• May Membership Meeting

    Saturday, May 10th
    Time: 3:30PM

    Zoom link: https://seiu521-org.zoom.us/j/95406559582?pwd=m9NqkuTTbMWqXCfpn1RbGJhCtcT5e7.1

    Meeting ID: 954 0655 9582
    Passcode: 725170

  • Join our monthly Membership Meetings, every second Saturday at 3:30PM via Zoom.

    Join Zoom at 3:30PM:

    https://seiu521-org.zoom.us/j/95406559582?pwd=m9NqkuTTbMWqXCfpn1RbGJhCtcT5e7.1

    EventDateTime
    Bakersfield Fundraiser-
    1628 Country Club Dr. Bakersfield, CA 93306
    Saturday, April 12th5PM
    May Membership MeetingSaturday, May 10th3:30PM
    June Membership MeetingSaturday, June 14th3:30PM
    July Membership MeetingSaturday, July 12th3:30PM
    August Membership MeetingSaturday, August 9th3:30PM
    September Membership MeetingSaturday, September 13th3:30PM
    October Membership MeetingSaturday, October 11th3:30PM
    November Membership MeetingSaturday, November 8th3:30PM

  • Recommendations for November 5, 2024

    The Community Alliance newspaper prints a guide for voters every election cycle.  This gives readers the ability to see who is endorsing candidates and you can choose which values you agree with.

    The Chamber of Commerce or Organized Labor?
    The Republican Party or the Democratic Party?

    There is also a grid for all of the Ballot Measures.

    Statewide Ballot Measures—The Second Five

    BY RACHEL YOUDELMAN

    As noted in last month’s issue, your Nov. 5 ballot will include 10 statewide measures ranging from repairs for public school buildings to increasing the minimum wage. Other issues, including rent control, climate action, prisoner labor measures and a proposal for harsher penalties for theft and drug crimes will also be presented to voters for important, consequential decisions. Last month, we presented Propositions 2–6. As promised, below is the second set of five of November’s 10 ballot measures, Propositions 32–36. These measures will determine how Californians will live their daily lives, so every vote counts. Remember: Not voting is still a vote—for the other side.

    Read more:   https://fresnoalliance.com/statewide-ballot-measures-the-second-five/

    (To read Part 1 about Statewide ballot measures, go to: https://fresnoalliance.com/statewide-ballot-measures-the-first-five/ )

    Prop 36 a Dangerous Ruse 

    BY BOB MCCLOSKEY

    California Proposition 36, the Drug and Theft Crime Penalties and Treatment-Mandated Felonies Initiative, is on the November ballot. If passed by voters, years of successful sentencing reform and funding are in jeopardy. It is a dangerous ruse, and its sponsors are gaslighting the public.

    Read more:  https://fresnoalliance.com/prop-36-a-dangerous-ruse/

    Are the Districts Gerrymandered?

    BY JAMES MENDEZ

    We are in the final stretch of the election season. Ballots will be mailed out to voters on Oct. 7.  Even though Election Day isn’t until Nov. 5, once voters receive their ballots they can vote by mailing in their ballots or dropping them off at drop boxes throughout the county or at the Registrar of Voters office at 2221 Kern Street in downtown Fresno.

    Read more:    https://fresnoalliance.com/are-the-districts-gerrymandered/

    Local Congressional Races

    BY JAMES MENDEZ

    Since at least October 1805, Americans have heard the phrase, “This election is the most important of our lifetimes.”1  This year, it is more true than ever.There are many electoral races this November.

    Read more: https://fresnoalliance.com/local-congressional-races/

    Trump: Immigrants Are Eating Pets and Stealing Jobs

    BY SUNITA SOHRABJI

    Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump went full throttle on immigrants during the Sept. 10 Presidential debate, vowing to deport at least 15 million migrants immediately after taking office. “These people coming in…they’re eating the dogs. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” said the former president, referencing debunked reports of Haitian migrants trapping animals and barbecuing them in Springfield, Ohio.

    Read more: https://fresnoalliance.com/trump-immigrants-are-eating-pets-and-stealing-jobs/

    Falling Out with Historical Allies

    BY JAMES MENDEZ

    Recent events on the Fresno electoral scene clearly demonstrate that the goals of elected officials are not always 100% in alignment with the goals of their supporters or groups that have supported them in the past. Although it is unreasonable to expect any group to agree with an individual all the time, we are seeing an unusual falling out of those who had been historical allies this year.

    Read more: https://fresnoalliance.com/falling-out-with-historical-allies/

    These are the Central Valley Progressive PAC’s endorsed candidates. This is from our Sponsored Page in the October Community Alliance newspaper.

  • Hello All,

    CVPPAC September meeting will be an Endorsement meeting for the General Election. We will be making endorsements on local races from Fresno Unified School District Trustee Board to State Center Community College Board.

    Please make sure your membership is update! Need to be a member to vote on endorsements:https://cvppac.org/join-us/

    Please join us for an exciting Endorsement Meeting!

    What: CVPPAC Endorsement Meeting
    When: Saturday, September 14th ay 3:30PM
    Where: 3097 Tulare Street Fresno, CA 93721

    In Solidarity,

    Simone Cranston-Rhodes
    Community Political Organizer 
    SEIU 521
    Cell (559) 978-4504
    Email: simone.rhodes@seiu521.org
    http://www.seiu521.org/
    twitter @seiu521

    Candidate Name: Joseph C. Aquino

    Candidate Name: Andy Levine

    Candidate Name: Elizabeth Jonasson

    Candidate Name: Nasreen Johnson

    Candidate Name: Dan Bordona

    Candidate Name: Crystal Jackson

  • You can read the (.pdf) print version of this article, as it appeared in the August 2024 Community Alliance newspaper, below. There are features that allow viewers to increase the size of the pages for easier reading. Simply place your cursor over the content and click to access the feature to enlarge and move the image.

  • Group Photo
    Nancy Waidtlow, Patience Milrod, Carole Goldsmith, Cristina Gutierrez, Yesdasi Córdoba, Rachel Carpenter, Gerry Bill, Richard D. Iyall, Margie Delgado, Dee Barnes, Simone Cranston-Rhodes, Pam Whalen, Belinda Guerrero, Janice Walters, Lynn Jacobsson, Loretta Kensinger, Joan Poss, Mike Rhodes, Heather Evans, Jeni Kren, David L Rowell, James Mendez, Paul Pierce, Ron Martin, Eduardo Stanley, Cecilia Castro, Matthew Gillian, Bryce Herrera, Maura Córdoba Castellón, Karen Gillian, Marcella Graves, Kevin Walters, Mattie Thomas. Photo by Howard K. Watkins

    The November 5th general election is hurdling towards us and Fresno Progressives gathered together two days after Joe Biden’s disastrous debate, which was the topic of several conversations.  The Central Valley Progressive PAC (CVPPAC) held a wine and cheese fundraiser, giving attendees an opportunity to socialize, listen to some great music and hear:

    Carole Goldsmith, Chancellor of the State Center Community College District, who gave the featured presentation about her work to increase access to higher education for working class students.

    Cristina Guitierrez, with Californians for Pesticide Reform, shared the critical lobbying being done to create a buffer zone for pesticides near schools and communities close to valley farmland.

    Yesdasi Córdoba, an organizer for the United Farm Workers Union, who reported on her participation in organizing a union victory in a sweet potato operation in the Merced area.

    The music by Steve Ono wafted through the air as attendees shared thoughts about the upcoming election, caught up with old friends and enjoyed a glass of wine.

    The CVPPAC focuses on local elections and sometimes statewide races/ propositions.  You are invited to their next meeting by Zoom on Saturday July 13.  Go to http://www.cvppac.org for details  The CVPPAC endorsement meeting will be held on September 14 and all members are encouraged to attend.  You can become a member at the website mentioned above.

    4915
    Hosts Heather and Art Evans. Photo by Howard K. Watkins
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    Janice Walters, Belinda Guerrero and Heather Evans. Photo by Howard K. Watkins.
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    Howard K. Watkins, Patience Milrod and Paul Pierce
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    President of the CVPPAC, Simone Cranston-Rhodes. Photo by Howard K. Watkins
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    Steve Ono played music at the CVPPAC wine and cheese fundraiser. Photo by Howard K. Watkins
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    Pam Whalen. Photo by Howard K. Watkins