Letter from the Chair - June 20, 2022
I hope you were able to watch the Hometown live event on Friday night. We now know who our local candidates will be for this cycle. It was an interesting evening and a few of these races will be just that – interesting!
I do have an announcement to make about one more race. The Democrats have a candidate in the Congressional District 28 race against Carlos Gimenez, aka “the traitor.” He is being primaried by 2 other Republicans. There are 2 Dems in a primary contest as well – Juan Paredes and Robert Asencio. More info as I get it!!!
Thanks to Hometown for doing these events every election cycle. It is a great service to the community.
You might find this hard to believe but there are still 11 candidates in the Governor’s race, 4 are Dems! YIKES!!!
I hope you are watching the Select Committee’s Hearings. It seems to me that they have 45 dead to rights and many of his sycophants as well.
My favorite quote from the hearing so far (albeit terrifying) is this: “The former president and his party are today a clear and present danger for American democracy,” Federal Judge J Michael Luttig.
I could not agree more! Traitors and cowards!
Here is the schedule for this week’s hearings:
- Tuesday June 21 – 1pm
- Thursday June 23 – 1pm
One Year ago on June 19th, President Biden signed an executive order making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday. Opal Lee thinks we should celebrate our nation’s independence from June 19 through July 4, when we were All free! There is an informative video report on Huffington Post of Ms. Lee and her quest to make this happen. View the report here.
And here is more good news from the HILL. In an article by Morgan Chalfant on June 16: President Biden signed a sweeping new executive order on Wednesday that aims to protect LGBT youth from a raft of conservative state laws and address barriers they face to health care and housing.
The order directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release new guidance for states on how to expand access to comprehensive health care for LGBT patients, according to a White House fact sheet.
It also orders the Education Department to release a sample school policy that is inclusive of LGBT students, among other actions.
The order aims to use the muscle of the federal government to push back on laws in states like Texas and Florida that have restricted access to health care for transgender youth and barred discussion in elementary schools about gender and sexual orientation.
On a call with reporters, a senior administration official described those state laws as “un-American” and an attack on LGBT youth and their families.
Exactly right! Let’s get to work here in Monroe County!
Government Meetings This Week
Tuesday, June 21 - The Key West City Commission will meet at 5pm in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 1300 White St, Key West. For the details and agenda click here.
Tuesday, June 21 - The Florida Keys Mosquito Control Board will meet at 1pm in their headquarters – 503 107th St., Marathon, Fl. For details and agenda click here.
Wednesday, June 22 - The Utility Board of the City of Key West (Keys Energy) will meet in the Board Room at 1001 James St. Key West at 5pm. For agenda and details click here.
Thursday, June 23 - The Key Colony Beach City Commission will meet at 9:35 am in the City Hall Auditorium. There is a Zoom option. For that and more detail click here and scroll down to the date.
Thursday, June 23 - The Islamorada Village Council will meet at 5:30pm in the Founders Park Community Center, 87000 Overseas Hwy, on Plantation Key. For detail, zoom link and agenda click here.
Coming Events
Wednesday, June 22 - Key West NOW (National Organization of Women) will meet at 5:30pm in the back room at Sally O’Brian’s., on the corner of Flager and Bertha. If you are a supporter but have never attended, NOW is a good time to join us.
Thursday, June 23 - The Middle Keys Dems will meet at 5:30pm in the Community Room at the Marathon Public Library. We have guest speakers Sue Woltanski - our incumbent school board member and a strong public education advocate, and Adam Hattersley, candidate for Florida CFO, will be zooming in to introduce himself. There is a possibility of a surprise candidate showing up. Yes, this meeting will be a hybrid Zoom/in-person meeting. For Zoom details, e-mail chair@keysdems.com.
NOTE - the Marathon Dems meeting is the only Hybrid meeting and all Dems are encouraged to attend if you are not yet ready for in-person or were unable to attend the meeting in your area.
Diane Beruldsen is looking for volunteers to help her in the Upper Keys as she works to get more signatures on the Single Member District Petitions. This is to get the issue on the ballot and let the voters decide. Email Diane at iwffa@iwffa.com or call her at 305-896-8678
Candidates, if you have events you would like us to share, create a FB event and share with us. Also email me at least a week in advance.
I am unaware of any candidate events this week.
The Keys Dems will be participating in the Key Largo 4th of July Parade. All Democratic Candidates are invited to walk with us carrying their signs.
Let me know!
See you this week on the Zoom!!!
Bert Sise/Chair
KeysDems
“A week is a long time in politics!” - Harold Wilson (I agree.)