Archive for August, 2008

Claire: “Have you embraced the Young Democrats of America yet?”
Franken: [Bear hugs Claire]!!
Franken: “I have now!”

Al Franken is amazing at drawing the contiguous states free hand!

And the auction begins! Signed map sold for $2,500 toward his campaign!

For Immediate Release: Thursday, August 21, 2008

California Young Democrats President Rocky Fernandez released the following statement today upon the ascension of Senator Darrell Steinberg to President Pro Tempore of the California State Senate:

“California’s young voters are extremely fortunate to have a respected, dynamic, and progressive new leader of the Senate. He has worked tirelessly on major sustainability issues that will raise the quality of life for all Californians, now and in the future.”

“On behalf of California’s Young Democrats, I wish to congratulate Senator Steinberg and thank him for his continuous support of CYD’s mission to create a bloc of young voters who will elect Democrats for an entire generation.”

For Immediate Release: Monday, August 4, 2008

California Young Democrats Take Strong Stances

on November Ballot Initiatives

Young Voters make their voices heard in Los Angeles and kick off massive Peer-to-Peer vote pledge drive featuring State Senator Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles)

Number / Title/ Recommendation

Prop. 2
Treatment of Farm Animals. Statute.  YES
Prop. 3
Children’s Hospital Bond Act. Grant Program. Statute.  NO POSITION
Prop. 5
Nonviolent Offenders. Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation. Statute.  YES
Prop. 6
Criminal Penalties and Laws. Public Safety Funding. Statute.  NO
Prop. 7
Renewable Energy. Statute.  NO
Prop. 9
Criminal Justice System. Victims’ Rights. Parole.  Constitutional Amendment and Statute.  NO
Prop. 10
Bonds.  Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy.  Statute.  NO POSITION
Prop. 11
Redistricting.  Constitutional Amendment and Statute.  NO

The California Young Democrats (CYD) took these official ballot proposition stances this past Saturday, August 2, 2008, at the CYD Executive Board Meeting in Los Angeles, California. The California Young Democrats also took to the streets and kicked off a statewide, Peer-to-Peer “Pledge to Vote Democrat” campaign with State Senator Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles).  In the coming months, CYD will contact, activate and mobilize 150,000 young voters to get to the polls.

CYD had already taken official stances on three ballot propositions at the California Democratic Party Executive Board Meeting in June:

Prop. 1
Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century.  YES
Prop. 4
Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor’s Pregnancy. Constitutional Amendment.  NO
Prop. 8
Eliminates the Rights of Same-Sex couples to marry. Constitutional Amendment. HELL NO

CYD also took support positions on two pieces of legislation.  They came out in support of Senate Bill 831, by Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello), which allows for online voter registration provided the person has a signature on file with the DMV.  CYD also voted to support Senate Bill 1672, by Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), which provides funding for Green-Collar Job development as the state moves towards a Clean Energy Economy.

“Mobilizing young voters in California will be the key to victory on many important issues this November” said Rocky Fernandez, President of the California Young Democrats.  “We will fight back against the many flawed propositions on the ballot, and open up opportunities for young voters to find real solutions to our state’s long-term needs.”

“This weekend we asked our peers to pledge to vote for change this November” says Nick Warshaw, President of the California College Democrats. “Studies show that when a young person asks another young person to get involved in the political process they are exponentially more likely to vote. Young people will be the key to ensuring inequality is not enshrined in the California Constitution.”

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CYD with Chair Eric Bauman at the Los Angeles County Democratic Party Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Dinner on the Queen Mary in Long Beach.

The California Young Democrats with Sen. Gilbert Cedillo

11:45 am–Lunch with Special Guest State Senator Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) sponsored by the Los Angles County Young Democrats & the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats
1:00 pm–Democratic Unity Rally & Vote Pledge Contest with local Young Democrats
3:00 pm–Executive Board Meeting with very short presentations by Proponents & Opponents for the November Ballot Propositions

We held a vote pledge contest after lunch to test our YDs’ cunning, creativity, and abilities as an organizer. It also kicked off our statewide “Pledge to Vote Democrat” campaign.