Statement of the Santa Clara County Democratic Party on the Violent Detention of Ulises Peña Lopez

On Saturday, February 22, 2025, a Sunnyvale father named Ulises Peña Lopez reportedly was arrested by federal immigration officers in a violent manner outside his home, in sight of his wife and three-year-old daughter.

SCCDP has issued the following response:

Statement of the Santa Clara County Democratic Party on the Violent Detention of Ulises Peña Lopez

Follow us on Bluesky and Mastodon

TL; DR: Follow us on Bluesky and/or Mastodon.  Help us to build a progressive online community on platforms not beholden to Trump.

These first few weeks have been intense and difficult, but we’re finding and raising our voices, and while it may not seem like it has mattered much, it will soon.   

One key battle will be over raising the debt limit.  The current debt limit has already been reached and the “extraordinary measures” the Treasury Department is using to avoid default will soon be exhausted.  (Former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen estimated those measures would extend the time to default to March 14, 2025.)  If we can rally our Senators and Representatives to stand together and stand strong, we may be able to block or roll back some of Trump’s more egregious excesses.

To organize effectively we need to coordinate, and to coordinate we need to communicate.  Our “ask” in this email is to follow our new accounts on Bluesky and/or Mastodon

For years, we’ve all used legacy social media networks, such as Twitter/X and the Meta platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, more recently Threads) to stay connected.  We’ve watched with concern as Musk turned X into a private fiefdom where conspiracy theories and hate thrive, and more recently as Zuckerberg bent the knee by gutting content moderation and calling for more “masculine” whatever in workplaces.  Sad!

Many progressives are leaving X and the Meta platforms.  For now, our plan is to build up our connections on Bluesky and Mastodon as we migrate to those platforms for our primary social media presence.  We will no longer make new posts on X – find us instead on Bluesky.  We will continue to post content on Meta platforms as we cross post and build up a following on Mastodon.  We will post less on Meta and rely more on Bluesky and Mastodon as we are able to build our community there.

We hope not to leave anyone behind.  If you haven’t checked out Bluesky or Mastodon, please give them a try.  And don’t forget to follow us and to like and comment on our posts.  It’s how we build a community online.

SCCDP on Bluesky: https://sccdp.bsky.social/
SCCDP on Mastodon:  https://sfba.social/@sccdp

Regards, Bill James
Santa Clara County Democratic Party Chair
@sccdp-dem-chair.bsky.social

Tu Bishvat: The Jewish New Year of Trees

You are invited!!

JEWISH DEMOCRATIC COALITION OF THE BAY AREA

Invites you to our Tu Bishvat Environmental Conference and Luncheon in honor of

TU BISHVAT: THE JEWISH NEW YEAR OF TREES

Sunday, February 23rd, 11:30-2:30 pm

Location available after registration

Hear our wonderful environmental speakers:

  • Larry Klein, Mayor of Sunnyvale
  • Richard Perez Sr., Director, Latino Coalition of San Benito County
  • David Cohen, San Jose City Council Member
  • Jan Pepper, former CEO Peninsula Clean Energy and former Los Altos Mayor
  • Joby Bernstein, Climate Investor, Stanford Researcher and former Congressional Candidate

Members $18, friends $25

Please RSVP by Feburary 19

Register: https://jdcba.org/event-6056761

Address available on sign up

jewishdemssv@gmail.com

February 2025 Central Committee Recap

On Thursday, February 6, 2025, the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee took the following actions:

  • Filled a vacancy in AD 25
  • Appointed eight Directors
    • Director of Outreach – Clarence Madrilejos
    • Director of Finance – James S Kim
    • Director for Clubs – Buu Thai
    • Political Director – James K Kim
    • Director of Issues – Daniel Cao
    • Director of Communications – John Comiskey
    • Director of Gender Equity and the Status of Women – Tomara Hall
    • Director of Inclusion and Diversity – Rebeca Armendáriz
  • Appointed one of two Youth Representatives
    • Anushka Tadikonda
  • Received further Training and Resources on Immigration Rights – Presentation by Richard Hobbs
  • Adopted three resolutions
  • Heard
    • A report on appointment of SCCDCC representatives to the DSCC
    • Officer reports
    • Club reports
    • General announcements

Gabby Chavez-Lopez Fundraiser

Please join hosts Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, Steve Ellenberg, and Darcie Green for a fundraiser in support of Gabby Chavez-Lopez. We’re coming together to elevate Gabby’s vision and spark positive change in our community. Enjoy an afternoon of connection, support, and celebration!

Distinguished Co-Hosts:
Gail Pellerin, CA Assembly, 28th District
Dave Cortese, CA State Senate, 15th District
Ash Kalra, CA State Assembly, 27th District
Domingo Candelas, City of San Jose Councilmember, District 8
Peter Ortiz, City of San Jose Councilmember, District 5
Pamela Campos, City of San Jose Councilmember, District 2
Pattie Cortese, Eastside Union HSD Board Trustee

RSVP HERE:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/gabby4d3fundraiser

January 2025 Central Committee Special Endorsement Meeting Recap

On Thursday, January 22, 2025, the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee took the following action:

  • Approved a dual endorsement in the April 8, 2025 Primary Election for San Jose District 3
    • Gabriela Chavez-Lopez
    • Anthony Tordillos