Dear LACYD Members and Supporters,

Our President needs our help.

During his address to the Nation last night about the stalemate in Washington over avoiding default and the best approach to cutting deficits, President Obama said "I'm asking you all to make your voice heard. If you want a balanced approach to reducing the deficit, let your Member of Congress know. If you believe we can solve this problem through compromise, send that message." (see the full address in the video below)

At the direct request of the President of the United States, members of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats, as well as other young Democrats throughout Los Angeles, are contacting our representatives and letting them know that we want a balanced approach to reducing the deficit and that we can solve our problems through compromise.  Will you join us?   

Watch President Obama's Monday evening speech here and then do your part by contacting Congress. 

Please take a few minutes to call the Capitol switchboard and ask for your Representative ( or look up your Representative's contact information here ).  The phone lines are likely to be busy, so if you get a busy signal, keep trying. 

Capitol Switchboard (Just ask for your Rep.'s or Senator's office): (202) 224-3121      

Contact Speaker Boehner directly: (202) 225-6205   

As we have so frequently been reminded in recent years, our work as Democrats extends far beyond Election Day.  A victorious election is an opportunity, not an end goal.  Unless we continue to take action and play an active role in the shared experience of American democracy, the opportunity we achieved in 2008 will be wasted.   

Our President needs our help.  Join LACYD in answering his call.

All the best,

David Graham-Caso

President

Los Angeles County Young Democrats

Janice Hahn

2513 Pacific Coast Highway
Torrance, CA 90717  

323-338-4441

Marina Del Rey Office

3007 W. Washington Blvd.

Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

323-345-7087

Election day in the Congressional District 36 Special Election is on Tuesday, July 12.  Get out the vote and send Janice Hahn to Congress!

Hahn Campaign Locations:

Torrance Headquarters: 2513 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance, CA 90717

Contact mike@janicehahn.com 1-323-338-4441

Venice Location: 3007 Washington Blvd.,Ste. 100C, LA, 90292 left on Thatcher

Contact max@janicehahn.com 1-323-345-7087

Wilmington Annex: Seafarers Union Hall, 510 S. Broad

check with Torrance Headquarters first [see above]

Also our friends in the Democratic Party of the West San Gabriel Headquarters are hosting a weekend phone bank at

443 - A West Garvey, Monterey Park, CA 91754

Saturday June 2, 1pm on - bring your phone

Also, the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley is coordinating remote phone calling for Janice Hahn:

You can make calls from your own home!  Sign up at

https://www.occ-phonebank.com/PhoneBankLogin.aspx?id=wxoELYlxX4UxX219%2b7KmYA%3d%3d

Torrance & Venice Hours [always check first and rsvp so they can schedule]

Phone Banking: 12 noon to 9pm

Canvassing: Saturday the 2nd 9am & 12pm

Sunday the 3rd 12pm

Saturday the 9th 9am & 12pm

Sunday the 10th 12pm

GOTV Door Hanging:

Monday 7/11 @ 6pm

Tuesday 7/12 ELECTION DAY - @5am

ELECTION DAY - Poll checking & Canvass on July 12th

8am; 10am; 12pm; 2pm; 4pm; & 6pm.

Thank you!

http://bit.ly/iH2HDB

Good morning!  It's time to get out and vote!

LACCD Candidate Scott Svonkin

Today, Angelenos are heading to the polls to elect new members of the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees and the Los Angeles Unified School District.  Please remember to get out and vote for LACYD's endorsed candidate for the LA Community College Board, Scott Svonkin and LACYD's endorsed candidate for LAUSD Board Seat Five, Luis Sanchez in these hotly contested runoff elections.

LAUSD Candidate Luis Sanchez

http://bit.ly/moItJc

Los Angeles County Young Democrats May e-Newsletter

May 16, 2011

On Tuesday, April 19, members of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats met in Westwood to vote on the organization's endorsement in the special primary election for Congressional District 36.  Because the Executive Board was not able to reach the necessary consensus to make an endorsement recommentation, any qualified Democrat in the race was able to win the LACYD endorsement by earning 60% of the membership vote at Tuesday's meeting.

After hearing from candidates, including Los Angeles City Councilmember Janice Hahn and California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, and their supporters (Los Angeles City Councilmember Bernard Parks and Katherine Hennigan, representing Council President Eric Garcetti, spoke on behalf of Councilmember Hahn and Assemblymember Betsy Butler and Californina League of Conservation Voters Development Manager Lindsay Bubar spoke on behalf of Secretary of State Bowen), LACYD members cast ballots to decide the endorsement.

Councilmember Hahn received 59.5% of the votes cast (28 votes of 47 ballots), barely missing the threshold necessary to secure an endorsement.

Since no candidate received 60%, the Los Angeles County Young Democrats will not make an endorsement in the May 17 special primary election.  We wish the very best of luck to all of the impressive progressive candidates cometiting for this seat.

On Monday, April 11, the Los Angeles County Young Democrats Executive Board met to interview candidates and consider an endorsement recommendation in the May 17 Special Election to fill a vacancy in Congressional District 36. 

After interviewing passionate, progressive and exceptionally promising Democratic candidates for the seat, the LACYD Executive Board was not able to reach the necessary consensus to make an endorsement recommendation to our members.

The endorsement now rests in the hands of the LACYD membership.  All LACYD members in good standing in attendance at the LACYD April Membership Meeting (to be held on Tuesday, April 19 in Westwood) will be allowed to cast a vote in the endorsement.  Since no Executive Board recommendation was made in the race, a candidate will need to receive 60% of the votes cast to win the LACYD endorsement.  If no candidate receives the necessary 60% of the membership vote, no endorsement will be made in the primary election in the race.

Find our more about each candidate by reading their LACYD Candidate Questionnaires at the links provided below:

• California Secretary of State Debra Bowen
• Los Angeles City Councilmember Janice Hahn
• Marcy Winograd
• Daniel Adler

All LACYD members are encoraged to attend the April 19 meeting to help decide who young Democrats in Los Angeles want representing us in Congress.  In order to vote at this meeting, you must be a member in good standing by no later than Friday, April 15.  If you are not sure about the status of your membership, please contact LACYD President David Graham-Caso at president@lacyd.org. 

Thank you.

See the web version here: http://bit.ly/hldq8W

Today, LACYD submitted a formal letter of support for Senator Kevin De Leon's SB 116, the California Jobs Now Act.  You can find out more about this legislation (which will save California taxpayers $1 billion and create 40,000 jobs in our state) and sign a petition to join LACYD in support of this important bill at http://www.caljobstoday.org/.

The full text of our letter can be seen below.

March 17, 2011

The Honorable Kevin De Leon
State Capitol
Room 5108
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Senator De Leon:

I write on behalf of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats (LACYD) to express our organization’s support for SB 116, your bill that would close a corporate tax loophole, generating $1 billion in tax revenue and protecting jobs in California. 

Founded nearly 40 years ago by Congressman Henry Waxman, Congressman Howard Berman, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, former Los Angeles City Controller Rick Tuttle and others, LACYD is the largest organization in Southern California focused on giving young people a voice and a vehicle for activism in local, state, and federal political issues.  With more than 1,000 members and supporters and dozens of local, state, and federal candidates either members or helped into office by the Club, LACYD remains at the forefront of keeping Young Democrats engaged, informed, and heard on issues of importance to young people.

SB 116 is a fair and reasonable bill that will help address our state’s budget deficit while protecting jobs in California.  By creating a single standard for the taxation of multistate corporations, your legislation would not only save Californians $1 billion, but it would create an estimated 40,000 jobs in California.  The benefits of SB 116 address legislative priorities for young Democrats in Los Angeles - generating revenue to reduce the severity of cuts to essential services provided by the state, and creating jobs in California – and we proudly support your reasonable and thoughtful legislation.

We look forward to supporting this measure as it progresses through the Legislature. 

Sincerely,
David Graham-Caso
President
Los Angeles County Young Democrats

http://conta.cc/e8cc32

Los Angeles County Young Democrats February e-Newsletter

February 2, 2010

Meet Your 2011 LACYD Executive Board    On November 21, LACYD members voted to elect 13 officers to the 2011 Executive Board. This year's Board  structure has been streamlined with an eye towards efficiency and transparency.   Newly elected President David Graham-Caso is joined on the Executive Committee by Caroline Carr (Vice President of Programming), Daniel Taylor (Vice President of Administration), Jason Levin (Vice President of Communications), Sean Gabe (Treasurer) and the eight At-Large Board Members for 2011 include Courtney Driver, Darryn Harris, Daniel Lopez, Mattie Munoz,April Popescu, Alex Pugh, Clinton Schaff and Alycia Witzling.  Visit the "About Us" page on www.lacyd.org to learn more about each board member.    The 2011 LACYD Executive Board (Back L-R: Clinton Schaff, Jason Levin, Daniel Taylor. Middle L-R: Darryn Harris, Courtney Driver, Mattie Munoz, Caroline Carr, Daniel Lopez. Front L-R: David Graham-Caso, Alycia Witzling, April Popescu, Alex Pugh)

LACYD to Co-Host this year's SFVYD RFK Awards   This year, LACYD is proud to co-host the annual San Fernando Valley Young Democrats RFK Awards. This annual event from the San Fernando Valley's preeminent club for Young Democrats always honors activists and leaders from across the San Fernando Valley who, through their work in politics, government and advocacy, honor the memory of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.    This year SFVYD honorees include Dolores Huerta of the United Farmworkers of America, Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, former City Controller Rick Tuttle and Democratic National Committeeman Andrew Lachman. This year's Ripple of Hope Honoree will be Barri Worth, a Young Democrat and Director of Advance for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.   Tickets are $45 for non-members, $40 for members and $25 for students and may be purchased here.   Event Information Below: Thursday, February 10, 2011   6:00 PM to 9:00 PM   Guy's North 12655 Ventura Blvd, Studio City 2nd Floor - Above Jerry's Deli map Entrance on Ventura Blvd. Parking available at Jerry's (do not park at the PINZ Bowling lot)

Los Angeles County Young Democrats e-Newsletter

November 19, 2010

Thank you for your interest and involvement in the Los Angeles County Young Democrats throughout the past year.  It has been a privilege to see this club grow and improve in 2010 and I sincerely thank you for the work you to to improve our communities by supporting Young Democrats and getting active in the Democratic Party.

On September 1, 2010, the Los Angeles County Young Democrats voted to endorse the following statewide ballot initiative campaigns:

• Yes on 19 (legalization and taxation of marijuana),

• No on 20 (Congressional redistricting by an unfairly selected committee),

• Yes on 21 (funding for state parks), No on 22 (restrictions on state budget solutions),

• No on 23 (Texas oil company effort to kill clean energy competition),

• Yes on 24 (close corporate tax loopholes)

• Yes on 25 (majority vote for the state budget),

• No on 26 (requires 2/3 vote for revenue generating fees); an

• Yes on 27 (eliminate unfairly selected Citizen's Redistricting Commission). 

We also voted to endorse Scott Svonkin for LACCD Board of Trustees.

Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s today issued his ruling in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the trial in Federal Court to determine the constitutionality of Proposition 8.  Judge Walker’s ruling, which clarifies constitutional rights of equality, determines that Proposition 8 unconstitutionally deprived Californians of their rights by stripping them of the ability to enter the same civil institution of marriage as heterosexual couples.

We thank Judge Walker for his ruling, as well as the American Foundation for Equal Rights, Attorneys David Boies and Ted Olson, and plaintiffs Kris Perry, Sandy Stier, Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo for their bravery, commitment and dedication to equality.

While we celebrate the decision, young progressives understand that our work is not yet done.  This ruling is not just about marriage, it is about equality. 

True equality will require a generational revolution in the way we think.  True equality will be had when equity in civil institutions such as marriage is not a question to be debated but a right to be defended by all patriotic Americans.  The organizing work we do today seeks ensure the ascension of a progressive generation and thus a status quo rooted in equality.  It is the ascension of this generation that will ultimately be necessary to permanently establish true equality in California and in America.  

The Los Angeles County Young Democrats remain committed to empowering and mobilizing a generation of progressive Democrats who will carry on this fight until we achieve true equality.  Our work will not be done until equality is guaranteed by our government and understood by our society.   We understand the importance of this task and I assure you, we are equal to it.

-David Graham-Caso
Vice President of Communications
Los Angeles County Young Democrats

Repeat! LACYD Wins Annual Softball Game Against SFVYD

On July 11, LACYD defeated the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats in the annual softball game between the two clubs.  The game, played on a cool Sunday morning at La Cienega Park in Beverly Hills, was the fifth annual game between the two largest young Democratic clubs in Southern California.

For the second year in a row, LACYD edged out the visiting Valley young Dems.  Former LACYD President Becca Doten was the hero, driving in Aaron Trask with a one-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth inning to give LACYD a 10-9 extra-inning victory.

The groups were joined at the game by Los Angeles County Democratic Party Chair Eric Bauman, Assemblymember Mike Feuer, West Hollywood Councilmember Lindsey Horvath and Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Tamar Galatzan.

LACYD's winning squad. (from L-R: Juan Higuera, Ruben Zaragoza, Courtney Driver, Dante Atkins, Matt Renaud, Becca Doten, Lindsey Horvath, Dan Taylor, David Graham-Caso, Aaron Trask, Odest Riley, Shara Castro)

LACYD Board Members Advise Moroccan Official on Young Voter Outreach On July 8, members of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats Executive Board met with Mr. Hassan Aghmari, Governor and Director of Elections for the Ministry of Interior in Rabat, Morocco to advise him on young voter outreach. Mr. Aghmari, who was in Los Angeles as part of a State Department trip, wanted to ask LACYD Board Members, as politically active young professionals, about tactics that we have found to be successful in increasing youth participation in the electoral process.  This is especially important information for Mr. Aghmari to bring back to Morocco, where more than half of the population is under the age of 35.  The meeting was hosted by the International Visitors Council of Los Angeles.   LACYD Board Members meet with Mr. Hassan Aghmari, Governor/Director of Elections, Ministry of Interior, Rabat, Morocco

Thank you for your continued interest and involvement in the Los Angeles County Young Democrats.

Yesterday’s Primary Election was a fantastic demonstration of the relevance of Young Democrats in the political process.  Members of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats were elected to seats ranging from Statewide Constitutional Office, to Democratic Party Central Committee to a seat on the second-largest City Council in LA County.

LACYD is very proud of James Johnson, a LACYD member who won his runoff election against an incumbent City Councilmember in Long Beach.  Councilmember-elect Johnson epitomized hard-working Young Dems by walking his district (Long Beach Council District 7) for more than 400 days in order to meet voters and talk about his vision for Long Beach.  With all precincts reporting, Johnson won nearly 53% of the vote and will now serve as the District 7 representative on the Long Beach City Council.

LACYD member Chris Parker was also victorious Tuesday evening.  Parker is now the Democratic nominee to be the next member of the California State Board of Equalization from District 2.  Chris had a novel idea when deciding to run for what is traditionally a seat occupied by termed-out Republican legislators. He thought that it would make sense for an actual tax attorney, someone that knows tax policy and could effectively enforce it, to serve in a role that is constitutionally charged with enforcing tax policy. During his Primary campaign, Parker traveled to each of the counties in this absurdly large district (which stretches from the Oregon border, down the eastern part of the state and into Los Angeles County) to talk with voters about how electing someone that is right for this job could bring in millions of dollars of revenue to the State that seat-filler Republicans have ignored for years. LACYD is incredibly proud to count Chris as a member and we are looking forward to working hard to get him elected in the fall.

Young Dems also recorded victories in races to serve on the Los Angeles County Democratic Party’s County Central Committee.  Up to seven representatives from each Assembly District in the County are elected to make up the governing body for the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.  LACYD members from the San Fernando Valley to the San Gabriel Valley, to South Los Angeles were elected Tuesday, including:

• Noel Barajas Jr. (AD 39)
• Ackley Padilla (AD 39)
• Patty Salazar (AD 39)
• Dante Atkins (AD 42)
• Ricky Choi (AD 49)
• Henry Lo (AD 49)
• Skyy Fisher (AD 52)

(If you are an LACYD member who was elected to Central Committee and your name was accidentally omitted above, please contact David Graham-Caso at d.grahamcaso@lacyd.org and we will correct the omission.  Thank you.)

Congratulations to all of our members on their success!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/4/18/857819/-Wont-someone-think-of-the-children

Won't someone think of the children?

by Dante Atkins

Sun Apr 18, 2010 at 04:00:05 PM PDT

Originally posted to Huffington Post on April 13, 2010.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/becca-doten/dont-call-us-the-future-i_b_535825.html

Don't Call Us "The Future" If You Want to Win Now

This coming weekend, Democrats from across California will be converging on Los Angeles for the annual California Democratic Party State Convention. Activists, elected officials and candidates will attend the convention to shake hands, take meetings and look for the election trifecta -- endorsements, money and volunteers.

On Saturday, candidates will also stop by theCalifornia Young Democrats' meeting, looking for a chance to address hundreds of young activists, ages 18-35, as we gather for our annual convention, which is held concurrently with the full CDP convention.

Candidates will get a minute or two to tell us why Young Democrats should engage in their campaign and, if the CYD meeting is anything like years past, they'll tell us how, at one time, they were a Young Democrat, too. In their best attempts to pander to our demographic, many will repeat the oft-used phrase that "Young Democrats are the future."

And to be fair, many of us will continue to be involved in politics and the Democratic Party for years to come, and some of us will take on additional leadership roles in the Party or run for elected office. So, in that way, we are the future. But labeling Young Dems simply as "the future" downplays the importance of our demographic now. Young voters are not a constituency to be considered in the perpetual "future." Rather, young voters are one of the most potentially powerful demographics within the Democratic Party today.

It is a very simple equation -- when young people vote, Democrats win.

Polling shows that some very important races are terrifyingly close in California. Not only will there likely be close general election races for Governor and the US Senate, but Democrats throughout the state will face Republican opponents who are banking on a historical election trend. They are hoping that, as in years past, when the party of the President changes, there will be a large shift of seats away from the Party now in power.

Gov. Tim Kaine, the Chair of the Democratic National Committee, put it bluntly: "The average president loses 28 House seats, four Senate seats and governor's races. And we're not living in average times."

We've already seen inklings of this trend. In January, the country was stunned when Martha Coakley lost to Scott Brown in the race for the late Edward Kennedy's Senate seat. Yes, Democrats fielded an unfortunately weak candidate in Coakley, and there were lessons learned from the defeat. But in the lessons that we take from the race, there is one that has been largely overlooked -- young voters, aged 18-29, still voted overwhelmingly for Martha Coakley. In fact, almost 60% of young voters in the Special Election voted for the Democrat, even though she only ended up with 47% of the vote.

So where was the disconnect between the young voter's choice and the final results? Only 15% of young voters went to the polls and cast ballots. This is a marked difference from 2008, when a whopping 52% of young Americans voted. It was clear in the 2008 Presidential election and it was clear in the Massachusetts Special Election -- when young people vote, Democrats win.

Issue polls show us that young voters are progressive voters. A recent Public Policy Institute of California study found that Californians age 18-34 support marriage equality 66% to 49%. Republican political strategist Dan Schnur wrote a column in the LA Times last week citing a poll that young voters - regardless of race - opposed denying services to undocumented immigrants by a 20 point margin. Schnur wrote, "age has become the primary factor determining opinion on illegal immigration in California."

And young voters don't just support progressive causes; we support the candidates who champion them. The aforementioned PPIC poll also found that Jerry Brown leads Meg Whitman 44% to 30% in voters aged 18-35 and "younger voters prefer Boxer (56% to 30% for Fiorina)." This is night and day from the results of the polls of all likely voters, where these races are neck-and-neck.

The question facing campaigns this fall is not about how to convince young voters that Democrats are on the right side of issues of importance. Our generation has demonstrated a widespread acceptance of the progressive values which, for a large part, make up the Democratic Party platform. The question is how to activate these young voters and get them to the polls.

There is no silver bullet that will turn out young voters. As with every other constituency, it takes a strategic effort and focus of resources to reach young people. Ensuring young voter turnout, and in turn ensuring Democratic victories, means more than paying us lip service. It means including young voter outreach in campaign plans and investing resources in turning out our demographic. It means having young supporters play an active role in campaigns by reaching out to millennial voters with a message that resonates on a peer-to-peer level. Young voters need to understand their stake in the election, that their vote means something to their lives and that the candidate is someone who will fight for what they believe in - which is a progressive, positive agenda.

President Barack Obama did it right. He had a message that spoke to young voters, one of hope and a new direction for our country. He took bold stances and he made sure he got the word out to young voters - on our own playing field. His use of technology was strategic and innovative and it translated traditional campaign tactics to a medium accessible to our generation.

The California Young Democrats' slogan is, "the margin of victory." In these coming elections, young voters can be the margin of victory for Democrats throughout the state. But it won't happen if there are not concerted efforts to reach out to young voters and give us a compelling reason to go to the polls.

Maybe that's why, this year, the California Young Democrats' Convention slogan is simple: We vote, Democrats win.

Dear Young Dems,

::

Dear Young Dems,

Dear Young Dem,

The Los Angeles County Young Democrats have endorsed the following candidates in the June 2010 Democratic Primary election.


Statewide Constitutional Officers
Governor- Jerry Brown
Lieutenant Governor- Janice Hahn
Secretary of State- Debra Bowen
Attorney General- Ted Lieu
State Treasurer- Bill Lockyer
State Controller- John Chiang
Insurance Commissioner- Hector De la Torre
Superintendent of Public Instruction- Tom Torlarkson
State Board of Equalization, District 2- Chris Parker

State Assembly Races
AD 36- Linda Jones
AD 37- Ferial Masry
AD 38- Diana G. Shaw
AD 39- Felipe Fuentes
AD 40- Bob Blumenfield
AD 41- Julia Brownley
AD 42- Mike Feuer
AD 43- Mike Gatto *Special election on April 13
AD 44- Anthony Portantino
AD 45- Gil Cedillo
AD 46- John A. Perez
AD 47- Reggie Jones-Sawyer
AD 48- Mike Davis
AD 49- Mike Eng
AD 50- Ricardo Lara
AD 51- Steve Bradford
AD 52- Isadore Hall
AD 54- Bonnie Lowenthal
AD 55- Warren Furutani
AD 56- Tony Mendoza
AD 57- Roger Hernandez
AD 58- Charles Calderon
AD 59- Darcel D. Woods
AD 60- Gregg D. Fritchle
AD 61- Norma J. Torres

State Senate Races
SD 20- Alex Padilla
SD 22- Kevin de Leon
SD 24- Ed Hernandez
SD 26- Curren Price Jr.
SD 28- Jenny Oropeza
SD 30- Ron Calderon

Remarks from Katherine Hennigan, LACYD President, at the 2009 Laurel Awards reception:

This has been a year of change and progress. Throughout 2009 lacyd has met with and supported more than thirty democratic candidates and important legislative measures. Some of the candidates include:

♦       Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

♦       City controller Wendy Greuel

♦       Los Angeles City Councilmembers Richard Alarcon, Janice Hahn, Paul Koretz, Ed Reyes, and Bill Rosendahl

♦       US Congressperson Judy Chu

♦       West Hollywood Councilmembers John Duran and Jeffrey Prang

♦       LAUSD board members Monica Garcia, Nury Martinez, and Steve Zimmer

♦       Los Angeles Community College District Trustee candidates Kelly Candaele; Angela Reddock; and Miguel Santiago

♦       State Assemblymembers Steve Bradford and Paul Krekorian

♦       State Senators Gil Cedillo and Curren Price, Jr.

In addition to these candidates, we continually support the many LACYD members who run for elected office and for state and national Democratic Party positions.

LACYD does more than endorse candidates, however. In the past year we walked precincts, contributed money to campaigns, organized phone banks, hosted candidate forums and debates, and created a popular speakers’ series that included such themes as “faith in politics” and “youth involvement in the labor movement.” We’ve helped to educate young voters about democratic values. We continued the fight for marriage equality, sending LACYD members to camp courage and co-sponsoring the “out west” campaign training to prepare our members for the important next round in the fight for equality.

Further, in 2009 we had close to a dozen LACYD members elected as delegates to the California Democratic Party convention.

LACYD brought policy discussion to our members, endorsing bills in the state legislature ranging from voter registration to water recycling. With other young democrats clubs, we lobbied our national representatives to support the employee free choice act.

Our top legislative priority, Senator Curren Price’s Assembly Bill 30, was signed into law, allowing 17 year-olds in California to pre-register to vote.

We did all this…and still found time to recapture the trophy in our annual softball game against the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats.

We are proud of our accomplishments, but we understand that we have a lot of very hard work ahead of us in 2010 - and we ask for your support to get this work done:

We need to bring more democratic votes to the state legislature to wrest control away from republicans hell-bent on derailing vital budget negotiations;

We need to make sure our legislative agenda is furthered including the fight to make affordable healthcare available to all;
 

And, we need to work as hard as we can to put a democrat back in the governor’s seat of our great state.

LACYD Approves Resolution in Support of Clean CA Gubernatorial Primary Campaign Pledge

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A CLEAN CAMPAIGN PLEDGE

 

“Whereas, California will suffer irreparable harm to our economy, education, and health care systems, environment, infrastructure and more, unless we elect a Democratic governor in 2010; and,

 

“Whereas, the Republicans are on track to nominate a candidate for governor who is independently wealthy and who will invest tens of millions of dollars in negative attacks on the Democratic nominee; and,

 

“Whereas, Democrats cannot afford a negative, bruising primary that leaves our nominee weakened and damaged going into the general election;

 

“Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Los Angeles County Young Democrats urge Democrats to work together in a way that guarantees a Democratic victory in November by requesting any current and prospective Democratic gubernatorial candidates to sign a Clean Campaign Pledge which includes campaigning in an open and fair manner, without resorting to defamatory attacks or unwarranted invasions of personal privacy issues; and,

 

“Be It Further Resolved, that the Los Angeles County Young Democrats contact each candidate to make its position known and ask the candidate to sign such a pledge.”

 

 

Katherine Hennigan

President

Los Angeles County Young Democrats

LACYD congratulates Dr. Judy Chu, our incoming representative for CD-32!  Dr. Judy Chu is an extraordinary leader, author of numerous legislation to protect victims of domestic violence, to crack down on hate crimes, to promote environmental justice and to improve our educational systems.  She is an inspiring leader.

Statement from Los Angeles County Young Democrats President Kathryn Hennigan Regarding Proposition 8 Ruling

LOS ANGELES- Los Angeles County Young Democrats (LACYD) President Katherine Hennigan released the following statement today in reaction to the California Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold Proposition 8. 

“As a representative of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats, I am extremely disappointed in today's ruling.  LACYD is one of California's largest groups of civically-minded young professionals and we stand firm in our belief that it is not the will of the people to uphold laws that violate any basic civil liberties.  We are committed to continue our role in the fight to right this wrong and to ensure equality for all.”