Max Miller Appearance!!
In a surprising turn of protocol, Max Miller, our Congressional representative, will be present, in-person, at the August meeting of the Parma Republican club. While we firmly do NOT endorse ANY of the views of the Republican Party or any of their local representation and stand in FIRM AND FERVENT opposition to anything and EVERYTHING that they espouse…it does not change the fact that Max Miller is our representative. This is your chance to address our national representation, make your voice heard, and tell him that you do NOT agree with anything that is happening in Washington and throughout the country. The event will be TONIGHT August 13th at 6:30 pm at McJames Sports Pub in Brookpark (13450 Snow Road). This is not something that was publicized to us, but was published in the Plain Dealer in a Letter to the Editor. Read the letter HERE.
We want to reiterate again–this is a not a meeting that we would ever encourage anyone to attend, and if you do not feel safe or comfortable in that environment, we completely understand and support you. But, while we still live in a democracy, we might as well take advantage of what freedoms we have left, and have a direct redress of grievances to our elected representatives. Please comport yourselves in a respectable manner–we are DEMOCRATS after all, and please keep in mind, that once this Fascistic timeline concludes, we still have to live in this country with our brothers and sisters…at the end of the day, we are all Americans.
July Meeting!!
Thanks for everyone who came out for a VERY informative and raucous meeting this week! We should be so proud and grateful that Bride Rose Sweeney is representing us in the Ohio Statehouse!!
Jeanne Gallagher Fundraiser!!
Our friend and Rocky River Councilwoman Jeanne Gallager is hosting a fundraiser for her re-election campaign on Wednesday, September 10th from 5-7pm at Market (1387 Linda Street). Please come out and support her campaign and use the QR code to donate and help us keep Rocky River BLUE!!
Unionizing Efforts at Rising Star!!
Workers at the local coffee shop, Rising Star Coffee, specifically, the Lakewood location, recently launched a campaign to address workplace concerns that were being unmet by ownership and have been working to unionize their workplace. They encouraged the public to continue to patronize the business and offer support to the employees’ endeavor. In response, ownership restricted their hours, and on Sunday when a large crowd of people attempted to support the business and the employees, by lining up at the earlier-than-normal closing time, ownership called in the Lakewood police to disperse the crowd. Please see write-ups in the Plain Dealer and Cleveland Scene HERE and HERE. The Lakewood location is currently closed until further notice. We encourage everyone to continue to patronize Rising Star’s other locations, voice your support of the employee’s efforts to unionize and stand in solidarity with this workers initiative!
Stand Up Saturdays!!
School Funding Bill!!
The Rocky River School District has come out in opposition of HB 335, which would reduce the amount of money school districts across the state of Ohio can collect for public education. This would have destructive effects across the landscape of public education and further satisfy the Republican statehouses’ aims of coming for our education and breaking the backs of the teacher’s unions. Read more HERE!!
Editorial Articles!!
Please take a moment to read this insightful article HERE from Robert Reich that was shared by one of our members–it’s important to make sure that we continue to demand more from our leaders…beyond just NOT being Trump!!
A very insightful article HERE and this podcast HERE about the meaning and value of protests!
Bride Rose shared some really concerning updates on the new legislation regarding property taxes currently in the Statehouse at our July meeting–the Plain Dealer published some good information about how we got to this terrible point where we are underfunding schools in favor of supporting billionaires. Please read them HERE and HERE.
Senate Bill 1!
Passed earlier this year, SB 1 (The Higher Education Destruction Act) bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, regulates classroom topics and discussion, and bans faculty strikes at Ohio’s public colleges and universities.
The good news?
There is a ballot initiative campaign to repeal this law, but help is needed to get this referendum on the ballot.
Time is extremely short, please make an effort to sign this weekend and consider a donation.
SAVE Act!
SAVE Act (National Level):
- Call Senator Moreno: DC (202-224-2315), Columbus office (614-469-2083), Cleveland office at (21- 522-7272), and Cincinnati office (513- 684-1021.
- Call Senator Husted: DC (202-224-3353), Columbus office (614-369-4925), and Cleveland office at (216-539-7877).
Here is a 1-pager to share, and here is a SAVE Act fact sheet with specific details on how SAVE would impact Ohioans.
Meanwhile…
HELP PROTECT OHIO’S DIRECT DEMOCRACY!
Ohio’s version of the SAVE Act:
Tell our Ohio General Assembly: NO on SB 153 & HB 233
The “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility” Act would require citizenship documentation (a passport, birth certificate or other citizenship document) to register to vote even though voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering. It is already illegal for non-citizens to register and vote in federal or state elections.
The act would also burden people who have changed their legal name because of marriage, assimilation, or to better align with their gender identity.
Women are especially vulnerable to being disenfranchised, as millions change their name when they get married or divorced, so their birth certificates would not show their current name.
The SAVE Act would create huge barriers to voting.
It would require all Americans to prove their citizenship status by presenting documentation in person when registering to vote or updating their voter registration information. This would be the end of registering to vote online or by mail for most voters. What’s more, many eligible voters don’t have easy access to the necessary documents. State driver’s licenses, REAL ID, and veterans IDs would no longer be accepted.
Ohio Senate Bill 153 and Ohio House Bill 233 are a pair of radical, massive, and unnecessary election bills now in the Ohio General Assembly. Not only would these bills make it harder for statewide initiatives, local issues, and candidates to make it onto the ballot, these bills would make it harder for Ohioans to cast a ballot and would add unacceptable, unfunded burdens to local Boards of Elections.
The power of the vote and the citizen initiatives are the strongest tools Ohioans have to push back on government overreach, hold politicians accountable, and allow us to play a real role in shaping policy in our communities. Once again, corrupt politicians are trying to limit the power of everyday Ohioans.
Here’s a snapshot of who these bills would hurt:
- Ohio citizens trying to make changes that an out-of-touch Statehouse won’t make: These bills have new rules to make collecting signatures for citizen initiatives and referendums much harder and more expensive, and even tries to intimidate citizen organizers and volunteers with politically motivated investigations to make making it to the ballot even more challenging.
- Local governments, businesses, and citizen groups in Ohio trying to put issues onto their community ballots: These strict rules would apply to everyone trying to get something on the ballot, like a liquor ordinance for a small business, proposed zoning change for affordable housing, or new charter amendments for better government.
- Grassroots and independent candidates in Ohio who want to run for office: Candidates rely on volunteers to collect the signatures they need to qualify for the ballot, and grassroots and independent candidates who don’t have the funding and infrastructure support from party and corporate donors would be especially hurt by the rules in this bill that would needlessly invalidate signatures and create fear for volunteer organizers.
- Ohio voters: This legislation would ban all drop boxes, which are a secure, direct method for voters to submit voter registration forms, absentee ballot request forms, and absentee ballots. Thousands of voters could also be forced to vote provisionally– even if they haven’t moved or changed their name.
- Ohio county Boards of Elections, election officials, and election workers: These bills would bury our Boards of Elections with unwarranted and excessive busywork and take election officials and election workers away from their important work of supporting voters and keeping our elections secure. This bill is the definition of “unfunded mandate”: obligation without resources.
SB153 and HB 233 are a cynical attempt to rewrite election law and crush Ohio’s direct democracy. This attack on voters, our petition process, and our elections is just one more cynical ploy to rig the system in favor of powerful special interests, taking power away from Ohio citizens.
Tell our Ohio General Assembly: NO on SB 153 & HB 233
A toolkit has been created by Ohioans Against Extremism that also explains Ohio’s SAVE Act (SB 153 & HB 233) and provides actions you can take to stop it. Download the toolkit!
Membership Drive!
We are currently in our membership drive for 2025! 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!
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.