Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. |
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The official newsletter of the League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County.
Vol 67 | Issue 6 | Date: June 25, 2025
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In this issue:
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THE 2025 - 2027 LWV SLOCO BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
| Leadership Team |
| Janice Langley, First Vice President |
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Wendy Brown, Treasurer |
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| Kim Gravell, Second Vice President |
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Jacquie Canfield, Membership |
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| Joanne Schultz, Secretary |
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| Directors |
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Nominating Committee |
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| Ed Cabrera, Voter Service |
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Cindy Marie Absey (chair) |
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| Nancy Clark, Government Policy |
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Ed Gravell |
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| Anne Quinn, Civil Discourse |
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Shelly Higginbotham |
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| Glenn Silloway, Housing and Homelessness |
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| Karen Venditti, Natural Resources |
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| Straith Smith-Zanartu, Member at-Large |
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A MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERSHIP TEAM |
Dear League members, partners, and friends,
The Leadership Team is honored to be elected by our members to guide LWV SLOCO as we confront the challenges of these tumultuous times. We are inspired by your confidence in our ability to lead our local efforts to empower voters and defend democracy. We are encouraged by the level of engagement our members and community partners have shown in supporting our work.
We begin our term at a pivotal moment in our country’s history. We are confronted by direct threats to the foundations of our democracy and we are facing a constitutional crisis. Executive overreach, defiance of the judiciary, attacks on the rule of law, and the failure of Congress to act have created fear and chaos in our communities. The League at all levels – national, state, and local – is striking back.
At the national level, LWVUS has launched the Unite & Rise 8.5 Initiative to mobilize 8.5 million voters to oppose the autocratic, unlawful, and inhumane policies and actions of our current government. We will support this initiative locally and you will hear more about this effort in the coming weeks.
Also locally, our membership has given us clear direction on the use of our resources. At our biennial meeting in May, members adopted a program focused on civic education and information literacy; housing and homelessness; environmental stewardship and climate resiliency, and immigration and civil rights. We will follow local issues in these areas and inform you what’s going on through public forums, webinars, Lunch with the League programs, and Voter articles.
These two critical elements – Unite & Rise 8.5 on national issues and our local program – will form the basis for our activities. We will build on what we’ve done before and take on new challenges. We cannot do this alone. We call on our members, community partners, and everyone committed to defending democracy to stand with us and protect the America we love – an America based on law, science and truth, human rights and civil liberties, decency and respect for all people.
Yours in League,
Janice Langley, Kim Gravell, Joanne Schultz, Wendy Brown, Jacquie Canfield
| League of Women Voters Condemns Political Assassination of Minnesota Lawmakers
The League of Women Voters of the United States joined the Minnesota League in expressing shock and horror following the assassination of Speaker Emerita of the Minnesota House of Representatives Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, as well as the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman.
They affirmed that “Violence has no place in our democracy. Political violence undermines the very foundation of our civil society, where differences must be addressed through dialogue, respect, and the democratic process—not through fear and intimidation.”
See the full statement here.
LWVUS Calls on the Administration to Respect the Right to Protest
In a statement issued June 12, the League of Women Voters of the United States called on the Trump Administration to adhere to the US Constitution and respect the First Amendment right to protest.
“There is nothing more fundamentally American than protesting injustice. Protest is how our nation began, protest is how our rights were secured, and protest is the very foundation of a healthy democracy.”
Read the full statement here.
LWVUS Joins Letter Requesting UN Human Rights Council to Open an Inquiry on Police Violence
LWVUS has joined hundreds of civil society organizations from around the world to request that the United Nations hold a special session on the escalation of police violence in the United States and repression of protestors. The letter has been endorsed by the family members of those killed by the police. The letter cites instances of repression from the police towards protestors such as the use of tear gas and disproportionate use of lethal force as a reason to open an inquiry on behalf of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
See the letter and full list of signatories here.
LWVUS Responds to the President Directing DOJ to Investigate Political Rivals
President Trump has directed the Department of Justice to work with his White House counsel to investigate "the circumstances surrounding Biden's supposed execution of numerous executive actions during his final years in office. In response, Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States, decried the move noting that the president has overstepped the power of his office and calling on the Attorney General to drop the investigation. “The Department of Justice must be free to act independently to enforce the nation's laws and should not be used as a weapon by the president.”, she stated. “Cabinet secretaries must do their jobs and follow the law, regardless of political pressure from the president.”
Read the full statement here.
LWV Opposes Cuts to Medicaid
The League of Women Voters of the United States has signed on to a letter urging Congress to oppose cuts to Medicaid to help prevent medical debt.
In the letter to members of Congress the League notes that Medicaid plays a vital role in preventing medical debt by offering affordable health coverage to almost 80 million individuals, thus decreasing their likelihood of experiencing financial strain. It provides health coverage for over 17 million people over age 50.
See the letter here.
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PROTECTING IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS | In America Immigrants Have Rights
Protecting the rights of our immigrant communities protects the rights of every American. Find out how you can help and stay informed.
ICE operations in Los Angeles and around California mark a troubling escalation - workplace raids coupled with the arrest of community members exercising their First Amendment rights to observe and protest. These tactics, along with the federal activation of the California National Guard and the deployment of U.S. Marines, weaponize fear to terrorize not just undocumented residents, but anyone who would stand with their neighbors or participate in democratic discourse. See the statement from the League here:
League of Women Voters Condemns Use of Federal Force on Peaceful Protestors | League of Women Voters
How You Can Help and Stay Informed
Rapid Response networks on the Central Coast and in the Central Valley:
Know Your Rights Materials
Know Your Rights toolkit from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. This resource provides you with information on how to order or print red cards, rights documents in several languages, and more.
Red Cards
“Red Cards” are a valuable tool to have available for anyone who might need a quick and accessible explanation of their rights. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center provides instructions to print your own or, if you have resources to do so, you can order them. Ways to use red cards are outlined here.
What is the situation in SLO County?
For the status of immigrant protections and ICE operations in SLO County see this recent article from the Tribune.
SLO County CA named on Trump sanctuary immigration list | San Luis Obispo Tribune
| Additional Resources:
Watch a replay of the League of Women Voters of California webinar
"California's Immigration Protections: Resistance & Resilience" here.
July 15 at noon: Catholic Charities, in partnership with additional organizations, is holding a virtual workshop on how to navigate immigration encounters in the workplace: "Immigration Updates for the Central Coast Workplace". Managers and business owners will be able to learn how to:
✨Plan and prepare.
✨Establish private and public spaces.
✨Know their constitutional rights.
✨Find professional legal advice.
Register for the Zoom workshop here.
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IS IT TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP? | Reminder to Members with June Renewal Dates - Take Action by June 30
Continue Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy
LWVUS launched a new membership renewal system in February. Members get two email reminders before their expiration date. Around half of our members need to renew in June, and many have already done so—thank you! We will contact those who still need to renew. Click below to renew your membership now.
Jacquie Canfield, (New) Membership Director, membership@lwvslo.org.
RENEW | |
~~~ You're Invited! ~~~
Virtual Coffee Hour
Wednesday, June 25 at 9 am
This month we'll feature an overview of the Judicial branch of government.
| | | Bring your morning beverage and join other LWV SLOCO members to get to know each other and discuss topics and issues that are important to you. This month we'll focus on the Judicial branch of government. Everyone is welcome - you don't need to be a League member to attend.
This meeting is held online on Zoom. Register to receive event reminders or just drop in using the link on the registration page. Your meeting host is long-time League member Nancy Welts. Register here.
Can't make it to this cocktail hour? See dates of future coffee and cocktail hours here.
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LWV SLOCO PARTICIPATES IN PRIDE IN THE PLAZA |  Our local league joined other organizations to celebrate our LGBTQ+ community on May 31 at Pride in the Plaza. Volunteers staffed the booth handing out candy, Pride and Future Voter stickers and educating attendees on the community impact of League activities. We received many words of thanks for our work and participation in the event.
Other volunteers, armed with voter registration forms and clipboards, roamed through the crowds encouraging voter registration. We registered 7 voters and it was encouraging that the vast majority of participants replied “I’m already registered to vote”. Thanks go out to Bill Compton, Edie Lycke, Leigh Livick, Jean Slater, Anne Quinn, Vicky Van Den Berg, Gary and Vallerie Steenson, Celia Bewley, Kim and Ed Gravell and Julie Rodewald for staffing the booth. As in the past, it was a worthwhile effort to elevate our League’s visibility and we were proud to be a part of this empowering event.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & WEBINAR REPLAYS |
June 25, 6 pm - 7:30 pm: Sierra Club Monthly Earth Action Hour
Unitarian Universalist Church, Social Hall, 2201 Lawton Ave, San Luis Obispo
The focus will be on the "Big, Beautiful, Bill" and Public Lands Selloff. Find more information and sign up here.
The League of Women Voters of California Advocacy Webinar Series Replays:
| League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County
The League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County is a nonpartisan, grassroots civic organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to people 16 years and older, of all gender identities. With over 100 years of experience, the League is one of America’s oldest and most trusted civic nonprofit organizations. | |