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Stop by the WSDW booth (between 63rd & 61st Av SW) at the Alki Summer Streets Event this Sunday, May 19th.
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MAY'S MEETING INFORMATION
So a new plan emerged. Members were so enthused about the presentation by "Boca" last month on immigration reform that the executive board decided to have an "Immigration Reform, Part II!" Kaeley Pruitt-Hamm, local coordinator of the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) will be speaking to us about her group's work here and in Central and South America and answering our questions about immigration reform.
CISPES is a 501(c)(4) and is not associated with any political party. It is currently acting to affect change in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) be
ing negotiated by the Administration. The latter is an effort to privatize education and other essential services in El Salvador. Kaeley is studying the parallels between Salvadoreans and Americans in poverty.
Ann Martin, Chair
206-935-4693
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A Update from Ann...
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Welcome to May, a month in which the state legislature is finally through with its long session legislative duties. Okay, so that’s not quite true. As we all now know by now, Governor Islee has called a special session to deal with the budget and other important issues that have yet to be acted on by both houses of the legislature.
Why the delay? Well, despite the fact that the governorship and the majorities in both houses were Democrats, the state senate was hamstrung by a political maneuver that stole the majority role from the Democrats and gave it to a “Coalition Majority.” This gave committee chairs to Republican senators who stood in opposition to many of the progressive solutions supported by the people of Washington. Those solutions supported by the Democratic Party could not make it onto the senate floor.
Instead of easing gridlock, the formation of this coalition slowed the process and made it impossible to move forward in the regular session. (Sounds a lot like what’s been happening in the other Washington.) What’s the solution? Well, first we should work to unseat those Democrats who joined the Republicans to cause this situation. Remember these names – Rodney Tom (48thLegislative District) and Tim Sheldon (35th Legislative District). Act – send a few dollars (or more) to the Washington State Democratic Senate Campaign, chaired by our own Senator Sharon Nelson, at https://wasenatedemocrats.fastercampaigns.com/. And when the campaigning starts, volunteer to help Democrats running against these senators.
We expected to have a chance to talk to our legislators at our May meeting, but we will likely have to postpone unafter the special session. Watch for an update on this page!
Ann Martin, Chair
West Seattle Democratic Women
martinhtam@gmail.com
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"JENNY'S" TRAVEL LOG"
Saturday, May 4th, Gathering of Neighbors
Diane & "Jenny" "wo"manning the WSDW booth. Note "Jenny's" cool sunglasses (it was a very beautiful day) and her "I heart Dow" button.
"Jenny", ever the social butterfly and loyal Dem, had to go over to see how the 34th was doing. Les and Steve were delighted she came to visit.
"Jenny", always active at the WSDW Outreach table, took time to speak with Tanya Baer, Vendor Chair, of the upcoming 7th Annual Delridge Day Festival on Saturday, August 17th at the Delridge Community Center and Park. "Jenny" assured everyone that WSDW will be there. "Jenny" wants everyone to know she'd just luvvv to have you stop by to see her!
HISTORY OF THE DONKEY AS THE DEMOCRATS MASCOT!!
"A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion,"Harper’s Weekly,
January 15, 1870, p.48.
The donkey first appeared as a symbol for the Democratic Party
in the 1830s when the Democrat Andrew Jackson was President. The donkey continued in American political commentary as a symbol for the Democratic Party thereafter. Thomas Nast built upon this legacy and used his extraordinary skill to amplify it. For a time, the rooster also served as the symbol of the Democratic Party, but gradually the donkey replaced it in popular usage after the 1880s. Nast first used the donkey as a symbol for the Democratic Party in "A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion" published January 15, 1870, in Harper's Weekly to comment on Northern Democrats (nicknamed Copperheads) dealings with Edwin M. Stanton, Lincoln's Secretary of War.
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EVENTS CALENDAR - See "In More Detail" Tab*
May 19th WSDW - Outreach @ Alki Summer Streets
May 23rd WSDW Monthly Meeting - Legislative Update on
the shenanigans and going on's at the recent state
legislative session.
June 13th WSDW - Human Trafficking Committee Meeting
June 13th WSDW - Eboard Meeting
June 22nd WSDW - Outreach @ the Morgan Street Festival
June 27th WSDW Monthly Meeting - Former Deputy
Secretary HUD & former King County Executive
RON SIMS - speaking on "Volunteering as a Political
Act" *
July 11th WSDW - Human Trafficking Committee Meeting
July 11th WSDW - Eboard Meeting
July 25th WSDW Monthly Meeting - A delightful Bull, rather
COW, session on the events of the day!
August 8th WSDW - Human Trafficking Committee Meeting
August 8th WSDW - Eboard Meeting
August 22nd WSDW Monthly Meeting - Picnic @ Lincoln Park
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WSDW'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING
COMMITTEE'S ACTION TIMELINE
COMING SOON!
If you suspect human trafficking and would like to make a tip, please call 888-3737-888.
WHERE DO YOU GO TO GET QUALITY INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ACTIVITY? We'll be listing various sources of information; however, one of the best is
Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network (WARN)'s website: warn-trafficking.org which also provides free and confidential services to any victim of trafficking in Washington State.
