Thank you for your support.
We didn't win but we may have stymied DeMaio.
Thanks for your votes, canvassing, phone calls.
This week I attended the Fallbrook Woman’s Club and as soon as I walked in, I heard my name. I turned around to see Vicky O’Kelly wearing my button, Choose Joy. Thanks to all who chose Joy but unfortunately most people didn’t. I am gratified, even humbled, by all those who gave donations, held Meet and Greets, put up signs, made phone calls, posted on Facebook, sent me messages, canvassed and, of course, voted for me. When all the votes are counted I will have received more than 9,000 votes. I met voters from El Cajon to Fallbrook, Valley Center to Santee, plus spent quality time in Lakeside and Poway. It was great to meet with voters in Scripps Ranch, La Mesa and Miramar. I made new friends in Bonsall, Romona and Julian. It was wonderful to see so much of East County. I don’t plan to run again, but I want to visit all these places again soon.
The AD 75 Assembly Race is Tightening Up But We Didn’t Make the Cut
The candidates running 2nd and 3rd are locked in a tight race but there may not be enough uncounted votes in AD75 to change the result. Technically there are two more weeks of counting late ballots, but it appears that DeMaio will get what he didn’t want, a race against the Republican endorsed candidate, Andrew Hayes. DeMaio had gone out to boost Juza’s profile, using his fat, campaign war chest to buy TV ads featuring both he and Juza while repeatedly sending out large glossy mailers every day to Democratic households urging them to vote for Juza who had little financial support of his own. The tactic will be turned on its head if DeMaio ends up facing the well funded Republican endorsed candidate in November.
Also see the La Prensa article about how the same tactic used by Adam Schiff to promote Steve Garvey could result in a loss for Democrats in competitive Congressional Districts, resulting in the Republicans keeping control of the House.
Is ranked choice voting the answer?
AD75 Newsletter
I plan to continue this newsletter for AD 75 but reduce it to a monthly publication. It won’t be about me, but about the issues that concern this region. I don’t plan on running again or asking anyone else to run. This is simply information sharing. If you would like to continue to receive this, you need do nothing. If you would like to discontinue it, either unsubscribe or reply to this and let me know and I’ll remove you. If you would like to contribute or like to see an issue explored, just reply.
Campaign Volunteer Saves Kitten
While canvassing on election Eve in a local mobile home park with Frew For Assembly door hangars, volunteer Deanna Parks found a kitten in distress. Deanna took them to Kahoots in Fallbrook where she ran into another friend of the campaign, Pat Macy. Pat took the kitten overnight, rocking him and feeding him. The next day Pat took the kitten to the Fallbrook Animal Shelter which happened to have a mama cat who was willing and able to add him to the family.
Thank You Deanna!
What is Ranked Choice Voting?
from Fair Vote
‘Our “choose-one” elections deprive voters of meaningful choices, create increasingly toxic campaign cycles, advance candidates who lack broad support and leave voters feeling like our voices are not heard.
Ranked choice voting (RCV) — also known as instant runoff voting (IRV) — makes our elections better by allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
RCV is straightforward: Voters have the option to rank candidates in order of preference: first, second, third and so forth. Ballots that do not help voters’ top choices win count for their next choice.
It works in all types of elections and supports more representative outcomes. RCV means better choices, better campaigns, and better representation. That’s why it’s the fastest-growing nonpartisan voting reform in the nation.
Rent Control on the November Ballot
One of the questions that came up during the latter days of the campaign was about my position on rent control. My position now is moot but the following may be of interest.
What is Rent Control?
Rent control is a government program that limits the amount a landlord can charge for rent or renew a lease. Rent control laws are usually enacted by municipalities and are intended to keep living costs affordable for lower-income residents. Rental rates will typically fall below the current housing market rate, making the rentals more affordable.
What Happened in 2021?
Proposition 21, an initiative statute for local rent control officially called the Expands Local Governments’ Authority to Enact Rent Control on Residential Property, was a California ballot proposition that appeared on the ballot for the general election on November 3, 2020 and was rejected.
Justice for Renters Ballot Campaign
According to a story in The Business Journal last November, most California voters now favor a rent control proposition that will be on the November 2024 ballot.
“The share of those who favor an expansion of local rent control varies sharply between renters and homeowners (76% to 47%) and partisans (70% Democrats, 32% Republicans, 52% independents), and differs across regions (59% each San Francisco, Los Angeles, Inland Empire; 48% Orange/San Diego).
The Justice for Renters ballot campaign kicked off May 25 in Los Angeles. A rally in support of the initiative was held in Visalia in August.
“The PPIC poll shows that the majority of voters agree with the Justice for Renters Act – local communities must be allowed to expand rent control. Many people are working hard to make ends meet and still falling short on making the rent,” said Susie Shannon, policy director of advocacy group Housing is A Human Right.
The measure would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, California’s most important rental housing-protection law, according to the California Apartment Association (CAA).
In repealing Costa-Hawkins, the Justice for Renters Act would allow local governments to impose strict rent control on newer apartments and single-family homes and eliminate the state’s ban on vacancy control, or restricting the amount landlords may charge tenants when a unit becomes vacant.”
Democratic Central Committee in AD75
The 6 winners (unofficial) are Ross Pike, Amy Admire, Judith Walters, Julie Diaz Martinez, Joy Frew (me), and Aisha Chaudry. We will start our new terms in January 2025. Also next January there will be elections for Assembly District Elected Delegates (ADEM) to the State Democratic Party. I am currently an alternate member of the Central Committee so I vote in the North Inland Caucus. I am also a Delegate to the State Party which votes at the State Conventions.