March 2025 Club Newsletter

Upcoming Meeting

—by Tim Dixon

Join us for our hybrid (In-person and Zoom), club meeting which will be held at the Peninsula Center Library, 701 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, California, 90274 on March 16, 2025.   Our meeting starts at 2:30 pm but join us at 2:00 pm to chat and network with other Democrats.

Congressman Ted Lieu

Congressman Ted Lieu will be joining us in-person as our keynote speaker. Congressman Lieu represents California's 36th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Ted is serving in his sixth term in Congress and sits on the House Judiciary Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee. He was elected by his colleagues to serve as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, making him the highest ranking Asian American to have ever served in House Leadership. Ted is a veteran, having served on active duty and then in the Reserves for the Air Force. He retired in 2021 with the rank of Colonel.

Gil Duran

Gil Duran is an American journalist based in San Francisco. He began his journalism career at the San Jose Mercury News in 1998. In 2003, he transitioned into political communications before returning to journalism in 2018 as the California opinion editor for The Sacramento Bee. In 2021, he became the editorial page editor of the San Francisco Examiner. He currently writes the FrameLab Newsletter and The Nerd Reich and regularly contributes to various publications, including The New Republic. 

Mr. Duran will give his perspective on the relationship between Donald Trump. Elon Musk, and other technology giants, and how this is impacting America.

For more information, or to register to attend our meeting, click here.

Nominating Committee for 2025/26 Board

—by Connie Sullivan

In January, per our bylaws, the Palos Verdes Democrats’ board selected a committee to nominate our next slate of board members.  The new board will be elected in May and sworn in at our July picnic.

The nominating committee consists of Mehran Moshfeghi (m_moshfeghi@yahoo.com), Fraser Perkins (flperkins@gmail.com), and Connie Sullivan (pvedems@gmail.com).  If you’re interested in volunteering for a board position, please contact one of these committee members.

President’s Report

—by Robert Wynne

If it wasn't obvious before Friday's embarrassing attack on Ukrainian President Zelensky in the Oval Office by Trump and Vance, the current administration has become a full-fledged advocate for Putin and Russia.

Usually, when a party loses control of the White House and Congress, there's a battle to reclaim the direction and issues of the country. Today, with Trump and Vance checking off every wish list item from Putin - weakening NATO, attacking and insulting allies, falsely accusing Ukraine of starting the war against Russia when Russia was clearly the aggressor -- we are in a battle to save the soul of America.

Are we a free, rational, and altruistic society dedicated to promoting democracy at home and abroad? Or are we a right wing dictatorship serving the interests of the super wealthy, corporations, and despots in foreign countries?

Unfortunately, the second description appears to be more accurate. As former GOP Congressman Joe Walsh said: "Two weeks ago on CNN, I called Donald Trump a Russian asset—and I stand by that. Trump’s words and actions make it clear he’s been working for Vladimir Putin the whole time. If you needed any more proof, just look at what happened today. Trump and J.D. Vance showed the world exactly whose side they’re on. Instead of standing with Ukraine, they bullied, lectured, and attempted to intimidate Volodymyr Zelensky, who’s been valiantly fighting for his country’s survival against a Russian invasion for three years. It was sickening."

From accepting campaign assistance in 2016 - "Russia are you listening?" - to his submissive body language and defense of Putin during the Helsinki talks - it's clear Trump's loyalties lie with Russia, not America.

Which is why the Democrats need more fighters and less negotiators. Leaders like Al Muratsuchi, Gavin Newsom, Adam Schiff and our Congressman Ted Lieu, who will speak at our next meeting March 16, are critical to opposing the Trump agenda on every level. These are not normal times. The stakes are not just governing until the next election, but making sure there will be elections.  

Now is not the time to give up. Now is not the time to give in. Now is not the time to listen to the apathetic citizens who blame "both sides" for our terrible predicament. As Winston Churchill famously said, "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." 

February 2025 Club Meeting Report

—by Tim Dixon

Michael Hiltzik

On Sunday, February 16, 2025, The Palos Verdes Democrats welcomed Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Hiltzik as the keynote speaker at our meeting. We had a huge turnout for the meeting, with virtually every seat taken and over 30 people attending via zoom. 

Mr. Hiltzik has written for the Los Angeles Times for more than 40 years, and his business column appears at least twice a week. In his remarks, Mr. Hiltzik discussed his forthcoming book, “The Golden State,” a history of California which was released a few days after our meeting. 

Mr. Hiltzik provided an in-depth review of California history and stated that although California is certainly in the spotlight as a resistance state of the new Trump Administration, our state has not always been the progressive state that we are today. Mr. Hiltzik reviewed the good and ugly periods in California history, periods of progressive leadership for the rest of the country but also dark days when our state was not tolerant and attacked and restricted the rights and freedoms of its citizens. 

In the review of the history of California, Mr. Hiltzik discussed how California is seen with fascination by the outside world, not just as a geographical location but as a “state of mind.” Mr. Hiltzik reviewed many areas where our state has led the country with respect to progressive values, including antipollution regulations that have resulted in a measurable improvement in our air and water quality. He also spoke about the fact that California is the birthplace of many of the national progressive social movements. 

Mr. Hiltzik concluded his remarks with his perspective on where we are today, the challenges we face in California due to global warming, and how as a progressive state we can resist some of the arcane attacks posed by the Trump Administration. The membership present in person and via zoom engaged in a detailed question and answer period with Mr. Hiltzik.

Allison Holdorff Polhill

Allison shared that most of the board members at Pacific Palisades Democrats lost their homes in the fires. With respect to recovery, Allison informed us that two elementary schools have already reopened in alternate locations and that Palisades High School should reopen soon in an alternate location. Alison also discussed the relief efforts and ways that individuals can contribute to assist victims of both the Palisades and Eaton fires and ways that our members can help with the recovery effort.

Ms. Holdorff-Polhill, in her role as District Director and Senior Advisor to LAUSD School Board Member Nick Melvoin, spoke about immigration and the school district’s effort to protect students and keep schools as safe zones from the Trump administration deportation agenda. A lengthy question and answer period was held with our members with respect to immigration and responding to the Trump agenda.

Allision provided information for our members if they would like to donate to the relief effort for victims of the Palisades and Eaton fires, and if you would like to donate, consider the following ways to Support our Schools and Employees impacted by the Palisades Fire:

From the Activism Chair

—by Caryl Schwartz

Where to start this month’s column when there is so much to discuss?

It’s clear Trump wants to destroy democracy and replace it with an authoritarian oligarchy. Elon Musk’s $290 million contribution to the campaign along with the voter suppression tactics employed in many of the battleground states tipped the scale in Trump’s favor. Trump has sowed the seeds of mistrust in election integrity and government institutions. His goal to restructure and staff the government with his loyalists is being enabled by Elon Musk’s unfettered access to Government agencies under the guise of discovering government fraud and cost cutting. He and his minions are using AI software to target programs and institutions that don’t support their agenda for a Christian Nationalist nation and it’s a tool for placing sycophants in all government agencies.

For Trump to achieve his goals he has to undermine judicial independence. It’s becoming increasingly clear he has no respect for court orders. For now, the Judiciary is doing their job. I pray the Judiciary does not succumb to his threats and bullying.

From 2015, he has verbalized questions about the integrity of elections, hence the 2020 battle cry, “Stop the Steal.” Belief in 2020 election fraud is the litmus test for a government job in the new Administration. Claiming fraud where none existed and knowing an unpopular agenda requires further voter suppression. Look for the GOP to aggressively restrict voting rights with the aid of the (GOP) Congress and a partisan Department of Justice.

We can fight back and we must! Let’s make some noise! This is not a time to be compliant.

Action Item: I suggest you call your representatives about The Save Act, which claims to be about noncitizen voting. In reality, it’s a thinly veiled effort to disenfranchise young and transient voters and economically deprived citizens. If you have friends and family in Red and Purple states, encourage them to call their representatives.

Action Item: Call and ask your friends and family in Purple and Red states to contact their representatives about unelected Elon Musk’s access to your privacy and personal data.

DOGE is a scam to slash government agencies and social safety nets. It’s cover for Trump’s plan to extend the 2017 Tax Plan’s expiring provisions to continue reduced taxes on corporations and the wealthiest 1% while increasing the national deficit.

ELECTIONS MATTER: On April 1st there are three elections. Two Congressional seats are up in Florida in Districts 1 and 6. Volunteer or donate to Gay Valimont https://gayforcongress.com/ or Josh Weil https://joshweil.us/ https://www.mobilize.us/joshweilforcongressionaldistrict6/ Hakeem Jeffries only needs three seats to become the Speaker of the House. Republicans are stalling Elise Stanfanik’s nomination to the UN, so they don’t have three empty seats simultaneously.

Wisconsin State Supreme Court Race: In my opinion the most important race.

Why this race matters (Wisc. Public Radio)

Judge Susan Crawford is running against MAGA Republican Brad Schimel. If Susan Crawford is elected, pro-democracy judges maintain their 4-3 majority.  If she loses, Wisconsin Republicans regain a majority on their Supreme Court and they would rule against the fair state legislative maps that resulted in Democrats picking up 14 state legislative seats in 2024.

This is what’s at stake:

Protecting fair state legislative maps in Wisconsin.

Preserving the Wisconsin Supreme Court's ability to get rid of gerrymandered congressional maps.  This could result in 2 additional Democratic Congressional Districts for the 2024 election.

Preserving reproductive rights in Wisconsin.

Please join me for phone banking either at my house or on Zoom.  I am hosting phone banks every Monday at 3 PM and Thursday at 2:30 PM. 

The campaign is using Hubdialer, a predictive dialer that dials the phone. Your phone number is not visible to the voter. You can easily speak with 10-15 Wisconsin voters in an hour.  It’s an excellent voter outreach tool.

https://www.mobilize.us/swingbluealliance/event/751041/?link_id=2&can_id=7e887ecf1251881bf3d99f3c9055d889&source=email-democracy-is-under-attack-in-wisconsin&email_referrer=email_2595520&email_subject=democracy-is-under-attack-in-wisconsin 

Registration for Monday

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1TvaM7LUT7io0IB90ESN_g 

Registration for Thursday

You can also sign up to volunteer or donate at https://wisdems.org/

Suggested Organizations to support that are fighting for Democracy: 

Democracy Docket www.democracydocket.com

Democracy Forward https://democracyforward.org/action/donate/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_67-lpfOiwMV_DpECB1mxjfVEAAYASAAEgJ2zPD_BwE

Please feel free to reach out to me for suggestions or questions on Activism.

Onward,

Caryl Schwartz
Palos Verdes Democrats Activism Chair
pvcaryl@verizon.net
310 897 0219

Notes from the LACDP February Meeting

—by Jon Munoz

The LACDP meeting was held on Tuesday February 11th. Congressperson Sydney Kamlager-Dove joined via video to give opening remarks. She noted that thirty-seven lawsuits have been filed against DOGE, Elon Musk, etc. Most of the legal resolutions put forth by the Legal Committee dealt with the issues of protecting the rights of migrants. A motion was passed to oppose HR 29 (Laken-Reilly Act). While Congress already approved HR 29, the LACDP Legal Committee took the rare move of voicing opposition. Among the reasons given was the lack of due process that would be granted to those with questionable immigration status being detained for minor crimes like shoplifting.

It was noted that while a number of California Democrats voted for the bill they also were from hotly contested swing districts. Among the statewide bills that the Legal Committee supported were AB 49, sponsored by AD 66 Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi. This bill would prohibit school officials and employees from allowing ICE employees to enter a school unless certain documentations and warrants are provided. The Resolutions Committee put forth a resolution that would forbid public universities from providing any information regarding DACA students to immigration authorities. 

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday March 11th.

ADEM Results

—by Reggie Jue

We had previously sent emails to you to let you know that the Assembly District Election Meetings were being held to elect your representation at the California Democratic Party.

Elections were held both on-line and in-person last month for each of the Assembly Districts. The results are posted on the CADEM website and are accessible by clicking here.

For those of you represented by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, you are in AD66 and your representatives are listed here.

We wish to celebrate all the Democrats who chose to become involved and run for these positions. We congratulate the 7 Self-Identified Female (SIF) and 7 Other than Self-Identified Females (OSIF) winners, including 7 members of the 2024/25 PV Democrats.   We especially want to call out Tim Dixon (PV Dems Second Vice President), Caryl Schwartz (PV Dems Activism Chair), and Tony Hale (former PV Dems President), who was re-elected to the Executive Board.

Other than Self-Identified Female Self-Identified Female
Tony Leo Hale* Ann Sadye Gotthoffer*
Adam Ryan Schwartz Isabel Rose Douvan Schwartz
Michael Yeijun Lee-Chang* Trisha Murakawa
Scott Houston* Caryl Joy Schwartz*
Anil Muhammed Bridget Lewis*
Tim Dixon* Dina Sayegh Doll
Dave Zygielbaum Shannon Ross

* 2024/25 Member of the Palos Verdes Democrats