Fireside Chat with CA Senator Dianne Feinstein

Hilbert Morales El Observador On Tuesday, August 23, 2016, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Carl Guardino, CEO was M.C. to a gathering which honored Senator Dianne Feinstein for her many...

Hilbert Morales
El Observador

On Tuesday, August 23, 2016, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Carl Guardino, CEO was M.C. to a gathering which honored Senator Dianne Feinstein for her many years of public service. Also present were U.S. House of Representatives members Zoe Lofgren, Anna Eshoo, and Mike Honda…all of whom are on the November 8 ballot ‘up for re-election’ (as Democrats).

The program was really focused upon Senator Feinstein’s public service career. Feinstein is the Senior Senator from CA first elected in 1992. She served as San Francisco’s 38th Mayor (1978 to 1988).

Born in San Francisco, Feinstein graduated from Stanford University in 1955 with a B.A. in history. In the 1960s she worked in city government; in 1970 she was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. She served as the board’s first female president in 1978, during which time the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk (first openly gay elected official) drew national attention. Feinstein succeeded Moscone as mayor. During her tenure as SF’s first female mayor she led a revamp of the city’s cable car system and oversaw the 1984 Democratic National Convention.

After a failed gubernatorial campaign in 1990, she won a 1992 special election to the U.S. Senate. Feinstein was first elected on the same ballot as her peer Barbara Boxer; both became California’s first female U.S. Senators. Feinstein has been re-elected four times since then and in the 2012 election, she claimed the record for the most popular votes in any U.S. Senate election in history, having received 7.75 million votes.[2]

Feinstein was the author of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban which expired in 2004. In 2013 she introduced a new assault weapons bill, which failed to pass. Feinstein formerly chaired the Senate Rules Committee (2007–09) and chaired the Select Committee on Intelligence (2009-2015).

when the Democrats lost control of the Senate. She is the only woman to have presided over a U.S. presidential inauguration. At the age of 83, Feinstein is the oldest currently serving U.S. Senator. (Source: Wikipedia)

To break the Republican Party gridlock on federal legislation, it is essential that the Democratic Party end up with a majority in both the House and Senate. The next U.S. President will appoint perhaps three U.S. Supreme Court ‘Associate Justices’ (one, nominated by President Obama, has not been brought up for an up or down vote by the current Republican Senate majority leader). So it is essential that all possible registered voters actually vote this coming Presidential Election Day, November 8, 2016. EO recommends voting for Democrats Feinstein, Eshoo, Lofgren and Honda. To replace Senator Barbara Boxer, EO recommends election of Loretta Sanchez (D-District 37) as the first Latina U.S. Senator from CA (because of her 20 years of legislative service in the U.S. House of Representatives). The Latino vote for election of all these Democrats is very important if the current Republican gridlock is to be broken enabling the passage of much legislation and appointment of U.S. Supreme Court Justices.

The 2016 Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) asks that you vote for the following priorities:

(LOCAL)-Vote Yes for Measure B to fund ($6.5 billion) traffic relief (repair of potholes, etc. in 15 cities by VTA, County of Santa Clara; with independent Citizen’s Annual Audit).

REGIONAL SVLG PRIORITIES:

VOTE YES for Measure AA BAY RESTORATION AND FLOOD PROTECTION. Provides for funding of ongoing restoration and flood control projects plus reduction of pollution, especiall toxics on an ongoing basis for 30 years; $12 annual parcel tax raising $25 million).

STATE:

VOTE YES FOR SB 32: Protecting the Environment and Creating Jobs: The CA Global Warming Solutions Act. Reduces global pollution by 80% below 1990 levels; set goals for future clean energy economy; help spur more innovation and investment.

FEDERAL:

SVLG recommends your support for President Obama to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade agreement which eliminates over 18,000 trade barriers and tariffs. (currently grid-locked by Republican House and Senate majorities).

With the help of SCVWD’s Director Richard Santos, I was seated with their delegation. SCVWD had sponsored 3 tables (30 guests). Theresa Krakov quickly determined that I could take an ’empty seat’.

It was my delight to sit with Ms. Elise Latedsou, an ‘ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER’ to my left.

To my right sat Ms. Marie Garcia, Professional Engineer (P.E.) who impressed me with her enthusiasm concerning her ideas & work which involved plastic piping and fluid dynamics (a physic’s science specialty). These two ethnic women made my day…especially when M.C. Carl Guardino, just before adjourning this event, asked that all women who were professionals and small business entrepreneurs come up to the stage for a group photo with the Congressional delegation. A current SVLG program encourages women to enter STEM professions and be entrepreneurs. For 90 minutes or so, I had enjoyed my conversations with two ethnic women who were competent & experienced professionals.∆

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