Articles

Dear Leisure World Progressive Members,

Given the results of the presidential election, we are all dealing with powerful feelings of grief, anxiety, and very likely anger – and maybe despair – today and will be for a while to come. And those feelings must be acknowledged and processed. So please take time to take care of yourselves and those you know who can use moral support. Reach out as well for moral support that you may need or want. Taking care of ourselves, our friends, family, and neighbors is vital, and that care has no time limit.

In the difficult days, months, and years ahead, we will all want to offer aid and moral support to those most vulnerable in this climate of intolerance.

The article below for the next edition of the Leisure World News was written and submitted before the election. Please understand that the call to resistance in no way means we need to rush through processing our feelings or shorting ourselves of the self-care we need. I’ve always believed the being a happy warrior for justice is the best way to rally allies to our side. We should also celebrate the victories we did have yesterday, such as electing Angela Alsobrooks our next senator.
 

It Is Always the Right Time to Organize for Positive Change

by Charles Chapman

Joe Hill: Don’t mourn, organize.

This article was written and submitted several days prior to the election. Our members and progressive-minded readers are either celebrating the preservation of our democracy and the prospect of positive change in the coming months and years or confronting a dark passage ahead. Either way, it is always the right time to work and organize for positive change. 

The history of American progress has been achieved by committed people, both celebrated and unknown, who have stood up for what was right against daunting odds whether the light of hope was shining brightly, or they faced a dark passage which strained people of good will’s capacity for hope. 

Because of those committed people, America gained freedom from a tyrannical king, rid itself of slavery, granted women the right to vote, defeated Jim Crow, accorded workers the right to organize, strengthened women’s rights, improved gay rights, enacted laws to protect the environment, and so much more. 

Updating Thomas Paine, “These may (again) be the times that try men's (and women's) souls,” as we face the same decision: To fight for what is right no matter whether it is a time of hope and optimism or a time which tests our capacity for moral courage and optimism. 

To learn more about the Leisure World Progressives Club, visit LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

Saving Democracy One Voter at a Time 

by Charles Chapman

As citizens, our vote is our voice. However, our impact doesn’t begin and end there. We can speak with our friends, family, and neighbors to encourage them to vote too. Volunteering with a political campaign is one of the most effective ways to participate in the democratic process.

Get Involved

We are knocking on doors in nearby neighborhoods every Saturday, 1:00 to 4:00 pm, through election day to elect Angela Alsobrooks as our next Senator.

First time volunteering? No worries! Each canvass shift starts with training with an experienced organizer who will be there to help you out. We’ll send you out with a buddy so you can knock on doors together.

Sign up for more information at MoCoSeniorsForAlsobrooks.org.

Rather make phone calls to voters?

Sign up here for virtual phone banking and other events for Angela Alsobrooks at: mobilize.us/mdvictory/

Here is the link to sign up for virtual phone banking and other events to support Kamala Harris for President: go.kamalaharris.com

Remember: When we fight, we win!

A 4th of July Message From Governor Wes Moore

Patriotism isn’t owned by a single person, or a political party—it’s shown through the people willing to stand up and fight for what they believe in.

This Fourth of July I’d like to remind people of the importance of getting involved in your community—if we are going to create a state that leaves no one behind then we need to go out and do the work to make that possible. And no one knows that more than my fellow patriots at Leisure World.

A 4th of July Message From State Senator Benjamin Kramer, Delegates Bonnie Cullison, Vaughn Stewart and Charlotte Crutchfield

Your vote is important!  In Maryland every citizen has the right—and the opportunity--to cast a ballot—and the election on November 5th will determine the future of this country for the next four years and beyond.  You can be engaged now by going to the websites of candidates, watching debates, talking to folks you trust or reaching out to campaigns to decide who best represents you and your values. Please do not underestimate the value of your vote. You can request a mail-in ballot, go to the polls during early voting, or vote on Election Day.  Whatever method you choose, let your voice be heard—vote!

August 21 Panel Discussion on the Future Of Social Security and Medicare

The Leisure World Progressive Club is hosting a panel discussion on the future of Social Security in the Crystal Ballroom on Wednesday, August 21 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.

Top policy experts Alex Lawson and Megan Essheb will discuss the evolution of the Social Security and Medicare programs, the status of the programs and concerns about the future and solutions for the solvency of these vital programs.

Alex Lawson is the Executive Director of Social Security Works, the convening member of the Strengthen Social Security Coalition— a coalition made up of over 340 national and state organizations representing over 50 million Americans.

Mr. Lawson has appeared on numerous TV and radio outlets and is a frequent guest covering Social Security and Medicare issues on The Thom Hartmann Program, one of the top progressive radio shows in the country. He has a BA from St. John’s College and an MPP from The George Washington University.

Megan Essaheb directs federal affairs for People’s Action Institute and People’s Action, leading their engagement with Congress and federal agencies. Megan directed immigration advocacy for Asian Americans Advancing Justice, supporting farm workers to win higher wages, attended Fordham Law School and was a public-school teacher in Miami, Florida. 

Will Social Security and Medicare Be There for The Next Generation of Retirees?

by Charles Chapman and Debbie Browne

The Leisure World Progressive Club is hosting a panel discussion on the future of Social Security in the Crystal Ballroom on Wednesday, August 21 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.

Top policy experts Alex Lawson and Megan Essheb will discuss the evolution of the Social Security and Medicare programs, the status of the programs and concerns about the future and solutions for the solvency of these vital programs.

Alex Lawson is the Executive Director of Social Security Works, the convening member of the Strengthen Social Security Coalition— a coalition made up of over 340 national and state organizations representing over 50 million Americans.

Mr. Lawson has appeared on numerous TV and radio outlets and is a frequent guest covering Social Security and Medicare issues on The Thom Hartmann Program, one of the top progressive radio shows in the country. He has a BA from St. John’s College and an MPP from The George Washington University.

Megan Essaheb directs federal affairs for People’s Action Institute and People’s Action, leading their engagement with Congress and federal agencies. Megan directed immigration advocacy for Asian Americans Advancing Justice, supporting farm workers to win higher wages, attended Fordham Law School and was a public-school teacher in Miami, Florida.

Social Security’s creation was a transformative moment in our history, aimed at providing economic security for individuals and families. Established in 1935 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, the Social Security Act emerged in response to the Great Depression's devastating impact. It introduced a system of pensions for the elderly, unemployment insurance, and aid to families with dependent children. This landmark legislation aimed to alleviate poverty among senior citizens and provide a safety net for the unemployed and vulnerable families. Social Security has since become a cornerstone of American social policy, reflecting the government's commitment to safeguarding its citizens against economic hardship.

Medicare, the U.S. national health insurance program, was established in 1965 under President Lyndon B. Johnson as part of his "Great Society" initiatives. Aimed at addressing the healthcare needs of older Americans, Medicare was created to provide affordable and accessible medical care for individuals aged 65 and older. Prior to its inception, many seniors faced significant barriers to obtaining health insurance due to high costs and pre- existing conditions. Medicare's creation marked a significant milestone in healthcare, reflecting a commitment to social welfare and the principle that access to medical care should not be limited by age or income.

The Social Security Act passed overwhelmingly 372-33 in the House and 77-6 in the Senate in 1935. The Medicare & Medicaid Act also passed with overwhelming support in 1965, 313-115 in the House and 68-21 in the Senate. Both programs enjoy strong public support, with 8 in 10 Americans having a favorable opinion (source cited below). Yet despite support from the public, calls for steep cuts increase.

Maryland Infrastructure Discussion

We had informative briefings followed by lively Q and A from attendees at our June 4 panel discussion.

Mr. Joe McAndrew, MDOT’s Assistant Secretary for Project Development and Delivery, said it is hoped the Key Bridge will be replaced by fall 2028.  As is usual with public disasters such as the East Palestine derailment and the Deepwater Horizon spill, the cost will be borne by the federal government initially. Every effort to recoup costs from the ship owners and insurance companies will be made.

Maryland’s “Complete Streets” program is being updated for the first time in a decade to ensure safe and accessible travel options for all modes of transportation, including for people walking, biking, and using mobility aids.

Del. Vaughn Stewart noted the aim of the current administration is to turn Maryland into one of the greenest states in the county. Transportation is responsible for 35% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the state, according to the 2020 Statewide Emissions Inventory conducted by MDE. 

The state is receiving close to $2.5 billion from the federal Infrastructure Bill for roads, bridges, internet, EV charging, clean energy, public transit, airports, waterways, and climate resilience.

​​​​Report on Assisted Living Facilities Forum
by Debbie Browne

The Leisure World Progressives Club and the Leisure World Democratic Clubs sponsored a well-attended lively discussion of conditions and oversight in Maryland’s assisted living facilities on Saturday, February 17. Delegate Bonnie Cullison and AARP Senior Associate State Director of Advocacy Tammy Bresnahan spoke at length and answered as many questions as time allowed about the topic.

There were several calls for additional presentations on this timely subject from Leisure World residents, especially since the overnight snow prevented many from attending as they planned.

Assisted living and memory care facilities are different than nursing homes. Nursing homes are federally regulated, while assisted living/memory care facilities are state-regulated. Nursing home residents may be short-term or long-term, and they generally have rehabilitation opportunities provided by specialists to improve their health and/or mobility. Assisted living/memory care residents are long-term and are usually unable to live independently without caregivers. Additionally, nursing homes have medical staff requirements and more rigorous training than assisted living/memory care facilities. Assisted living facilities can be as small as a few beds. Sometimes they in residential buildings as small as two or three bedrooms and one bathroom.

Del. Cullison addressed our growing aging population and staffing issues in assisted living facilities. Even prior to the pandemic these facilities were understaffed. Over 15% of assisted living staffers have left since the pandemic, which amounts to about 15,000 employees in Maryland. In addition to staffing shortages, lack of training and lack of oversight are factors affecting quality of care in assisted living facilities.

There are 1,721 assisted living programs in Maryland. Last year there were 1,349 complaints to the state’s Office of Health Care Quality (“OHCQ”). About half the complaints were found to not be significant enough to be investigated, with 631 complaints investigated. Of those, 80 were investigations of unlicensed facilities.

Complaints to OHCQ can be filed by phone at 410-402-8015 or 877-402-8218 or online at https://health.maryland.gov/ohcq/Pages/home.aspx (choose File a Complaint on the left). If issues are not being resolved, Del. Cullison offered her services and those of her colleagues in District 19 for assistance. Del. Cullison’s office may be reached at 301-858-3883. 

Ms. Bresnahan reported the last time the assisted living regulations were updated was 2008. Advocates, including AARP, want special training for staff, and at a minimum, one person available during the night to help residents. They also want new definitions, including one for “memory care,” since it encompasses more than just dementia and Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, no consensus exists among regulators about how memory care should be defined. Costs for memory care run several thousands of dollars a month higher than assisted living costs.

Further information and consumer resources from the forum can be found on “Articles” page on the LW Progressives website: LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

Staffing shortages also affect OHCQ’s oversight of assisted living facilities. The state does not have enough inspectors (called “surveyors”) to investigate all complaints in a timely manner. Montgomery County was given authority by the state to assist in “surveys” (or inspections) so they could be done promptly. A Memorandum of Understanding with the state allowed this, but the memorandum expired in 2020. Delegates Cullison and Kramer and their colleagues have been trying to get a new Memorandum of Understanding signed, to no avail. 

The bill to get an MOU for the county to do surveys is in this session. It is HB1574/SB825 Health Facilities – Delegation of Inspection Authority – Related Institutions and Nursing Homes and the Senate hearing on the bill is March 1 at 1:00.  Folks can watch the hearing by going to Meetings - Day(s) (maryland.gov).  To sign up to testify in person, go to Sign In to MyMGA Tracking.  It is also possible to send written testimony at that link as well.

I would also add that they can file a complaint directly with the Office of Health Care Quality at Complaint Dashboard - Smartsheet.com or calling 410-402-8015.

Del. Cullison highlighted the existence of a free one-stop Aging and Disability Resource Center which helps individuals and family members find long term support services and a range of community supports, such as respite care, help with meals, etc. Many people are unaware this program exists. Maryland Access Point provides telephone or in-person help and support.

Maryland Access Point (“MAP”)

Maryland Access Point is available at www.MarylandAccessPoint.info or by calling 1-844-MAP- LINK (1-844-627-5465) or dial 211 and ask for MAP. An information and referral specialist will help with identifying local resources such as meals, assisted living, caregiver assistance, and transportation services.

“Options Counseling, a service through which all individuals and their caregivers, plan and make informed decisions regarding their long term care. Trained, professional Options Counselors use a person-centered approach and support individuals with matching their needs, preferences, and values with services in their community, developing a personalized action plan, getting connected to resources, making referrals to appropriate agencies and planning for current and/or future needs. Options Counseling is a statewide program delivered by staff at the 20 local Maryland Access Point (MAP) sites.”

Montgomery County Office of Health Care Quality Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Montgomery County has a Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program with “the mission of maintaining regular presence and access to services for residents of nursing homes and licensed assisted living facilities.”

More information about the Montgomery County Ombudsman Program can be found online at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/ADS/OMBUDSMAN/OmbudIndex.html or by calling 240-777-3369.

To learn more about the Leisure World Progressives Club, go to LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

Panel Discussion of Assisted Living Conditions and Oversight in Maryland on February 17

by Charles Chapman

Since assisted living facilities are not federally regulated, state governments currently bear full oversight responsibility. How well are we doing here in Maryland? Everyone concerned about the condition of assisted living facilities in Maryland and the state of oversight of those facilities is welcome to join us and find out at our panel discussion on February 17.

The Leisure World Progressives Club is hosting State Delegate Bonnie Cullison and AARP’s Tammy Bresnahan for this program. (Click here for photos of speakers).

Cullison has served on Maryland’s Health and Government Operations Committee since 2011, and she has been its Vice-Chair since 2023.

Bresnahan is AARP’s Senior Associate State Director of Advocacy. She also serves on the Maryland Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities. The Committee evaluates progress in improving the quality of care in these facilities statewide. According to the Committee’s 2023 annual report, Maryland’s Department of Health’s Office of Health Care Quality plans to issue new assisted living regulations for public comment in 2024.

A Washington Post report on December 17, 2023, prompted concern about the quality of care in assisted living facilities.

According to the Post article, “Since 2018, more than 2,000 people have wandered away from assisted-living and memory-care facilities unnoticed or been left unattended for hours outside. Nearly 100 have died, and state inspectors frequently found evidence of neglect.”

Spurred by this reporting, the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing recently on January 25 and “pressed for answers about low staffing, high costs, and a lack of transparency surrounding poor care and the preventable deaths of elderly people with dementia walking away unnoticed from facilities,” according to The Washington Post.

The program will be Saturday, February 17, at 1:00 pm in the Crystal Ballroom. No reservations are necessary.

To learn more about the Leisure World Progressives Club, visit LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

Feb. 17 Panel Discussion of Assisted Living Conditions and Oversight In Maryland

by Charles Chapman

According to The Washington Post’s investigation of neglect in America’s assisted-living industry published December 17, 2023:

“Since 2018, more than 2,000 people have wandered away from assisted-living and memory-care facilities unnoticed or been left unattended for hours outside. Nearly 100 have died, and state inspectors frequently found evidence of neglect.”

Further, “The federal government does not regulate the nation’s roughly 30,000 assisted-care facilities, as it does nursing homes. Instead, regulation falls to individual states, few of which have adopted strong staffing and training requirements even as the industry estimates residents nationwide have climbed to more than 1 million, approaching the nursing home population of 1.2 million.”

What are conditions like in assisted living facilities in Maryland? What agencies are responsible for inspecting assisted living facilities in our state and do they have the resources to do the job? Are stronger regulations and enforcement needed? What can individuals do to learn about the quality of care in assisted living facilities when choosing where to place loved ones in need of care?

The Leisure World Progressives Club will examine the state of assisted living and memory care in Maryland in an upcoming panel discussion. Our speakers will be Tammy Bresnahan, AARP Senior Associate State Director of Advocacy, and Delegate Bonnie Cullison, Vice-Chair, Health and Government Operations Committee.

This panel discussion is open to everyone and anyone concerned about the condition of assisted living facilities in Maryland and the state of oversight of those facilities. No reservations required.

Assisted Living Forum on Saturday, February 17, at 1:00pm in the Crystal Ballroom.

Update on County Tree Canopy Legislation

Montgomery County Council voted on January 16, 2024, on Bill 40-23, Tree Canopy and Roadside Tree Requirements. The bill aimed to amend laws regarding tree canopy requirements and roadside tree work and would also change the fees due to the Tree Canopy Conservation Account and the Street Tree Planting Fund.

The bill, introduced by Council President Andrew Friedson and Councilmember Evan Glass, and co- sponsored by all Councilmembers, passed unanimously.

The Street Tree Planting Fund is administered by the County’s Department of Transportation and covers trees in County right of way areas throughout our approximately 500 square miles. The Tree Canopy Conservation Account is administered by the MC Department of Environmental Protection and covers trees elsewhere in the County with fees serving to offset the planting and maintenance of trees for sediment control.

The increase of fees should become effective at the end of April, with fees payable to the Street Tree Planting Fund rising from $250 to $450, and fees payable to the Tree Canopy Conservation Account for sediment control rising from $250 to $470. There are provisions for biannual increases based upon inflation. The Council explained the fees will differ because roadside tree replacement costs are generally less than costs related to tree planting and maintenance under the Tree Canopy Law.

To learn more about the Leisure World Progressives Club, visit LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

Upcoming Forum On The State of Assisted Living Regulation in Maryland

by Charles Chapman & Debbie Browne

The Progressives Club is planning a panel discussion in January about the assisted-living situation in Maryland. Watch the Leisure World News or your email for more information.

There are approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. in nursing homes. Nursing homes are regulated by the federal government, but assisted-living facilities are not.

Assisted-living patients, which include memory, dementia, and Alzheimer’s care patients, number approximately 1 million in the U.S. However, assisted-living facilities are regulated by a patchwork of state regulations. According to The Washington Post, few states have strong staffing and training requirements for the booming industry of assisted-living facilities. In the past 5 years, over 2,000 patients have walked away from assisted-living facilities or been left outside unattended.

The Post’s article cited numerous deaths which occurred as a result. “For many, the difference between life and death was simply the weather. In cases where a cause of death could be determined, The Post found that 61 percent died after exposure to extreme heat or cold. Others died after wandering into ditches, drowning in nearby bodies of water or being hit by cars.”  (December 17, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2023/assisted-living-wander-patient-deaths/).

State inspectors researching walkaway deaths (or “fatal elopements” as they are reported) have found failures time and again by administrators and front-line caregivers. Facilities are not routinely fined or cited for failures. Senior managers rarely face consequences. Some states are not able to levy fines for failures, and in some the fines are as low as $500.

Assisted-living in the U.S. is a $34 billion industry, with approximately 30,000 facilities and monthly fees averaging $6,000 a month for patient care.

Heather Booth speaks with Progressive and Democratic Club Members

The Progressives and the Dem Club presented a screening of the award-winning HBO documentary “The Janes” on December 14. The Janes were a collective working underground in Chicago to provide abortion access in the years just prior to the Roe v Wade decision. Special guest Heather Booth (founder of The Janes) was in attendance. She spoke with us after the screening and answered questions for about 20 minutes.

Booth said that although Maryland is a sanctuary state regarding women making their own healthcare choices, the nation is poised on a knife’s edge at the moment. She referenced a political advertisement of a few years ago, “Take your grandparents to vote.” The updated version emphasizes the importance of young people participating in democracy: “Take your grandkids to vote.”

For more information about the Progressives Club, visit our website.

Two Words. Heather Booth
by Debbie Browne

“When I asked how to get organized, I was told two words. Heather Booth.” Senator Elizabeth Warren

I wrote in the December 1, 2023, edition of the Leisure World News about a portion of Heather Booth’s life: the ten-year span between 1960 and 1970. This article continues where that one left off.

In the early 1970s, Booth sued her employer before the National Labor Relations Board over back pay. She won, and she used the award to found the Midwest Academy in 1972.  The Academy’s mission is to teach people the practical skills of grassroots organizing so they can organize and teach others to organize.

The Academy developed its famed Strategy Chart early on. The chart quickly became a vital tool for organizers by laying out goals, possible allies and opponents, and actions to take to effect change. The Academy emphasizes the necessity of building alliances among people and organizations with similar goals, noting that not all parties need to agree on all subjects. An intersection of interests is enough. Early on, the Academy encouraged women to organize and join multi-state coalitions working towards women’s rights, environmental movements, and labor rights. Men were used to organizing, but women were new to it.

Over fifty years later, the Midwest Academy continues to teach people how to combine ideals and organization to make a real difference in people’s lives.

If I were to list the organizations she has founded, helped organize, served with, or consulted for, the organizations’ names and dates alone would exceed the 500-word limit for this article. Here are some of them:
Both Harold Washington (Chicago) mayoral campaigns, Citizen Action (liberal consumer/public activism group), Jewish Fund for Justice, Carol Mosely Braun senatorial campaign, Democratic National Committee and DNC National Health Care. Campaign, USAction (federation of progressive community organizing groups), NAACP National Voter Fund, Campaign for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Voter Participation Center, Kerry/Edwards (New Mexico) campaign, Center for Community Change, AFL-CIO campaign for universal health care, President Obama’s first budget passing, Americans for Financial Reform (working to regulate the financial industry), One Nation Working Together (against the Tea Party movement), National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Democracy Partners (“cutting edge strategies for progressive values”), Alliance for Citizenship (immigration reform), National Organization for Women, MoveOn.org, National Council of La Raza, People’s Action (building power for poor and working people in 30 states), coalition for marriage equality and the 2013 Supreme Court case, Americans for Tax Fairness (working for millionaires and billionaires to pay their share), Progressive and Senior Outreach for the Biden campaign.

Heather Booth really is, as filmmaker Lilly Rivlin noted, “The most influential person you have never heard of.” Lilly Rivlin, documentary “Heather Booth: Changing the World.”

To learn more about Heather Booth, visit HeatherBooth.org. To learn more about the Midwest Academy, visit MidwestAcademy.com. To learn more about the Progressives Club, visit LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

“Justice, justice thou shalt pursue”

by Debbie Browne

By now you may have heard that Leisure World’s Progressives and Democratic Clubs are hosting a screening of the movie “The Janes” at 7 pm on Thursday, December 14, in the community’s auditorium in Clubhouse 2. The 2022 documentary is about a group of women in the 1960s who arranged for safe abortions with medical care afterward as an alternative to home treatments and mob-controlled doctors with no aftercare. Heather Booth, the founding member of The Janes, will be present at the screening and will speak with us after the movie.

If that’s all you know about Heather Booth, it’s impressive enough. However there are many reasons people call her “The most influential person you have never heard of” (from the documentary “Heather Booth: Changing the World,” by acclaimed filmmaker Lilly Rivlin). Here is a brief account of just a portion of her early life.

As a child, one Jewish text became particularly important to her: "justice, justice thou shalt pursue" ("tzedek, tzedek tirdof," Deuteronomy 16:20), says Wikipedia, quoting a 2010 interview.

She protested Woolworth’s lunch counter discrimination in 1960 at the age of 15. She quit her high school cheerleading squad because Blacks were not allowed. In 1963 she became active in the Coordinating Council of Community Organization. She also helped tutor young neighborhood children and created a campus chapter of Student Non- Violent Coordinating Committee.

In 1964, while in Mississippi working to register Black voters and set up freedom schools and libraries, she was arrested while peacefully protesting. This reinforced her commitment to the civil rights movement. She recognized the “quiet heroism” of the Black residents with whom she worked, taking people into their homes, having meetings in their churches, and standing up to clubs and bullets.

She was arrested again in 1965 at 20 years old for demonstrating against banks providing financial support for South Africa’s apartheid regime. She formed several local groups in Chicago to learn about urban problems and work to overcome them.

While in college, Booth joined other activists in 1967 to form the Chicago West Side Group, reported to have been "the first women's liberation group in the country, with the primary goal of raising the consciousness of its members" (Wikipedia). In 1969, she and five others founded the Chicago Women’s Liberation Union (CWLU). In 1970, the Action Committee for Decent Childcare, associated with the CWLU, was created by Booth and others in response to the lack of local childcare.

One of the hallmarks of Booth’s career has been teaching others how to organize through specific steps and achievable goals. The Action Committee for Decent Childcare illustrates this with the goals of building a multiracial power base to accomplish specific reforms, while each victory offers opportunities to expand the power base and make further goals achievable. Within a few years, Chicago invested a million dollars in childcare centers. In another victory for the same organization, the licensing procedures which had given two contractors almost complete hold over creating childcare centers were streamlined and more childcare centers began to appear.

All of this was accomplished in 10 years between the ages of 15 and 25 – and I haven’t even mentioned her husband, two children, full-time work, her BA, and her MA.

The pursuit of justice Booth sought as a child has never left her. In her 70s now, her light shines brightly as a beacon to others to join the task of working towards a better, more just world.

Please come see this extraordinary woman in person 7:00 pm, Thursday, December 14.

For more information on the Leisure World Progressives, visit www.LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

Yes, It Can Happen Here

by Charles Chapman

Once upon a time, we Americans were entitled to a certain complacency about the endurance of our democracy, as imperfect as it is. No more, not since former President Trump imperiled our democracy by falsely and incessantly claiming the 2020 presidential election had been “rigged” and a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to try to prevent the certification of that election.

With that on our minds, members of the Progressive Club recently read and discussed “How Fascism Works - The Politics of Us and Them,” by Jason Stanley, published by Random House. Stanley is the Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy at Yale University. (Click here for book jacket photo.)

Stanley identifies ten key characteristics of fascism and devotes chapters to each of them: The Mythic Past, Propaganda, Anti-Intellectualism, Unreality, Hierarchy, Victimhood, Law and Order, Sexual Anxiety, Sodom and Gomorrah, Arbeit Macht Frei-Work Will Make You Free. Unfortunately, contemporary examples of these characteristics abound.

In the introduction Stanley states, “The most telling symptom of fascist politics is division. It aims to separate a population into an ‘us’ from ‘them.’”  A chilling recent example would be an early October interview with the right-wing blog “The National Pulse,” where former President Donald Trump said that undocumented immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country.”

Here are three key characteristics illustrated with recent examples.

• The Mythic Past

According to Stanley, “When it does not simply invent a past to weaponize the emotion of nostalgia, fascist politics cherry picks the past, avoiding anything that would diminish unreflective adulation of the nation’s glory.”

Book club members asked: What does the slogan “Make America Great Again” mean, except an appeal to a mythic time to which American society should return? When that is supposed to be is never clearly stated but, safe to say, it would be before the successes of the civil rights, women’s rights, gay rights, and environmental movements.

• Anti-Intellectualism 

“Fascist politics seeks to undermine public discourse by attacking and devaluing education, expertise and language.”

Stanley illustrates this with a quote by the late right-wing commentator Rush Limbaugh who denounced “the four corners of deceit: government, academia, science, and the media. Those institutions are now corrupt and exist by virtue of deceit. That is how they promulgate themselves: it is how they prosper.”

• Unreality

“Fascist politics exchanges reality for the pronouncements of a single individual or party. Regular and repeated obvious lying is part of the process by which fascist politics destroys the information space.” This is illustrated by Trump’s continued support by his base in spite of “Trump’s false or misleading claims total 30,573 over 4 years” according to The Washington Post fact checkers Glenn Kessler, Salvador Rizzo, and Meg Kelly. Jan. 24, 2021.

Stanley is one of many authors who have raised the alarm about Donald Trump and the current Republican party’s affinity for totalitarian rhetoric and tactics and he won’t be the last. Everyone, whether liberal, conservative or middle of the road, concerned with the preservation of our fragile experiment in democracy should take heed and more importantly, take action, in defense of that democracy.

Movie Screening

Enjoy a special guest appearance by the legendary lifetime activist Heather Booth at a screening of the documentary “The Janes” on Thursday, Dec. 14. The film will be shown 7-8:30 p.m. in the Clubhouse II Auditorium.

Visit www.LeisureWorldProgressives.org for more information or to join.

Legislators and Advocates Speak Out for LGBTQ+ Rights

by Charles Chapman

The LW Progressives joined with the LW LGBTQ+ Alliance, LW Democrats and the Unitarian Universalists of Leisure World to present a Forum on LGBTQ Rights.  (Click here for photo.)

The forum was moderated by Mike Lapoint of the LGTQ+ Alliance with guest speakers Evan Glass, President, Montgomery County Council, Tramour Wilson, Senior Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement, The Pride Center of Maryland, and Brigida Krzysztofik, Chief of Staff for Delegate Bonnie Cullison. 

The meeting began with a summation of major milestones in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights over the past 50-plus years by Mike LaPoint. He also addressed the tremendous personal cost of growing up in the repressive climate of earlier decades and the huge impact of the beneficial gains in rights and acceptance over the succeeding decades which are now under assault by far-right groups such as Moms for Liberty.

Evan Glass highlighted the need for continued efforts to protect vulnerable communities. According to the 2022 Montgomery County Police report on Hate and Bias, hate crimes are at a 10-year high in Montgomery County. In response, Council President Glass created the Montgomery County Anti-Hate Task Force and the county council passed the LGBTQ Bill of Rights.

Brigida Krzysztofik spoke of Del. Cullison’s legislative successes, including the successful 2012 effort to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland and her co-sponsoring of the Youth Mental Health Protection Act, signed into law in 2018 and banning “conversion therapy” for minors. (Conversion therapy aims to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and has been widely condemned by mental health professionals). In another recent advance for LGBTQ+ rights, Marylanders can now add a non-binary gender option to driver’s licenses.

Tramour Wilson informed us of the history and the current work of the Maryland Pride Center. As the nation’s third oldest pride center, it strives to bridge divides within the LGBTQ+ community and aims to further engagement and inclusion with allies of the LGBTQ+ community. Mr. Wilson informed us that October is both LGBTQ+ history month and Black Pride month.

Movie Screening

Enjoy a special guest appearance by the legendary Heather Booth at a screening of the documentary “The Janes” on Thursday, Dec. 14. The film will be shown 7-8:30 p.m. in the Clubhouse II Auditorium.

Booth is the founding organizer for “The Janes,” a women’s collective formed in Chicago, Illinois, to help women obtain access to abortion.

In the pre-Roe v. Wade era – a time when abortion was a crime in most states and even circulating information about abortion was a felony in Illinois – The Janes provided information and low-cost or free abortions to an estimated 11,000 women.

During her activist career from the 1960s to today, Booth has played an important role in civil rights, women’s rights, workers’ rights, anti-war and environmental movements, among others, and has helped train generations of activists and organizers as a founder of the Mid-West Academy.

Visit www.LeisureWorldProgressives.org for more information.

Delegate Charlotte Crutchfield Addresses Leisure World Progressives

by Charles Chapman

The Leisure World Progressives September meeting featured speaker was Delegate Charlotte Crutchfield, along with her Chief of Staff Jerimiah Pope. Delegate Crutchfield was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018. She serves on the Judiciary Committee and is Chair of the Family and Juvenile Law Subcommittee.  (Click here for photo.)

Delegate Crutchfield addressed a number of issues she has championed, including the elimination of the spousal defense for rape and sexual assault. As of October 1, abusive spouses in Maryland will no longer be able to defend themselves against charges of rape and sexual violence just because they were married at the time. 

She also cited her success with Senator Ben Kramer in passing legislation allowing civil suits and penalties for hate crimes.

Another important success was the creation of a pre-release program for incarcerated women. The state has several pre-release programs for men, but this is the first such program for women. The program provides job training, employment, and education for women to successfully reintegrate into society after their release from the penitentiary.

She spoke of her passion for juvenile justice and civil rights because she has emerging young adults in her household and particularly because she has a black son. 

Delegate Crutchfield served on the Juvenile Justice Task Force whose work included setting a minimum age requirement of 13 for children to be in the juvenile justice system except in case of violent crimes such as murder.

She is continuing to work towards the elimination of cash bail which penalizes defendants in poverty and replace that with the requirement that judges decide on a defendant’s eligibility for pre-trial release and set the conditions for their release. 

Another priority is passage of the Youth Equity and Safety Act — or the “YES Act” — a measure to ensure children are charged in juvenile court rather than adult court. The YES Act does not prevent youth from being prosecuted as adults. Cases could still be elevated to adult court based on careful consideration of evidence.

Prescription Drug Affordability Forum Held in Leisure World

Leisure World Progressive members and many other residents of Leisure World attended Montgomery County's Prescription Drug Affordability Community Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 26 (Click here for photo). Maryland passed the first such board in the nation (six other states have since followed) to allow Maryland governments to set budget limits for selected drugs. In attendance were Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, State Sen. Ben Kramer, Delegates Charlotte Crutchfield and Vaughn Stewart, Executive Director of Maryland's Prescription Drug Affordability Board Andrew York and Vinny DeMarco, the director of Maryland Health Care For All who played a major role in passing the legislation in 2019. 

For more information about the Leisure World Progressives, visit LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

Leisure World Clubs Take A Stand for LGBTQ Rights

by Charles Chapman

LGBTQ Rights Forum

Several Leisure World groups are jointly presenting a forum addressing the assaults taking place on the LGBTQ community and measures to defend the rights of individuals from those assaults. The groups presenting the forum include the LW Progressives, LW LGBTQ Club, LW Democrats, and Unitarian Universalists of Leisure World. Speakers include Evan Glass, President, Montgomery County Council, Tramour Wilson, Senior Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement, The Pride Center of Maryland, and Brigida Krzysztofik, Chief of Staff for Delegate Bonnie Cullison. The forum will take place on Wednesday, October 18, 7:00-8:30 pm in the Crystal Ballroom. All are welcome and no registration is required.

Evan Glass is President and At-Large member of the Montgomery County Council. He is the first openly LGBTQ+ individual to serve on the Council and in 2020 worked to pass the Montgomery County LGBTQ+ Bill of Rights which strengthens Montgomery County’s legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer residents by expanding Montgomery County’s anti-discrimination code to include gender expression and HIV status. The LGBTQ Bill of Rights explicitly bans LGBTQ+ discrimination in healthcare facilities, nursing homes, and personal care facilities.

The Maryland Pride Center has been working since 1977 as a catalyst uniting and empowering sexual and gender minorities in Maryland and advocating for a better quality of life for the entire community, according to its website. We are happy to welcome Tramour Wilson to this forum.

For more information about the Maryland Pride Center, visit www.pridecentermd.org

Bonnie Cullison played a key role in the successful 2012 effort to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland. She also co-sponsored the Youth Mental Health Protection Act which was signed into law in 2018 and bans “conversion therapy” for minors. (Conversion therapy aims to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and has been widely condemned by mental health professionals.) Delegate Cullison is not able to attend our meeting due to schedule conflicts, but we look forward to hearing from her chief of Staff Brigida Krzysztofik.

LW Progressives Facebook Group

Members are encouraged to join the Leisure World Progressives Facebook Group page. This Facebook Group allows members to discuss issues with each other, spread the word about important news and events, and have direct member-to-member communication. Members can join by responding to the invitation which was sent previously by email or by searching Facebook and submitting a request to join the group. Or you can click this url: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1034092624263707/

Once you are logged into Facebook you will be able to request membership.

Read any good books lately? Leisure World Progressives Book Club Forming

Leisure World Progressives are forming a book club to read, discuss and critique the latest books addressing critical issues. Interested members may connect with the book club by joining the Book Club community chat in the LW Progressives Facebook Group.

For more information about the Leisure World Progressives club, visit our website at www.LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

This Fall’s Exciting Program Calendar

by Charles Chapman

September Briefing by Del. Charlotte Crutchfield

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 28, 5:00-6:00pm, in the Potomac Room. Our featured speaker will be Delegate Charlotte Crutchfield, Esq. Del. Crutchfield will brief our members on the important issues she will be working on during the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session. Delegate Crutchfield was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018. She serves on the Judiciary Committee and is Chair of the Family and Juvenile Law Subcommittee.

LGBTQ Rights Forum

On Wednesday, October 18, 7:00-8:30 pm, in the Crystal Ballroom, several Leisure World groups are jointly presenting a forum addressing the assaults taking place on the LGBTQ community and measures to defend the rights of individuals from those assaults. The groups presenting the forum include the LW Progressives, LW LGBTQ Club, LW Democrats, and Unitarian Universalists of Leisure World. Speakers include Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass and advocates from the LGBTQ activist community.

“The Janes” Movie Screening

There will be a special guest appearance by Heather Booth at our screening for “The Janes” movie on Thursday, December 14. The film will be shown 7:00pm-8:30pm in the auditorium in Clubhouse II.

Heather Booth was the founding organizer for “The Janes,” a women’s collective formed in Chicago to help women obtain access to abortion. In the pre-Roe v. Wade era –– a time when abortion was a crime in most states and even circulating information about abortion was a felony in Illinois –– the Janes provided information and low-cost or free abortions to an estimated 11,000 women. 

During her activist career from the 60s to today, Heather Booth has played an important role in the Civil Rights, Women’s rights, Anti-war, worker’s rights movement, environmental movements, and more, and has helped generations of activists and organizers as a founder of the Mid-West Academy.

LW Progressives Facebook Group

Members are encouraged to join the Leisure World Progressives Facebook Group page. This FB Group allows members to discuss issues with each other, spread the word about important news and events, and have direct member-to-member communication. Members can join by responding to the invitation that was sent or by searching Facebook and submitting a request to join the group.

Committees Forming

The Progressives Club is forming four committees. The Club would love to hear from members who have a few hours once in a while to help out. Contact Charles Chapman at (Charlie@TheEncoreTeam.net) or (240-351-8214).

Here’s a brief synopsis of the committees:

• Program Committee – help plan and organize future programs and events

• Membership Committee – help continue Club’s growth (from 35 members a year ago to 85 members today)

• Social Committee – help plan social events for members

• Media Committee – notify media outlets of events that are likely to engage a wider audience, use social media to spread the word; help write some LW News articles.

Learn more about the Club at (LeisureWorldProgressives.org).

Disposing of Electronic Waste, Light Bulbs, and Batteries

by Debbie Browne

This is the third and final article in a series about our Recycling Fair held July 20 in the Crystal Ballroom. The first article recapped some of the most important things we learned at the Fair, and the second article reviewed mixed paper and commingled goods recycling. This article addresses electronic waste and reiterates why including plastic bags or plastic film in the blue bins is causing problems in our recycling centers.

Electronic Waste (or E-Waste)

Electronic waste is defined as anything you can plug in or anything including a circuit board or a computer chip. Some electronic waste comes easily to mind: DVD player, computer, printer, cell phone, microwave oven, camera or camcorder. Other things you may not think of as electronic waste are toasters, calculators, coffee makers, hair dryers, irons, blenders, electric heating pads, and electric kettles.

Electronic waste, or e-waste as it is also known, is dangerous because of materials in the product itself. Sulfur, mercury, beryllium oxide, and other toxic chemicals need to be disposed of properly, separate from household trash.

There is a designated drop-off area for electronic waste inside Leisure World. It’s located outside Clubhouse I near the Wood Shop (click here for photo) but is NOT affiliated with the Wood Shop. In the small parking lot on Gleneagles Drive beside Clubhouse I, there’s a trash enclosure behind a green fence. To the left of the fenced area is a wooden pallet with a sign above it marked “ELECTRONICS ONLY.” You can leave your e-waste on the pallet.

Light Bulbs and Household Batteries

Throwing away batteries in the trash can lead to fires. Including light bulbs in the trash allows dangerous chemicals to disperse into the air and water. PPD accepts spent light bulbs and all types of household batteries (rechargeable or not) for recycling at the counter in the warehouse side of their building.

Plastic Bag, Plastic Film, Plastic Wrap

Clean plastic bags, plastic films, and plastic wraps are recyclable as well, but in a different way.  There are collection bins near the entrance to most grocery stores. Some of the things you can drop off at the bins are plastic grocery bags, plastic newspaper sleeves, bread bags, dry-cleaning bags, most plastic wrapping for things like paper towel rolls or a case of water. Clean and dry plastic food storage bags like Ziploc® are accepted too, and bubble wrap can also be included.

Remember to remove receipts and other papers from bags and separately recycle the paper.  It's vital to keep plastic bags, films, and wraps out of the blue recycling bins. They get tangled in the gears of the recycling equipment and can bring the whole operation to a halt. If plastic film is included with recyclable plastics and makes it through the recycling process, entire bales of recycled plastics can be spoiled and made ineligible for sale. Please refrain from putting plastic bags and film in the blue bins.

Committees Forming

The LW Progressives Club is forming four committees. If you have a few hours once in a while to help out, we’d love to hear from you. Here’s a brief synopsis of the committees: Program Committee: help plan and organize future programs and events. Membership Committee: help continue club growth (from 35 members a year ago to over 80 members today). Social Committee: help plan social events for members. Media Committee: notify media outlets of events likely to engage a wider audience, use social media to spread the word, help write some Leisure World News articles.

Learn more about our Club at our website, LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

Club Answers More Recycling Questions

Byline:  Debbie Browne

The Progressives Club is sharing more information from its July 20 recycling fair. For other recycling tips, check page 33 of the Aug. 4 Leisure World News.

Five categories of waste are recycled in Montgomery County: mixed paper, commingled, scrap metal, yard trim and Christmas trees.

Mixed Paper
Paper towels and napkins cannot be recycled, even if they are clean. The fibers have been broken down too many times already and can cause problems. Paper towels and napkins, whether clean or used, can be composted.

Try the “tear test” for paper. If paper tears, it can be put in the recycling bin, except paper towels and napkins. Some wrapping paper does not tear, so try the tear test before putting it in the bin.

Paper that is marked #7 is compostable, but not recyclable. Some recyclable paper products include cereal boxes (but not the wax bag inside), paper envelopes, boxes from microwaveable meals, paper cups, paper milk cartons, paper juice cartons, scratch paper, copy or printer paper and newspapers.

Remember to flatten boxes to conserve space in recycling rooms.

Window envelopes are recyclable – put them in the bin!

Comingled Goods
Glass and plastic bottles, jars, cans, clean tinfoil and plastic items marked #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 or #7 are recyclable. Plastic items marked #7 are not to be confused with paper containers marked #7 – the paper containers marked #7 are compostable but not recyclable.

Bottles, jars and cans should be rinsed.

Put caps back on bottles and jars, otherwise they can get stuck in the recycling machinery and jam it or fall on the floor and then aren’t recycled.

Aerosol cans may be recycled, as long as they are completely empty. It’s difficult to see if a can with invisible contents (such as deodorant or hair spray) is empty, so if unsure, place it in the trash instead.

For containers that are difficult to empty completely, such as dishwasher soap, laundry soap, shampoo, body cream, etc., add water and continue to use them until the product is almost gone. Once they’re at that point, an attendee at the recycling fair had a great suggestion: add a drop of bleach and a drop of very hot water, cover, shake vigorously and then rinse. They’ll be ready for the recycling bin after that.

If using a can opener that leaves sharp edges, don’t fully detach the lid for safety reasons. After rinsing, fold the lid inward to avoid injury to anybody handling it down the line. Some inexpensive can openers on the market, both electric and manual, don’t leave sharp edges. If ready for a change, consider these options.

Plastic Bags, Films and Wraps

Do not put plastic bags, plastic film or plastic wrap in any of the recycling bins! They can get caught in the gears of the recycling machinery, and someone has to crawl down the conveyor belt into the machinery to get the plastic out. These items can be recycled at most grocery stores, including the Giant in Leisure World Plaza.

Look for more recycling information soon. For more information about the Progressives Club, visit
www.LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

Recycling Fair Success Sparks Calls for Recycling Fair 2.0

Byline: Debbie Browne

The LW Progressives, with participation of the Leisure World Democratic Club, sponsored a Recycling Fair on Thursday, July 20, in the Crystal Ballroom. The event was well attended, and lots of environmentally conscious people showed up. Thank you to the volunteers who helped with putting out extra chairs for everyone!

Jessica Panicola, a recycling program specialist with the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, presented an informative slide show about how to recycle correctly, discussed some of the recycling challenges we face daily, and fielded dozens of questions.  However, the enthusiastic audience had so many questions time ran out before the questions did, sparking calls for an additional recycling fair and the participation of the Physical Properties Department to address many questions specific to Leisure World. The blue recycling buckets and reusable shopping bags she brought were in high demand and quickly disappeared.

Some of the most important things we learned:

What to leave out to avoid breaking recycling machines:

• It’s vital to keep plastic grocery bags and plastic film of all kinds out of the recycling bin.  The recycling center can be brought to a halt due to bags or film getting tangled in the gears. While workers stand idle, someone has to crawl down the conveyor belt to try to get the plastic out of the machinery. Those are your tax dollars not-at-work while everything comes to a stop.

• There’s another good reason to keep grocery bags and plastic film out of the recycling stream.  If they are included in a bale of recyclable plastics, the entire bale is considered contaminated. That bale is not able to be sold, leaving it to go to the landfill.  

What to bundle so they don’t end up on the recycling floor:

Small things fall through the cracks of the recycling machinery and are lost. Here are some tips to avoid recycling small items:

• Plastic bags from the produce section which hold fruit like cherries or grapes may be marked as recyclable – check the bag. If they are, hold them until you have enough to form a ball and then place them inside one another, sealing the outermost bag, so they won’t fall through the cracks or get caught in the gears.

• Tinfoil is recyclable. Clean it and hold small pieces until you have enough to make a ball so it doesn’t fall through the cracks.

• Put bottle caps back on plastic bottles before depositing in the bin to make sure they make it through the recycling process.

Remnants of shampoo, conditioner, body cream, dish-washing detergent, etc., are notoriously hard to remove from containers.  With something like shampoo and dish soap, you can add hot water before each use and continue this process until the remains are gone. A helpful tip by an attendee: Add a drop of bleach and a drop of very hot water to the container, cover, shake vigorously, then rinse to get rid of the last of the product.

Ms. Panicola offered her contact information to answer questions and provided a link to the County website to find out how to dispose of almost anything:  Jessica Panicola, jessica.panicola@montgomerycountymd.gov, 202-641-3307 (cell). https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/DepHowDoI/search.aspx

More about the Recycling Fair coming soon - there was too much for one article!

For more information about the Leisure World Progressives Club, visit www.LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

Progressive Change Requires Education and Action

By Charles Chapman

“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just

what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of

injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they

are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed

by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”

― Frederick Douglass

Leisure World Progressive Club Members Attend The People’s Action Convention

June 25th through June 27th, Leisure World Progressive Club members joined with more than a thousand attendees from across the country in Arlington, Virginia, for the 2023 People’s Action convention. At the convention, attendees learned how to build a base for local member organizations, build bigger new alliances and expand the tent, recruit and support progressive candidates as they run for public office, and shift the public conversation about what is possible in our society.

Members also took to Capitol Hill to meet with their elected officials to push for action on ending the war on drugs, securing tenant protections, ending profiteering in Medicare and passing Medicare for All, pushing back on insurance company interference in your doctor’s prescribed care, investing in our communities’ infrastructure, environmental justice, and more.

For more information about People’s Actions visit www.PeoplesAction.org

Leisure World Progressive Club signs on in support of Medicare For All

The United States spends almost twice as much per person on health care as the average OECD member nation, yet scores worse than these countries on life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality, and many other health outcomes, according to Munira Z. Gunja, Evan D. Gumas, and Reginald D. Williams II, “U.S. Health Care from a Global Perspective, 2022: Accelerating Spending, Worsening Outcomes,” The Commonwealth Fund, January 31, 2023. https://www.CommonwealthFund.org.

The Leisure World Progressive Club recently joined with Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) and other organizations in support of H.R. 3421, the Medicare for All Act of 2023.

The Medicare for All Act of 2023 would improve and expand upon the existing Medicare program, so that every person living in the United States has guaranteed access to high quality health care. It includes a comprehensive set of health services, such as primary care, dental, vision, prescription drugs, reproductive health services, gender-affirming care, and long-term care services and supports. Under improved Medicare for All, there would be no out-of-pocket costs, and all patients would have the freedom to choose the doctors, hospitals, and other medical professionals they wish to see. In addition, the bill emphasizes achieving health equity and provides a way for the government to address the growing crisis in rural and urban communities which face dwindling numbers of hospitals and clinics.

More information about the Medicare For All Act can be found at the Physicians for a National Health Program website: www.PNHP.org.

For more information about Leisure World Progressives and upcoming meetings and events, visit www.LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

July 20: Learn How to Recycle Plastics and More at the Recycling Fair

by Charles Chapman

Join the Progressives Club at the recycling fair on Thursday, July 20, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Clubhouse I Crystal Ballroom!

Come prepared to learn the answers to such questions as: Should I take lids off plastic and glass bottles before recycling? Hint: The answer has changed. Come to the fair and find out more!

• What do the numbers and symbols on plastic items mean?

• If I can’t read the number, should I recycle it or put it in the trash?

• Do coated paper cartons with plastic spouts count as paper or plastic?

• Do I need to remove paper labels from cans and bottles?

• Are food carryout containers recyclable?

• Why not put plastic grocery bags in with recyclable plastics?

• Are books and wrapping paper recyclable? What about padded envelopes?

• What should I do with leftover paint, antifreeze or motor oil?

• Can I recycle old towels, drapes, clothing and sheets?

• How do I dispose of my old computer, monitor or stereo?

• Are batteries and light bulbs recyclable? 

The fair will offer a presentation by Jessica Panicola, recycling program specialist at the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection. Panicola will inform attendees of the best recycling practices they can take as environmentally conscious citizens, answer recycling questions and discuss upcoming developments in Montgomery County’s recycling program.

She will also advise about some technological improvements in recycling efficiency and effectiveness on the horizon. The Club encourages all interested residents to attend and bring their recycling questions! Blue recycling buckets will be provided at the event to those who need them.

Find out more about the Progressives Club at https://sites.google.com/view/leisureworldprogressives/home.

July 20: Progressives Sponsor Recycling Fair

by Charles Chapman

Do you sometimes suffer “recycling angst”? Who among us hasn’t hovered over the recycling bin, mixed plastic container in hand, racked with doubt, wondering if the object we hold belongs in the blue bin or the trash? Help is on the way.

The Progressives Club sponsors a recycling fair on Thursday, July 20, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Clubhouse I Crystal Ballroom. It will offer a presentation by Jessica Panicola, Recycling Program Specialist, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection.

Panicola will inform residents of the best recycling practices they can take as environmentally conscious citizens, answer residents’ recycling questions and discuss upcoming developments in Montgomery County’s recycling program and some of the technological improvements in recycling efficiency and effectiveness on the horizon. The Club encourages all interested residents to attend and bring their recycling questions.

The Club’s June and July meetings are open to everyone and are also available by Zoom. Visit (https://sites.google.com/view/leisureworldprogressives/home) for the Zoom access links and to learn more about the Progressives Club.

June Meeting Notes

At the Club’s June meeting, at-large County Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles discussed her priorities and the accomplishments of the County Council in 2023.

Sayles has fought for expanded access to early childhood education, a $15 minimum wage, a cleaner, safer and healthier environment, equal rights and immigration reform, just to name a few.

Elected in 2017, Sayles made history by becoming the first African American councilmember in Gaithersburg, and again in 2022, as the first female African American at-large member of the Montgomery County Council.

In the National League of Cities, she chairs the Community and Economic Development Committee and serves on its Board of Directors. She also served on its Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee and two of its constituency groups – twice on the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials as Region 3 Director, and Second Vice Chair of Women in Municipal Government (WIMG). She was the 2020 WIMG Leadership Award winner. Recognized for her substantial community involvement and advocacy for increased female representation in public service, she was awarded the 2018 Daily Record Top 100 Women in Maryland award. Sayles also chairs the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Chesapeake Bay & Water Resources Policy Committee and serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Municipal League and is a member of its Legislative Committee.

Clean Water Action: Working to Protect Maryland’s Water 

by Charles Chapman 

Progressives Club’s next meeting is on Thursday, June 15, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Clubhouse I. At-Large County Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles will discuss her priorities and the accomplishments of the County Council in 2023. 

The following meeting in July is on Thursday, July 20, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Clubhouse I Crystal Ballroom. 

It includes a presentation by Jessica Panicola, recycling program specialist at the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection.  Panicola will discuss the best recycling practices residents can take as environmentally conscious citizens, answer residents’ recycling questions, and talk about upcoming developments in Montgomery County’s recycling program and some of the technological improvements in recycling efficiency and effectiveness on the horizon. The Club encourages all interested residents to attend and bring their recycling questions. 

The meetings are open to all residents and are also available by Zoom.
Visit (www.LeisureWorldProgressives.org) for the Zoom access links and to learn more about the Progressives Club. 

Clean Water Action:  The speakers at the Club’s May meeting were Emily Ranson, Maryland state director of Clean Water Action, and Gabi Sanchez, program organizer of Maryland Clean Water Action. 

Since Clean Water Action’s founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking, and people power to the table. 

Clean Water Action (CleanWater.org) works to protect the environment, health, economic well-being and community quality of life. The group organizes coalitions and strong grassroots support and campaigns to elect environmentally conscious candidates to solve environmental and community problems. 

Ranson and Sanchez discussed environmental challenges facing the state, as well as successful environmental protection measures passed in the recent General Assembly session, noting work remaining to be done. 

Clean Water Action’s priorities include: 

• making transportation equity a primary goal of the Maryland Transportation Plan and requiring data-driven analyses of major spending and service changes to ensure this principle works out in practice 

• working to reduce pollution from a stubborn sector of the Chesapeake Bay’s nitrogen pollution load 

• ending subsidies for polluting and burning industries in Maryland’s Renewable Portfolio Standard 

• monitoring air quality and reducing pollution in overburdened communities 

• Composting and zero waste for farmers, soil health and the good of the climate

What does it mean to be a Progressive?
by Charles Chapman

Recently, Progressive Club members staffed a table at the LW Clubs Fair and 23 new members signed up. Many conversations began with the question, “What is a Progressive?” After hearing some of our members describe their own values and beliefs, many thought theirs were aligned and joined.

Our beliefs are a product of the values we were raised with, combined with a lifetime of experience. Two of our members share why they call themselves “Progressives.”

Why I Joined the Leisure World Progressives Group
Paul Arneson
I was in the U.S. Air Force for thirty years and enjoyed 99.5% of my time in uniform.  One thing I could NOT ever do was express my political leanings -- on or off duty -- and a serving military officer is by definition ALWAYS “on duty,” we were told. Now as a retiree, those shackles are off and I’m able to talk about and act on my political beliefs. I was born and raised in Minneapolis and my folks were staunch DFLers -- Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party members. Dad was Hubert Humphrey’s barber when HHH was mayor of Minneapolis, and my sister babysat at the Humphrey home a few blocks from us. I think most people would agree that the way we fashion our political opinions is hugely influenced by the who/what/where(s) of our formative years. That is certainly true for me. Dad was a strong Barber Union guy and mother was a WWII 50-caliber machine gun bullet maker at the Minneapolis Northern Ordnance plant, eventually becoming an employee spokesperson. Both always talked about how discrimination and prejudice were abhorrent, and that the government had a role to play to irradicate it. I want our Progressives Group to help encourage every Leisure World resident to vote. In 2020 there were 5,850 Caucasian, 1,800 Black or African American, 938 Asian, and 618 Hispanic residents of Leisure World. Millions of dollars are spent in this country to denigrate the terms “liberal” and “progressive.” In 2008 liberal historian Eric Alterman claimed that barely 20% of Americans are willing to accept the word liberal as a political label, but that supermajorities of Americans actually favor liberal positions as voters time and again. One of our primary goals should be to help keep that fact alive.

Why I call myself “Progressive”
Bob Leventhal
I call myself a "Progressive" because it appropriately expresses my stance on issues that fall outside the parameters of "Democratic Party" positions. Or sometimes I feel that conventional "Democratic" consensus does not go far enough to convey a view on an issue. Take one example: inflation. The "Conventional" Democratic rhetoric approach concurs with the policy of supporting the Fed in gradually increasing interest rates to combat rising inflation.

Not enough is said about the harm increased interest rates have on working families and the failure of major corporations in paying their fair share of taxes. Progressives want increased attention brought to the shortcomings of our tax structure.

That's just one example. There are many others that could be cited.

From the President
Thank you to those members who shared their thoughts. If you share many of these sentiments, then you too just might be a progressive and would enjoy meeting other progressives here in Leisure World, learning more about the issues facing us locally and on the state and national levels, and taking action.

Next Meeting
The Progressives Club’s next meeting is Tuesday, May 23, 1:00-2:30 p.m., in Clubhouse I, and will feature Emily Ranson, Maryland State Director, Clean Water Action, as a speaker. The meeting will be available in person and by Zoom. Details can be found at LeisureWorldProgressives.org. All are welcome, whether Club members or not.

Electric Vehicles: Charging Ahead

by Charles Chapman

At our March meeting, Club members and guests participated in an informative and engaging presentation by Brian Booher, Senior Planning Specialist for Zero Emission Vehicles, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection. Brian’s work is to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in the county and work with property owners to understand the benefits of electric vehicles and how to go about installing electric vehicle charging.

Among the benefits of electric vehicle ownership Brian cited are:

• Zero tailpipe pollution and 50% lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions;

• Lower cost and incentives for ownership;

• Instant acceleration, smooth driving, and modern features; and

• Convenient charging at home.

And the growth in electric vehicles is coming on fast:

• Plug-in vehicle registrations in Montgomery County are up 60% in 2 years;

• 12% of new vehicles registered in the county were fully battery electric or plug-in hybrid in 2022; and

• Demand is outpacing supply, and we can expect faster growth over the next few years.

Federal Infrastructure Bill Funds Charging Station Installation

The Federal Infrastructure Bill provided $5 billion in grant funding over the next five years for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program to expand fast charging stations along federal highways. Approximately $60 million of that funding is earmarked for Maryland, which is working to ensure that all state highways have a fast charging station at least every fifty miles. The state plans to add more charging stations once that target is met. The infrastructure bill also provided an additional $2.5 billion in funding for community charging grants.

We learned that Montgomery County responded to the challenge posed for at-home vehicle charging for residents without garages or driveways. A county permit program allows installation of charging stations on the street in front of their house, at the homeowner’s expense.

Brian explained the financing and tax incentives for individual EV charging installations, as well as the considerations communities face and the steps to take to install charging stations in their communities.

At this point Tim Carrico described the timely help Brian provided for the EV charging station permits for the Villa Cortese community here in Leisure World.

Health Care Legislation in Annapolis

We next heard from Patty Snee with Progressive Maryland. Patty highlighted two healthcare bills considered in the Maryland General Assembly Session.

Maryland has a Prescription Drug Affordability Board the current legislature passed a bill to fund in its entirety. The same bill grants the Board the authority to set upper limits on medication costs for state and local governments. This bill, HB0279/SB0202, passed and was sent to Governor Moore for his signature.

Legislation to allow access to health insurance via the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange for undocumented immigrants (HB0588/SB0365) has stalled in the Maryland Senate.

Our Next Meeting

Our next club meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, 1:00 to 2:30, in the Potomac Room in Clubhouse I, and is open to all. The meeting will feature a panel discussion on the wins, draws, and losses of the recently concluded Maryland General Assembly session and will feature Delegate Vaughn Stewart, Patty Snee of Progressive Maryland, and Catherine Kirk Robins from Maryland Health Care ForAll.

This meeting will be available via Zoom and in person. Zoom details can be found on our website, LeisureWorldProgressives.org and below:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/92753348918?pwd=SWNqTFFjVVUxOHFUVHphWjJHMUJPQT09

Meeting ID: 927 5334 8918

Passcode: 332220

One tap mobile

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+13126266799,,92753348918#,,,,*332220# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Meeting ID: 927 5334 8918

Passcode: 332220

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aOahPeVJm

Leisure World Progressives are joining with the Democratic Club of Leisure World for their “Annual Report from Annapolis” by State Sen. Kramer and Delegates Crutchfield, Stewart, and Cullison on Thursday, May 11, at 7:00 pm in the Crystal Ballroom or on Channel 1.

Electric Vehicles: Smooth or Bumpy Roads Ahead?

by Charles Chapman

When you are driving down the road, do you sometimes notice how many makes of a certain car you pass? Maybe your eye is drawn to models like yours. What I am noticing these days is how many electric vehicles are on the road, and how many different makes and models too.

According to the website EVAdoption.com, as of March 3, 2023, there are 40 battery-electric vehicle models available in the U.S. And the U.S. market share of electric vehicles is shooting up: fully electric vehicles had a 5.5% market share in the third quarter of 2022, up from 3.1% market share one year prior, according to CarEdge.com.

Not only are there many more electric vehicles on the road, but they are also going much farther than they did in the past. In 2011, there were just three models of all-electric vehicles on the market, and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, their range was limited to approximately 63-94 miles on a full charge. According to EVBox.com, data from December 2022 shows the average electric vehicle range is now 211 miles. They are charging much faster now as well.

While the rate of increase in the electric vehicles as a share of sales and their driving range has been dramatic, there is a long way to go. Many economic, technological, and infrastructure challenges remain to reaching the Biden Administration’s goal for electric vehicles to make up 50% of all vehicles sold in the United States by 2030.

Next Meeting Will Feature Expert

You can learn about the possibilities for electric vehicles in Montgomery County at our next Leisure World Progressives meeting. Our guest speaker will be Brian Booher, Senior Planning Specialist for Zero Emissions Vehicles, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection.

Brian works with residents, business owners, and stakeholders across the county to develop and implement strategies to increase adoption of zero-emissions vehicles, expand charging infrastructure, and make the benefits of EV ownership accessible and equitable. 

Patty Snee with Progressive Maryland will also join us and will be available to answer questions about the latest developments and important legislation being considered in the Maryland General Assembly. 

The meeting will be Monday, March 27, 1:00pm-2:30 pm, in the Montgomery Room in Clubhouse I, and it will be available by Zoom for those who cannot make it in person. All are welcome to attend! Contact Charles Chapman at Charlie@TheEncoreTeam.net or Debbie Browne at 240-351-8212 for the Zoom link or visit LeisureWorldProgressives.org and click the upcoming events tab. 

The link below is to the Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/93293033086?pwd=QmdGM3B2azVBVnJ6QmM0eG82U0pMUT09

Use passcode 684356

You can also attend on our phone by dialing +1 301 715 8592.

Getting Together with LW Democratic Club 

The Leisure World Democratic Club invites Leisure World Progressives members to attend theses upcoming events: 

• Thursday, April 13, 7:00pm in Clubhouse I, Crystal Ballroom: Dr. Loretta Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus of the American Federation of Teachers, on “Right Wing attacks on Education, Teachers, and Unions.” 

• Thursday, May 11, 7:00pm in Clubhouse 1I, Crystal Ballroom: “Annual Report from Annapolis,” by State Sen. Ben Kramer and Delegates Charlotte Crutchfield, Vaughn Stewart, and Bonnie Cullison. Learn what happened in this year’s session and how it affects us; ask your own questions.  

To learn more about the Leisure World Progressives Club or to join, visit our website at LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

County Councilmember Kristin Mink Addresses Leisure World Progressives

by Charles Chapman

All interested residents are welcome to attend the Progressives Club’s next meeting in March to learn about major issues facing Montgomery County and Maryland.

Visit the Club’s website at LeisureWorldProgressives.org for details or to join the Club.

Lend Support:

Club members are invited to join Progressive Maryland and movement allies for an in-person rally on Monday, March 13, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Lawyer’s Mall in Annapolis to support lowering prescription drug prices, ending medical debt and expanding healthcare. A livestream will be provided for those who can’t attend in person. For more information or to register to attend, visit mobilize.us/progressivemaryland.

Council Member’s Address:

The Club’s meeting on Feb. 17 featured guest speaker Montgomery County Council Member Kristin Mink, who discussed key issues she is working on.

Mink is a former Montgomery County public school teacher and community organizer, and she is the first person of Asian descent to serve on the Montgomery County Council.

Mink began by expressing how much she values the participation and engagement of Leisure World residents, with the range of issues affecting the quality of life for all Montgomery County residents.

The first issue she addressed is racial disparity in traffic enforcement. Studies show that African Americans and Hispanics are subject to a disproportionate number of traffic stops unrelated to moving violations. County legislation is being drafted to halt traffic stops that are pretextual and not related to traffic safety.  Traffic stops related to safety or moving violations would not be affected.

Maintaining affordable housing is a major issue facing the county. Mink supports rent stabilization for county rental properties.  The guidelines would allow reasonable rent increases but cap them so increases could not be excessive.

Mink spoke favorably about proposed legislation sponsored by Del. Jheanelle Wilkins before the state’s General Assembly to prohibit evictions without just cause and require landlords to cite a qualifying circumstance when choosing not to renew a tenant’s lease.  Currently, landlords can decline to renew a lease with no reason given, then lease the property to another tenant at a higher rate.

Mink strongly supports continuing to expand available stock of affordable housing by using a county bond investment program. The funds raised are used to provide mixed-income social housing near transit, jobs and amenities, with the housing being publicly owned and operated. The measure has wide support in the Council.

Additional issues Mink discussed included:

• County residents’ efforts to counter hate groups and maintain a supportive environment for minority, LGBTQ+ and other targeted groups

• Salaries and/or affordable housing priority so teachers and first responders may live in the county instead of seeking housing elsewhere

• Hillandale Gateway Project’s success as a mixed-use, multi-building development with 463 residential units, offering both affordable and market-rate housing in highly sustainable buildings and serving as an example for development in other areas of the county

• All county bills will include a climate impact analysis along with a racial equity and social justice impact analysis Mink’s office phone number is 240-777-7955, her email address is councilmember.Mink@montgomerycountymd.gov, and residents can also visit her County Council website at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mink.

Hopes Are High for a Productive 2023 Maryland General Assembly Session 

by Charles Chapman 

The Maryland 2023 General Assembly session began January 11 and is scheduled to continue through April 10, 2023, unless there is an extended session. As of this writing there are 207 bills currently introduced in the State Senate and 214 in the House of Delegates. The bills that have been introduced and the status and progress of those bills can be found on the Maryland General Assembly website at mgaleg.maryland.gov, then choose the Legislation tab. 

At our December meeting, Leisure World Progressives heard from our District 19 Delegate Vaughn Stewart about the legislative session and the bills that he is sponsoring or co-sponsoring. 

Del. Stewart began by discussing his efforts in last year’s session to pass the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2022, which supports the development of clean energy sources like wind and solar while removing current language allowing polluting fuel sources such as municipal waste incinerators. Del. Stewart and others hope to modify the state’s renewable energy portfolio standards. Efforts at this reform will continue this legislative session. 

He also discussed HB0060, the Housing Innovation Pilot Program Act of 2023, to provide funds to establish more affordable housing through public/private partnerships.  

Another housing measure Del. Stewart is sponsoring is HB0079, the Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2023, to provide grants to help homeowners make necessary repairs and provide loans to help landlords bring their rental units up to code. 

Del. Stewart is also sponsoring HB0160, the Long-Term Care Relief Act of 2023, to alter the eligibility for and the maximum amount of a credit against State income tax for certain long-term care insurance premiums. 

Delegate Stewart is working these issues as well: 

Increase the number of housing vouchers to reduce the more than two-year waitlist for housing; 

Reduce spam calls and make violations of the proposed Act subject to penalties under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act; 

Improve well water safety; 

Provide a waiver to allow WIC vouchers to be used for the purchase of diapers or menstrual hygiene products; 

Require employers to provide seating for retail workers (which has proved more efficient in European grocery stores); 

Study the four-day workweek by private and public employers, in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Labor. 

Leisure World Progressive members and all others are invited to attend Progressive Maryland’s 2023 Annual Membership Assembly Saturday, February 4, 10:30am-1:30pm, at Anne Arundel Community College, 101 College Pkwy, Arnold, MD 21012. For more information visit www.ProgressiveMaryland.org.

Progressives Have Great Expectations for the Upcoming Maryland General Assembly Session
by Charles Chapman

At the November 18 meeting of the Leisure World Progressives Club, Patty Snee and Crystal Parker of
Progressive Maryland spoke about their organization and the legislation it will be working on in the
upcoming Maryland General Assembly. With incoming Democratic governor Wes Moore, hopes are high
for a very productive General Assembly session. The session will run from January 11, 2023, through
April 10, 2023.

Progressive Maryland has been working for 25 years to give Marylanders a stronger voice in support of
health care reform, economic justice, drug policy reform, criminal justice, police reform, environmental
justice, ensuring fair elections, and support for citizens returning from incarceration. The organization
has task forces researching and working on reform proposals in each of these areas, and Ms. Snee and
Ms. Parker discussed proposed reforms with the Club. Progressive Maryland’s membership consists of
both individual members and a coalition of unions, community groups, and civil rights groups.

Regarding health care policy, Delegate Sheila Ruth of Baltimore County is submitting legislation to create
a commission to study a single-payer health care system and develop proposals to help guide legislative
action by the General Assembly.

Containing the cost of prescription medications is a major concern, and in 2019 the Maryland General
Assembly created the Prescription Drug Affordability Board with the authority to evaluate the cost of
expensive prescription drugs and make recommendations for containing these costs. The board will
make recommendations this December whether the General Assembly should pass legislation to expand
upper payment limits to bulk purchases by the state of prescription drugs. Progressive Maryland
supports having prescription cost containment apply to medications for all Marylanders.

Legislation is being drafted to require Maryland hospitals to advise patients of no-cost options for
treatment. Currently hospitals have money in hand, already funded for these options, yet are not
advising patients they are available. Medical debt is still the leading cause of personal bankruptcy.
Hopefully the legislation will address low-cost options, which again are already funded, in the second
year if it passes.

With the success of the referendum legalizing marijuana in the state, Progressive Maryland will be
working to ensure that business opportunities are handled in equitable ways to benefit all communities.
Tax revenue from marijuana sales should be directed to drug harm reduction measures, including opioid
treatment centers. Discussion included a suggestion that Maryland should enact a program to expunge
marijuana convictions.

Progressive Maryland also works for measures to increase support for citizens returning to the
community after incarceration. Promoting successful re-entry to the community through job training
and access to housing is vital to reducing the recidivism rate. The organization supports not having
police stationed in schools, since this often leads to student behavior issues being criminalized – even in
elementary schools.

Ms. Snee said Progressive Maryland will be addressing measures to make Maryland a stronger leader on
climate and in the move to alternative energy to reduce our reliance on dirty energy like that from coal-
based power plants. Maryland can pick up the pace on developing clean energy sources such as off-
shore windmills. With a cleaner electric supply available, we can move to greater reliance in using
electricity to heat buildings. Challenges regarding the implementation and reliability of alternative
energy sources were discussed.

Upcoming: Progressive Maryland also supports measures to increase public funding of elections (and
has passed this system in a few counties like Montgomery County) to reduce the influence of special
interest money on our elections. They will encourage state elected officials to introduce a bill next year
that will create public financing system for state elections.

Progressive Maryland members and leaders will meet with legislators to educate them on the steps they
can take to address many of the pressing issues facing Marylanders and will continue to engage with
legislators during the legislative session, including meeting with members during lobby days. Leisure
World Progressives will keep our members informed about the various proposals throughout the
upcoming legislative session and opportunities to engage with our legislators.

Nominations for permanent officers of the Club were voted on. A final vote for officers will be held at
the December meeting.

At that meeting, we will learn more about legislative proposals for the upcoming General Assembly
session from Delegate Vaughn Stewart. The December meeting of the Leisure World Progressives will be
on Thursday, December 8, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chesapeake Room. All are welcome.

For more information or to join Leisure World Progressives, contact Acting President Pat Duran at 202-
468-8831, mgent1@aol.com, Acting Vice President Charles Chapman at 240-351-8214,
Charlie@TheEncoreTeam.net, or Acting Vice President Arthur Blair, 240-899-7731, insightquest@hotmail.com.

You can learn more about the Club or sign up as a member at LeisureWorldProgressives.org.

Each of these major American cities have something in common: Baltimore, MD, Buffalo NY, Boston MA,

Charleston, SC, Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI, Portland, ME, Pittsburgh, PA, New York. NY San Francisco, CA,

Seattle, WA, St Louis, MO. They all suffered catastrophic fires in the 1800s and early 1900s. In response,

according to Anna Rose Alexander in "The Problem of Fire in the American City, 1750–Present" writing in

the Oxford Research Encyclopedias:

'The extraordinary scope of fires of this period served as a wakeup call for cities to improve fire safety to

function in the modern industrialized age. Implementation of building codes that restricted the use of

wood, investment in water infrastructure, the widening of streets, creating fire gaps between structures,

and expanding fire departments were some of the significant improvements made."  Due to these

improvements that were due to collective action as well as new technologies, by the 1920s, catastrophic

fires were no longer commonplace in American cities.

Another example of successful collective action (within the living memory of Leisure World residents) is

traffic safety. Seatbelts were first required in new cars in 1968. There were 52,725 U.S. traffic fatalities

in 1968 or 26 per 100,000 population. Last year there were 42,915 traffic fatalities or 13 per 100,000

population. Was that due to American drivers becoming twice as skilled? No, it was due to seat belt

laws, safer vehicle design, safer road design, stronger drunk driving laws and stronger drunk driving law

enforcement. All examples of solutions that depended on government action at the local, state and

national level.

Fire safety and traffic safety depend on both individual, social, and governmental actions. Most of

problems we face as a society are like that. They are not only problems on the individual level, but are

also common action problems that depend on solutions by civil society and local, state and national

government.

As progressives, members of Leisure World Progressives, are dedicated to working for those solutions to

the many intersecting problems we face as a society: affordable health care, Pollution/Global Warming,

criminal justice reform, public education, protecting civil rights, voting rights, women’s rights, poverty

and wealth inequality, gay and transgender rights, preventing gun violence.

Our next club meeting will be 2 pm. Friday, Nov 18 in the Montgomery Room of Club House I.

Nominations for club officers will be made and we will have a briefing on legislative proposals for the

upcoming Maryland Legislative session by Patty Snee of Progressive Maryland.

The speaker at its December meeting is Del. Vaughn Stewart, Leisure World’s representative to the

Maryland House of Delegates.

All are welcome to attend. This is a dues free club and we welcome new members.

For more information or to join Leisure World Progressives contact Acting President Pat Duran at 202-

468-8831, mgent1@aol.com, Acting Vice President Charles Chapman at 240-351-8214,

Charlie@TheEncoreTeam.net, or Acting Vice President Arthur Blair, 240-899-7731,

insightquest@hotmail.com.

You can also learn more or sign up as a member at LeisureWorldProgressives.org

Byline: Charles Chapman

This Fall’s Exciting Program Calendar

by Charles Chapman

September Briefing by Del. Charlotte Crutchfield

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 28, 5:00-6:00pm, in the Potomac Room. Our featured speaker will be Delegate Charlotte Crutchfield, Esq. Del. Crutchfield will brief our members on the important issues she will be working on during the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session. Delegate Crutchfield was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018. She serves on the Judiciary Committee and is Chair of the Family and Juvenile Law Subcommittee.

LGBTQ Rights Forum

On Wednesday, October 18, 7:00-8:30 pm, in the Crystal Ballroom, several Leisure World groups are jointly presenting a forum addressing the assaults taking place on the LGBTQ community and measures to defend the rights of individuals from those assaults. The groups presenting the forum include the LW Progressives, LW LGBTQ Club, LW Democrats, and Unitarian Universalists of Leisure World. Speakers include Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass and advocates from the LGBTQ activist community.

“The Janes” Movie Screening

There will be a special guest appearance by Heather Booth at our screening for “The Janes” movie on Thursday, December 14. The film will be shown 7:00pm-8:30pm in the auditorium in Clubhouse II.

Heather Booth was the founding organizer for “The Janes,” a women’s collective formed in Chicago to help women obtain access to abortion. In the pre-Roe v. Wade era –– a time when abortion was a crime in most states and even circulating

information about abortion was a felony in Illinois –– the Janes provided information and low-cost or free abortions to an estimated 11,000 women.

During her activist career from the 60s to today, Heather Booth has played an important role in the Civil Rights, Women’s rights, Anti-war, worker’s rights movement, environmental movements, and more, and has helped generations of activists and organizers as a founder of the Mid-West Academy.

LW Progressives Facebook Group

Members are encouraged to join the Leisure World Progressives Facebook Group page. This FB Group allows members to discuss issues with each other, spread the word about important news and events, and have direct member-to-member communication. Members can join by responding to the invitation that was sent or by searching Facebook and submitting a request to join the group.

Committees Forming

The Progressives Club is forming four committees. The Club would love to hear from members who have a few hours once in a while to help out. Contact Charles Chapman at (Charlie@TheEncoreTeam.net) or (240-351-8214).

Here’s a brief synopsis of the committees:

• Program Committee – help plan and organize future programs and events

• Membership Committee – help continue Club’s growth (from 35 members a year ago to 85 members today)

• Social Committee – help plan social events for members

• Media Committee – notify media outlets of events that are likely to engage a wider audience, use social media to spread the word; help write some LW News articles.

Learn more about the Club at (LeisureWorldProgressives.org).