CAP Member Blogs

“No on Prop 8:  Received a Message Under Cover of Darkness”

10/23/08, Sacramento Bee

Last night, as I curled up in bed with thoughts of sleep around 10 p.m., the dog began charging the front windows in the living room and barking with an urgency that clearly signaled something was very wrong.  As I hurried to the front room and peered through the blinds, I saw my two “No on Prop 8” yard signs and one “Obama” sign pulled out and hastily dropped in the yard.  Knowing this had happened moments before, I rushed into the night, unarmed, barefoot and in my nightgown to see who might be running for cover.  Upon inspection, I noted the “No on Prop 8” signs, one on each side of the yard had been slashed through the center sending a clear warning.  I stood on the sidewalk for a moment staring into the night to quell the fear that would keep me from replacing the signs.  Then, I replaced the tattered and slashed signs, hoping to the thoughtful observer it would send an even clearer message why writing into law a constitutional amendment that encourages this type of hatred,animosity, and discrimination against any of our citizens is a dangerous concept; Vote No on Prop 8.

Christine Hamel
Sacramento, California

Bum rap for prison union chief

Christine Hamel
Letter to the Editor Published 6/25/2008 Sacramento Bee
Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:00:29 +0000

Re “Parolee’s job spurs investigation,” June 21: Prison guards union
chief Mike Jimenez had the insight and forethought to give a helping
hand to a motivated parolee who was already motivated enough in his
efforts at rehabilitation to be advocating for other parolees, and this
parolee’s employment is being investigated?

Jimenez is an expert in the field, working years as a guard on the
front lines followed by years of advocating and negotiating in the
halls of politics on how to keep safety in California’s prisons, pay
guards a living wage and still stop the flow of recidivism causing a
prison population explosion.

Jimenez is acutely aware of the taxpayer dollars being spent on
privatizing prisons and shipping prisoners out of state. He does one
outstanding move to put his money where his mouth is, and he and his
motives are investigated?

Let me get this right – parolees should rehabilitate, but they should
only get certain jobs. Not jobs that would really give them a hand up
and out? Reminds me of the kids in the career counselor’s office who
are told college isn’t for you. That isn’t the California Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation. It’s the California Department of
Retribution and Racism.

- Christine Hamel, Sacramento

***************************************
Chief of prison guards union defends hiring of parolee
By Andy Furillo - afurillo@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT S aturday, June 21, 2008

California’s prison watchdog agency is investigating the state
correctional officers union and its president for giving a paid
internship to a paroled carjacker.

Officials from both the Office of the Inspector General and the
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed the
probe into the employment of the parolee from Southern California in
the union’s legislative affairs office in Sacramento.

California Correctional Peace Officers Association President Mike
Jimenez blasted the prison department for making an issue out of the
union’s granting of the internship to Raul Gomez. The 21-year-old
parolee got out of the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi
last August after serving more than four years on his 2003 conviction.

“I’m trying to do the right thing here,” Jimenez said, of his union’s
employment of Gomez. “We as an organization are trying to do the right
thing. It doesn’t surprise me that CDCR would do this. They spend a lot
of time, money and effort talking about rehabilitation, but then doing
everything possible to keep (parolees) from being successful.”

Jimenez said he met Gomez last month in Los Angeles at a Latino
legislative caucus event on juvenile justice. He said that Gomez, a San
Bernardino County resident, “showed up to advocate on behalf of
parolees” and that he was immediately impressed by the young man’s
presentation.

“He’s a young man with a firm handshake who will look you in the eye
when he’s speaking to you,” Jimenez said. “He speaks with conviction,
and he’s very up-front about his past, and he lets you know he’s made
mistakes. He has dreams, he has hopes, and I think he has a future.”

Gomez could not be reached for comment Friday.

The CCPOA president said that Gomez, technically, is employed by a
union affiliate called Minorities in Law Enforcement. The group gets
virtually all of its funding from the CCPOA, and its chief executive
officer, Stephen B. Walker, also is the legislative affairs director of
CCPOA.

Jimenez said the union has been paying to fly Gomez from Southern
California every week.

With parolees generally re stricted to living and working in the county
of their commitment, Gomez’ travel to Sacramento could represent a
violation of the terms of his release. Officials did not provide
details Friday on whether Gomez had obtained a waiver from his parole
agent in Ontario that would allow him to make the trips to Sacramento.

“We’re trying to make it so the kid is successful – why would they do
that?” Jimenez said, when asked if Gomez is in danger of being returned
to custody on a parole violation. “This is exactly what is wrong – sick
– about our system.”

Union members’ befriending of Gomez also could get them in trouble with
regulations that bar what are called “overfamiliar” relationships
between prison and parole employees and offende rs.

Jimenez said he thinks he’s in the clear on that issue.

“It talks about ‘undue’ relationships, that you shouldn’t have any
‘undue’ interaction,” he said of the regulation. “Giving a kid a job is
not undue interaction.”

The investigation comes as the union has gone nearly two years without
a contract and nine months after the state unilaterally imposed
contract terms on the labor group.

Jimenez is up for re-election in September and could face a stiff
internal challenge. It would be the first such effort within the union
in more than 20 years.

His predecessor, Don Novey, who led the union from humble beginnings to
become one of the most powerful political organizations in Sacramen to,
said the CCPOA’s employment of Gomez could spell trouble for Jimenez
with the union’s rank-and-file.

“In a hypothetical situation, you just don’t hire felons, especially if
you’re a peace officer,” said Novey, who retired as the CCPOA president
and has since become a political strategist. “That’s all there is to
it. Our job is not to rehabilitate this guy in our legislative shop.”

Elk Grove Campaign HQ

THE ELK GROVE CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS GRAND OPENING

The Elk Grove Democratic Campaign HQ had its Grand Opening on June 28th. Due to the efforts of the Chair and Executive Director of the Sacramento County Democratic Central Committee, Greg Larkins and Sam Catalano, and the Elk Grove Campaign Staff, the opening was a smashing success.

The first ever Democratic Party-sponsored Campaign Office in Elk Grove is the culmination of a long held vision turned into reality through the hard work and efforts of many individuals.

“Elk Grove is a pivotal strategic area. As well as providing support for Joan Buchanan’s campaign in Assembly District 15 we will also be coordinating campaigns with “Sacramento for Obama” to promote Obama’s message of change” said Cathlyn Daly, member of the Elk Grove Campaign Headquarters staff and president of Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) Democratic Club.

“We will also be supporting Dr. Bill Durston in Congressional District 3, Alyson Huber in Assembly District 10, and Lois Wolk in Senate District 5. In addition, as is the mission of our Democratic Central Committee, we will be supporting democrats in all the down-ticket races, to include Elk Grove City Council, Cosumnes Community Services District and others. This is an exciting time for Democrats. I have never seen the Democrats so energized, and more importantly, so organized and committed.”

LOCATION
The Elk Grove Campaign HQ is located in the historic section of Elk Grove. We are located at 9089 Elk Grove Blvd, Suite 204. We are nestled on the second floor of an historic red brick building, located between the Elk Grove Brewery and Camarillo Salon and Spa.

PARKING
Parking is available in three locations:
1) along the street
2) in two separate parking lots
a.  the first lot is located immediately past the RR tracks on the north side of Elk Grove Blvd
b.  The second lot is located further down the street, past the Elk Grove Brewery and Campaign HQ, right past the traffic light on School Street, in the parking lot labeled “Elk Grove Brewery Parking”
Note: there is no parking allowed in the small lot at 9089 Elk Grove Blvd

ELK GROVE CAMPAIGN STAFF IS AN ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE
The Elk Grove Campaign HQ is unique in that it is run solely by volunteers. The Elk Grove office has NO PAID STAFF. We all hold full-time jobs or are full-time students. Because we believe that the operation in Elk Grove is extremely important to the election outcomes at the local, state and federal levels we are willing to contribute our free time and donate our skills and services to make sure that we elect as many democrats to office as possible in November.

DONATIONS
It is through your generosity that the Elk Grove office will be allowed to remain open and operational. Any contribution you are able to give would be very much appreciated and used wisely. Checks or monies can be dropped off during business hours (see below). Checks should be made out to: DPSC (Democratic Party of Sacramento County) with the notation “Elk Grove HQ").

Donations will help us pay the rent/utilities, internet, phones, copier, paper, toner, etc.

We will be printing massive amounts of walklists and phone banking lists, so our paper and printing/toner costs will be large. Some of the items that we still need for the office are good working laptops or computers/monitors.

We’ve had a lot of interest from volunteers offering to help us with our coordinated campaigns for Obama, Buchanan, Durston, Maestas, Wolk, Huber and others. It means a lot of drinks, snacks and food to provide for volunteers. We’ll be having volunteer BBQ’s and parties from time to time. The most amazing part of working on a campaign is the atmosphere of teamwork and family that binds everyone together. 

If you’ve never been a part of a campaign effort before, you’ll see how much is involved in making a campaign work. It takes the efforts of every staff member and volunteer and continuous cash flow to keep things moving along. On a campaign, money is gold and so are volunteers!

ELK GROVE CAMPAIGN STAFF – ABOUT US
The Elk Grove Campaign Staff is mostly compromised of members of the Sacramento County Democratic Central Committee. We are proud and excited to have the Chair of Take Back Red California, Four Waters, on our Elk Grove Campaign Staff . Most of The Elk Grove Campaign Staff are members of Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) Democratic Club. CAP is known for getting things done, for their “can do” attitude and for their grassroots efforts and accomplishments. When people ask CAP how we are able to do what we do, we tell them it is because CAP’s members are passionate about what they believe in, that they support one another in their political efforts, they put their feet to the ground, keep their eyes on the ball, and importantly, have a great time together making a difference. So, if this sounds like a team you’d like to be a part of, we’d love to have you join our Elk Grove campaign team.

Elk Grove Campaign Staff:
Cathlyn Daly – Elk Grove Operations Director
Damon Mireski – Campaign Team Logistics & Field Operations
Nancy Fox – Campaign Team Outreach & Fundraising
Sarah Wood – Administrative Assistant
Four Waters – Planning & Strategy
Mike Pina – Field Operations & Signage
Peter Daly – Training Educator for Volunteer Team Leads
Katherine Maestas – City Council Liaison
Dennis Bayliss – Technical Support
Connie Conley – Local Elk Grove Outreach and Fundraising

ELK GROVE PROPOSED HOURS AND PLAN OF OPERATIONS
The following is the general schedule for the Elk Grove Campaign HQ:

- July is our preparatory month – planning, strategizing, campaign coordination, database, training, fundraising, volunteer recruitment
- August - continuing preparations, training, volunteer recruitment along with the beginning of phone banking operations
- September – begin our field operations in force (canvassing, phone banking, etc)
- October – field operations continue
- November – visibility and GOTV

JULY 2008
Mon – Fri 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Special dates in July
July 4th Booth at Elk Grove Regional Park – need volunteers for voter registration. Contact Nancy Fox at 916-230-4560 or Cathlyn Daly at dalywood@comcast.net to volunteer. Shifts are 11am-2pm, 2pm-5pm, 5pm-8pm, 8pm-11pm

July 17th Elk Grove Campaign HQ House Party – Gourmet – Fundraiser. For more information, contact Sam Catalano at 739-6001

July 19th Camp Obama training for EG Staff and volunteers. For more information, contact Cathlyn Daly at dalywood@comcast.net

AUGUST 2008
Mon – Fri 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Sat 9:00am – 3:00pm

SEPTEMBER 2008
Mon – Fri 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Sat 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sun noon – 3:00pm

OCTOBER 2008
Mon – Fri 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Sat 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sun noon – 5:00pm

NOVEMBER 1-3, 2008

Sat, Sun, Mon 9:00am – 9:00pm

NOVEMBER 4th, 2008 – ELECTION DAY – GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV)

TUE 7:00am – 7:00pm

Election night activities to be announced at a later date

Waiting for society to evolve

Wednesday, May 7, 2007

Re “Lull’s over – U.S. execution dates mount,” May 3: Let’s hope that one day very soon our society will have evolved to look at state-sponsored murder for the barbaric practice it is, much like we now abhor slavery.

Stephen Bright, president of the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, predicted, “There will be more executions than people have the stomach for.” That is a sad statement of how we may get there.

In the words of Gandhi, “Let us be the change we want to see in others,” and stop using violence to bring about nonviolence.

- Christine Hamel, Sacramento

Cheney comes calling

04/13/08 Sacramento Bee

Re “Cheney coming here on Friday,” April 8: Vice President Dick Cheney, that sinister and secretive architect of seven years of catastrophic policy, was among us again, this time on behalf of his clone in Congress, Rep. Dan Lungren, D-Gold River. The favor is not unearned. Lungren has unswervingly supported Cheney’s neocon agenda – the invasion and unending occupation of Iraq, the advancement of certain powerful corporate interests to the detriment of the American people, and the step-by-step dismantling of our democracy: torture, warrantless spying, secret prisons, denial of habeas corpus and due process, even the use of the Department of Justice as a political cudgel.

There was a fine appropriateness in our lawbreaker-in-chief coming to aid our former California attorney general, who – despite his study of law – has shown himself contemptuous not just of international law but of domestic laws such as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and especially of that great instrument that is the law of the land, the Constitution.

In the past, Cheney similarly came to help Republican Rep. John Doolittle (now fallen into disgrace) of Roseville and Richard Pombo (dispatched by voters in the last elections) of Tracy. There would be a sweet justice and symmetry in seeing Lungren removed from Congress in the fall by an awakened and justifiably enraged electorate.

- Jane O’Donnell, Orangevale