OWL ALERT Sept. 27, 2020

DEADLINE WED. 9/30 URGE NEWSOM TO SIGN BILLS THAT GIVE ALL FAMILIES SUPPORT

SITUATION: AB 2520 will help low-income people and immigrants more easily apply for a variety of crucial public benefits programs. It expands access to medical records necessary to apply for these programs, as well as requires healthcare providers to complete benefit-eligibility forms for free, so families can access these programs as quickly as possible.

AB 2377 will keep more adult “board and care” facilities open, after too many have closed in recent years.  Residents with mental health and other chronic challenges have depended upon Adult Residential Facilities for critical housing, care, and support services, and this bill would help keep them open so their residents don’t become homeless.

ACTION:  Email, call Governor Newsom by Wednesday Sept 30

Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160

https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/

NO QUICK VOTE FOR NEXT U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

SITUATION: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” Ruth Baden-Ginsburg Sept.18, 2020.  Senator Mitch McConnnell is locking down key votes from Republican senators racing to replace RBG Sept. 19, 2020.  In Feb.2016, 9 months before that election, McConnell delayed Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, because it was too close to the election and the “next president should name the nominee.”  Hypocrisy in caps!

ACTION:  Please demand that these Senators honor RBG’s request, and stand strong for democracy by allowing the winner of this election to select her successor. This vote will be one of the most important these Senators can make, and will alter their legacy if they choose to disrespect the people of this country by going forward with a vote for a replacement before the next president is inaugurated. (Thank Collins and Murkowski for opposing a quick vote and urge them to hold the vote until after inauguration.)

 If you do not wish to speak with a live person, call during off-hours. 

SHARE AND URGE FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN OTHER CITIES AND  STATES TO CONTACT THEIR U.S. SENATORS – ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE INCLINED TO DISAGREE.
 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

OWL ALERT Sept 13, 2020

Funds for Your City and State Depend on U.S. Census

SITUATION:  The Republican Senate has cut short the time (by an entire month) allotted for the census to be taken.  Why??  Local governments and advocacy groups have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration arguing that an inaccurate count will cost some communities political representation and millions of federal dollars. The Census count influences  school funding, senior housing, public transit, etc. https://2020census.gov/en/community-impact.html  

ACTION:  BE COUNTED TO GET WHAT YOU DESERVE FOR YOUR CITY and STATE https://www.2020census.gov/  or 844-330-2020.  Hurry! Census information gathering currently ends SEPTEMBER 30.

ALERT YOUR SENATORS to urge an extension of the deadline back to the original October 31 date and please write and call Dr. Steven Dillingham, Director of the Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Rd, WDC 20233 or 800-923-8292 (Cust. Service) M -F 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT

SHARE AND URGE FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN OTHER CITIES AND  STATES TO CONTACT THEIR U.S. SENATORS – ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE INCLINED TO DISAGREE.
 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

SHARE WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW IN CALIFORNIA http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

“If not us, then who? if not now, then when?” John Lewis 1940-2020

URGE NEWSOM TO SIGN TASK FORCE BILLS TO STUDY REPARATIONS and DIVERSE CORPORATION BOARDS

SITUATION:  AB3121 would just set up a task force to study the idea of reparations for African Americans and AB979 just for a study requiring at least one person of an under representative group be appointed to California  corporate boards. Both bills received legislative approval and only await Governor Newsom’s signature. Here’s an interesting illustrated read on discrimination policies throughout U.S. history: https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/make-right/2015/05/14/infographic-40-acres-and-a-mule-would-be-at-least-64-trillion-today/

ACTION:   Write, email, call Governor Newsom

Governor Gavin Newsom
1303 10th Street, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160

https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/

OWL ALERT AUGUST 30, 2020

Nov 3 Election Depends on a Functioning Post Office

SITUATION:  President Trump by his actions and words is trying to UNDERMINE MAIL-IN VOTING.  He has appointed Louis DeJoy as Post Master General (no experience in the postal service, but a huge Republican donor with financial ties to an alternate shipping company, XPO Logistics).  LeJoy has dismantled mail-sorting machines and removed mailboxes from streets in several cities in order to SLOWDOWN VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT REQUESTS as well as actual incoming ballots.

ACTION:  It is paramount during this national election period that mail-in ballots with your vote will be counted on time.  Demand full funding for the USPS.  If you can, please also write to the man who should fire DeJoy on the grounds of his conflict of interest.
Robert M. Duncan, Chair USPS Bd. Of Govnrs, 475 L’Enfant Plaza West, SW, WDC 20260

CALL OR EMAIL YOUR OWN LEGISLATORS TODAY!

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

OWL ALERT August 15, 2020

 KEEP the U.S. Postal Service OPERATING

PLEASE  SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN OTHER STATES. URGE THEM TO CONTACT THEIR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS – ESPECIALLY THOSE WHOSE LEGISLATORS ARE INCLINED TO DISAGREE.  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

SITUATION:   Current administration working on undermining voting-by-mail by claiming it’s fraudulent (it carries a fraud rate of 0.00006 percent according to msn). His statements are sounding a lot like voter suppression. He’s saying he’ll veto any stimulus bill if it funds the USPS

ACTION:  Our Postal Service must be fully funded to give us on-time delivery!  Other actions to take to combat vote-by-mail suppression: When We All Vote suggests asking for multiple options to request, receive, and return mail-in ballots.  Familiarize yourself with your state’s deadlines (all of which are available here).  Voters can drop their ballots in designated collection boxes managed by election officials,

CALL OR EMAIL YOUR OWN LEGISLATORS TODAY!

OWL ALERT August 8, 2020

 Fully Fund The U.S. Postal Service

PLEASE  SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN OTHER STATES. ASK THEM TO CONTACT THEIR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

If not us then who? if not now, then when?

SITUATION:    Our USPS (United States Postal Service) is on the brink of bankruptcy and needs funding to continue the delivery of mail. To save our elections, Congress must appropriate significantly more funding to support clean polling places, additional poll workers, early voting, and mail-in ballots. The $400 million provided by the CARES Act covers only 10 percent of the funds needed. Without full funding, our country will not be able to guarantee fair, secure, and safe elections in 2020.

ACTION:  You depend on timely delivery by the USPS for medication or for your mail-in-ballot vote to be delivered and counted on time.  Our Postal Service must be fully funded to give us on-time delivery!  

CALL OR EMAIL YOUR OWN LEGISLATORS TODAY!

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

OWL ALERT August 1, 2020

PLEASE  SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN OTHER STATES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHOSE LEGISLATORS ARE INCLINED TO DISAGREE.  URGE THEM TO CONTACT THEIR SENATORS
 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

PASS H.R. 4 VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT

If not us then who?  If not now, then when? – John Lewis 1940-2020

SITUATION:  “…as we sit here, there are those in power who are doing their darnedest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations, and targeting minorities and students with restrictive ID laws, and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision — even undermining the Postal Service in the run-up to an election that’s going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don’t get sick.” Barack Obama in his eulogy for John Lewis

ACTION:  HR 4 will reinstate the oversight of state election law to increase protections against racial discrimination of the Civil Rights act of 1965. Urge Senators to pass HR 4 as passed by the House.

CALL YOUR SENATORS TODAY!

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

OWL ALERT July 26, 2020

PLEASE  FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN OTHER STATES. ASK THEM TO CONTACT THEIR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

KEEP DHS’S CUSTOMS and BORDER PATROL TROOPS OUT OF U.S. CITIES

If not us then who?

SITUATION:  Dept. of Homeland Security’s Border Patrol para-military style troops are in Portland, OR, Seattle, WA and headed for Chicago to confront protesters practicing their first amendment rights of free expression and assembly.  In Portland they were in unmarked cars and unidentifiable uniforms creating fear and intimidation attacking and arresting Americans.

ACTION:  Our elected legislators must immediately investigate the Dept. of Homeland Security and other agencies to stop these un-patriotic and un-American horrible acts against protestors. 

CALL YOUR OWN LEGISLATORS TODAY!

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

Go to OWL San Francisco on facebook and share with everyone you know in California

“If not us, then who? if not now, then when?” John Lewis 1940-2020

CA RACIAL JUSTICE ACT AB2200

SITUATION:  AB2200 would establish the California Racial Justice Act which would prohibit the state from seeking or obtaining a criminal conviction, or from imposing a sentence, based upon race, ethnicity or national origin.

 ACTION: Tell your Assemblymember and State Senator:  It is time for California to prohibit the use of race and ethnicity as a factor in the state’s justice system across the board. It is time to establish a statewide policy that makes it unlawful to discriminate against people of color in the state’s criminal justice system. SUPPORT AB 2200

Call or email your own Assemblymember

   Call or email your own state Senators:

Please share with others in California

SITUATION: OWLs have backed this measure for decades.  Thanks to all of you who have called, written your CA legislators, signed petitions, collected signatures and donated to this effort. More people signed petitions to put this on the ballot than any other petition in California history!

 ACTION:  Prop 15 will guarantee long term revenue for schools and community services. Corporations are not paying their fair share of property tax because corporate property changes hands less frequently than homes. (Disneyland, Chevron, Trump owned 555 Calif Street, Trump National Golf Club-L.A., Blackstone Group among hundreds more)  The opportunity is here to help schools and communities reclaim $12 billion each year.  Evolve California is one of many groups dedicated to passing Prop 15 on November 3rd. To volunteer, donate or to find out more:  https://www.evolve-ca.org/

OWL ALERT June 28 – July 4, 2020
PLEASE  SEND THIS URL, WWW.OWLSF.ORG TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN OTHER STATES. ASK THEM TO CONTACT THEIR SENATORS  AND ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE INCLINED TO OPPOSE THIS BILL.  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

 If not us, then who?

SITUATION:  The many instances of racism and brutality towards black people by police puts a spotlight on police policies, training, accountability and militarization.

ACTION: This bill facilitates federal enforcement of constitutional violations (e.g., excessive use of force) by state and local law enforcement. The bill establishes new requirements for law enforcement officers and agencies, including to report data on use-of-force incidents, to obtain training on implicit bias and racial profiling, and to wear body cameras. See the full summary here https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7120

Call, email or write your senators.  Ask them to vote for HR 7120 and to urge their fellow senators to do the same.   

PLEASE  FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN CALIFORNIA.   ASK THEM TO CONTACT GOVERNOR NEWSOM

Thanks to your calls, the CA legislature spared senior service cuts

SITUATION: The Legislature passed a budget on June 15^th that restored the cuts to essential services that seniors and people with disabilities depend upon.  We must keep the pressure on the Governor and tell him to maintain these services while we work to get additional revenue from the Federal Government (HEROES ACT).”

ACTION: Talking points To Newsom : Please support the Senate And Assembly Budget Plan that passed on June 15^th.  We must fund the essential programs that keep seniors and people with disabilities safe and supported – and out of institutions.  If we must create new revenues, use the rainy day fund, or borrow money.

Newsom must either sign the budget by July 1 or he can veto all parts of it, so keep the pressure on!

Governor Gavin Newsom          Phone: (916) 445-2841 
1303 10th Street, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

OWL ALERT JUNE 15-22, 2020

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

TRUST ACT HR. 4907 & S. 2733 THREAT TO SOCIAL SECURITY

SITUATION: This Act is a sneak attack and a direct threat to our retirement security. It will allow lawmakers to create special “rescue committees” that they can use to slash
Social Security and Medicare. It is gaining traction behind closed doors.  Last week, 60 members of the House sent a letter urging the TRUST Act to be passed in any future
coronavirus bill.

ACTION: We can’t let Congress create a “commission” to devise ways to cut our earned benefits in the name of deficit reduction. Sign this petition from the Alliance of Retired Americans https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-congress-to-stop-plan-to-cut-social-security-and-medicare-behin

 CALL OR SEND A POSTCARD TO YOUR OWN LEGISLATORS

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

OWL ALERT May 27-TIME SENSITIVE

http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

CA LEGISLATURE MUST SAVE ADULT DAY HEALTH CARE & IN-HOME SUPPORT SERVICES

SITUATION:  The decimating of senior services continues in Newsom’s budget! Governor Newsom’s proposed budget, eliminates funding for Community Based Adult Services, Multipurpose Senior Services, and In-Home Support Services, thereby making it more difficult or impossible for elderly and disabled people to continue living at home.

 ACTION:  Contact those listed below, saying:  Help keep elderly and disabled people out of nursing homes where over half of COVID-19 deaths in California have occurred.  Adult Day Health Care, Multipurpose Senior Services, and In-Home Support Services must be funded!

Contact Senator Holly J. Mitchell, Chair Senate Budget Committee at (916) 651-4030 or  sbud.committee@senate.ca.gov and your legislator below:

Call or email your own Assemblymember

If you prefer not to talk with a live person, call during off-hours

Call or email your own senator:

OWL ALERT May 22, 2020

http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

FUNDING FOR ELDERLY & DISABLED PEOPLE TO LIVE AT HOME

SITUATION:  Governor Newsom’s proposed budget, would eliminate funding for Community Based Adult Services and Multipurpose Senior Services, thereby making it more difficult or impossible for these people to continue living at home.

 ACTION:  Contact those listed below, saying;   Over half of COVID-19 deaths in California have been in nursing homes. Help keep elderly and disabled people out of nursing homes. Please fund Community Based Adult Services and Multipurpose Senior Services.

Governor Gavin Newsom          Phone: (916) 445-2841 
1303 10th Street, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Call your own Assemblymember

If you prefer not to talk with a live person, call during off-hours

Call your own senator:

OWL ALERT May 12, 2020

http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY’S PRECIOUS VOTING PRIVILEGE

SITUATION:  Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order Friday requiring counties to send every registered voter a mail-in ballot for the November election must also include an expansion of the number of in-person voting locations to support voters.  In-person locations are needed for people who will not use a mail-in ballot, that need a replacement ballot, need any kind of in-person language or physical assistance, do not have an address to receive a vote-by-mail ballot, are new to voting, or need to register and vote on the same day. This is not a partisan issue.

ACTION:  Voting by mail is not enough.  Having as many in-person locations as possible, with as many early voting opportunities as possible, is the only safe way to conduct an election under the current conditions to avoid long lines and large crowds. Contact those listed below and urge the expansion of both mail-in balloting and onsite voting places.

Governor Gavin Newsom          Phone: (916) 445-2841 
1303 10th Street, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Call your own legislator

If you prefer not to talk with a live person, call during off-hours

Call your own senator

OWL ALERT April 20 – 27, 2020

PROTECT OUR POSTAL SERVICES

If not us then who?

The U. S. Postal Services is a vital American institution that has served a critical role during the Coronavirus crisis.  It is a lifeline for millions of older citizens, especially those without internet access and those living in rural areas.

SITUATION:  President Trump has personally rejected emergency postal service funding, and the post office has received a loan only. Our Postal Service needs direct assistance, not loans, in order to continue serving the public during this pandemic, the recovery period and the upcoming election.  Vote by mail, so important to our democracy, is especially at stake.

ACTION: Call your Congressmember and U.S. Senators TODAY!  Tell them to protect our postal services and its tireless employees by providing needed permanent funding.  Make sure that Americans can continue getting their mail.

CALL YOUR OWN LEGISLATORS TODAY!

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members

OWL ALERT April 12–19, 2020

Stimulus Package Phase 3

 If not us, then who?

SITUATION:  Senate Democrats in Washington unveiled their own Phase 3 proposal to fight COVID 19 and the economic crisis it has caused. This proposal puts workers and families first.  Older people, veterans and people with disabilities, Social Security benefits would immediately be increased by $200 per month until the end of 2021, putting money into the economy. Public health issues, including burgeoning capacity issues for hospitals, childcare and education would also be addressed.

ACTION: Please contact your Senator and ask for their support for a more people oriented Phase 3 proposal, one that puts families, children, older people, veterans and those with disabilities first, rather than tax cuts and financial support for corporations.

CALL YOUR OWN LEGISLATORS TODAY!