RSVP by 3/17: Let’s show up for our fab Congressman, Jared Huffman

Hello awesome IndiMarin Volunteers!

On Tuesday, March 21st from 5:30 pm (PDT) - 6:30 pm (PDT) Congressman Huffman will be holding an in-person Town Hall at the Marin County Board of Supervisors' Chambers at the Marin County Civic Center. Rep. Huffman will provide an update from Washington D.C. and take questions from participants. RSVP HERE.

The Town Hall will also be streamed virtually at youtube.com/rephuffman, on Marin TV’s Education Channel (Comcast Ch 30 and AT&T Ch 99) and streaming online at https://cmcm.tv/30.

However, we are encouraging our volunteers to show up at the in-person Town Hall as a show of support for Congressman Huffman who is aligned with the values of IndiMarin and a warrior in Congress in the fight to protect our planet. His last public town hall in 2021 was stormed and disrupted by anti-vaccine and pro-Donald Trump protesters. Let’s make sure that supporters vastly outnumber any potential disruptors at this upcoming event!

A few recent highlights of his accomplishments include:

Speaking out against Willow - In response to the the Administration’s decision on Monday to approve the Willow Project, a 30-year oil drilling project in Alaska that would produce 576 million barrels of oil and spur the equivalent of 239 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over its lifetime, Congressman Huffman joined fellow progressive lawmakers Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass) and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) in blasting the Administration’s decision in a joint statement. “The Biden administration has committed to fighting climate change and advancing environmental justice—today’s decision to approve the Willow project fails to live up to those promises,” they said.

Re-introduced Arctic Refuge Protection Act - Congressman Huffman recently re-introduced his bill that would restore critical protections to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The Arctic Refuge Protection Act would permanently halt any new oil and gas leasing, exploration, and drilling on the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge, as well as safeguard the subsistence rights of the Arctic Indigenous Peoples who depend on this pristine and unique ecosystem.  

Goals for this Congress - “We must expand voting rights, codify the right to abortion, and advocate for health care as a human right. Although House Democrats are now in the minority, I am committed to standing up to Republican extremism, including guarding against any attempts to force a default on the debt limit or gut Social Security and Medicare. The state of our union is strong and getting better, but we certainly can’t take our foot off the pedal. It’s time to focus on implementing those transformative laws, building on our successes, and defending our democracy—because that is what makes all this progress possible.”

Why he’s not running for Senate - “The truth is I think I’ve got the greatest job in the world,” Huffman said. “I’m excited about the kind of difference I’m starting to make because I’m getting good at it. I’m finding myself in more senior positions of influence. I’m really not interested in being distracted by ambition.”

One more reason to love our Congressman - How many other Members of Congress can hold their own performing guitar and vocals on stage with the Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead? Not many, or any, we would venture to guess:)

We hope to see you at the Town Hall!

The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Betsy, Betty, Amy, Nanda, Joy, Andie, Laurie and Susan






We'd love for you to join an upcoming IndiMarin Listening Session!

Hello IndiMarin Volunteers!

We hope you will sign up for one or both of our upcoming "Listening Sessions" on Sunday, February 19 and 26 at 4 PM PT. SIGN UP HERE. Please also see the additional upcoming events at the end of this email.

As the Leadership Team at IndiMarin begins to plan a range of strategic ways for our volunteers to take action in 2023, we want to hear from YOU! What do you think should be on the list of priorities?

Some early ideas we've brainstormed include ways to push back on MAGA extremism in Congress, spread pro-democrat messaging via social media, and prepare for 2024 by registering voters and doing deep-canvassing. And what about an informal Zoom Happy Hour to chat about politics with like-minded peeps from around the country? 

BUT, we really want to hear from all of you FIRST before making decisions!

What work will resonate and be meaningful for you in 2023? What do you think of the short list of ideas above? Do you have additional ideas? What is working or not working for you as a volunteer with IndiMarin?

Please join us to share your thoughts, or just come and listen to what other volunteers have to say! The call will be moderated to ensure that the maximum number of people have time to speak! SIGN UP HERE.

We are excited about continuing our work together in 2023 to fulfill our mission to taking action to help build a more just, caring and inclusive America!

~ The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Betsy, Amy, Nanda, Betty, Joy, Laurie, Andie and Susan

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING EVENTS:

Make Calls to Flip the Wisconsin Supreme Court with IndiMarin - Every Saturday through April 1 - SIGN UP HERE. The stakes couldn’t be higher for this year's Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Help us flip the court to a progressive majority by making calls to WI Democrats, encouraging them to vote early in what a New York Times reporter calls “the most important election in America in 2023.” Voting rights, abortion rights, redistricting, and election subversion cases will be determined by this election – and the 2024 presidential election could hinge on it all. Please join us, as we partner with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, to call Wisconsin voters ahead of the open primary on February 21st and the general election on April 4th. You’ll have a choice of two user-friendly platforms – Hubdialer or OpenVPB. If you are new to phonebanking, our friendly mentors will get you started.

WRITE TO WIN at Panera Bread in Novato - Tuesdays, 2/21, 3/7, and 3/21 from 10 - 11:30 AM - SIGN UP HERE. For our local peeps, please join us for our in-person writing gathering. It's a great way to enjoy a cup of coffee outdoors, chat with other members and do some good all at the same time. We are writing to register Democratic voters in Wisconsin in advance of their important Supreme Court election this spring. All materials are provided. Just bring yourself:) An optional donation of $5 to cover postage is appreciated.

Announcing IndiMarin Listening Sessions plus other events of interest!

Hello IndiMarin Volunteers!

Hopefully, you've had a chance to catch your breath following a jam-packed 2022 and the holiday season. We at IndiMarin are ready to start plunging back into political action and hope you are too!

We especially hope you will sign up for one or both of our upcoming "Listening Sessions" on Sunday, February 19 and 26 at 4 PM PT.  SIGN UP HERE.

As the Leadership Team at IndiMarin begins to plan a range of strategic ways for our volunteers to take action in 2023, we want to hear from YOU! What do you think should be on the list of priorities?

Some early ideas we've brainstormed include ways to push back on MAGA extremism in Congress, spread pro-democrat messaging via social media, and prepare for 2024 by registering voters and doing deep-canvassing.

But we really want to hear from all of you FIRST before making decisions!

What work will resonate and be meaningful for you in 2023? What do you think of the short list of ideas above? Do you have additional ideas? What is working or not working for you as a volunteer with IndiMarin?

Please join us to share your thoughts, or just come and listen to what other volunteers have to say! The call will be moderated to ensure that the maximum number of people have time to speak! SIGN UP HERE.

As a warm up, we've also listed below some interesting sounding events hosted by allied groups. Note that two are tomorrow! 

We are excited about getting rolling in 2023 and hope to see you at a Listening Session!

~ The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Betsy, Amy, Nanda, Betty, Joy, Laurie, Andie and Susan


OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST HOSTED BY ALLIED GROUPS

INDIVISIBLE NATIONAL - Deep Dive on the New Guide: Our 2023 Guide Launch Call
Thursday, January 26 at 5 PM PT - SIGN UP HERE
At Indivisible, a new Congress means it’s time for a new Indivisible Guide. Join us for the formal launch of Indivisible: A Practical Guide to Defeating MAGA, where we’ll break down just exactly how to activate on our new strategy in 2023, whether you live in a community that’s red, blue, or something in between.

RED WINE & BLUE - Troublemaker Training Messaging 101 - Talking Politics with Friends
Thursday, January 26, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM PT - SIGN UP HERE
In order to defeat right-wing extremism, we need to be able to effectively talk to our friends about the issues. Want a little help having effective and persuasive conversations? We got you! Join us to hear from Jess McIntosh, a communication strategist, CNN commentator and former host of Signal Boost. She can help you with tips and advice on what to say (and what not to say) and how to connect with others.

THE MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT - What Activists Can do: Fix Media Now
Monday, February 6 and 20 from 4 - 5:30 PM PT - SIGN UP HERE
Join the Media and Democracy Project to better understand and respond to the factors that influence public opinion, voters and democracy. Each session we will activate on a current information-related subject to help Fix Media Now. We develop and distribute skills to navigate the Information War on truth and democracy. We engage in actions to directly improve the quality of public information such as messaging, fighting disinformation, engaging in media accountability and in growing support for local journalism.

NORTHRIDGE INDIVISIBLE - Practical Guide to Defeating MAGA with Ezra Levin, Co-founder of Indivisible National 
Wednesday, February 8 at 7:30 PT - SIGN UP HERE
Northridge Indivisible is proud to present our special guest, Ezra Levin, Co-Founder of Indivisible, to personally walk us through Indivisible's Practical Guide to Defeat MAGA and our path to victory.



Honoring Nancy

This past week we watched a spectacle that would never have happened during Speaker Pelosi's superb leadership. In fact, she won won nine consecutive leadership elections on the first ballot, and was well known for her vote-counting abilities which prevented her from ever bringing votes to the floor that she was not convinced would be won.

We want to share with you all a moving letter that Speaker Pelosi sent earlier this week to us, and thousands like us, to whom she refers as "our volunteers in policy and politics who make everything possible." It is at the bottom of this email.

Biden in a statement called Pelosi "the most consequential speaker of the House of Representatives in our history." Former President Obama stated, "She never stopped defending democracy here at home and around the world.”

We also highly recommend a new documentary about Speaker Pelosi, make by her daughter, acclaimed documentarian Alexandra Pelosi. It offers a candid, behind-the-scenes chronicle of the life of her mother and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, through her career milestones leading up to the inauguration of President Joseph Biden in January 2021. Filmed over the course of three decades, PELOSI IN THE HOUSE provides a unique, longitudinal window into the life of this true heroine of American politics. The film is streaming on HBO Max with a free trial period offered to new members. WATCH TRAILER. 

Nancy, we at IndiMarin will miss you dearly, but will strive to honor your legacy in our ongoing efforts to preserve and protect our democracy, and to act in service of the greater good and the best interests of the American people.

Dear Friend,

Today, I write with a grateful heart to express my appreciation for the high honor bestowed upon me to serve as Speaker of the House.  I am humbled by the faith placed in me by the House Democratic Caucus — the greatest collection of intellect, integrity and imagination assembled for the good of the American people.  I am thankful to the people of San Francisco whom I will continue to serve, striving to honor the call of the patron saint of our city, Saint Francis: “Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.”

As we begin a new year, a new chapter and a new Congress, I am thrilled and committed to supporting the next generation of Democratic leaders and I am deeply appreciative of you, our volunteers in policy and politics who make everything possible. 

Your outside mobilization helped courageous House Democrats advance transformative legislation to make progress in people’s lives – creating jobs, lowering health care costs, investing in climate action, helping veterans and military families access lifesaving cancer care and defending our freedoms and Democracy at home and around the world. You made a real difference for America’s working families. I continue to draw strength from you.

With gratitude and hope for a healthy and Happy New Year,

NANCY

IndiMarin is rolling again with some ways to do good on these rainy days

Happy New Year and welcome to 2023!  After a short break, IndiMarin is diving back with some great actions you can take during this rainy week ahead.

With the midterms thankfully behind us, many of the opportunities for us to fulfill IndiMarin's mission of "taking action to create a more just, caring and inclusive America" will take place at the state-level. Helping strengthen our Democratic base in all states is a very important way to preserve our democracy and make it work better for every American.  

If you are new to postcard writing or phonebanking, both of the opportunities below are great ways to jump in and get involved. It you are a veteran of these programs, your experience will be valuable.

Write postcards for a pivotal election for Supreme Court Justice in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has an election on April 4, 2023 with a Supreme Court race that has enormous implications for the 2024 presidential and Wisconsin Senate elections. Currently, Wisconsin's Supreme Court has a Republican majority. If we can flip this seat, the court will be able to support expanded voting rights, protect election integrity, and reject gerrymandering, thus strengthening chances for Democratic candidate victories. The primary for that election is February 21 and the deadline for the postcards is January 26, at the latest. You can request the script and addresses via email, of pick up packets if you live in or near Marin. Click here to go to our webpage for all links to sign up to participate.

Phonebanking with our partner Swing Left for a special election in Virginia
Remember how the Republican Glenn Youngkin narrowly won the Virginia Governor’s race in 2021? Now Dems need as many seats as possible in the state legislature to fight his campaigns to ban abortions after 15 weeks and oppose vaccine and mask mandates.

Now, Swing Left is offering a great phonebank opportunity via Swing Left to support Aaron Rouse who is running in a special election next week in Virginia’s 7th State Senate District. The Dems have a small majority (+3) in the State Senate and Aaron Rouse would make it +4.

They are well-organized phonebanks in which volunteers call likely voters to tell them about early voting which ends this Saturday, and Election Day which is next Tuesday, Jan 10. The phonebanking platform is “Scale to Win” which is very easy to use and connects you directly to voters - NO voicemail. Our phone mentors tested out the phonebanks and the voters reached were gracious, and mainly Dems who wanted the information on voting locations and times.

If you’d like to get involved, there are a dozen time slots open between now and Tuesday. Sign up here.

Here's to an active and productive 2023!

Every vote mattered last night! Thank you for your vital contributions!

Hello Amazing Volunteers!

It is elections like last night's that underscore the vital nature of our work together. While mind-numbing that an imminently qualified candidate could be seriously challenged by a thoroughly unqualified candidate, this race proved to be a hard-fought contest in which every vote counted. This means that every phone call, postcard, text, door knock, and dollar also counted. Everyone who contributed their time and/or their financial support deserves to be proud and gratified. THANK YOU!

The inspiring political commentator, Robert Hubbell, summed it up well. "There are plenty of lessons to be drawn from the midterms (and the Georgia runoff), but the most important lesson is that we control our destiny despite the defeatist narrative favored by the media."

Hubbell also gave a much deserved shout-out to the people of Georgia. "No reflection on Senator Warnock’s victory would be complete without acknowledging the sacrifice of Georgia voters who stood for hours in the rain to exercise a right that should not be contingent on completing an endurance contest and obstacle course. Despite Senator Warnock’s victory, voter suppression is alive and well in Georgia. All Americans owe Georgia voters a debt of gratitude for their determination and constancy in the face of suppression."

Senator Warnock's life story, capped by last night's victory through which he will remain part of a stunningly small group: Of the more than 2,000 people who have served in the United States Senate, only 11 have been Black. Of the Senate’s 100 current members, just three are Black. In his victory speech he thanked his mother, saying, "She grew up in the 1950s in Waycross, Ga., picking somebody else’s cotton and somebody else’s tobacco. But tonight she helped pick her youngest son to be a United States senator.”

This 51st seat is crucial for Dems over the next two years! The 51-49 split means Democrats can break free from the power-sharing agreement that has governed the Senate for the past two years and take full control of committees, giving the party unfettered subpoena power and fewer hurdles to confirming judicial nominees.

The lack of a tied Senate will also free up tie-breaking VP Kamala Harris’ schedule, diminish the power of centrist Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, and give Democrats a much-needed cushion as we seek to protect their Senate majority against a challenging map in 2024.

Thank you for all your hard work to make possible this historic win and increased opportunities for the Democratic agenda moving forward!

PS - Hope to see you tomorrow, 12/8 at 2:30 PM PT for the final recap session of our popular series, "Midterms '22: The State of Play. Sign up here. 

The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Joy, Andie, Amy, Betsy, Betty, Laurie and Susan


We helped save democracy! Now on to Georgia!

Dear amazing IndiMarin Volunteers,

What a week it has been! From the relief on November 8 that the much ballyhooed red wave was a media-driven miscalculation, to the glorious news that we will retain Senate control and the clear repudiation of election deniers like Kari Lake, voters across America affirmed that they support democracy, individual freedoms and candidates with integrity.

As Senate Majority Schumer said, the midterm elections were a “vindication” for Democrats and their agenda thanks to the American people’s rejection of “antidemocratic extremist MAGA Republicans."

At IndiMarin, we are proud of our efforts in support of Catherine Cortez Masto and John Fetterman. We sent 17,000 postcards for Cortez Masto and made countless phone calls for her and John Fetterman, both crucial Senate wins. We also worked our hearts out for numerous CA Congressional candidates and are waiting for those results with fingers and toes crossed. Thanks to all of you who participated!

Now all eyes turn to the Georgia Senate runoff. With Republicans demoralized and Democrats enthusiastic, now’s the time to seize this momentum! 

A Warnock victory would be a decisive win against MAGA extremism and give President Biden the cushion he needs to nominate judges and cabinet officials who reflect our values and who will work to protect our democracy. With a challenging Senate map up ahead in 2024, a Georgia victory would lock in a Democratic Senate seat for six years and would make it more likely that we hold our Senate majority into the future. It matters a lot who wins this election, and you can help. 

IndiMarin has developed a comprehensive offering of tactics for our volunteers to participate in ways that work with their availability, preferences and budget. Options include 1) Phonebanks and Anytime Calling, 2) Writing postcards, 3) Texting voters, and 4) Financially supporting the effort on the ground in Georgia. Time is of the essence, so please jump in today!

1) PHONEBANKS AND ANYTIME CALLING:
Our calls are made through an automated dialer, so no need to use your phone. If you are new to phonebanking, our friendly mentors will get you started. Once you are comfortable, you can make calls on your own time in addition to calling at our phonebanks. Sign-up for as many times as you can, then you can rest easy knowing you’ve done all you could for our country!

  • Sign up here for our Phonebanks on Saturdays from 9:30am - 11:30am PT, Wednesdays from 12pm - 1pm PT, and Election Day (December 6th) from 9:30am - 11:30am PT.

  • Make "Anytime Calls" on your own schedule as often as possible.

  • The Activate America dialing platform is open daily (except holidays), so you can sign up here to receive all of the links you need to make calls on your own.

  • Watch this four minute video to see how easy it is!

2) POSTCARDING
We have three options for writing postcards to voters in Georgia. The mailing deadline is November 25th. Both online and pre-made packet requests are limited to 40 addresses at a time. Feel free to request more when your first batch is complete.

  • Online: Please collect your own supplies first and then request addresses and script.

  • Packet Pick Up: For our local volunteers, pre-assembled packets are available for pick up in two Marin locations - Greenbrae and Novato. We request a $5 donation to cover our costs. Sign up to pick up packets.

  • Postcarding in a group - Join us at Panera Bread in Novato on Tuesday, November 15th at 10 AM. RSVP here

3) TEXTING

4) FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE EFFORT ON THE GROUND IN GEORGIA
We've created another one-step way to strategically donate to support a win for Warnock! Click to donate at this ActBlue link ,"One & Done to Gain One More Senate Seat: Strategically Support Raphael Warnock's Reelection!" Your donation will support in equal parts:

  • Airlift to Georgia 2022 - Our ongoing fundraising partner, Airlift, has a special runoff effort which is supporting a consortium supporting 26 grassroots organizing groups ready to knock on more than 3 million high-priority doors in the next 3+ weeks.

  • Activate America - Our ongoing voter outreach partner is funding the use of CallHub, an excellent calling platform for out-of-state volunteers, as well as postcarding and texting programs.

  • Senator Warnock's campaign for TV ads and other mass communications efforts.

Thank you, thank you for your amazing work thus far and the work we know you will do again. Let's go win this! ✊ ✊ ✊ 

Election NIght: A Roundup of resources and Inspiration

To our amazing volunteers,

You guys rock!!! The level of engagement we've experienced over the last several months, and especially in these past weeks has been  inspiring and invigorating. Thank you, thank you to all of you who made phone calls, wrote postcards, sent text messages, donated, and reached out to friends. YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE.

Now we wait (unless you're making phone calls right up until the last hour which is awesome!!) Results will start trickling in around 6 p.m. Eastern, when the first polls close. But the full picture could take days or weeks to emerge. Some pivotal states, like Pennsylvania, can take days to count votes. And Georgia’s Senate race, which may decide control of the chamber, could go to a December runoff. 

In California, vote counting tends to be slow because there are so many voters. And there is a seven-day window after the election to allow mail-in ballots postmarked on Nov. 8 to arrive. But early returns should help streamline the tally, and counties must begin reporting results to the states within two hours after the polls close.

To help get us all through the intense Election Watch period, we've curated below some words of inspiration and links for how to best follow along. Feel free to scroll and skim and find the nuggets that work best for you.

Two things to keep in mind:

- Regardless of the midterms' outcome, Joe Biden, who we helped elect, will continue to be our President and his veto power will make all the difference.
- Regardless of the outcome, we at IndiMarin and the entire Democratic community will keep up the fight. We may be needed in the very near future for ballot curing or runoff elections. So please keep an eye out for our newsletters in the days and weeks to come.

We are proud to work alongside of such wonderful, like-minded people who are committed to serving our country, our democracy and the greater good.

The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Joy, Amy, Andie, Laurie, Betsy, Betty, and Susan

GENERAL ELECTION WATCHING
Good sites for following updates online:
NPR Election Coverage
The Associated Press
The New York Times - "Midterm Election Live Updates" and "The Needle," a forecasting tool that debuted in 2016. It is intended to help you understand what the votes tallied so far suggest about possible winners in key contests, before the election is called.

For TV viewing or streaming:
PBS Midterm Election Coverage with Judy Woodruff is very good, as well as MSNBC (with Steve Kornacki and the Big Board) and CNN with Jake Tapper taking the helm from Wolf Blitzer this year.


GUIDANCE FOR WHICH RACES TO FOLLOW:

There are two places to keep an eye on — New Hampshire and Virginia — if you want an barometer early on for where the night is headed:

Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman says: “Don’t get too carried away by the first numbers you see... We’re going to have “blue mirages” and “red mirages” to some extent. The one place where I would expect no mirage would be New Hampshire, because towns typically report their results all at once and there’s typically almost no absentee vote.”

University of Virginia’s J. Miles Coleman offers a shorthand for the VA results, which will come early in the night: “Rs flip Luria’s seat in VA-2 = bare minimum types of seat they’d need. Rs flip Spanberger’s seat in VA-7 = likely an R gain of 25+ seats. Rs flip Wexton’s seat in VA-10 = biggest R majority since WW2.”

Dan Pfeiffer - What to Watch for on a Confusing Election Night

Gabe Fleisher of Wake Up to Politics: Election Night Viewer’s Guide


WORDS OF INSPIRATION

Heather Cox Richardson - "Finally, for all the uncertainty surrounding tomorrow's election, there is one thing of which I am 100% certain. Far more Americans today are concerned about our democracy, and determined to reclaim it, than were even paying attention to it in 2016. There are new organizations, new connections, new voters, new efforts to remake the country better than it has ever been, and the frantic efforts of the Republicans to suppress voting, gerrymander the country, and now to take away our right to choose our leaders indicates we are far more powerful than we believe we are. No matter what happens tomorrow, that will continue to be true, and I am ever so proud to be one of you."

Robert Hubbell - Have faith in democracy - "So, we should not await the election results with fear but with confidence and a clear-eyed recognition of the challenges we face—and certainty about the ultimate victory we will achieve. Republicans are fighting dirty because they know they are a minority party on a burning platform. Democrats have a vision that includes the majority of Americans in a future based on liberty, tolerance, peace, prosperity, and security."

Robert Reich - Regardless of what happens today, we are the future of America

Robert Hubbell - No effort is wasted - "In assessing the “success” or “failure” of our efforts, the most elusive and counterintuitive truth is that our efforts cannot be measured only by whether our candidates win or lose. In evaluating our efforts, we must ask two additional questions: First, what would have happened if we had not put in the effort to affect the outcome? Second, how many new voters did our efforts bring into the lifeblood of democracy?

As to the first question, imagine a scenario in which Democrats lose five seats in the House. That outcome will be portrayed as an apocalyptic defeat by the media. But it might have been much worse if not for the millions of postcards, texts, door knocks, Zoom calls, and house-party fundraisers by hundreds of thousands of dedicated volunteers. The measure of success is not only what did happen, but what might have happened but for our efforts.

As to the second question, if our efforts bring new voters into the democratic process, that is a long-term win without regard to short-term outcomes. Building democracy is a slow, accretive process. Our goal is to bring as many new voters into the process as possible. If we can do that, we will win—it is only a matter of time. Republicans understand that truth—which is why their business model involves excluding new voters and suppressing existing voters. As between those two approaches, the one that favors more inclusion and involvement aligns with the long arc of our nation’s progress. We should take hope and confidence from the alignment of our efforts with the unstoppable momentum of America toward greater liberty, tolerance, and inclusion.

 In other words, no effort is wasted. Remember that fundamental truth on election night—and every day thereafter!"

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”


TODAY is a great day to help save democracy!

We have three days to go. Let's make every hour of each of these three precious days count!

Per an encouraging new poll released today, Democrats catch up to GOP in enthusiasm in final NBC News poll before the midterms. In the poll, forty-eight percent of likely voters say they prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress as the outcome of Tuesday’s elections, while 47% prefer a Republican-controlled Congress. That’s a reversal from October, when 48% preferred a GOP-controlled Congress versus 47% who wanted Democrats in charge, although the shift is well within the poll’s margin of error. 

Also and notably, many analysts and pundits on our side are flagging that GOP-funded pollsters have been flooding the zone with skewed poll results since September, and that is why there appears to be a red wave coming in after the summer. Dan Pfeiffer notes in today's Substack blog, "The math is clear – absent the partisan polls, the polling average looks a little better for Dems."

The bottom line? This election is ours to win and we have three days to do so. As Pfeiffer said In today's blog, "We have only a few days left. We can either spend that time hoping for a good outcome or we can spend it working for a good outcome."

As we've asked for the last week or so, we will ask again. PLEASE carve out as much time as over the next three day to call voters in toss-up House and Senate races. YOU are needed. There are not enough volunteers making calls. We are calling for the most crucial toss-up Senate races including John Fetterman in Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto in Nevada and Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin and also toss up House races including Adam Grayin CA-13, Rudy Salas in CA-22, Christy Smith in CA-27, Will Rollins in CA-41, Jay Chen in CA-45 and Susan Wild in PA-07.

Below are the many ways to participate:

ANYTIME CALLING
You will be calling Democrats and mainly leaving voice messages with important and motivating information. Most calls involving a conversation are friendly and positive. WATCH this 4 minute tutorial to see how easy it is to get rolling, and then sign up to make calls.

INDIMARIN PHONEBANKS VIA ZOOM - SIGN UP
Sunday, 11/6 from 3 - 5 PM PT
Monday from 11 AM - 1 PM PT
Tuesday from 11 AM - 1 PM PT

Let's resolve to not leave any votes on the table. We have three days. Each incremental vote matters.  Thank you for doing all you can!


WILL YOU COMMIT TO FIGHT LIKE HELL THESE LAST TWO WEEKS?

We're all reading alarming news stories about recent polling. The Democratic leads we saw throughout much of the summer and fall may be fading. 😰 😰 😰 

However, data from early voting rates show that our work is paying off!  We need to keep doing what we are doing and increase our intensity in these two final weeks! Overall, Democratic turnout is above 2018 levels by over 5%. General turnout is increased with infrequent voters above 2018 levels - just the group we have been targeting all these months with postcards, phone calls, texts and door knocks. BUT with the GOP's dark money, and disinformation intensifying, we need to intensify our work as well!

WE ARE ASKING ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS (OTHER THAN THOSE ACTIVELY TEXTING VOTERS) TO SPEND AS MUCH OF YOUR DISCRETIONARY TIME AS POSSIBLE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND 11/8 MAKING PHONE CALLS TO VOTERS. CONSIDER TURNING OFF THE TV NEWS AND MAKING CALLS INSTEAD! THEN, WIN OR LOSE, YOU WILL KNOW YOU DID ALL YOU COULD TO SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY AND PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS. 

Thanks to our partner, Activate America, we are able to offer a new fabulous option for calling voters on your own schedule called ANYTIME CALLING!  PLEASE WATCH THIS 4 minute tutorial created by our Phone Team Co-leader Amy Cole and you will realize how easy it is to get rolling. Phonebanking is easy, enjoyable and rewarding! The CallHub automated dialer increases the number of live conversations and we are also leaving voicemail messages with important voter information. After watching the video, SIGN UP HERE TO GET STARTED CALLING!

Extra support is available with our team of phone mentors….just write us at info@indivisiblemarin.org with any questions at all or to request a 1:1 session with a coach.

Current campaign options ANYTIME CALLING are:
House:

CA-13 - Adam Gray

CA-22 - Rudy Salas

CA-41 - Will Rollins

CA-45 - Jay Chen

PA-07 - Susan Wild
(IndiMarin suggests calls for Salas as most crucial)

Senate:

PA - John Fetterman

NC - Cheri Beasley

NV - Cortez Masto

WI - Barnes

GA - Warnock
(IndiMarin suggests calls for Cortez Masto as most crucial. Yet all are worthwhile.)

We are so grateful to you for all you have done thus far! Let's keep pushing for just two more weeks! SIGN UP HERE TO START CALLING AND BRING HOME THOSE INFREQUENT DEM VOTERS WE NEED TO WIN!


Indivisible Marin's Guide to Easy, Early Voting

Did you know that early voting helps boost Dem turnout? When you vote early, campaigns take you off their call and text lists and can efficiently focus on people who haven’t yet voted. You’ll benefit too by fewer calls and texts from campaigns.

It’s common to procrastinate about voting. Many of us leave our mail-in ballot on the kitchen counter for days, even weeks. This guide is designed to give voters some simple tools to help them vote early, efficiently and confidently!

Just follow these four easy steps. Remember: Voting early helps Dems win!

  • STEP 1 - Do this ASAP.
    Register or double-check that you are registered, and learn all details about the voting process in your state. Even if you are fairly certain you are registered, double-check. Sometimes there are errors causing people to fall off the voter rolls. TurboVote provides you with the information you need to vote with confidence. Sign up for election reminders, and get help with voter registration and voting by mail — all in one place! Visit TurboVote to be prepared to vote.


  • STEP 2 - Do this ASAP. Start making your ballot choices via the Blue Voter Guide. This fabulous tool allows you to preview what’s on your ballot and it provides information on endorsement by progressive organizations and other groups and newspapers for candidate and ballot propositions.

    • Watch this two-minute video which explains how it works. 

    • VIsit Blue Voter Guide to “build and print out your ballot.” 

    • Note that the Blue Voter Guide is available in the following battleground states: CA, AZ, FL, NV, TX, GA, NC, PA, WI. 

    • Also note that some local races and town ballot measures are not included in the Blue Voter Guide. For those selections, helpful information can be found progressive websites, in local newspapers, and from like-minded friends.


  • STEP 3 - Do this ASAP. Forward this email ASAP to your personal network, especially to people in these states: CA, AZ, FL, NV, TX, GA, NC, PA, and WI. You can have a direct impact on the outcome by encouraging your network to VOTE EARLY! 

  • STEP 4 - The day your ballot arrives in the mail, fill it out, and mail it back, or return it via any other available option. OR, if you plan to vote in person, that’s great too! Still, complete Steps 1, 2, and 3 so that you can walk into the voting booth with your ballot choices selected and printed.

Boom. You are done. You voted AND voted early giving Democrats an added edge in keeping Congress blue in ‘22!

With just one month to go, please heavy up on your commitment to get Dems to the polls!

With less than one month until Election Day, ballots have already dropped in many states. After a strong surge by Dems over the last couple of months, the GOP seems to be gaining ground again with their dark money and racially polarizing disinformation on crime, immigration, and inflation.

We must keep the pedal to the floor and accelerate our dedication and efforts in these few remaining weeks ahead! There are more of us than there are of them, so when our people vote, we win. We just need to ensure that they vote. It's that simple.

Here's the deal: Interactive conversations are the most important tactic this close to the election. Since we live in a blue district, canvassing is not feasible without travel. However, phonebanking IS feasible for every single one of us. Before you repeat to yourself why phonebanking is not an option for you, please review below or at this link "Common Misconceptions About Phone Calls to Voters" and hopefully you’ll decide to give it a whirl given the stakes.

This is the time to set aside any misconceptions and give it a try, or jump back in if you have made calls before. Either way our fabulous team of mentors will guide you every step of the way.

Recent research by Activate America has shown that an effectiveness effect of 1.3% of postcarding plus phonebanking (including just voicemails.) That margin is greater than the winning margin of battleground states and CA districts in 2020. With enough calls, this outreach could make the difference in which Party controls Congress.

Phonebanking is enjoyable and rewarding! Take it from one of our fabulous volunteers, Al, in this two-minute testimonial!


At our phonebanks, you have the choice of calling in support of two crucial campaigns: 1) The Democratic ticket in the 50/50 state of Wisconsin, and 2) Rudy Salas for the House in California’s Central Valley. Wisconsin was the tipping point for both Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020. Those races were so close that two votes per precinct would have changed the outcome. And Rudy Salas’ race is viewed nationally as a crucial opportunity for Dems to keep control of the House.

Don't look back when Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell and a bunch of MAGA election-deniers are in control of Congress and wish you'd done more to help. Sign up TODAY for any of the options below. If you need some 1:1 help, just reply to this email and we'll do our best to support you!

Here are all the ways you can jump into phonebanking. Please sign up today!

  • ATTEND INDIMARIN’S PHONEBANKS:

    • Sign up here for our Saturday phonebank from 9:30 to 11:30am PT.

    • Sign up here for our Wednesday lunch hour phonebank from 12 to 1pm PT.

  • MAKE CALLS ON YOUR OWN SCHEDULE AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE:

    • The Activate America dialing platform is open daily (except holidays), so you can sign up here to receive all of the links you need to make calls on your own. You must attend a phonebank to be trained first if you have not yet used the CallHub platform.

  • ATTEND ACTIVATE AMERICA’S PHONEBANKS:

    • If the time of the IndiMarin phonebanks doesn’t work for you, or you would like to call in a group more frequently, our partners at Activate America host phonebanks Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 – 5pm PT. Sign up here for any shift.

Let's do this! Let's keep the House and increase our Senate Majority. WE are the ones we've been waiting for!

Voting EARLY helps Dems win! Get ready with our Guide to Easy, Early Voting!

It’s common to procrastinate about voting. Many of us leave our mail-in ballot on the kitchen counter for days, even weeks. IndiMarin’s Guide to Easy, Early Voting is designed to give voters some simple tools to help them vote early and efficiently.

Did you know that early voting helps boost Dem turnout? When you vote early, campaigns take you off their GOTV lists and can efficiently focus on people who haven’t yet voted. You also benefit by getting fewer calls and texts from campaign

Just follow these four easy steps. Remember: Voting early helps Dems win!

  • STEP 1 - Do this ASAP.
    Register or double-check that you are registered, and learn all details about the voting process in your state. Even if you are fairly certain you are registered, double-check. Sometimes there are errors causing people to fall off the voter rolls. TurboVote provides you with the information you need to vote with confidence. Sign up for election reminders, and get help with voter registration and voting by mail — all in one place! Visit TurboVote to be prepared to vote.

  • STEP 2 - Do this ASAP. Start making your ballot choices via the Blue Voter Guide. This fabulous tool allows you to preview what’s on your ballot and it provides information on endorsement by progressive organizations and other groups and newspapers for candidate and ballot propositions.

    • Watch this two-minute video which explains how it works. 

    • VIsit Blue Voter Guide to “build and print out your ballot.” 

    • Note that the Blue Voter Guide is available in the following battleground states: CA, AZ, FL, NV, TX, GA, NC, PA, WI. 

    • Also note that some local races and town ballot measures are not included in the Blue Voter Guide. For those selections, helpful information can be found progressive websites, in local newspapers, and from like-minded friends.

  • STEP 3 - Do this ASAP. Forward this email ASAP to your personal network, especially to people in these states: CA, AZ, FL, NV, TX, GA, NC, PA, and WI. You can have a direct impact on the outcome by encouraging your network to VOTE EARLY! 

  • STEP 4 - The day your ballot arrives in the mail, fill it out, and mail it back, or return it via any other available option. Boom. You are done. You voted AND voted early giving Democrats an added edge in keeping Congress blue in ‘22!  OR, if you plan to vote in person, that’s great too! Still, complete Steps 1, 2, and 3 so that you can walk into the voting booth with your ballot choices selected and printed.

Thanks for all you do to help keep Congress blue in "22!

Announcing FIVE new postcarding campaigns to GET OUT THE VOTE!

Hello Writers,

Ballots have begun to drop in our battleground races and it is time to GET OUT THE VOTE! We're excited to announce that you now have FIVE candidates for whom you can choose to write postcards. These will be the final postcarding campaigns for the November election!

Postcarding can increase the vote by up to 4% so we work in very competitive races like these for candidates that are under-resourced and need outside help. That 4% could make the difference between a win or a loss in a tight race.

At the request of partners on the ground in Georgia, we are offering a special high-priority campaign to encourage voters there to request mail-in ballots. This campaign has a deadline of October 12th so act fast to help Senator Warnock in his bid for re-election!

Our Get Out the Vote (GOTV) postcarding will feature three current toss-up House races in California - Christy Smith in CA-27, Adam Gray in CA-09, and Rudy Salas in CA-22. Winning these seats is widely seen as essential to maintain a Democratic House majority.

Please note that because we are writing only to extremely low frequency voters, the California script will NOT mention the candidate name. Research shows that a general GOTV message emphasizing the importance of voting is much more effective with this category of voters.

We also are continuing our campaign with a reproductive rights message for Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto, the closest Senate race in the country this year.

The mailing deadline for postcards in support of Cortez-Masto, Smith, Grey and Salas is October 25th,  (Further details and some great videos of all the candidates are at the end of this email.)

All five campaigns are available online. Postcard packets will be for Christy Smith only.

Request addresses online here. Feel free to request postcards for more than one candidate!

Requests packets to pick up here.

RSVP to our In Person Postcarding events at Panera Bread in Novato on Tuesday mornings here.

Here are our candidates. Read the latest updates about their campaigns and check out the videos!

Our Senate Candidate: Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto
Video #1 - Masto questioning oil and gas company executives regarding price gauging
Video #2 - Masto urging passage of the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act

  • UPDATE: This continues to be widely seen as the closest Senate race in the county. Polls show her up just a few points and within the margin of error at a statistical tie. Her opponent is a MAGA Republican but a former state official and well known to voters there. Nevada's shifting population has created a new voter base this year. This is must win for Dems to retain control of the Senate.

  • Campaign: We are sending a reproductive freedom message to pro-choice voters, specifically targeting voters new to Senator Cortez-Masto.

  • Request addresses ONLINE

Our CA 27 House Candidate: Christy Smith
Video #1 - Smith speech on reproductive freedom - must watch!
Video #2 -  Campaign Ad

  • UPDATE: Christy is running for this seat that she lost by just over 300 votes in 2020 against MAGA candidate Mike Garcia. A former CA assembly members and local school board member, Christy is a strong supporter of women's rights and public education. Early polling shows her at a statistical tie in a now Democratic leaning district against a very well funded opponent. A strong GOTV effort will be necessary to flip this seat.

  • Campaign: We are sending a general GOTV script to low propensity Democrats.

  • Request addresses ONLINE

  • Request packets for pick up

Our CA 22 House Candidate: CA Assemblyman Rudy Salas
Video #1 - Salas discusses funding he delivered to expand healthcare training programs.
Video #2 -  Salas dedicates Delores Huerta Cultural Center he helped fund.

  • UPDATE: Early polls show Salas grabbing a small lead in this now Democratic leaning district. As this is what is one of the most flippable seats in the country this year, it is a must win for Dems to retain control of Congress. He is at a financial disadvantage and is relying on out of district support to win. His opponent, incumbent Republican David Valadao, has a history of winning in Dem areas.

  • Campaign: We are sending a general GOTV script to low propensity Democrats.

  • Request addresses ONLINE

Our CA 13 Candidate: CA Assemblyman Adam Gray
Video #1 - watch Adam's campaign ads here
Video #2 - Hear Adam fighting for the rights of rural communities dealing with climate change in the CA Assembly

  • UPDATE: CA 13 is an open seat due to a Democratic congressional retirement and is a MUST hold for Dems. However, Republicans see a great opportunity here as there is no incumbent and the district has been newly created through redistricting. The first poll shows a statistical tie. As a first time candidate whose competitive primary was called late, Adam's campaign is playing catch up and needs out of district support.

  • Campaign: We are sending a general GOTV script to low propensity Democrats.

  • Request addresses ONLINE

Our Georgia Senate Candidate: Rev, Raphael Warnock
Video #1 - Campaign ad
Video #2 - Interview on Colbert

  • UPDATE: Senator Warnock was elected to the Senate in a special election and runoff to fill a vacancy. He is now running for his first full term and is in a virtual tie with ex football player Herschel Walker. This is a race that may go to a runoff due to a viable 3rd party candidate. Increasing voting by mail is the best way to increase Democratic turnout for both elections.

  • Campaign: We are writing to Democrats and asking them to request a vote by mail ballot.

  • Request addresses ONLINE

Thanks for all you do to help keep Congress blue in '22!

Joy and Laurie - Writing Team Co-leaders

Announcing a strategic & convenient solution for political donations - ONE & DONE from IndiMarin!

Hello IndiMarin volunteers!

We are very excited to announce a new program that has the potential for MAJOR impact...but only with YOUR help! We're calling it our "One & Done" Plan for Strategic AND Convenient Political Giving. We encourage all of our volunteers to consider giving, AND ALSO to share the concept with people in their personal networks!

We're especially bullish on this new effort after receiving a broad range of  VERY enthusiastic responses from the short list of people with whom we market-tested the concept. 

Here are just a few sample reactions: 

"Your plan is an answer to my prayers!!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT AND WILL SEND IT OUT TO EVERYBODY I KNOW who wants to donate but gets slammed with 10 + email donation requests a day, AND ARE NOT SURE THAT THEY ARE WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE!"

"Absolutely brilliant donation system!!!"

"Great idea! I'm one of those people who can't give to everyone and I have a hard time deciding who to give to. This takes the worry out of it."

"I’m so glad to hear about our One and Done approach to political donations. Like all of us, I’ve also been flooded with campaign donation solicitations. I’ve just donated to One and Done and yes, now I can unsubscribe from all the other emails… GUILT-Free!"

So here's the concept:

As Democrats, we all want to do our part to help keep the House and Senate blue in November, right? Yet, it can be hard to know how to strategically allocate our available dollars for political donations. To address this issue, and to help prevent potential donors from sitting on the sidelines due to “information-overload,” IndiMarin has done the homework for us. 

We've created this single ActBlue link where donations are divided equally between two underfunded House candidates in toss-up races, an underfunded Senate candidate in a toss-up race, and an organization that supports grassroots work in key districts. 

More specifically, donations will support in equal parts: 1) Christy Smith for Congress in CA District 27, 2) Rudy Salas for Congress in CA District 22, 3) Mandela Barnes for Senate in Wisconsin, and 4) Airlift, an organization that vets and funds grassroots organizers In battleground areas, largely focused on communities of color. Further details here.

Whether your budget allows for $20, $200 or $2000, you can make a contribution at this single link and feel good that you have done your part to help Keep Congress Blue in ’22. A nice perk of this "one and done" approach is that you can now unsubscribe, GUILT-FREE, from all the other countless fundraising emails that are likely filling up your inbox. It's WIN/WIN! 

No portion of the donations go to IndiMarin or ActBlue and you can opt out of receiving any emails or texts as a result of your donation.

Many of you may have already selected your forms of political giving, and if so, thank you for your generous donations! But if not, please consider giving as part of this strategic campaign.

We hope you will also share this approach within your personal circles. Based on the early reactions we received, your friends are likely to be grateful for a more efficient and effective way to donate politically. Here is a template email that you can customize and send out within your sphere of influence. You can also post the ActBlue link to social media.

Once again, here is the link to our One & Done initiative. Please consider donating and then sharing this approach with friends and family! We can make a real difference by supporting these under-funded candidates in winnable races! 

Two events you won't want to miss!

Hello fabulous IndMarin volunteers!

This week marks the start of our Fall Sprint to November! So hopefully, you are buckled in, with your calendars cleared to make some significant contributions to helping Dems achieve the crucial midterm goal which is highlighted on the home page of the IndiMarin website:

With democracy in danger, and the constitutional right to reproductive freedom eradicated by the Supreme Court, IndiMarin’s focus in 2022 is to work strategically and impactfully to help turn out enough Democratic voters in November to maintain our House Majority and INCREASE our Senate majority by at least TWO seats. Then, in 2023, a truly Democratic Congress will be able to pass the legislation needed to protect our democracy, our rights, our planet and the lives of all Americans. 

The IndiMarin Steering Committee has been hard at work on some new programs designed for you to "10x Your Impact" in the final stretch. Stay tuned for coming announcements about how you can be a part of this exciting and impactful opportunity to make a difference!

In the meantime, we have two great events to highlight! 

TOMORROW, 9/8, at 2:30 PM PT via Zoom - Midterms 2022: The State of Play and How to Help - This week, the focus of our popular series will be on the dynamics of election turnout. We'll talk about what motivates voters and how our work is impacting turnout.  As always, there will be updates on the major House and Senate races. We'll also provide highlight our expanded voter outreach programs, including new campaigns in Wisconsin and California. Lastly, we'll give a sneak peek at some to the relational programs we'll soon be rolling out. THERE IS  LOTS TO COVER so please join us! RSVP.

Saturday, 9/17 at 7:30 PM - Andy Borowitz at City Arts and Lectures - Live and virtual tickets available with a special discount for IndiMarin members! 

City Arts & Lectures is pleased to offer Indivisible Marin members discounted tickets to an evening with Andy Borowitz live at the Sydney Goldstein Theater. The discount applies to virtual tickets too. The evening includes Borowitz in conversation with Marisa Lagos (Political Breakdown), a dramatic reading of Dan Quayle quotations, plus the chance for audience members to ask their own questions too. To access $30 tickets (regular price: $36), go here. You’ll see live and virtual options on the box office page. Enter the code INDIVISIBLE30 at checkout.

More about Andy Borowitz

“America’s finest fake-news creator and sharpest political satirist” (The Washington Post) Andy Borowitz achieves what the very best political humor can accomplish: profound insight into the present historical moment. Famous for the satirical news column "The Borowitz Report," he has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1998. In Profiles in Ignorance: How America’s Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber, Borowitz brilliantly examines the intellectual deterioration of American politics from Ronald Reagan to Dan Quayle to Sarah Palin to its apotheosis in Donald J. Trump.

Thanks for all you are doing to help protect democracy! Get ready to rock & roll these next two months!

The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Laurie, Joy, Amy, Betsy, Andie, Betty and Susan

TOMORROW at 7 PM: Speak out against police brutality here in Marin - Justice for Mateo

A number of our volunteers have written us about a disturbing incident of police brutality that took place here in Marin in July. To update everyone and provide an avenue for action, we're sharing below an email from one of our allied partners - SURJ Marin (Showing Up for Racial Justice.) 

Please consider attending and speaking out at the San Rafael City Council meeting TOMORROW, 9/6 at 7 PM at the Council Chambers at 1400 Fifth Avenue OR virtually at this Zoom link. If you have questions, please contact Gabriel Garcia (415-261-1302) of a grassroots organization in the Canal called Solidaridad Guatemalteca.


From SURJ MARIN:

"Sharing a few beers with friends after a long day’s work should never result in a bloodied face and a concussion following a violent takedown by a police officer. 

That’s what happened this past July right here in the Canal District. A Latinx man and Canal neighborhood resident known as Mateo was left with a broken nose, a concussion and certainly emotional trauma after being violently taken to the ground and assaulted by San Rafael Police Officer Nail. SRPD Officer Brandon Nail, responsible for the brutal takedown of Mateo and Officer Daisy Mazariegos, who initially approached Mateo and interacted with him in a noticeably disrespectful manner, have both been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal affairs investigation. Other members of the department who witnessed this reprehensible behavior by the officers and didn’t intervene have yet to be named.

Mateo has been cleared of all charges initially filed by Lori Frugoli’s office and is currently considering filing a lawsuit against the SRPD. 

Here is a video showing the appalling event. Please know that this video shows a violent assault.

We at SURJ Marin know that this is not just a problem of overzealous police officers, it is a symptom of the toxic culture of policing resulting in the over-policing and use of excessive force that most often targets Black and Brown residents.  And this is not an isolated incident. Recently, the SRPD was censured for ‘dropping off’ an unhoused county resident in San Francisco. Frequent complaints have been filed regarding police harassment and use of force against residents living under the freeway in the San Rafael unhoused encampment.

These and other recent incidents that traumatize and target Marin BIPOC residents are the reason we need strong independent civilian oversight, not only of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office and the SRPD, but of all law enforcement agencies in the county.  

We would like to acknowledge the Marin District Attorney’s Office for dropping all charges they had initially filed against Mateo.. We also want to acknowledge Marin Superintendent Damon Connolly for denouncing the behavior of the officers and Lt. Scott Eberle from the SRPD for being clear about the seriousness of the officers’ unacceptable conduct.. 

We also want to be clear to all elected officials throughout the County, local media outlets, and leaders within law enforcement agencies: silence and inaction is absolutely unacceptable. You need to be speaking out against police violence when it occurs, period. We also urge those who have spoken up to make the transition to taking a proactive stance against over-policing, surveillance and excessive use of force, and to accompany their statements with action. 

The only way to ensure that more people are not assaulted throughout our county by those that are tasked with protecting them is by ensuring law enforcement accountability. We need civilian oversight committees for every law enforcement agency in Marin County. If you speak up against police violence, and say it does not represent your agency, you also need to be ready to actively support civilian oversight. Otherwise your words are empty. We demand action. 

What can YOU do?! 

Show up!!!

To the protests that are happening in response to police excessive use of force. 

To the Marin Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 13th at 9am (or email by 5p the day before) and let them know we need to ensure that the Sheriff’s Oversight Committee has full subpoena power and an Inspector General in order to respond to these types of incidents when they occur with the MCSO.

Call in to your local Town Council Meetings and ask whether your town has a civilian oversight committee for your local police department. If not, ask why! We cannot wait for this type of incident to happen again in before we take action. 
 
Then you can show up again to the SR City Council meeting on Tuesday evening at 7p, 1400 Fifth Avenue.  If you have questions, please contact Gabriel Garcia (415-261-1302) of a grassroots organization in the Canal called Solidaridad Guatemalteca. 

In solidarity,
SURJ Marin

Thanks to all of our IndiMarin volunteers who are committed to standing on the side of justice and human rights. 

The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Betsy, Betty, Joy, Amy, Andie Laurie and Susan

Enjoy Labor Day weekend - We need you back and refreshed next week for the Sprint to November!

What a difference a month makes! A Republican House takeover is "no longer a foregone conclusion," according to a dispatch today by The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. The publication's U.S. House editor, Dave Wasserman, today moved the ratings of five House seats — all in Democrats' direction. Robert Hubbell in his widely-followed Substack blog, pointed to the string of upsets breaking our way. "On Tuesday, another Democrat pulled off an upset victory, this time in a special election for the unexpired term of a vacant House seat in Alaska. It is hard not to see a pattern in the unexpected wins in New York’s 19th district (Pat Ryan) and the defeat of the state constitutional amendment in Kansas to limit reproductive freedom."

Per activist/blogger Jessica Craven, "We’ve seen it now in Alaska. And in Kansas. And in NY-19. These elections weren’t won only because of voters’ anger over Roe. They were won because of that and the hard, largely unsung efforts of volunteers showing up and doing what we’ve learned works."

These positive trends are coming not a minute too soon, and here's a bit of a reality check concerning the timetable. While many groups, including IndiMarin, have been posting the number of days left until the election (68 as of today), VOTING for the midterms will begin much sooner! After the Labor Day weekend, ballots will begin arriving in mailboxes in North Carolina on September 9th and voting in several battleground states will begin two weeks later. Here in California, ballots will drop on October 10. In other words, the midterms are just around the corner! But there is still plenty of time to affect the outcome—and plenty you can do to help get out the vote.

Hubbell also wrote, "A reader posted a comment to yesterday’s newsletter saying that she told her husband she would be working full time on the midterms after this week. While not everyone can make the same level of commitment, we can all join the reader in spirit. For some, the last six months have been a period of worrying, waiting, and dread. The season for action is now upon us.  Everyone should direct unproductive feelings of anxiety and worry into productive efforts to help get out the vote. We must have a bias toward action and be willing to step outside our comfort zone for two months. We can do that. We did it in 2018 and 2020. We can do it again in 2022.

So please enjoy the long weekend and last taste of summer, and come back ready to rock and roll! We have many voter outreach events lined up for the week after Labor Day, and will also soon be announcing some new programs designed specifically for this last stretch.

Please visit the calendar page of our website to review all September events and sign up for as many fit your schedule. We've listed key highlights with links to sign up below.

HIGHLIGHTS - Click at each link for more information and to sign up! 

>  Every Saturday at 9:30 AM PT via Zoom - Make Calls for Christy Smith for Congress with IndiMarin

>  Every Tuesday at 10 AM PT - Write Postcards at Panera Bread in Novato - new campaign coming soon!

>  Every Wednesday at 12 PM PT - Via Zoom - Lunch Hour Phonebank to Make Calls for Christy Smith for Congress

>  Thursday, 9/8 at 2:30 PM PT and 9/22 at 5:30 PM: Midterms '22: The State of Play and How to Help

>  Sunday, 9/10 from 9 AM - 1 PM PT (also dates in October) - Canvass for Josh Harder for Congress with IndiMarin and the Tracy Dems

>  Wednesday, 9/14 at 5 PM PT via Zoom - Intro to Phonebanking

>  Thursday, 9/15 at 2:30 PT via Zoom - Intro to Postcarding

Let's do it, team. It's "pedal to the metal" as of Tuesday, 9/6. And stay tuned for some coming announcement about NEW ways you can help the effort in the final stretch!

Thanks so very much for all our do for our country and its people!

The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Andie, Amy, Betty, Betsy, Joy, Laurie and Susan












Tonight at 5:00 PM PT - Requesting 45 minutes of your open mind

Hello Volunteers!

We have a favor to ask. If you are free today at 5:00 PM PT, please attend our "Intro to Phonebanking" zoom meeting. If you're not free, it will be recorded and we ask that you watch it later.

Why are we asking you for this favor? Because over the years of doing voter outreach work, we have found that phonebanking is the most misunderstood tactic of all the work we do. It is also the most impactful form of voter outreach, after canvassing. 

Multiple research studies conducted over the years have shown that 2-way conversations have the most impact. So by allowing misconceptions about phonebanking to continue, we are doing our collective work a disservice. Please read below some of the most common misconceptions about phonebanking vs. the reality.

One example we hear frequently, is, "I don't like it when strangers call me, so I'm not going to do that to someone else." The reality is that we are very fortunate here in Marin because the county's voter education efforts are excellent and access to voting is easy. For people who live in many part of the state and the country, a call from a volunteer is often a very welcome form of assistance.

So how about it? Will you come and listen with an open mind? Then, with accurate and complete information, you will be better able to decide if you might consider giving this crucial tactic a whirl. In the final stretch to November, phonebanking will be a hugely important determinant of Dems success. SIGN UP HERE FOR INTRO TO PHONEBANKING TONIGHT AT 5 PM PT.

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PHONEBANKING

MISCONCEPTION: No one answers their phones anymore.

REALITY: Actually, a reasonable number of people do answer. Plus, the new automated dialing tools we use allow you to have many more conversations with voters, and even a few conversations with potential voters can make a difference. Most elections these days are won by very narrow margins. Even when people don’t answer, we are leaving voice mail messages which dramatically adds to the number of households we reach with vital voter information.

MISCONCEPTION: Unsolicited phone calls annoy people. I don’t like to be called, so I don’t want to bother others.
REALITY: Calls about elections are often well-received and appreciated. Many people live in places without clear voter information, or simply do not have the time to keep up with election news. They often appreciate the information a phonebanker provides.

MISCONCEPTION: Republicans won’t be convinced to change their minds.
REALITY: We don’t call Republicans. We call Democrats and Independents to make sure that they are aware of an upcoming election, where they can vote, and how the candidate for whom we are calling will act on issues they care about.

MISCONCEPTION: I don’t know anything about the candidate so I won’t be able to answer questions on their backgrounds and positions
REALITY: It is fairly rare for conversations with voters to get that detailed. However, you’ll be provided with an overview of their positions. If you don’t have an answer, you can refer them to the campaign’s website or request that a campaign staffer get back to them.

MISCONCEPTION: I’m not comfortable talking to people I don’t know.
REALITY: You're not alone. Most phonebankers feel that way. But they plunge in anyway and find that it gets easier over time. We do many things in life that take us outside of our comfort zone. That’s a good thing for personal growth. And, in this case, it’s a good thing for our country.

We hope to see you today at 5:00 PT! SIGN UP HERE.

The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Betty, Amy, Laurie, Joy, Andie, Betsy and Susan

UPDATE ON SB 396 - Great news! Senator McGuire is on our side

Dear Marin volunteers!

Thanks to all of the many of you who called Senator McGuire's office this week about SB 396, the very concerning bill that enables PG&E’s to codify its worst behavior and cut any tree, anywhere, at any time, with NO RECOURSE to the homeowner. This bill also unfairly shifts the burden of liability to the property owner, even if the property owner objects to the work being done.

Together with other coalition representatives, we met with Senator McGuire's office on Tuesday, and are very happy to report that the Senator is OPPOSED to this bill. While VERY pleased to hear this news, we were not entirely surprised, since he has led the charge in the legislature for years on wildfire prevention and is a leading voice in holding PG&E accountable.

Unlike many members of the California legislature, Senator McGuire, who was appointed Senate Majority Leader this year, accepts no campaign contributions from PG&E. We hope that the fact that the Senate Majority Leader, a committed wildfire prevention advocate with no skin in the game with PG&E, opposes the bill will influence many of his Senate colleagues to also stand up for a real solution to wildfires - fixing the wires instead of felling the trees!

While the news of Senator McGuire's opposition is good, the fight is far from over. PG&E and its lobbyists hold major sway in Sacramento. We at IndiMarin will continue to work with other coalition partners throughout the region to lobby against this bill and will remain in touch with Senator McGuire's office on ways we can help.

YOUR CALLS MADE A DIFFERENCE! Now, our ally in the Senate can tell his colleagues that his phone rang off the hook with calls from constituents upset about this ill-advised and industry-friendly bill. This is the power of our individual voices when we organize together for the greater good.

We will continue to the fight and keep you apprised

Thanks to you, and to "Senator Mike" for taking action to save our beloved trees in Northern California.

The IndiMarin Steering Committee - Joy, Amy, Andie, Laurie, Betsy, Betty and Susan