Pro and Cons of CA Propositions

Kathy Wheeler, Co-Chair of Voter Services, presented the pros and cons of the CA ballot measures for the November 5, 2024 General Election.  Along with the pros and cons, a brief financial analysis and the main funding sources for each measure were discussed. If you want to listen to the recording, click the link above.

The contents of this presentation was prepared by the CA League of Women Voters.

Tina Doede, president of LWVNCSMC, and Kathee Tyson, past president of LWVNCSMC, speak about our League’s priorities for the coming year, including what we are doing for the 2024 election, our plans for the LWVUS Transformation, and more information about the planned study of local government transparency and accountability.

Field Trip:  Big Wave Farm and Project

It was a sun-filled day at the Coast where League members heard about the need for housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and what a group of volunteer parents has planned for their adult children. The Big Wave Project will provide lifelong housing, a sense of community, and access to opportunities.

Walking the farm with a staff member and future resident, we saw the flowers, pumpkins, hops, and chickens on display.

League members left with bundles of lavender, greeting cards designed by a future resident, and a better understanding of what people with ID/DD can do and need. A picnic in perfect weather was enjoyed by all.

Annual Meeting and Voter Mobilization: What Works!

Our speaker was Dr. Melissa Michelson, Dean of Arts & Sciences at Menlo College. As a political science professor, her research and publications have focused on effective voter mobilization. She will give us important insights about how to get voters to the polls, especially from communities that are traditionally underrepresented. An important and timely topic for the League in this election year! 

The second hour was devoted to our Annual Meeting, including approving the new Board and our 24-25 budget.

CA Leagues are Leading the Fight for Fair and Transparent Redistricting

With "at-large" elections being increasingly replaced by district elections, Leagues across the state have stepped up to ensure that redistricting is being done fairly and with transparency. Our League has been deeply involved in the most recent redistricting of San Mateo County Supervisor districts. The two Leagues in San Mateo County have adopted redistricting as an issue for emphasis, in part because of the lessons learned from that experience. 

Our speaker was Helen Hutchison, past president of LWV California and Program Director for Government. Helen discussed the redistricting work the League has been doing at both state and local levels.  

Supporting Farmworkers on the South Coast of the County

The Coast is an idyllic place well-known for its parks, beaches, hikes, and forests. Less well-known are the struggles of hundreds of farmworkers and low-income residents who make valuable contributions through their work and community efforts but live in harsh conditions with few services on the Coast.  

Puente de la Costa Sur is working to change that for the South Coast communities of Pescadero, La Honda, Loma Mar, and San Gregorio. Through its leadership development and advocacy program, Puente empowers communities to bring about change. Come hear from Rita Mancera, Executive Director, how farmworkers are advocating for better housing and providing immigration assistance on the Coast.

San Mateo Resource Conservation District 

The San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) has been a partner to those wishing to best manage natural resources. In 1939, visionary farmers in San Mateo County formed the first conservation district in California, which was also one of the first in the nation, in response to the Dust Bowl crisis. 

Today, the RCD connects private and public landowners, land managers, public agencies, interest groups, and others with technical, financial, and educational assistance to focus on the conservation of San Mateo’s wildlife, water, climate, and agriculture.

View the recording to learn about the San Mateo Resource Conservation District, its mission, current initiatives, and accomplishments from a recent 15-year impact report.  

Election Integrity:  Part II

This program focused on the growing threat that disinformation and misinformation represent to the conduct of fair elections. 

Our speaker was Mary Currin-Percival, Associate Professor in the College of Social Sciences, at San Jose State University. Mary is an expert in public opinion and political participation. She also serves as the Director of the Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (IPACE) and for SJSU Votes, an on-campus voter registration, mobilization, and education initiative. Mary provided us with a deeper understanding of how to reduce our exposure to unreliable information as we make voting decisions in the coming election cycle. 

Election Integrity:  Part I

Our September general meeting kicked-off a two-part series on Election Integrity. Jim Irazarry, Asst. Chief Elections Officer for San Mateo County provided a deep dive into the programs and infrastructure in our county, ensuring a safe, accurate and inclusive voting experience for everyone. 

Meeting attendees came away understanding how votes are securely processed in the county to be able to talk to family and friends with confidence about what San Mateo County has in place, assuring that every vote counts!