As a result of my political activism over the years, I have had the chance to meet many leaders of the Democratic Party. If you know me, you know that I don’t hold back. I have always been straightforward to elected officials and candidates about the strengths and weaknesses of the Democratic Party. I have never hesitated to voice my concerns and urge more action to counter this massive threat to democracy that we face. I show my support for those who I see go beyond performative to fight for and bring real results on the national, state and local levels.
Last week I met with Congressman and now House Chair Pete Aguilar. He represents Redlands in the Inland Empire and started his political career on Redlands City Council. He and I have met before and he understands what we face in Burbank as a city that has recently turned from Red to Blue and also as a small city in a big county.
The House Chair is the #3 Democrat in the House and has a large amount of control over how the Democratic Caucus is run. He also is very involved in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) which invests in House races around the country.
We spoke about how the House seat that represents Burbank is going to change in 2024 with the anticipated announcement that Adam Schiff is running for the Senate and what that could mean for Burbank. We also spoke about how we, working together, can take back the House in 2024.
I told him that Blue districts like ours should not be taken for granted. We need communication from him and the other Dem leaders about what is happening and what is going to happen. People want to make a difference and they are willing to work hard and support the DCCC if they know that their efforts can and will bring change.
But even more than that, Democratic Leadership needs to integrate us into their plans and listen to our concerns. We saw the same group of people in the Party cling to power for decades. Now that we have new, younger, diverse National Leadership, it’s time to insist that our views be respected and incorporated. They should prove that the leaders of the Democratic Party do not demand cult-like obedience and subservience like the opposing party. Unfortunately, I have seen this type of demand of obedience and refusal to listen from many Party leaders on all levels as they push to retain their own power. The concern is to preserve their own personal agenda and power and to propel their own ambitions. They don’t care about progress for all.
I told Congressman Aguilar how back in 2018 I had a dozen people text bank at my house for a Democratic Senate candidate who then flipped a Red seat. We sent thousands of texts and felt proud of our efforts. But … that candidate was Kristen Sinema and now these volunteers feel betrayed and furious. We can’t do that again to people. It is vital that the Democratic Party understand that. He understood what that meant for us and for the Dems if they want to succeed. The GOP can get away with poor quality and two-faced candidates but we have to do better. And it is up to us to hold the Party responsible, again at all levels, for their decisions about who they endorse and want us to support.
Congressman Aguilar and I will keep in touch and continue to discuss what actions that the Democrats in Burbank can take to keep all of us from losing more of our rights and to help push forward the progress we need on a national level. Oh, and he was shocked to hear about the 14 gun stores in Burbank and was impressed with our efforts as a community to change this. Our local actions will also bring change. So, stay engaged, stay connected and stay active. I’ll make sure to communicate to you on this site what is happening and actions you can take.
1/23/23