A4D Meets Next Week Meet Representative Suzanne Bonamici
Thanks to redistricting, US Representative Suzanne Bonamici of District 1 now represents more of us in Portland. To get to know Representative Bonamici or to know her better, attend A4D’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 26. Hear her perspective on current events and ask questions.
A long-time consumer rights advocate and education activist, Suzanne has dedicated her career to working for equity, accountability, and opportunities that give everyone a path to a better future. After community college, university, and law school in Eugene, she worked at the Federal Trade Commission as a consumer protection attorney. Suzanne was first elected to the US Congress in a special election in 2012 and serves on the Education and Labor Committee, where she is chair of the subcommittee on civil rights and human services, and on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Understanding the urgent need for bold action on climate, she is one of only nine Democrats serving on the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, where she helped write and is working on implementing a comprehensive, science-based Climate Action Plan. Please register at this link for the meeting, which begins at 5:00pm.
Indivisible Tuesday Tomorrow with Senator Merkley’s Staff Tomorrow, April 19, is the third Tuesday of the month and the day of Indivisible Oregon’s meeting with staffers of Senator Merkley. The Zoom meeting begins at 11:30am and goes for an hour. To join the conversation about policies to safeguard our institutions, rights, and lives, register here.
President Biden in Portland Get the Word Out about Jamie vs Schrader President Biden will be in Portland this Thursday, April 21, to visit Willamette Falls near Oregon City and promote the $1.5 trillion infrastructure package that he and Congress enacted last month. What an excellent opportunity to express our displeasure with Representative Schrader and demonstrate how popular Jamie McLeod-Skinner is in newly configured District 5! Consider writing a letter to the editor, rallying with posters, and hitting social media. Let the President and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee know the truth about Representative Shrader and his obstructions and how popular Jamie is here at home. For key points to highlight in your message, check out this document.
Portland Charter Commission Update The Portland Charter Commission review process continues. Among the agreements reached so far are:
the adoption of ranked choice voting
a single November election and elimination of the May primary
four new geographic districts with three council members from each district
a council membership of twelve
To learn more about the process to date, read Progress Report 4 at this link. If you’d like to participate in a public hearing on May 10, 12, 17, or 22, sign up here.
Refugees Still Arriving Portland Refugees from both Afghanistan and Ukraine are arriving in Portland on a weekly basis, with 200 Afghan refugees expected in the next few weeks. According to Lutheran Community Services NW, their most urgent needs are for:
Ramadan specific food through May 2
Bicycles
Help with securing employment and preparing resumes
General household items listed here
Temporary and permanent housing
Monetary donations
There is also need for volunteers to drive families to appointments (medical, immigration, etc.), assist with navigating tasks such as shopping and using public transport, register kids for school, and translate from Pashto, Dari, and Farsi. Contact the Portland or Beaverton offices for details.
Canvass for Jamie on Sunday Join A4D members in Sellwood this Sunday, April 24, at 11:00am to canvass for Jamie McCleod-Skinner, the progressive candidate for Congressional District 5. Canvassers will gather at the Sellwood Community Center at 1436 SE Spokane Street. Sign up here. COIN Squads Don’t forget to record your activism! If you are not part of a COIN Squad, record your individual actions here; otherwise, squad members do what you typically do to record your details. Phone calls, postcards, letters, or emails all qualify as activism.
Double Your Money Donate Now to A4D
National Indivisible is matching all donations to Act for Democracy between April 1 and May 31 up to a maximum total donations of $500. Now’s the time to make that contribution you’ve been thinking about. Donate now!
