Message from the State Chair
Dear Fellow Democrats:
So much has happened in the last several months from our sisters rising to speak
up against sexual assault to horrific acts of terrorism that have taken place where
we congregate for entertainment or in a house of worship. It is time for change.
It is time to stand up and take real action. We must encourage more women to speak
up and seek the support of others to militate stopping sexual assault. We must enact
sensible gun violence prevention laws to help stop terrorism on American soil.
More than ever we must come together.
Please join the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus at our
next meeting during the California Democratic Party Executive Board Meeting on
November 18th at 8:30am in Millbrae, CA. We will be reporting on Democratic Party
activities within the Asian Pacific Islander community. We will also have an engaging
panel on Immigration in the Asian Pacific Islander community with Congressman Ro
Khanna, non-profit and other government leaders.
Thank you and looking forward to working together soon!
Democratically yours,
Melissa Ramoso
State Chair, Asian Pacific Islander Caucus
California Democratic Party
and the Executive Board
PS.
#LetsGetToWork
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CADEM Winter 2017 Executive Board Meeting
Executive BoardWinter 2017 Executive Board Meeting
The Winter
2017 Executive Board Meeting will be held from November 17-19, 2017, at the
Westin San Francisco Airport.
Our meeting is on Saturday, November 18 at 8:30am – 10:15am. Room to be announced
soon. Elections for “Vacant” Northern Outreach Chair will be conducted. Please click here for our meeting agenda:
CDP-API-Agenda-Winter 2017 Executive Board Meeting-2017 17-11-18
Join us for a panel discussion on “Immigration and the API Community” The panel
will discuss overall statistics of API immigrant communities in California and how
the implementation of national, state, and local immigration policies affect the
various segments of the API community. Specifically, we will discuss recent pro-immigrant
state legislation, changes to DACA, and the H1B Visa program.
The panel will feature:
*
Congressman Ro Khanna (CA 17th District-Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara, Fremont,
Newark, North San Jose, and Milpitas)
*
Saira Hussain (Staff Attorney with the Criminal Justice Reform program, Asian American
Advancing Justice Asian Law Caucus)
*
Nkauj Iab Yang (California Director of Programs and Policy, Southeast Asia Resource
Action Center)
*
Amy YL (Asian Students Promoting Immigrant Rights through Education)
*
Adrienne Pon (Executive Director, San Francisco Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant
Affairs)
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Legislative Highlights
GOVERNOR BROWN HAS SIGNED THE FOLLOWING BILLS
CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENDORSED:
SB 54 (De Leon) – Sharing data amongst varying levels of law enforcement
SB 54, also known as the “California Values Act” will limit immigration enforcement
actions at public schools, hospitals and courthouses where all California residents
should feel safe, regardless of immigration status. This bill is officially supported
by the California Democratic Party.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT BILLS:
*Please note that the following bills are not California Democratic Party endorsed
bills, but have significant impact on the Asian Pacific Islander community.
AB 491 (Muratsuchi) – $3 Million for English learners and Japanese American History
AB 491establishes $3 million in grants to the State Library for the education of
Japanese American incarceration.. The bill will extend funding for the California
Civil Liberties Public Education Program, run by the State Library, through an appropriation
of $3 million in general funds that will be distributed over the next three years.
AB 450 (Chiu) – Makes it harder for ICE to raid California Worksites
Known as the “Immigrant Worker Protection Act” is a bill that was sponsored by SEIU
and California Labor Federation that gives workers new protections against worksite
raids.
AB 291 (Chiu) – Bars Landlord’s from reporting Immigration Status to ICE
AB 291 bars landlords from disclosing information about tenant immigration or citizenship
status if the intent is to influence them to vacate a dwelling, and bars landlords
from harassing or discriminating against tenants based on their immigration status
or perceived immigration status.
AB 21 (Kalra) -Protects Undocumented CSU Students: DACA Protection Bill
This bills seeks to lessen the impact of potential federal changes to immigration
enforcement policies, including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
program, to ensure DACA recipients have access to financial aid, legal representation
and their constitutional right to due process.
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Northern California
API Caucus Executive Board Members Participate in Panel Discussion on “Community
Activism and Leadership”
On September 17th, the API Caucus Northern Vice Chair, Hon. Rishi Kumar moderated
a panel discussion on “Community Activism and Leadership” in Milpitas. Deepa Sharma,
esq., API Caucus State Treasurer, was one of the panel speakers. The panel held
an engaging and energetic dialogue about the various ways in which people can get
involved and become agents of change in their community. The panel also discussed
the recent electoral successes of the Indian American community and the need to
build on momentum towards activism.
API Caucus Executive Board Member Participates in Panel Discussion on “Immigration”
On September 14th, the API Caucus Northern Secretary, Shawn Kumagai participated
in a Lamorinda Democratic Club panel discussion on Immigration Issues. He joined
a panel along with Contra Costa County Public Defender, Ali Saidi, and Contra Costa
Immigrant Rights Alliance and faith leader, Rev. Deborah Lee. He was asked to join
the panel due his activism on immigrant rights issues throughout the East Bay, including
on the California Values Act (SB 54). with Contra Costa The panel discussed basic
stats for immigrants and undocumented in California and in Contra Costa County,
including the issues of Sanctuary, Rapid Response, and DACA. To continue the discussion
on this important issue, Shawn Kumagai will be moderating a panel discussion entitled
“Immigration and the API Community” during the Winter E-board API Caucus meeting
on Saturday, November 18th at 8:30am.
API Caucus Executive Board Member Participates in Panel Discussion on “Affordable
Housing”
On October 30, 2017, Deepa Sharma, Esq. served on a panel organized by the League
of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark, Union City on the topic of affordable housing.
The program included a discussion on the recent housing bills that were signed into
law, as well as the current efforts of Bay Area cities to combat the housing crisis.
Other panelist included Jeffrey Levin, Pilar Lorenzana, Mashael Majid, and the discussion
was moderated by former Fremont City Councilmember Anu Natarajan.
Silicon Valley Asian Pacific American Democratic Club hosted their 21st Annual Gala
On October 21st, the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific American Democratic Club celebrated
21 years of SVAPADC’s activism and building pipelines for future progressive leadership
in Silicon Valley. Senate Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon received the “Legislator of
the Year” award.
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Southern California
Special Election for CA Assembly District 51
The primary election for the California Assembly District 51 seat took place on
October 3, 2017 with Wendy Carrillo and Luis Lopez advancing as the top 2 candidates.
The special election is being held to replace Jimmy Gomez, who was elected to represent
California Congressional District 34 after Xavier Becerra was named California Attorney
General replacing Senator Kamala Harris.
Carrillo came in first with 22.2% of the votes followed by Lopez with 18.6% of the
votes. CDP API Caucus Southern California Vice Chair Mike Fong came in third with
16.1% of the votes and Filipino American Democratic Caucus member Alex DeOcampo
came in sixth with 7.9% of the votes. Fong was endorsed by the Korean American Democratic
Caucus while DeOcampo was endorsed by the Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats.
Both groups are chartered clubs by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.
Honorable Mike Fong
Alex DeOcampo
The California Democratic Party has endorsed Carrillo for the runoff election that
will take place in December.
Los Angeles County Democratic Party Elects New Chair and Male Vice Chair
Mark Gonzalez was elected as the youngest and first Latino Chair of the Los Angeles
County Democratic Party after Eric Bauman resigned due to becoming elected as Chair
of the California Democratic Party. Sergio Carrillo was elected as Male Vice Chair
replacing Gonzalez.
API Caucus with Chair Mark Gonzalez
API Caucus Chair Receives Recognition From Carson
Chair Melissa Ramoso was honored for her contributions to the Filipino American
community by the City of Carson during the Filipino American History Month Kickoff
event at Carson Community Center on October 7.
Former API Caucus Board Member Receives API Equality LA 12th Anniversary Honoree
Award
On November 5th, former API Caucus Board Member and current Garvey School District
Board Member, Henry Lo, received the API Equality LA 12th Anniversary Honoree Award
for his dedicated work in the API LGBT community. Henry was recognized as a trail
blazer, helping pave the way to a safer and more inclusive community for younger
generations to come.
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Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act
Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act Exchanges runs through December 15.
Trump and Republicans are doing everything they can to sabotage the Affordable Care
Act, including slashing the budget for advertising and enrollment promotion by 90
percent. But that means it’s up to us as Democrats to make sure our communities
have the information they need to stay covered and stay healthy. Please visit CoveredCA.com or call (800) 300-1506
to enroll.
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Platform Language Proposals / Testimony
Due 11/17 at 5 PM
Platform language proposals & testimony due 11/17 at 5 PM via online form – www.cadem.org/platform
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CADEM Asian Pacific Islander Caucus:
Join or Renew Membership!API caucus logo
Get involved and stay active with the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific
Islander Caucus.
Click here to join the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander
Caucus or to renew your annual Caucus membership.
If you are a senior or student and would like to request senior or student membership
fee rate, or if you would like to request fee waiver for economic hardship, please
contact us at cademparty.apicaucus@gmail.com.
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Paid for by the California Democratic Party
1830 9th Street, Sacramento CA 95811
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.
www.cadem.org | www.apicaucus.com
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___________________
2017-2019
Caucus Elected Officers
___________________
Melissa Ramoso
State Chair
Panney Wei, C.Ht.
State Secretary
Deepa Sharma, Esq.
State Treasurer
Aref Aziz
Northern Chair
Hon. Rishi Kumar
Northern Vice Chair
Shawn Kumagai
Northern Secretary
*Vacant*
Northern Outreach Chair
Adam Ma
Southern Chair
Hon. Mike Fong
Southern Vice Chair
Hannah Cho
Southern Secretary
Gene Kim
Southern Outreach Chair
___________________
2017-2019
Caucus Appointed Officers
___________________
Howard Ou
Communications Director
Yoyo Chan
Diversity & Outreach Chair
Olivia Lee
Rules Chair
www.apicaucus.com
www.cadem.org
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