Women For: Orange County

Please join us TONIGHT for this important conversation! All are welcome!

Here's the video from our very well-attended meeting on the Propositions. Enjoy...and make sure to vote! https://zoom.us//oyf7dUzMKnPgmzwdVscdt2WtVPs3rbcMrS3H7045P

A lion of truth, courage and justice has passed. Notorious and glorious and forever in our hearts. May she rest eternally in POWER

A County Budget that really reflects the people's needs is so important for all of us in Orange County!

We'd like to share this important survey with you to help determine the priorities of community members in our county: https://forms.gle/XkbECsWRt9uF1JFR7 Please help us get a cross-section of opinions by filling it out and then forwarding the survey to those you think might be interested. We will be building a People's Budget based on the results, one that will make Orange County stronger, more vibrant, and healthier--a budget that works for all of us! If you have a story ab...out how the current crises and county spending priorities have affected you and/or your family and how you would reallocate funding, please share it with us here: https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLSeevaQ3KzUSuE6QAz/viewform Thank you so much for your help in this effort! *** The Orange County Board of Supervisors controls an almost $1 billion discretionary budget funded by our tax dollars. They decide how to spend that entire pot of money. The Board of Supervisors has a financial and ethical responsibility to us - the people of Orange County. Now, during the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and state-sanctioned police violence against Black people and communities of color, their budget decisions are more important than ever. We have the right to demand a budget that works for the people. Do the Supervisors' budget decisions reflect YOUR priorities for the community YOU want to live in? Over the last 10 years, their funding for public protection, including law enforcement, jails and the court system, has more than doubled, even though crime rates are relatively low. It now represents more than half of the discretionary budget (56%). Although rents are spiraling out of control and homelessness continues to climb, last year (FY 2019/20) the Supervisors only committed $5 million (less than one-half of one percent of the discretionary budget) to affordable housing and supportive housing. Over the last 10 years the Supervisors have cut physical and mental health care, public health, and social services funding by 18%. At the same time, rates of diabetes, asthma, substance-related deaths, and youth depression hospitalization are rising. Around half of our children are not developmentally ready for kindergarten, and less than 60% of all students achieve English Language Literacy standards. Last year, the Supervisors spent $198 million on the Sheriff's Department, and only $81 million on physical and mental care and public health, $50 million on social services, and $5 million on permanent supportive housing. The People’s Budget OC is a new movement fueled by the people of Orange County. Please visit our developing website for results of the survey and ways to be involved: https://peoplesbudgetoc.org/ Let’s create a budget for the people!

Food for thought on this important anniversary of Women's Suffrage

Twice a day, I walk my dog Ace around my neighborhood with one, or both, of my girls. I know that doesn’t seem noteworthy, but here’s something that I must admi...t: I would be scared to death to take these walks without my girls and my dog. In fact, in the four years living in my house, I have never taken a walk around my neighborhood alone (and probably never will). Sure, some of you may read that and think that I’m being melodramatic or that I’m playing the race card (I still have no clue what the hell means), but this is my reality. When I’m walking down the street holding my young daughter’s hand and walking my sweet fluffy dog, I’m just a loving dad and pet owner taking a break from the joylessness of crisis homeschooling. But without them by my side, almost instantly, I morph into a threat in the eyes of some white folks. Instead of being a loving dad to two little girls, unfortunately, all that some people can see is a 6’2 athletically-built black man in a cloth mask who is walking around in a place where he doesn’t belong (even though, I’m still the same guy who just wants to take a walk through his neighborhood). It’s equal parts exhausting and depressing to feel like I can’t walk around outside alone, for fear of being targeted. If you’re surprised by this, don’t be. We live in a world where there is a sizable amount of people who actually believe that racism isn’t a thing, and that White Privilege is a made-up fantasy to be politically-correct. Yes, even despite George Floyd, Christian Cooper, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor (and countless other examples before them, and many to come afterward), some people still don’t seem to get it. So, let me share some common sense points: 1) Having white privilege doesn’t mean that your life isn’t difficult, it simply means that your skin color isn’t one of the things contributing to your life difficulties. Case in point, if it never crossed your mind that you could have the cops called on you (or worse, killed) for simply bird watching then know that is a privilege that many black/brown people (myself included) don’t currently enjoy. 2) Responding to Black Lives Matter by saying All Lives Matter is insensitive, tone-deaf and dumb. All lives can’t matter until black lives matter. 3) Racism is very real, and please don’t delude yourself into thinking it’s limited to the fringes of the hardcore MAGA crowd. As Amy Cooper proved, it’s just as prevalent in liberal America as it is anywhere else. 4) While racism is real, reverse-racism is not. Please don’t use that term, ever. 5) In order for racism to get better, white allies are absolutely critical. If you’re white and you’ve read this far, hopefully you care enough to be one of those allies. Please continue to speak up (despite some of your friends and family rolling their eyes at you), because your voices matter to PoC now more than ever. Special shoutouts to my friends Becky, Catherine, Dory, Elizabeth, Greta, Jessica, Kayte, Kurt, Peter, Sharri, and Teri (and anyone else who I missed) for doing it so well. 6) And if you’re white, and you’re still choosing to stay silent about this, then I honestly don’t know what to say. If these atrocities won’t get you to speak up, then honestly, what will? Also, it’s worth asking, why be my friend? If you aren’t willing to take a stand against actions that could get me hurt or killed, it’s hard to believe that you ever cared about me in the first place. As for me, I’ll continue to walk these streets holding my 8 year-old daughter’s hand, in hopes that she’ll continue to keep her daddy safe from harm. I know that sounds backward, but that’s the world that we’re living in these days. #BlackLivesMatter VIRAL EDIT: Whoa, so this post blew up. I am deeply touched by all of your kind words, and also, for your willingness to step up as allies. The comments on this post have only strengthened my faith in humanity, and for that, I am very grateful. We have a lot of work to do, and I’m ready to stand at your side to do it .