Letter from the Chair - June 27, 2022
June 24, 2022, is another day that will go down in history as the day the American Taliban/GOP flexed its muscle to curb the freedoms of half the population! I fear it is not the end of the rights they would like to recall.
WHY? Power and Control of women! Why? To further the cause of White Male Supremacy and get rid of the line between church and state. (My opinion-based on observation and lots of reading.)
Our ex-Governor, Rick Scott (another guy who took the fifth after his company defrauded Medicare out of Millions) has published what he wants to be the GOP platform for 2022. Get rid of Social Security and Medicare!!! Just let people die!
WAKE UP AMERICA!
The GOP has been trying to kill these social programs ever since FDR gave us the NEW DEAL! We must use these issues as a litmus test for all candidates running for office. But we must also look at their backgrounds. They might look pretty and say all the things you want to hear but be wary! Who is backing them? Follow the money folks. It is not hard to do.
Elections have consequences, and the Supreme Court is the Supreme Prize! Congress has been deadlocked for so long they rely on the court to get what they want. We must tip the balance of Power. And then we MUST get rid of Citizens United!
For those of you following the January 6 Select Committee Hearings, I am thankful for those Republicans who stood up to the BIG LIE at great personal risk. Listening to the testimony in the fourth hearing from top election officials down to election workers counting ballots, I am heartened by their conviction, courage, and dedication to the constitution. However, the cruelty and bullying by Trump and his fellow conspirators is criminal and must be reckoned with! He truly is a clear and present danger to our country!
Thank you to everyone who turned out for the protest at Bayview Park Friday in Key West. There was also a small protest in Marathon. Tears were shed, stories shared, and hugs passed around! Thanks to Darlene Thomas, President of Key West Now, for her swift response to the news. We mourned, but we are angry and not going to shut up or stop fighting for our rights. Some thoughtful voting can fix this!
Then we must make sure that those we elect, do the right thing! That is why we go to meetings!
Last Thursday at the Middle Keys Dems meeting, new candidate for Marathon City Council, Richard Tamborrino was asked a question about water quality. He did not know the answer but did some research and has reported back. The Monroe County Health Department tests nearshore waters every 2 weeks. (I did not know that.) If you have questions about storm water run-off and the sewer system in Marathon, you can call Carlos Solis, Marathon Public Works, and Engineering for more details. Thanks Richard!
Government Meetings This Week
Tuesday, June 28 - The Monroe County School Board will meet at 4:30pm in the Media Center at Marathon High School, 350 Sombrero Rd. in Marathon. For details and agenda, click here.
Coming Events
Monday, July 4 - The Keys Dems will be participating in the 46th Annual Key Largo 4th of July Parade. The parade route is from Anthony’s at the 98.2 MM north to MM100. We will have candidates marching with us. We step-off at 10am.
Thursday, July 6 - Key West Drinking Liberally will meet at 5PM (NEW TIME) in the back room at Sally O’Brien’s on the corner of Flagler and Bertha.
Monday, July 11 - The Lower Keys Dems will meet in the Parish Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 401 Duval St at 5:30pm. Enter from the Bahama St. side. We will be hosting a forum between the two candidates running for School Board in Dist. 1, Gabrielle Brown and Darren Horan. Bring your questions. Parking is available in the city lot next to the fire station. Free with a residential sticker.
Candidate Events this week
Tuesday, June 28 - Kim Highsmith is holding a meet and greet in the back room at Sally O’Brien’s from 5-7pm. She is running for Key West City Commission District 4.
Note to all Candidates – All social media posts should be sent to Brandon Jones who runs our Facebook page. He can be reached at blog@keysdems.com
Keys Democrats - As we gear up our Get Out The Vote efforts, we need your help. This year it will be a combination of door-to-door canvassing and digital marketing. Click here to donate:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/2022digital
Or
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/office22
Thank You!
We are coming up on a 3-day weekend, traffic will be nuts and then there’s fireworks! Please be patient and safe.
We have a country to save!
Bert Sise/Chair
KeysDems
“Cynicism and idealism are mutually exclusive. We cannot be defined by both. We can be a nation bound by the aspiration to simple values. Or, no values at all” Leonard Pitts Jr. / Miami Herald