33rddistrictdemocrats

Washington State Happenings
Here are some of the things that are going on in Seattle and Washington state:

• Occupy Seattle was evicted from the base camp at Seattle Central Community College. The best thing you can do is to donate your time! The Occupy Movement is about transforming a status quo way of thinking: a system which consistently values those already rich while cutting both our social safety net and environmental protections. The occupy Seattle movement goes on – every day, all day, now and indefinitely.
• Every Day Move your money to a credit union.Click here to enter your zip code and find a credit union in this area.
• Saturday, May 12th An all day conference on race in Seattle will be held at the Mezza Cafe, 2401 Utah Avenue South. The conference will run from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Tickets are $25 and can be ordered from Brown Paper Tickets.
• Sunday, May 20th Involved Democracy presenta a free showing of Robert Greenwald’s film “Koch Brothers Exposed” at Zola’s Coffee House, 402 East Main Street in Auburn. The event begins at 4:00 PM and goes until 6 PM.

“Thank you to everyone who participated in the endorsement meeting Monday, July 20. Here is a list of the candidates the 33rd endorsed. Congratulations to them all!” – Omaha

King County Council District No. 8: Joe McDermott
King County Assessor: Lloyd Hara
Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 2: Gael Tarleton
Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 5: Dean Willard
City of SeaTac Council Position No. 1: Barry Ladenburg
City of SeaTac Council Position No. 3: Othman Heibe
City of SeaTac Council Position No. 5: Dave Bush
City of SeaTac Council Position No. 7: Mia Su-Ling Gregerson
City of Tukwila Mayor: Pamela Linder
City of Tukwila Council Position No. 6: Kate Kruller
Court of Appeals, Division No. 1, District No. 1 Judge Position No. 2: Michael Spearman
South King Fire and Rescue Commissioner Position No. 4: Mark L. Thompson
South King Fire and Rescue Commissioner Position No. 5: James A. Fossos
Highline School District Director Position No. 1: Sili Savusa

February 21st is the day of the annual LAC Day, PCO Training, and Crab Feed in Olympia. Many have expressed an interest in going, so we are arranging a carpooling event. We are recommending that all carpools meet at the Kent Carpenters Hall (25120 Pacific Hwy S, in Kent). You can park your car there for the day, and the METRO route 174 passes by there.

To participate either as a passenger or driving your car, contact Chair Omaha Sternbeg. We are looking for vehicles to go down for the entire event, for the PCO training/LAC, and for just the crab feed. If you plan to do any of these, contact Omaha!

This is a wonderful chance for you, if you are a PCO, to get a review of the current legislation going in in the House and Senate, a better understanding of where we are in the recession recovery and the budget, and finally Vote Builder training.

Also, we are trying to arrange time with our legislators of the 33rd to spend some time talking with us, discussing what they are doing, and listening to us about what we would like, and what we can do to help them. This is also a great time to listen to various lobbyists in Olympia.

Last but not least, there is the crab feed. King County Councilmember Julia Patterson has generously donated ten tickets to the crab feed to the 33rd. This is a first come, first serve affair, so if you would like to attend the crab feed at the 33rd table, please contact Omaha Sternberg or call her (206-618-5107) immediately.

Don’t forget to sign-up for the PCO Training at the Washington Democrats site if you intend to go, and let us know if you will be attending Lobby Day with us otherwise.

ETA: Due to Congressman Adam Smiths’ health, Rob Holland has had to cancel his fundraiser scheduled for today.

The 33rd dems turned out in force to show their support for the Public Option at Congressman Adam Smith’s town hall meeting in Lakewood yesterday, with more than 20 members at least. Congressman Smith had moved the meeting to Harry Lang Stadium to accommodate the nearly 2500 people his office estimated showed up.

For the most part, the crowd participating behaved in a mature, adult fashion, with only a little heckling and shouting here and there. Congressman Smith did an admirable job of maintaining control, allowing the crowd time to cheer and boo as they wished. Only a couple of times did events threaten to get out of control, as when some idiot chose to walk along the lower part of the stadium seats with a sign of President Obama dressed with a Hitler mustache. And though we in the 33rd don’t condone violence against another as they exercise their right to free speech, there were those who could not allow such insults to pass without response. The man’s sign was taken away from him, crumpled, and thrown on the ground, and a couple of members said they saw that he was knocked down briefly in the process. He wasn’t hurt, because he walked away.

It seemed that the vast majority of the people present were in favor of a public option of some kind. The minority who were opposed were vocal, though, and for some reason, they were chosen out of the crowd more often to speak. Congressman Smith had two members of his staff wandering the crowd with microphones and picking out people to ask questions. Seeing as how at least half of the crowd carried signs of some sort (most in favor of the public option), we don’t imagine it would have been hard to determine who was on what side. No 33rd members were called upon to ask a question, though several had their hands up for over an hour.

Interestingly enough, some of the attendees reminded everyone that most all of the concerns that were raised last night, and had been raised throughout the health care reform debate, had been brought up during the debate about Medicare. And yet Medicare was passed, and has been a successful government program (yes, for those out there that apparently don’t know that, it’s a GOVERNMENT PROGRAM).

Congressman Smith’s views on health care reform were varied. He declared that if the health care bill as it currently stands was brought to a vote, he would vote against it. He also stated that he felt that the bill as it stands held a great deal within it that did not work towards health care reform. He was against including end-of-life consultations within the bill. And he stated that he was in favor of a public option, but would not define in more detail what that actually meant for him. He also did not state whether if a bill came to the floor for a final vote that did not have a public option if he would vote against it.

Congressman Smith still needs to hear your opinions about health care reform. He needs to know what you want to see in this health care bill, and what you require of him in voting for it. We need him to know that if a final bill comes to the floor without a public option in it, he must vote against it. It is a make or break issue for the Democratic Party. Please call him and tell him that. He has said that he will listen.

Congressman Adam Smith
Tacoma Office: (253) 593-6600; 1 (888) SMITH09
Washington DC office: (202) 225-8901

AM1090 is holding their 4th Annual Town Hall Forum at the Showare Center in Kent on August 8th, in just under a week, and the 33rd Dems are sponsors! Entitled “Embracing Change: Moving Forward As The Majority”, the event will bring five popular nationally syndicated progressive talk radio hosts together on one stage to discuss the major political and public policy issues facing our country and what we as citizens can do to put our nation on a path toward progress and prosperity. This year??‚¬?„¢s lineup includes Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Bill Press, Mike Malloy, Ron Reagan and moderator David Postman.

First, AM1090 is offering members of the 33rd District a special discount to the event! To receive $5.00 off the price of advance purchased tickets to the event, you can purchase tickets online here, or call at 253.856.6999. In both cases, you must use a promo code…to get the promo code, you must be on one of our mailing lists; email us to find out more.

Second, you can also submit questions for the panel to help guide the discussion about healthcare reform, the economy, environmental issues, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and more. To submit a question, click here.

Also, we are hosting a table at the event. When you arrive at 5 pm, you will see our table and you can come and meet the candidates that the 33rd has endorsed! If you have any burning questions, this is the time to ask them.

This is going to be a great event, so don’t miss out!

Ultra-conservatives, those “teabaggers”, are ramping up their opposition to universal and single-payer health care through shutting down legitimate debate with shout-downs. Their tactic is to show up in groups at town hall meetings and such, distribute around the room, and shout and make such a ruckus that good debate can’t occur. Debate is how we as a democratic nation make decisions. So you can see what kind of people they are.

The next series of meetings that will be occurring that they may show up at will be two events with US Congressman Adam Smith. Put on your Democratic hard hate, grab your universal health care debate talking points, and show them how Democrats make change!

Adam Smith’s Progressive Advisory Council
Wednesday, August 5th (that’s TODAY)
4:00 – 5:00 pm
Commencement Bay Coffee
2354 South Jefferson Avenue
Tacoma 98402
For more info or to RSVP: matt.perry@mail.house.gov or 253-593-6600

Adam Smith Town Hall Meeting
Tuesday, August 25th
7:00 – 8:30pm
Lakewood City Hall Chambers
6000 Main Street SW
Lakewood, WA.
Space is limited so please RSVP if you are able to attend by calling 253-593-6600 or (888) SMITH09.

For more information regarding Congressman Adam Smith’s events, see his homepage.

The Burien Parade on July 4th was a great success! We’ll get some pictures up soon from that event. Now that we are all rested up, let’s renew our enthusiasm and head down to Kent to participate in Cornucopia Days. You have several opportunities to show your Democratic spirit and promote our year-round mission.

First, you can sign up to help staff the District’s booth at the Street Fair. We are sharing the booth with the 47th district. Let’s show the 47th our spirit! The purpose of the booth is to promote Democratic candidates and issues. The booth is #32; located on the north side of Meeker Street between Second and Fourth Avenues. Closest parking is located on the north side of Smith Street between Fourth and Sixth Avenues. Last year, I parked at Kent Commons, entering the lot from James street between 4th and 6th Avenues.

Current shifts available on Sunday, July 12:
9:00 am-12:00 noon
12:00-2:00 pm
2:00-4:00 pm
4:00-6:00 pm
6:00-8:00 pm

Please let me know what shifts you want to cover, so I can make sure we have at least one person for each shift.

And, of course, the Cornucopia Days Parade on Sunday, July 12 starts at 2:00 pm; we will be gathering with Karen and Dave at 5th and Gowe around 1:00 pm. Several candidates will be marching with us (such as Kent City Council candidate Dennis Higgins, Port Commissioner Candidate Max Vekich, and King County Executive candidate Dow Constantine). The theme this year is “Have a Rockin’ Good Time in 2009″, so let’s go to Kent and Rock!!

Parking: There are several facilities (schools, churches, etc) around the staging area that have parking lots that may be available for parade goers and marchers, as well as limited on-street parking. Last year, I parked at the end of the route at Kent Commons (enter from James between 4th and 6th), which meant walking the route twice, but you’ll do that anyway; either before or after the Parade. There is also parking on the north side of Smith St between 4th and 6th Avenues that is identified as festival parking.

If you are unfamiliar with Kent, their website kcdays.com has great maps for each event, that will help you navigate the town amid the festival street closures.

I have T-shirts and hats for those who want them, as well as issue-specific parade signs identifying the 33rd. I can bring hats and shirts to the booth beforehand, to the parade, or make arrangements to meet you someplace so you can have them for your shift at the booth or marching in the parade. Please let me know what you prefer. I have some kid sizes as well.

Sooo, put on your comfortable shoes and come on down to Kent for a Rockin’ Good Time!

See you there!

Paula Joneli
206 878 2171
pjoneli@comcast.net

Click on the link below to sign the petition supporting significant health care reform. We expect action from our representatives because a watered down health care plan that fails to include single payer or at a minimum a very robust public option (see the petition for details) is not acceptable. The time to act is now and you can help make real reform for all Americans a reality.

Please go to the online link to sign this petition and print out copies of this petition to sign. The petition will be delivered to Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, as well as other elected officials that we feel need to know that we, along with a majority of people in the US, support a government sponsored health plan.

Sign the Change.org Support Significant Health Care Reform petition

ALERT!! This event is happening today, May 27th.


Local small-business leaders and residents of Seattle will host a green-jobs rally and tour of area clean energy homes on Wednesday, May 27, in the High Point neighborhood of West Seattle.


The event is being organized by the Seattle chapter of MoveOn.org, which has about 50,000 members in the Seattle metro area. At the rally, local residents will call on Congress to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which the House of Representatives is expected to vote on this summer. If passed, the bill would create high-paying jobs, reduce electricity and heating costs for local households, and keep America competitive in the global economy.

WHEN: 4:00 pm, Wednesday, May 27, 2009. The tour is expected to last 1-2 hours.
WHERE: See the MoveOn.org site for more information about where the event takes place.