The Democratic Party is a bottom-up organization. Its candidates, policies and goals reflect the will of the Democratic voters it represents. So, too, does the California Democratic Party, including the Placer Democratic Central Committee and its chartered clubs.

In the coming months, Placer County Democratic voters will have several opportunities to dictate who they want to represent our party on the campaign trail and what policies they want the party to support. This will happen through the pre-endorsement and endorsement process which culminates in March of 2022.

The strength of our nation relies on human resources to power it politically, militarily, and economically. Our citizens are the power behind our successful American way-of-life. This power is 100% dependent on the good health of all American citizens.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared in its Constitution of 1946, that “enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health.' has been recognized as a 'fundamental right’ internationally."

Editor’s note: We don't usually include content written by news services, but the message of this report is a warning to us all. The United States has long been a beacon of democracy to the world but the coming elections are about more than just our ongoing Red vs Blue battle. As Superman said, it’s about “Truth, justice and the American way,” reminding us our battle extends well past our borders.

CBS News online:
Stockholm — The United States has joined an annual list of "backsliding" democracies for the first time, the International IDEA think-tank said on Monday, pointing to a "visible deterioration" that it said began in 2019. Globally, more than one in four people live in a backsliding democracy, a proportion that rises to more than two in three with the addition of authoritarian or "hybrid" regimes, according to the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

The California Democratic Party (CADEM) and the PCDCC Legislative Committees are tasked with analyzing federal and state legislation, including State ballot propositions for endorsement consideration. On the PCDCC level, our legislative committee has the additional task of recommending local ballot propositions. Legislative sessions occur within two-year periods where legislation is introduced and transacted. Upon conclusion of a legislative session, those that are not transacted “die,” but can be reintroduced into future legislative sessions. We are currently in the 2021-2022 Federal and California State legislative periods. The CADEM Legislative Committee is under dynamic new leadership, evidenced by their productivity in legislation and ballot proposition endorsements. During the 2021-2022 Legislative sessions, the PCDCC reinvented itself, providing more legislative endorsements in 2021, by the PCDCC membership than previous years. We have also included another factor in the endorsement process – researching and announcing those bills the PCDCC membership will not endorse and the reasoning why.

If you ask economists about inflation, you will receive many differing opinions. On the one hand, they will say that the current supply/demand inflation is a sign of a healthy economy trying to adjust rapidly to leaving the COVID shutdowns. The current problems with supply chain issues are a perfect example. Factories were closed, all those shipping containers – as well as ships - were in the wrong place and the fossil fuel industry reduced production while no one was driving, and planes sat idle.

Most economists tell us not to worry as this will all work itself out as supply catches up to demand. On the other hand, other economists will point to systemic problems with our national and world economy. We don’t produce enough here of what we consume thus relying on places like China. A decaying infrastructure doesn’t help either. Our economy is a complicated affair although politicians – and just about everyone - are looking for simple answers. On the “one hand or the other”, that is why Harry Truman always wanted a “one handed” economist. Like the TV weatherman, economists always hedge their forecasts for unforeseen circumstances. Nothing is ever simple when you are not 100% sure of the future and there are always multiple reasons for economic conditions.

So, let’s look at the supply chain.

When we recently bid farewell and thanks to George Mellen, the Central Committee Controller, it was natural to have felt some uncertainty as to who could replace him. This, after all, is a position requiring special skills to track expenditures and categorize different types of revenue, operating within the boundaries of the law. Surprisingly, Neil Pople stepped up as an experienced candidate, willing to take on this role.

Well - another expected, yet disturbing outcome from the Placer County Board of Supervisors (BOS). The BOS had an opportunity to opt for an Independent Commission to bring forward a new map for Placer County but, instead, decided to keep that control to themselves. They sent the work over to the Planning Commission, which surprise, were all appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The entire process was a complete sham.

The Board held "Public Workshops", to which the public was invited and comments were allowed, but they never took any of the public comments and made changes to the staff maps. The members of the public who made maps themselves, decided to get together and collaborate on maps, to work in as much of the public feedback as possible, all while facing the legal requirements for compactness, communities of interest, cities intact, population variance, and contiguity. This group met with community members throughout Placer County, as well as local elected leaders, and applied the feedback to the maps to ensure as many concerns were met as possible. Hundreds of hours were invested by community members Julia Sweeney, Amber Beckler, Wayne Nader and me, which resulted in at least three collaborative hybrid maps that met the requirements and are, we believe, superior to any of the staff maps.

This past Tuesday afternoon, November 30th, the BOS were presented the maps recommended by the Planning Commission, as well as the Hybrid maps submitted by the public.

The strength of our nation relies on human resources to power it politically, militarily, and economically. Our citizens are the power behind our successful American way-of-life. This power is 100% dependent on the good health of American citizens.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared in its Constitution of 1946, that “enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health.' has been recognized as a 'fundamental right’ internationally.”[1] In a presentation to the World Health Organization by United Health Care Roundtable on April 12, 2018, Nduka Obaigvena, publisher of Thisday, was quoted as saying, "a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, and every life matters." The report continued to argue, government cannot be relied upon solely to enact universal healthcare.

Does local government matter? It depends on your perspective, of course, but there is a great deal more happening at the local level that impacts your life directly. Most media articles are focused on state and national elected officials but the place where democracy hits the ground running is your local elected officials.

Depending on where you live in Placer County, you may have a local water, fire or utility district as well as school board districts, city councils and the county Board of Supervisors. There’s even an Airport District in Placer County (surprise! to me but you learn a lot by joining the Campaign Services Committee). Many of these offices are lightly contested but some are quite heated and controversial - especially school boards currently. In addition to elected officials, many citizens are appointed by elected bodies to Planning Commissions, Utility Commissions, Mental Health Commissions and Senior Commissions. Most of these meetings are also available online.

In recent weeks, refugees have become a focal point of discussion in the U.S., both positive and negative. Media reports have shown the work of U.S. troops departing Afghanistan as thousands of Afghans desperately trying to flee with them. We watched helplessly as they struggled, with palpable fear, to get seats for themselves and their families on a plane flying to unknown destinations. Many were destined for states in America; some for California.

Central America is facing drought and the resulting crop failures. Children are showing signs of stunted physical and mental growth from lack of food. Desperate people are leaving their land, becoming indebted to gang warlords and walking for days/weeks in search of asylum in our country. What does asylum mean? Do we serve these people best by supporting their countries with financial aid? Does the aid reach them or become lost in governmental corruption? When they arrive at their destination, does their dream come true, and at what price?

We recently learned that George Mellen, Central Committee Controller, will soon be stepping down as he and his wife, Ladon, relocate to Eureka to be near their daughter and her soon-to-be husband. Like many of us, this is another stop on the road of life that George has travelled.

To fully appreciate the friend we have known, we asked George to share some personal details. He generously responded, beginning with his early years in Ohio, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree from Miami University and a graduate degree at Ohio State, majoring in Political Science and Economics. Upon graduating, he began down his road of life by moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan, working for several years at the University of Michigan where he picked up some information technology skills. Responding to a variety of factors, George moved further down his life’s road to the west coast where he happily landed in Silicon Valley, working for Hewlett Packard for the next 31 years. Midway through his career, George and Ladon, who he met on a blind date, realized that he could transfer to Hewlett Packard in Roseville and live in a better place to raise children,

Governor Newsom succeeded in his mission to accomplish the largest broadband infrastructure project in our era with the vital passage of the Communications Broadband Bill SB-156 through both Houses of our California State Legislature. This provides the dynamic guidance for implementing the actions needed on the "five-pack" of broadband bills currently running through the State legislative process at this moment.

Governor Newsom's signature on July 20, 2021 was the final step in enacting the many actions this bill will accomplish in providing internet service equally throughout the State of California's rural and urban communities, giving them high speed quality service when accessing educational opportunities, health related services, government programs, and small business expansion opportunities.

A message to Placer DEMS from JAN BELL, Former Placer County Candidate Services Chair

For years, we have debated how much time to spend on national politics vs. local politics. After nearly 10 years as a political activist, I believe the answer to that question is we must do BOTH. So, I'd advise everyone to quit the debate and develop a “Top-Down Strategy” and a “Bottom-Up Strategy” for Placer County.

We all know our lives in America are impacted by national, state and local politicians, but to get people elected at all these levels we have to work at all levels - otherwise we can't impact the national level.

One of my favorite social media moments of all time was June 25, 2013. Wendy Davis, a Texas state senator representing District 10, single-handedly held a thirteen-hour-long filibuster to block restrictive abortion regulations in Texas. Public seating was full, crowds were gathered outside, food trains were created to help feed the people there. The outpouring of support was across district lines, as Texas women from all over the state showed up in support. She was successful, and an instant icon.

But here’s the thing:
NO ONE WAS REPORTING ON IT.

Why do I know about it? Someone live-streamed it on Twitter.

How did the Women’s March organize 5 million marchers across the globe? As the National External Communications Manager for the Women’s March, I can tell you. Facebook and Twitter, with a side of Slack.

How did Obama win the 2008 election, when he was an unknown a few years earlier? He didn’t leave his social media to chance. He had a defined platform that he strategized when and how to drip out on socials.