A Note on Recent Developments…
This has admittedly been a troubling and upsetting week…the presidential debate did not look good for President Biden, coupled with the fact that Donald Trump was able to lie and spew disinformation without reproach or fact checking. As if that couldn’t be worse, the extremist Supreme Court this week ruled that any President now has the right and ability to act with impunity. This threatens our representative democracy, our way of life, and our basic freedoms as citizens. Combined with the frightening Project 2025 transition plan set to go into effect with an (ostensible) second Trump term, our country could very much appear as a right wing totalitarian state come January 2025. We want you to know that we are as frightened and upset as we are sure you all are. Now is NOT the time to be complacent, now is NOT the time to think that “it can never happen”–as many living around the world know all too well, anything that can happen, will happen, if the circumstances allow it. We need you now more than ever…our COUNTRY needs you now more than ever. If you are afraid, please reach out…if you want to get involved, or know someone who does…PLEASE REACH OUT! We don’t plan to sit on the sidelines and neither should you–there is no effort too small and no voice to silent to have a profound impact–you can and SHOULD be heard!! From all of us at the Rocky River Democrats, we certainly hope you are staying safe and are planning to have an enjoyable and relaxing holiday weekend. Below, we have included some links to a video by the excellent author Heather Cox Richardson on the latest Supreme Court ruling, as well as more information on Project 2025, if you are interested in learning more. We can’t thank you enough for your past and continued support and can assure that we will continue to fight TOGETHER!!
Project 2025: HERE, HERE, and HERE
Rocky River Democrats July Meeting
Our next meeting will be Tuesday July 30th at the Rocky River Public Library and on Zoom, 6:30pm social time, 7:00pm meeting start.
Our speaker for this month will be Jessie Hill, JD, Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University and Founding Director of the Reproductive Rights Law Initiative at CWRU. She will be addressing the status of the reproductive rights ballot initiatives passed last fall and legal challenges in Ohio and beyond. Please come out to see this great presentation, you won’t want to miss out!!
Great News from Citizens Not Politicians!
Citizens Not Politicians collected WELL over the necessary threshold for signatures to sponsor a ballot initiative to end gerrymandering. Thanks to everyone who supported or volunteered their time to get signatures to help protect our voices and end unjust redistricting! Read more HERE
Kira Krivosh!
Please come out and support our friend Kira Krivosh!!
The Krivosh for Judge campaign will be marching in the Lakewood Parade on July 4th and would love for you to participate in this event. Please respond by email ([email protected]) or text Faith at 330-268-6713 and let us know if you plan to be there.If you are walking, please wear your Krivosh for Judge shirt or let us know your size so we have one ready for you that morning. You will need to arrive no later than 9:30am at Edgewater Drive between Webb and Kenneth.There will be a great deal of traffic so plan to arrive at 9:15am. You will need to park at Lakewood Park.
Thanks as always for your support!!
LAKEWOOD FOURTH OF JULY PARADE GENERAL INFORMATION
PARADE DATE: Thursday, July 4, 2024 (rain or shine)
PARADE TIME: 10:00 AM
PARADE ROUTE: East on Lake Ave., from Kenneth to Lakewood Park
LINE-UP TIME: 9:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. We ask that all organizations arrive no later than 9:30 AM.
LINE-UP LOCATION: Edgewater Drive, between Webb and Kenneth
The parade will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. by exiting Kenneth Drive south onto Lake Avenue and will proceed east past the reviewing stand before the entrance to Lakewood Park. Parade officials will be available along the parade route to provide radio communication or information if required.
• All units, equipment, and passengers are to be dropped off at the corner of Webb and Lake OR the corner of Kenneth and Lake.
• Parade participants who are NOT driving their vehicles in the parade must park their vehicles at Lakewood Park. A shuttle will be available to transport drivers only to the parade line-up point on Edgewater Drive. Drivers are advised to drop off all passengers before parking their vehicles at Lakewood Park, as the shuttle will be limited to drivers only.
• Parade officials will be available to provide line-up and route information. Identified by their “Parade Official” t-shirts, they can also provide radio communication.
Voter Engagement Project!
Want to help turnout voters for this pivotal election?! The Cuyahoga County Democratic Party has spearheaded an initiative to connect volunteers with disengaged/infrequent voters to help get people out to the polls in November! If you are interested or want more information, please fill out the volunteer form HERE! You won’t want to sit on the sidelines for this election cycle–our recent challenges to democracy and representative government hang in the balance and we need every voice engaged!!
Voting Information!
| The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections has set up a Rumor Control Center! Elections are governed by state and federal laws and procedures. Learn more about how Cuyahoga County and the State of Ohio administer elections and get the facts about various election myths. Mis- and disinformation can undermine public confidence in the electoral process, as well as in our democracy. Our goal is to combat and dispel rumors with facts. When you talk with someone who doesn’t trust our elections, tell them about the Rumor Control Center! They’ll find facts about voting by mail, drop boxes, voting equipment and handling of ballots, and more. Updating your voter registration is good practice! Be ready for next Election Day, update your voter registration today at https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/ See below (under “Take Action!”) for how you can help purged voters re-register! The November 5, 2024 Presidential General Election will be here before you know it! Be prepared, and request or print your Vote-by-Mail application at www.443vote.us! Birthdays are important! A leading reason for rejected Vote-by-Mail applications is incorrect Date of Birth! Double-check your application before returning it! |
Check to make sure you haven’t been purged!
Ahead of the November election, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has instructed officials to purge inactive voters from the rolls. Here is what you need to do to find out if you are still registered — plus how you can stay registered!
Ohio Votes Count Act!
House Bill 472, also known as the Ohio Votes Count Act, was recently introduced in the Ohio House, as announced by co-sponsor of the legislation, State Rep. Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester). The bill is sponsored by State Reps. Bernie Willis (R-Springfield) and Bob Peterson (R-Sabina).
According to Rep. Gross, “the Ohio Votes Count Act aims to increase election integrity by reforming Ohio’s voter registration system and establishing cyber security protections and standards.”
This bill represents yet another attempt by the Republican-dominated legislature to make sweeping changes to how voting and elections work in Ohio. Among others, it includes provisions that would make it harder for some Ohioans to register to vote and cast absentee ballots (Ohioans have been able to register to vote and cast mail-in ballots by using the last four digits of their Social Security number. With HB 472, voters would have to provide a legible copy of their driver’s license or state ID card).
Read about the bill and its status here
Read an analysis of the bill here
Read Columbus Dispatch reporting here
Read Axios Columbus reporting here
Membership Renewals!
We are currently in our membership drive for 2024! If you have not renewed your membership, see one of us at the next meeting, or you can renew online HERE
Due to the rising costs of postage, scheduling of events, and other club duties, we unfortunately have had to raise our membership rates only slightly–individual memberships have increased to $30 (from $20), and family memberships have increased to $40 (from $30)–senior and student memberships will remain the same, at $10 and $5, respectively. While we hate to have to raise rates, it will go a long way to help us stage events, including postcard parties and community gatherings, maintaining the website, room rentals, printing, and sponsoring get-out-the-vote events and yard sign drives, all of which will become INCREDIBLY important in this CRUCIAL election year!
As always, if you can add more, it will cover someone who can afford less. Everyone is welcome at the amount you are comfortable contributing.
We Need Your Help!
We are looking for a volunteer to join the Rocky River Democrats Executive Committee as the Corresponding Secretary. We are looking for some with good writing and technical skills to help with email communication and website updates. If you, or someone you know is interested, please fill out the form HERE. This is a great opportunity to put your talents to work, get more involved with the club, and help in this crucial election year!!