The work of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission has brought the Democratic Party “incredibly close” to super majorities in both the State Assembly and Senate, the chair of the San Diego County Party told Escondido Democrats at their meeting October 1. County Party Chair Jess Durfee said Democrats are within one or two seats of [...]

Escondidans who oppose a “cookie cutter” charter proposal for the city should prepare for an expensive, hard-fought campaign to prevent its passage, according to an Oceanside City Council member who recently went through the same process in her city. Esther Sanchez, who opposed an Oceanside charter revision in 2010, told the July 9 meeting of [...]

Efforts in Escondido to weaken unions are related to a national strategy to take away the rights of working people and Democrats, according to an official of the local labor council who spoke to the Club’s June 11 meeting. Lorena Gonzalez, CEO and secretary-treasurer of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO, called [...]

The change to Charter City status for Escondido is part of “a concerted campaign” to “reduce the power base of unions,” according to a representative of the San Diego County Building Trades Council who spoke to the Club at its May 14 meeting. Murtaza Baxamusa is an expert in public policy who serves as Director [...]

Escondido is “one of the most responsive and caring of communities” in its approach to social service programs for the needy and homeless, according to Mel Takahara, an administrator with The Salvation Army in the city. Takahara presented a brief overview of the historical development of social services in the U.S. and in Escondido to [...]

Mayor Sam Abed held firmly to his positions, some of which are controversial, but took a friendly stance in speaking before the March 12 Club meeting. He told the approximately 50 people in the audience at the East Valley Community Center “we all want a better Escondido – let’s work together on the issues we [...]

State legislators should take a close look at the relationship between community mental health programs and prisons as they craft a solution to California’s budget deficit, a former Assembly member told Escondido Democrats February 12. Former State Assembly member and 2012 candidate for State Senate Lori Saldaña provided EDC members with a history of California’s [...]

Members voted to conditionally approve the EDC 2011 Annual Plan prepared by the Club executive board and presented by President Paul McNamara at the January 8, 2011 meeting. However, the process is not complete. Member comment on the plan is encouraged. Read the plan and send comments to President@EscondidoDems.org Discussion of comments and a vote [...]