Hello 53

Two Weeks in Roseville
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We began our adventure with my brother Sean in San Francisco, joining fifty thousand marchers and spectators at the October 18th No Kings protest rally. The Embarcadero served as the starting point. No bad actors, no one stepped on my feet; it was a beautiful sunny day in California, and we marched to City Hall for speeches. Former Supervisor (similar to a City Councilor in other cities) Aaron Peskin and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins assured the crowd that San Francisco can take care of its own residents. With Trump continuously threatening to send federal troops to the city, Jenkins declared that if federal law enforcement personnel enter San Francisco and harass our residents, she will hold them accountable like anyone else. The best signs read: “America Built by Immigrants,” “Undocumented Since 1607,” and “A Better World Is Possible.” 

Before Denis and I left Newburyport, we asked ourselves, “What is the most effective way for us to contribute to the future of our country?” The answer was to travel to Roseville, CA, and help pass Proposition 50, the Election Rigging Response Act. Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing back against Trump’s plan to redo the congressional map in Texas. If Texas is going to replace five Democratic congressional districts with five Republican districts, he would do the same for Democrats in California. This action affected the entire country, not just California. We may see more states respond to other Republican games like this. 

We drove 106 miles northeast to Roseville, CA. Our hosts, Barbara Brass and Colonel Pat Thompson, greeted us at their beautiful home. It was welcoming, cozy, and lively. The house, built in the early 1900s and remodeled by Barb, has five bedrooms; guests stay on the second floor, while the couple lives on the first. Their art deco patio acts as a gathering spot for the very active Placer Democratic Women’s Club. During our visit, Barb and Pat organized at least four support rallies for workers at the local Social Security Office, a rally titled 'Democracy Dies in Silence,' and a trip to Sacramento to meet Governor Gavin Newsom. Our canvassing area mainly included housing developments, some gated, with nearly identical house designs and colors. Beige stucco with brown trim was a popular choice, and the streets resembled a tangled maze with many dead ends. By the end of our first day, as you might have guessed, we lost our car. We wandered around corners and streets to no avail. Denis suggested we call our tech expert in New Hampshire for help, which reminded me I had an AirTag in my purse in the car. We hurried over to Stagecoach Circle to retrieve it. Onward!

Revolution Place is a gated community that felt very welcoming. Halloween decorations adorned many corners. Most of the voters there were Indian and Pakistani. When one person answered the door, three or four others quickly gathered around. You could feel their excitement about voting. They listened carefully and spoke among themselves to make sure at least one family member knew where the ballot box was located. In California, voters can mail in their ballots, drop them off in a ballot box, or vote in person at a polling place. When we entered this community, the gate was wide open, but as night fell, we wondered if we could leave without a code. We approached the gate, hoping it would open. We were shocked when the gate started to open toward us! We were right in front of it. By some miracle, Denis was able to shift into reverse and floor it. The gate just missed our car. After we calmed down, we laughed all the way back to our host’s home!

California mailed every voter a ballot in mid-October for Proposition 50, which was funded through fundraising efforts. It was the only item on the ballot. Denis and I received our assignments from Natalie, the Women’s Club organizer. Our task was to verify that voters identified as D (Democrat) or DS (Declined to Say) had voted ‘Yes’ on 50. In most homes, the ballots were still on the kitchen table, with voters planning to vote YES. Our new goal was to make sure they had a plan to deliver their vote to the ballot box or the polling place before November 4th! One of the aims of our work was to energize the voters.

Republicans appeared on our list a few times, and we decided to check in with them. Two were a bit gruff when they said no. Another wanted to debate. Unfortunately, I took the bait. She asked, “What do the American people really want?” I said, “A place to call home, enough food for their families, and health insurance.” She said, “Undocumented immigrants are getting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds and Medicaid, and these programs need to be reduced to eliminate the fraud, waste, and abuse.” And then continued to spout the right-wing propaganda. We left the door, and she was still talking. I felt bad because she had memorized the lies and said the same thing over and over again. A few houses later, the voter was so upset that he was screaming hysterically behind the door. I froze in place. Denis said, “Let’s go!” I didn’t move, and he pulled me toward the street. I said, “Don’t pull me!” He said, “They could have a gun in there.” On to the next house.

After walking for four or five hours, knocking on doors and talking to strangers, we needed a reward at the end of a long day. We paid $60 for a three-day pass to 24 Hour Fitness to use the jacuzzi. Our bodies enjoyed it on the first night, but we were too tired to go again. Beer and wine, however, did the trick. 
Once back home, we were thrilled to learn that Prop 50 crushed it - 63.9% to 35.9%! What appears to be a redistricting game may actually protect our democracy—looking ahead.
 
We are honored to have been part of it all.

Leave a comment. Let me know how you are.