ABOUT THE EVENT With almost a third of Americans uninsured or underinsured in the face of a deadly pandemic, the time for Medicare for All is now! We are hosting a day of action in support of Medicare for All on December 10th, Human Rights Day. Healthcare is a human right. But like all rights, the right to healthcare can only be won by fighting for it. That means organizing a grassroots movement powerful enough to win.
WHAT YOU CAN DO Instead of our monthly rally, this day of action will be a dispersed event, due to COVID restrictions in Oregon. There will be many small actions held throughout the state. This is something you can do on your own, or with your friends and family (limit of six people per group). Here are some ideas of things you can do: • Hang a banner in your community • Hold signs at a street corner • Chalk sidewalks in your neighborhood • Take a selfie with an M4A shirt or sign • Take a picture of your dog with an M4A shirt or sign! We encourage you to be creative and have fun. We just ask that you follow the Governor’s order limiting groups to 6 people, that you follow social distancing guidelines, and that you wear a mask at all times.
SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH An important aspect of this day of action will be social media outreach. Therefore, we are asking everyone to snap a few pictures of your action and send them to one of our organizers at dsam4a@gmail.com (in addition, you can post them to your social media accounts under #riseup4medicare4all). It’s important that we show the depth and breadth of our movement. So, it wouldn’t hurt to include a reference to your town in your photo if you are located outside of Portland. If you are sending a photo of multiple people, please remember to wear masks and stay six feet apart – EVEN IF you live together. People may not know that you live together just by looking at your photograph, and we don’t want to send the wrong message.
SHINING A LIGHT Not only is December 10th Human Rights Day, it is also the first day of Hannukah, the festival of lights. These are dark times. Millions of Americans are getting sick with COVID-19—more than in any other country. A quarter million have died. Millions will need treatment that could last for years, despite having lost their employer-based healthcare. Meanwhile, insurance and drug companies are raking in record profits. However, we believe there is light in this darkness. Polls continually show large majorities of Americans support a Medicare-for-All style, single payer system. By joining together, even in times as dark as these, we can help spread that light.
What a long election season it’s been! We are thrilled that ALL children in Multnomah County will soon get to attend free, quality preschool, and that Portland voted to create a police oversight committee with actual power! We’re excited to live in a state with campaign contribution limits and psilocybin therapy, where addiction treatment will be available to anyone who wants it, and the possession of small amounts of drugs will be decriminalized!
Thank you to Chloe Eudaly, Sarah Iannarone, Theresa Kohlhoff, and Chris Smith for running for office on bold, left platforms! You all ran amazing campaigns and we can’t wait to see what you have in store.
Thanks to everyone who voted and volunteered for these great candidates and ballot measures this year!
As of this writing, the presidential election results still aren’t finalized. However, it’s looking like we won’t have to endure four more years of Trump!
Measure 109 will create a regulated psilocybin therapy system in Oregon! Psilocybin therapy is a mental health therapy that uses psilocybin, a plant medicine derivative found in mushrooms. Research has shown that psilocybin therapy can help those suffering from depression, anxiety, and addiction. Measure 109 is supported by medical experts, veterans, and people from over 300 cities around Oregon.
– Oct. 13: The final date to register or update your registration.
– Nov. 3, 8:00pm: The Elections Office must have your ballot in-hand, so mail it well before Nov. 3! And don’t forget to sign the back of the envelope.
We are thrilled to announce that BerniePDX members voted to endorse the following campaigns for the Nov. 2020 election. Scroll down to learn why, and thanks to everyone who voted!
Measure 110: The Drug Addiction Treatment & Recovery Act
Candidates
BerniePDX voted to endorse Chloe Eudaly for Portland City Council! During the pandemic, Chloe has fought to support impacted Portlanders through rent and financial assistance. She also supports a significant overhaul of the Portland Police, including changes to increase accountability and to address qualified immunity, racial profiling, unjust searches, and use of force standards. Chloe also believes that tear gas should be banned at protests.
During her tenure in City Hall, Chloe passed the FAIR ordinance, which increases access to rental housing for Portlanders shut out of the market and protects renters from discrimination. She also passed the landmark relocation assistance ordinance to support tenants who get evicted, and she is currently working on further housing reforms. In 2018, Chloe was the only sitting Commissioner to support the Portland Clean Energy Fund. Additionally, Chloe is the only candidate in this race who is not backed by the Portland Police Association, the Portland Business Alliance, and the landlord association (Mulitfamily NW).
BerniePDX voted to endorse Sarah Iannarone for Mayor of Portland! Sarah’s background is in sustainability and policy, and she wants to establish a prerequisite climate standard for all city projects. Sarah supports increasing renter protections, including a rent freeze and moratorium on evictions during the pandemic. She also supports ending the Portland Police’s use of tear gas at protests, banning chokeholds, and demilitarizing the police force. Unlike our current mayor, Sarah hasn’t accepted any corporate campaign contributions.
BerniePDX voted to endorse Theresa Kohlhoff for Mayor of Lake Oswego! Theresa has fought for affordable housing and equitable transportation on several committees during her tenure on City Council. She also serves as the council liaison to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion task force, and is passionate about making Lake Oswego a more inclusive, affordable, and diverse city. Theresa supports declaring a climate emergency and creating attainable goals to reduce emissions. The current mayor is conservative, and Theresa will take Lake Oswego in a more progressive direction.
BerniePDX voted to endorse Chris Smith for Metro District 5! Chris is a longtime climate and transportation activist whose work includes organizing the “No More Freeways” campaign. Chris plans to address equity issues in transportation, particularly in East County. He will use his decade of experience on the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission to make Metro more effective in providing affordable housing and services. Chris is a proud supporter of Black Lives Matter and also supported the call by Unite Oregon and PAALF to reduce the Portland Police Budget by $50 million. We need Chris Smith on Metro!
BerniePDX voted to endorse the ballot measure for Universal Preschool in Multnomah County (UP NOW)! Early childhood education is so important. It has been shown to increase graduation rates, reduce incarceration, and lower unemployment. Unfortunately, preschool is cost prohibitive for many families.
UP NOW will create high-quality preschool for children in Multnomah County by instituting a small tax on the top 5% of income earners. Universal preschool will benefit our children and our community as a whole. It’s time for us to join cities like DC, NYC, and Chicago and provide universal preschool to our kids!
BerniePDX voted to endorse Measure 26-217: Real Police Accountability because it will create a much needed police oversight board in Portland with actual power. For the first time, the police oversight board will have:
1) Sufficient powers to investigate the most serious complaints against police including officer-involved shootings, deaths in custody, and excessive use of force.
2) All evidence needed for a complete investigation of complaints, and the ability to compel officer testimony.
3) A sufficient budget and independent staff to conduct this critical work.
4) The final say in disciplinary actions taken against officers that fail to meet the expectations and rules for policing in the City of Portland.
5) The ability to directly impact the directives and policies of the Portland Police Bureau.
Voting Yes on M26-217 will create the most progressive police accountability system in the country!
BerniePDX voted to endorse Measure 107: Fair & Honest Elections! Measure 107 will amend the Oregon constitution so that we can enact laws to:
Require the disclosure of political contributions and spending;
Limit campaign contributions and spending;
Require that political ads disclose who paid for them.
Politicians in Oregon receive more corporate contributions per capita than those in any other state. Measure 107 will help pave the way toward ending this practice!
BerniePDX voted to endorse Measure 109: Psilocybin Therapy, which will create a regulated psilocybin therapy system in Oregon! Psilocybin therapy is a mental health therapy that uses psilocybin, a plant medicine derivative found in mushrooms. Research has shown that psilocybin therapy can help those suffering from depression, anxiety, and addiction. Measure 109 is supported by medical experts, veterans, and people from over 300 cities around Oregon.
BerniePDX voted to endorse Measure 110: the Drug Addiction Treatment & Recovery Act! Measure 110 will provide drug and alcohol treatment to anyone who wants it, regardless of their insurance. It will also eliminate criminal penalties for small amounts of personal possession of drugs. This measure is an important step toward addressing our racist and unjust drug laws!
Don’t Shoot Portland, in coordination with groups like Fires Igniting the Spirit, has compiled a list of local drop locations and supplies needed by those who have been impacted by the wildfires. Please click here to see the list.
This ballot initiative would amend the City’s charter to create a more powerful police oversight board. The hope is that this measure will significantly impact how policing is done in Portland!
– Subpoena witnesses and request police documents and evidence to investigate complaints made against the Portland Police Bureau; – Impose disciplinary actions up to termination of law enforcement professionals, and – Recommend policing policy to the Portland Police Bureau and Portland City Council
Afterward, we’ll email out an endorsement poll so you can vote on whether or not BerniePDX should endorse this ballot initiative.
We’ll be sending a second endorsement poll with even more Nov. 2020 races in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
BerniePDX voted to endorse the ballot measure for Universal Preschool in Multnomah County (UP NOW)! Early childhood education is so important. It has been shown to increase graduation rates, reduce incarceration, and lower unemployment. Unfortunately, preschool is cost prohibitive for many families.
UP NOW will create high-quality preschool for children in Multnomah County by instituting a small tax on the top 5% of income earners. Universal preschool will benefit our children and our community as a whole. It’s time for us to join cities like DC, NYC, and Chicago and provide universal preschool to our kids!
BerniePDX voted to endorse Chris Smith for Metro District 5! Chris is a longtime climate and transportation activist whose work includes organizing the “No More Freeways” campaign. Chris plans to address equity issues in transportation, particularly in East County. He will use his decade of experience on the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission to make Metro more effective in providing affordable housing and services. Chris is a proud supporter of Black Lives Matter and also supported the call by Unite Oregon and PAALF to reduce the Portland Police Budget by $50 million. We need Chris Smith on Metro!
BerniePDX voted to endorse Measure 107: Fair & Honest Elections! Measure 107 will amend the Oregon constitution so that we can enact laws to:
Require the disclosure of political contributions and spending;
Limit campaign contributions and spending;
Require that political ads disclose who paid for them.
Politicians in Oregon receive more corporate contributions per capita than those in any other state. Measure 107 will help pave the way toward ending this practice!
BerniePDX voted to endorse Measure 110: the Drug Addiction Treatment & Recovery Act! Measure 110 will provide drug and alcohol treatment to anyone who wants it, regardless of their insurance. It will also eliminate criminal penalties for small amounts of personal possession of drugs. This measure is an important step toward addressing our racist and unjust drug laws!
