BerniePDX / Portland for Bernie

Last week Bernie Sanders introduced a Medicare for All bill in the Senate joined by Senator Jeff Merkley (and many others, grassroots MOMENTUM is making the difference). Meanwhile Republicans are trying one more time to repeal and replace Obamacare with a plan that would leave up to 30 million more Americans without healthcare to line the pockets of private insurance and big pharma. There are single payer national and local efforts as well as important work to do to stop the alt-right attacks on healthcare in Oregon and in DC.

Come find out all the details, bring your ideas. Also, community announcements and good conversations, as always.

Location: 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave. Portland

Good food, excellent company and no rain until 3 pm: Yeah! Our second anniversary / end-of summer BBQ potluck was a success, thanks to everyone!

Three BerniePDX-endorsed winning candidates attended: Valdez Bravo, Rita Moore, and Stephanie D. Stephens. All three of them insisted that Bernie’s political revolution needs good people to run, maybe someone like you, feeling inspired by Bernie and the resistance? (BerniePDX can help!) We were happy to meet and chat with current candidates, and with over 100 friends, neighbors and activists from a variety of Portland organizations.

Many thanks to 47th Avenue Farm, Tea Chai Te, and Dr. Kombucha for their donations in kind to the event, and to everybody who donated food or a few dollars to help with BBQ costs! You all rock!

Check out photos from the event here (thank you to photographer Melisa Crosby!)

Bern bright!!

WHAT: Save DACA and pass the DREAM ACT PDX Rally w/ Milenio!
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 4, 5-8pm
WHERE: Terry Schrunk Plaza, Portland

Trump announced he’s going to repeal the DREAM Act enacted by Obama. Congress must act now to protect our community! We will gather at Terry Schrunk Plaza which is across the street of the Federal Building.

At the Rally on Tuesday, September 5 at 5 pm WE WILL URGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PASS THE DREAM ACT. This proposed legislation will legalized the DREAMERS with a pathway to Citizenship.

BerniePDX has canceled our regular Tuesday meeting to attend this event. See you there!

The city wants to spend $450 million on a highway expansion in the Rose Quarter. Come and learn about the impact it will have on the surrounding community, our city, and Portland’s ability to meet its climate goals. Ian from the Working Families Party will come tell us about WFP’s new million jobs campaign!

We’ll update everyone on the state legislature race for HD-38 (visit www.BerniePDX.us/hd38 for more info), and the BerniePDX 2nd Anniversary BBQ Potluck! Can you bring something? Visit BerniePDX.us/bbq to sign-up.

Please join BerniePDX for our 2nd Anniversary & End of Summer BBQ Potluck! It’s a great way to plug back in to the local movement, get involved for the first time, or celebrate with community! Two of the candidates BerniePDX has helped elect to local office will be present: Rita Moore (PPS Board) and Valdez Bravo (PCC Board) will briefly talk about the beauties and challenges of running and winning as a progressive and how we can continue Bernie’s Political Revolution here in Portland.

For two years BerniePDX has provided a space to learn about and engage in important issues that impact our community and our country. We have much to celebrate: helping elect 6 progressive candidates, helping pass 2 ballot measures, building community, activist & organizer trainings, rallies, phonebanks, canvasses, debate parties, and more! We can’t wait to celebrate our 2nd anniversary with you! Please share & invite your friends on Facebook! 

Can you bring some food or supplies to the event? Please let us know here: bit.ly/2v4SaMc

Special thanks to 47th Ave Farm for the produce and Tea Chai Te and Dr. Kombucha for donating kombucha and iced tea!

We’ll be making custom BerniePDX shirts! Bring your own or $5 to buy one there.

** BerniePDX is an all-volunteer, grassroots organization. We have no budget. Please consider bringing a few dollars to donate to the event, though it’s not required to attend, eat, and enjoy.

Location: Mt. Scott Park, Site A (SE 74 & Reedway), SE Portland

Tuesday, August 15, 7-9pm: BerniePDX Meeting w/ Theresa Kohlhoff for HD-38

Come meet our recent BerniePDX-endorsed candidate, Theresa Kohlhoff, who is running for State Representative to replace Ann Lininger in HD-38! We hope Neil Simon, the other candidate we endorsed, can make it too!

Theresa will tell us what we can do to help her campaign and get this progressive champion in the legislature – Multnomah and Clackamas County Commissioners will appoint someone to fill the seat next month! Read our endorsement statement at www.berniepdx.us/theresa

Get updates and volunteer to help with our BBQ September 10.
Discussion of current events and how we’re taking action. Other agenda items tbd. Hope to see you there!

* The space has A/C *

Location: Watershed Bldg (which BTW has AC!), 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave., Portland

Please email or call your county commissioner asking them to vote for Theresa or Neil for HD-38 to replace Ann Lininger!

We have provided an email template below you can copy and paste to make this as quick and easy as possible. Thank you for taking action!

Multnomah County Commissioners:

Deborah Kafoury: mult.chair@multco.us, 503.988.3308
Sharon Meieran: district1@multco.us, 503.988.5220
Loretta Smith: district2@multco.us, 503.988.5219
Jessica Vega Pederson: district3@multco.us, 503.988.5217
Lori Stegmann: district4@multco.us, 503.988.5213

Clackamas Commissioners: bcc@clackamas.us

Email Template:

To: Multnomah Commissioners: mult.chair@multco.us, district1@multco.us, district2@multco.us, district3@multco.us, district4@multco.us
Clackamas Commissioners: bcc@clackamas.us

Dear Commissioners,

As [YOUR CONSTITUENT] or [A RESIDENT OF HD-38] and member of BerniePDX, I ask that you vote for Theresa Kohlhoff or Neil Simon to fill Ann Lininger’s seat in House District 38. Theresa and Neil represent the type of bold progressive leadership needed in Salem to fight for tenants’ rights, corporate tax reform, universal healthcare, and to take meaningful steps to combat climate change. Both candidates understand the importance of grassroots engagement and would bring impressive experience to the legislature.

Theresa has already demonstrated her electability, as she handily won her position on the Lake Oswego City Council in a contested election. Neil serves on multiple committees and has long been involved in politics at both the local and international level. I ask that you vote for Theresa or Neil because we need a grassroots progressive to solve the pressing problems impacting the people of Multnomah and Clackamas County.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this and look forward to hearing back regarding who you plan to support for House District 38.

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]

Endorsement Statement:

BerniePDX endorses Theresa Kohlhoff and Neil Simon for State Representative to fill Ann Lininger’s seat in House District 38. Theresa and Neil have a good handle on the issues that BerniePDX believes are most important for Oregonians. They are in favor of raising corporate taxes to pay for essential public services like education and healthcare. They support Single-Payer Medicare-for-All, enacting campaign contribution limits, and lifting the statewide pre-emptive ban on rent control.

Theresa, a Lake Oswego City Councilor, handily won her seat in a contested race without compromising her progressive values. Neil has been involved in politics for many years, from the local to international level. We are confident that if appointed, either candidate would be able to keep their seat in the legislature against a Republican opponent in the 2018 election. We encourage the Precinct Committee Persons in HD-38 as well as the Multnomah and Clackamas County Commissioners to vote for Theresa Kohlhoff or Neil Simon.

Meet the candidates and find out how to help at our next BerniePDX meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 7-9pm at 5040 SE Milwuakie Ave. 

View the BerniePDX candidate endorsement questionnaire for this race here.

Sign the ballot petition to put an Oregon constitutional amendment on the 2018 ballot to allow campaign contribution limits in our state! David Delk will update us on this game-changing initiative and how we can help pass it! David will also discuss the efforts to create a public bank in Portland and how this can stimulate the local economy, help insulate us from financial crises, and break our connection to big banks.

We’ll talk about the upcoming BerniePDX Anniversary BBQ and more!

RSVP, share, & invite friends on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1197417080363307/

Location: 5040 SE Milwuakie Ave. Portland

Trump is planning to renegotiate NAFTA this summer! Oregon Fair Trade Campaign will give us an update and explain how we can be involved in the fight to make NAFTA a good deal for workers and the environment.

Albert Lee recently attended the Black Campaign School in DC! He’s going to give a report back of what he learned about campaigns, running for office, and much more!

RSVP, Share, & Invite friends on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/613920062149681/

Location: 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave. Portland

David Carlson will join us to discuss a ballot initiative to allow people to sign ballot petitions online! This would revolutionize the Oregon initiative process and reduce the amount of funding needed to create political change!

More agenda items to come. As always, we’ll talk about upcoming events and ways to get involved! Know of a local event or an important issue? Come share!

RSVP, Share, & Invite friends on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1362494023827631/

Location: Watershed Bldg, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave., Portland