr. Deborah Ann Turner, President of LWVUS, passed away Jan. 28, 2024 from complications from a pulmonary embolism. As noted by the national LWV office, Dr. Turner was the consummate leader who poured her heart and soul into the preservation of our democracy. Her leadership exemplified grace, empathy, strength, and determination, and we will forever be grateful for her passion and dedication to this organization. Read more about her amazing life. The League and the nation will miss her.
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Virtual Lunch with League
Zahra Billoo
Executive Director, San Francisco Bay Area
Council on American-Islamic Relations
Thursday, Feb. 15
12 noon-1 p.m. via Zoom
Zahra Billoo serves as the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), San Francisco Bay Area, one of the largest CAIR offices in the country. She leads a team of civil rights and social justice advocates dedicated to the empowerment of American Muslims through legal services, legislative advocacy, and community organizing.
She is currently a fellow with Levi Strauss Foundation Pioneers in Justice and a senior fellow with the American Leadership Forum’s Silicon Valley Chapter. She is an alumna of Rockwood’s Fellowship for a New California, LeaderSpring’s Executive Directors Fellowship, and USC’s American Muslim Civil Leadership Institute. Zahra earned her undergraduate degrees from the California State University, Long Beach, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings. She is licensed to practice law in California.
Outside of her work with CAIR, Zahra bakes birthday cakes for foster children through Cake4Kids and is a coordinator for Project Feed, a monthly homeless feeding effort in downtown San Francisco.
REGISTER now for this webinar and ask questions you would like our speaker to address in her talk. This event is free and open to the public so please pass along this invitation to others.
COMING UP IN MARCH
The March 21 Virtual Lunch With League will feature Kerrie Romanow, Chief Sustainability Officer and Director of the Environmental Services Department for the City of San José, speaking on the city's Climate Action Plan.
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Coffee & Connections
Tuesday, Feb. 20, 9-11 a.m.
iJava Café, 2306 Almaden Rd., San Jose
Drop in to meet other members and friends for casual conversation about the League and our projects. To help us plan, please SIGN UP.
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Our League held two successful Candidates Forums in January in partnership with two community organizations. Working with the San Jose City Council District 7 Leadership Group, an in-person Candidates Forum focused on the race for Santa Clara County Supervisor District 2. A second in-person Forum with San Jose City Council District 2 Leadership Group featured candidates for that district's City Council seat. Both groups were appreciative of the League's expertise and professionalism in organizing and conducting the forums. Special thanks for Gloria Chun Hoo who served as moderator and Michelle Fernandez who was the timer for both events.
Listed below are virtual Candidates Forums currently scheduled in February by Leagues in Santa Clara County. Remember that your districts may have changed due to redistricting. You can confirm those that will be on your ballot by accessing VOTE411.org for a copy of your personal ballot.
U.S. Congressional District 16
Saturday, Feb. 3, 4 p.m.
Candidates: Joby B. Bernstein, Peter Dixon, Rishi Kumar, Sam Liccardo, Evan Low, Julie Lythcott-Haims, Ahmed Mostafa, Peter Ohtaki, Karl Ryan, Joe Simitian, Greg Lin Tanaka
Hosted by: LWV Palo Alto
Register here
Santa Clara County Judge of the Superior Court, Office 5
Tuesday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.
Candidates: Jay Boyarsky, Nicole M. Ford, Johnene Linda Stebbins
Hosted by: LWV Southwest Santa Clara Valley
Register here
California State Assembly District 23
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m.
Candidates: Marc Berman, Lydia Kou, Allan K. Marson, Gus Mattammal
Hosted by: LWV Los Altos/Mountain View
Register here
U.S. Congressional District 17
Monday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m.
Candidates: Anita Chen, Joe Dehn, Ro Khanna, Mario Art Ramirez, Ritesh Tandon
Hosted by: LWV Cupertino/Sunnyvale
Register here
California State Senate District 13
Monday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m.
Candidates: Josh Becker, Alexander Glew, Christina Laskowski
Hosted by: LWV Southwest Santa Clara Valley
Register here
CA State Assembly District 26
Thursday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.
Candidates: Patrick Ahrens, Omar Din, Ashish Garg, Bob Goodwyn
Hosted by: LWV Cupertino/Sunnyvale
Register here
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The League has three opportunities coming up to attend community events to register voters, answer questions about elections, and promote civic engagement.
The San Jose Museum of Art has invited the League to set up an information/voter registration table at its Lunar New Year celebration on Feb. 17, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and at First Friday evenings, 6-9 p.m. throughout 2024. To sign up for a shift, contact Voter Service Chair Sandy Mory.
Gavilan College in Gilroy is in the early stages of planning an event this spring that would feature the League speaking about the importance of voting and what is expected to be on the ballot in November. If you would be interested in being involved in this activity, please email Voter Service Chair Sandy Mory
High School Voter Week is scheduled for April 15-26 and the Santa Clara County Office of Education welcomes League participation. Activities include visiting schools and speaking in classes. For more details contact Board Education Liaison Rosaleen Zisch.
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Prop 1: Mental Health Care and Addiction Treatment Reform & Bonds to Build Places for Treatment and Supportive Housing
Learn about Proposition 1 from our Pros & Cons team. You are invited to join us via Zoom on Tuesday, Feb. 13 when Martha Beattie and Tom Charron will present a nonpartisan Pros & Cons analysis for Proposition1 from 6:30-7 p.m., and then be available to answer your questions from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Invite your friends and family, too.
This is a complex measure, so we have time to more thoroughly explore what it means because it is the only proposition on the ballot. Questions can be submitted ahead of time when you register to attend this Zoom webinar or you may put them in Chat during the presentation. If you can't attend, you may view the online recording after the event.
How will you vote?
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Impact of Artificial Intelligence on elections and democracy
LWV Southwest Santa Clara Valley is presenting a three-part series about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can impact elections and our democracy. AI has emerged as a rapidly evolving force influencing the way we live, work, and interact. As with any new technology, AI brings opportunities as well as risks to our society. ChatGPT and other AI tools are now available for anyone to create fake images, videos and audio in easier and faster ways. AI-generated content is also showing up in political campaigns. It has become increasingly difficult for voters to discern what information we can trust. This series will:
- explore AI’s capabilities and the risks that AI can pose to elections and voting
- learn how to identify misinformation and disinformation, and some practical tools for fact-checking
- explore what can be done to create a safe and ethical framework for AI, and recent policy updates at the state, federal and international level
Session 1: What is AI & How It Could Put Elections and Democracy At Risk
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 7-8 p.m.
Speaker: Susan Gonzales, Founder of AI and You
Register
Session 2: The Impact of AI and Misinformation on Voting & What Can We Do About It
Saturday, Feb. 17, 10-11 a.m.
Speaker: Kathleen Tobin, MediaWise
Register
Session 3: AI and Public Policy
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 7-8 p.m.
Speakers: Irina Raicu, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University
Ann Ravel, League member, former Chair of the FCC, UC Hastings Law School
Register
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Death vs. Dollars: How Can We Deal with Chronic Diseases -- Long COVID, Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases, Asthma?
Monday, Feb. 12, 12 noon via Zoom
LWV Bay Area presents two expert speakers on this subject: Wendy Adams who has 20 years of experience in biotechnology companies working on infectious disease, cancer and autoimmunity; and Dr. Karla Kuon who is a member of the integrative medicine faculty at UCSF and the author of The Long COVID Solution. Zoom link HERE.
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2024 election year launch event
drew large crowd of concerned citizens
More than 80 League members and individuals from the community attended the special Jan. 25 Lunch With League event to launch this pivotal election year. Guest speaker Dr. Larry Gerston, political analyst for NBC Bay Area, discussed his views on "Closing the Door on American Democracy" and answered questions from the crowd about what can be done to protect the future of our country.
Attendees also participated in a survey asking for input on what League program priorities should be in the coming year, and many signed up to get more involved in League activities. Special thanks to Psycho Donuts for providing our tasty dessert and the catchy phrase "Donut forget to vote!"
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Our first in-person Lunch With League since the pandemic was a hit! Both members and others from the community enjoyed the opportunity to see old friends, make new connections, and participate in lively discussions. | |
Dr. Larry Gerston spoke with passion about his concerns for the future of democracy in the U.S. and challenged attendees to take action to preserve the Constitution and the institutions that define America. | |
Photographer: Vickie Mueller Olvera | | | | |
