July 2020 Meeting Highlight

Agenda:

Congresswoman Marcia Fudge

Congressional candidate Hillary Mueri

Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Chair

Shontel Brown

Ohio Supreme Court candidate Jennifer Brunner

Ohio Supreme Court candidate

Judge John O'Donnell

Sage Patterson - BLM Brecksville

Club announcements and news:

Contributions to Cuyahoga County Democratic Party

Tax credit for political contributions

Volunteer opportunities

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The July 2020 meeting was a virtual meeting using Zoom web conferencing services.
 

February 2020 Meeting HIghlight

Northeast Ohio has one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country.  The Brecksville Broadview Heights Democratic Club is encouraging people to vote early and celebrate later.   The club will provide vote-by-mail ballot applications and early voting hours at the February meeting.

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Also on the agenda, the expansion of the Ohio school voucher program.  Funding for school vouchers is redirecting tens of thousands of dollars from the Brecksville Broadview Heights School District as well as others districts throughout the state.  At issue: should your tax dollars be cheerfully surrendered to private and online schools with failing track records by our elected officials.

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Attendees will also be invited to participate in a straw poll of the Democratic candidates who are seeking the Presidential nomination.  Come and share your thoughts on who should be the nominee.

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The meeting is free to the public.  Everyone is welcome to attend whether they are Democrat, Republican or independent minded.  Light refreshments will be served.

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The meeting is Tuesday, February 25th, from 7 pm until 8:30 pm at

Broadview Heights City Hall

9543 Broadview Road.

January 2020 Meeting Highlight

The new year is here and it should be a wild one.

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Before you know it the presidential campaigns will be in town asking for our help. We need to be ready to do everything possible to get rid of Trump!

Also on the to-do list:

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Re-elect Phil Robinson to the State House 6th District  

Elect candidate Hillary O'Connor Mueri to Congressional District 14

Elect candidate Tom Jackson to State Senate District 24

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We want to get your thoughts on how we can do better in future municipal elections in Brecksville and Broadview Heights.  Thanks to a lot of hard work we came really close to adding more Democrats to both cities.

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Please bring you checkbook for your 2020, $25 dues to help cover our expenses and provide money for the incidentals. FYI: the potato chips, Doritos and water for the meetings are not paid for by the club.  So if you don't like chips and water you can be rest assured the cost does not come out of the general fund.  Also, unsweetened iced tea and water will be served at meetings, again at no cost to the club.​

September 2019 Meeting Highlight

Meet the Candidates!

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Brecksville and Broadview Heights voters will have an opportunity to meet candidates running for School Board, Mayor and City Council seats from both cities.

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The public is invited to learn first hand about the candidates and issues that will be on the November Ballot.

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The meeting is sponsored by the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Democratic Club and is free to the public.  Everyone is welcome to attend whether they are Democrat, Republican or independent minded.  Light refreshments will be served.

August 2019 Meeting - Alternative

Erin Dickinson is our Democratic candidate for Broadview Heights City Council.  This is your chance to meet Erin and share some food and drink.

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Thursday, August 15, from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

The Boneyard - Broadview Heights

101 E Royalton Rd, Broadview Heights

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For information check out Erin's Facebook page 

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You are also invited to an event for our Ohio State Representative Phil Robinson.

He is already making a big difference in Columbus. On issues like jobs, guns, education and energy, we finally have a voice who speaks for us.

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Come meet Phil and support him.

Thursday, August 15, from 5:30 Pm – 7:30 PM

June 2019 Meeting Highlights

Local Organizing and the Green New Deal 

This year's municipal election campaigns are organizing.

Topics for the meeting included:

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• A Better Brecksville - upcoming campaign activities and opportunities to volunteer.

• Green New Deal

  • Overview of the proposals and ways to fund it.

  • Discussion about the club hosting a presentation by the Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus about the GND.

• State Senate school takeover plan legislation.

• Broadview Hts. Home Days and our club booth.

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May 2019 Meeting Highlight

Brecksville Broadview Schools Update and VA Housing Development discussion

The Broadview School land swap has been called into question as well as other School District concerns.

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A Medina developer has proposed building a 17-lot subdivision off the south side of Miller Road, just west of Interstate 77.

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The State of Ohio may have new Congressional district boundaries by 2020.  This is sure to affect Congressional lines in Brecksville and Broadview Heights.

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The public is invited to learn fist hand about these things that impact our lives and to talk with our local elected officials and your neighbors about the future of our communities.

April 2019 Meeting Highlight

Ohio State House Update, Latest Municipal News 

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A tax increase at the pump, laws concerning women’s health, building new freeway entrances and exits on Miller Road, domestic violence and divorce.  These are some of the topics that will be covered at a public meeting this month.

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The public is invited to learn fist hand about these things that impact our lives and talk with our local elected officials who will include:
 

• Phil Robinson

State House Representative for Brecksville

and Broadview Heights

• Sam Alai

Mayor of Broadview Heights

• Jack Petsche 

Brecksville City Councilman​

• Judge Leslie Celebrezze​

Brecksville resident​

March 2019 Meeting Highlight

Learn How You Can Help Fight Climate Change 

Every day we hear warnings and see news coverage of the dire effects of a warming planet. We will learn what can be done by individuals who want to try to make a difference.  Most people want to take action but they feel helpless and frustrated.  This discussion will also inform people of what local efforts are already underway. The speakers include:

Mike Foley

Director of the Department of Sustainability for Cuyahoga County

Jennifer McMillin

Director of Sustainability at Cleveland State University

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Ticket Raffle: A ticket to the Annual Dinner of the Democrats of Cuyahoga County, April 28th, 5 PM will be raffled at the meeting. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris will be the featured speaker.

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All members in good standing will be eligible for the drawing. If you have not paid dues for 2019, bring a check ($25) and you will be in the drawing.  If you have already paid between last December and now you will automatically be entered.  Thanks to City Leader Bob Belovich for donating the ticket!

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Meeting location:

Broadview Heights Community Center
9543 Broadview Road

October 2018 Meeting Highlight

Meet the Candidates

Betsy Rader, U.S. Congress

Phil Robinson, Ohio House District Six
Kathleen Clyde, Ohio Secretary of State
Judge Melody Stewart for Ohio Supreme Court

September 2018 Meeting Highlights

Modern Money Theory

November Election Update

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The public is invited to learn about Modern Money Theory (MMT) and its practical policy as a Federal Job Guaranty.

There will also a November Election Update with information from campaign representatives and candidates about their policies and goals. You will learn about volunteering opportunities. .

August 2018 Meeting Highlights

Election Laws and Voting Rights

The public is invited to learn about the impact of election laws on voters and voting rights as well as how they could affect people during the November General Election.

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Voting rights are being hotly debated and the State House and in Washington.  The issues include: removing people from the registration rolls who have not voted in several years.  Have elections laws been changing to prevent targeted groups from access to the ballot.  The Supreme Court recently made a decision that could affect whether Ohioans are allowed to vote based on their voting history.

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Representatives from groups who have been dealing with these issues will offer the latest news on these matters and a representative from the Board of Elections will provide nonpartisan information on how voters can be prepared to vote and the many voting options that are available.

The event is sponsored by the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Democratic Club and is free to the public.  Everyone is welcome to attend whether they are Democrat, Republican or independent minded.  Light refreshments will be served.

June 2018 Meeting Highlights

The Positive Aspects of Immigration For Northeast Ohio

There has been a lot of bad publicity surrounding immigrants lately.  The trump administration has called them animals, criminals and worse.  

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We want to public to hear the other side of the immigration story by attending a discussion on this topic.

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Clear thinking people agree that we are a nation of immigrants and they are vital to our future.  Unless you are a Native American your family probably came here with little or no English skills and probably held a low skilled job until they became established.

Federal elected officials must know that closed boarders have a negative effect on the country.   It is an outrage that they are too timid to speak out in defense of immigrants.  Maybe they need to hear our voices.

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This problem needs to be addressed because it affects you:

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The United States needs more people to replace our aging population and to make up for the fact that Americans have having fewer children.  More immigrants mean additional contributions Social Security and the tax base.

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Local businesses from high tech to landscapers are struggling because immigrant worker programs they depend on for help have been denied.   One Brecksville business that has used the Guest Visa Worker program for 20 years was denied this year.  For the first time he will not have this type of help and doesn’t know where he will find manual laborers to take their place. 

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Local farmers are facing with a crisis this growing season because they can’t get the help they need to plant, maintain and harvest their crops.

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Immigrants can help repopulate cities like Cleveland and start new small businesses.

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The meeting’s speakers include: spokespersons from the US Congress and Senate, local businesses, and Global Cleveland.

May 2018 Meeting Highlights

School Testing

Learn About the Effects of Student Testing on School Teachers, Children and Education Curriculum.

It is estimated that the state mandates about a third of the 215 hours of standardized tests a typical student takes between kindergarten and 12th grade. These include the annual reading and math tests of third- through eighth-graders, a few science and social studies tests and new high school exams at the end of key courses.

Is there too much testing in our classrooms?  Are students being taught to learn, or cram for tests?

What changes to testing laws are being debated in Columbus?

About 50% of a teacher’s evaluation can be based on how well or how poorly a student scores on state mandated tests.  Is that fair?

These questions, issues and related topics are the subject of a public meeting featuring Doctor Dan Bobeczko.  He is an educator who has studied Ohio testing policies and will share his findings.

April 2018 Meeting Highlights

Big Money’s Influence on our Elections and Democracy

The public is invited learn about efforts to reduce the influence of big money in political campaigns.  Millions of dollars are spent on political campaigns each year and the amount of money is increasing by record breaking amounts.

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This spending spike can be traced to the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling of 2010 which eliminated the corporate and union ban on making independent expenditures and financing electioneering communications.  It gave them the green light to spend unlimited sums on ads and other political tools, calling for the election or defeat of individual candidates of both political parties.

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There will also be a related discussion concerning the trend of privatizing public services.  This is an effort that is being backed by corporations that would profit by providing public services  that are now being conducted by the government agencies.

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Speaker: Greg Coleridge, Outreach Director - Move to Amend

March 2018 Meeting Highlights

Meet the Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates

The public is invited learn more about the platforms and priorities of four Democratic candidates who are running for Governor.  The public will be able to talk with the candidates directly and ask questions about their positions on the issues and public policy. This will also be an opportunity to share your priorities and concerns about the future of Ohio.

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Speakers:

• Dennis Kucinich

• Chantelle Lewis (Bill O'Neill | Chantelle Lewis)

• Joe Schiavoni

• Betty Sutton (Richard Cordray | Betty Sutton)

February 2018 Meeting Highlight

Guns: are they making us safer?

Join us for a conversation concerning this topic. 

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The public is invited to a presentation on gun control and related topics. Many people are worried about firearms because of the almost daily news of school shootings and other deaths caused by gun violence.

Learn what is happening legislatively on gun violence prevention and what individuals and organizations are doing to advance gun violence prevention as well as how concerned citizen may get involved. 

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Guest speakers are

Rev. Kristine Eggert

Executive Director, God Before Guns

David Eggert

Ohioans for Gun Safety. 

Check out this gun related story:

Ohio Supreme Court rules against Cleveland's efforts at local gun control

January 2018 Meeting Highlight

OHIO VOTING RIGHTS 2018

Iris Meltzer, Secretary for the Ohio League of Women Voters, will be speaking on:
Gerrymandering
Purging Ohio Voters
Voter Suppression or Voter Fraud?
Impact of Fake News on Voter Registration and Voting
What can be done?

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This is a non-political issue!
ALL citizens of the United States should have the right to vote!

November 2017 Meeting Highlight

Our November meeting was Movie Night

We the People 2.0

The movie addresses the issues of self rule and the ability of local governments to control harmful activities that impact the bodily and economic health of their citizens.

Broadview Heights is featured as an example of state government and gas extraction companies siding against the interests of property owners.

Click here or the link above to see more information about the movie and options for viewing it.

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Click here for more information about the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund.

October 2017 Meeting Highlights

BRECKSVILLE - BROADVIEW HTS

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Brecksville-Broadview Hts School Superintendent, Joelle Magyar will discuss:

•  A comprehensive overview of the current state of the buildings and facilities in the school district

• An update of the activities of the citizen-based Facilities Committee

• The potential next steps for the community to consider in the future

BBH School Superintendent, Joelle Magyar, will be the guest speaker at the Brecksville-Broadview Hts Dem Club meeting on Tuesday October 24th from 7-9 at Broadview Heights City Hall, 9543 Broadview Rd.

September Meeting Agenda

"What's Happened to Kindergarten?

The Trickle Down Effects of High Stakes Standardized Testing."

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Dr. Dan Bobeczko

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Dr. Dan Bobeczko will discuss testing, an issue that is important to all parents and children.

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Dr. Bobeczko is a 23-year veteran elementary school educator with degrees in administration and education policy. Dan helped create Ohio's Fine Arts Theater Standards and Model Curriculum for grades K-6. He currently serves on the fifth-grade English Language Arts Content Advisory Committee for the Ohio Department of Education.

Testing is a non-partisan issue important to the whole community. Everyone interested is encouraged to attend.

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Membership in the Democratic Club or the party is not required to attend. All are welcome.

August 2017 Meeting Highlights

Congresswoman

Marcia Fudge

11th District
 

We are excited to welcome Congresswoman Marcia Fudge to our August meeting. She will share her insights on what is going on in Washington DC.

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The club will be providing soft drinks and pizza.

Feel free to bring some finger foods if you are able.

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Membership in the Democratic Club or the party is not required to attend. All are welcome.

June 2017 Meeting Highlights

Great Lakes Water Restoration
 

Funding for programs to continue cleaning and restoring Lake Erie are in jeopardy. Learn what can be done to protect this natural resource.

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Tourism, recreation and industry generate billions of dollars into our local economy from Lake Erie.

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Speakers:

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Lorry Wagner, PhD - from the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo). Dr. Wagner is an experienced energy engineer. He has developed innovative solutions to environment challenges.

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MIchael Foley - Director of Sustainability for Cuyahoga County, former Ohio Legislator Ohio House 14th District.

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Membership to the party is not required to attend. All are welcome.

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May 2017 Meeting Highlights

“Healthcare in the U.S. – The Debate Continues”

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The ACA has enabled more than 30 million Americans to get health insurance. Provisions of the law have improved the quality of the healthcare delivery system and contributed to a slowdown in the rate of growth in health care costs.

A panel of experts, from Policy Matters Ohio and the Single Payer Action Network Ohio will address the many unknowns.

• As elected and executive branch officials contemplate their choices, will they consider these human benefits—and the consequences of jeopardizing them?
   

• Will HHS Secretary Tom Price undermine and damage, or maintain and enhance, the progress the nation has made to health care coverage and care delivery under the ACA? Will the administration remove the vital insurance subsidies as threatened?
   

• Will difficulties with the House bill open opportunities for bipartisan initiatives to strengthen the ACA? Is this the time for a single payer solution?
   

• Medicaid has taken center stage in ongoing policy discussions about “repealing and replacing” the ACA. If federal funding is reduced through block grants or per capita caps, what would be the impact on Ohio, and other states that expanded coverage?
   

Policy Matters Ohio is a non-profit policy research institute. Their goal is to create a more vibrant, equitable, sustainable and inclusive Ohio through research, strategic communications, coalition building and policy advocacy.

The Single Payer Action Network Ohio’s mission is to educate the citizens and legislators of Ohio to the need and advocate for a fundamental change in our healthcare system so that all residents have affordable access to healthcare through a publicly funded, privately delivered comprehensive system that fulfills the basic human right to health care.

April 2017 Meeting Highlights

“The Progressive Caucus; what’s it all about?”
Featuring Steve Holecko, CCPC Political Director

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The Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus seeks to educate, organize and mobilize grassroots networks brought together by the progressive political revolution of 2016, as manifested in the candidacy of Senator Bernie Sanders. The core values of the CCPC include:

• Economic justice

• Political justice

• Racial justice

• Environmental justice

• International justice

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Steve, a retired Berea high school teacher turned activist, has served as the Ohio Federation of Teachers political director and worked on both of Obama's presidential campaigns. In 2014 Steve ran for Statehouse and lost narrowly in the primary. Most recently he worked in Cuyahoga County for the Bernie Sanders for President Campaign as a Field Organizer. Steve holds a BA in Education from Baldwin Wallace University.