News

The following is from Beth Tomasello of Montgomery County Democratic Women's Club:

Dear Friends of Women’s Prerelease,

I am writing to provide and update on the scheduling for the floor votes on the Gender-Responsive Prerelease Act override.  The Senate floor vote is currently scheduled for February 8, and the House vote is scheduled for February 9.  The floor votes were delayed because of Mike Miller’s memorial service last week.  The good news is that gives us more time to pressure our lawmakers. Please continue to have your members call or email legislative delegations and urge them to override the Governor’s veto of HB801/SB684, the Gender-Responsive Prerelease Act.  Please call or email Democrats and Republicans alike.  If the overrides are passed on a bipartisan basis, that would be ideal. 

Please continue to voice your view that the lack of a prerelease center is sex discrimination that must be remedied regardless of cost.  This unequal treatment of incarcerated women cannot continue, and failure to override the veto would leave the affected women little recourse but to bring a lawsuit against the state.  Stress that you would rather see the state spend the money to provide the prerelease center for women than to defend an indefensible lawsuit.  For those of you who read Maryland Matters, Deb Gardner, the Legal Director for the Public Justice Center, has written a Guest Commentary on the override that should be published soon.  The Guest Commentary lays out the constitutional issues, and you may want to link to it in your emails to your legislators.

Thank you all again so much for your support of this legislation last session and your support of the veto override.   I have spoken to many lawmakers about this override, and all have noted the broad support behind this bill.  They are talking about you, and I am so grateful for your great advocacy.  It’s working.

 

Best,

Beth

 

Beth Tomasello

Criminal Justice Reform & Public Safety Advocacy Captain

Montgomery County Women’s Democratic Club

bethtomasello@rcn.com

From the League of Women Voters, shared by Concerned Black Women of Calvert County:

Dear Members and Outreach Partners,

We have had numerous responses to our independent survey concerning the Prince Frederick Town Center Master Plan - Phase I but encourage those who have not responded to considering be a part of the feedback on this important LWVCC study.

We thank you for taking the time to complete the survey by January 31.  The membership and our partners will be notified of the results after its conclusion.

Thank you,

Prince Frederick Town Center Master Plan Study Group

If you haven’t already done so, complete the requested survey concerning the Prince Frederick Town Center Master Plan no later than January 31st.  Thank you!

https://www.lwvcalvert.org/pfmstrplansurvey_phasei

The Calvert County Democratic Central Committee (CCDCC) is seeking candidates to fill a male gender-balance seat on the committee.

Details can be found here at the Calvert Democrats' web site.

Congratulations to former Delegate Michael Jackson on his appointment to the Maryland State Senate. Due to this appointment, his State Delegate seat is now vacant, and the Calvert County Democratic Central Committee (CCDCC) is looking for candidates to fill this seat. You must live in District 27B to qualify.

Details on timeline, requirements, and how to watch the hearing are on the Calvert Democrats' web site.

Because this seat spans two counties, Prince George's County will also have a hearing to interview candidates for this position. Their hearing will be on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 7:00 PM on Zoom. (Please note, this is the same time as our February Women's Club meeting.)

Register for the Prince George's County hearing on February 2nd here.

Calvert citizens who would like to honor the life and work of Senator Thomas V. Mike Miller may do so by standing along his procession route. On Thursday, January 21, state troopers will escort his body from the Lee Funeral Home in Clinton to the State House in Annapolis, passing by important places in his life. This escort will take place according to the schedule shown below.

The procession will be going through Dunkirk, by his law office around 4:35pm and the Dunkirk Fire Department around 4:40pm. If you would like to meet with a group, CCDCC Chair Jeanette Flaim will be stationed at the traffic light in Chesapeake Beach around 4:20pm; Senator Miller's procession will go by between 4:40 and 5:00pm. Jeanette has some American flags; please bring an American or Maryland flag if you have one. Also, as always, wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Please share this with all interested parties. Many people will be interested in showing their appreciation of Senator Miller's dedication to public service and what a great friend he was to all of us.

For more information, contact CCDCC Chair Jeanette Flaim at 301-938-2902 or Jeanetteflaimdemcentral@gmail.com

Sadly, on January 15, 2021, Maryland and our community lost a great man, Senator Thomas V. Mike Miller, to a longstanding illness.

Read a statement from the Calvert County Democratic Central Committee.

Information about funeral arrangements (from the Washington Post).

For various breakdowns of voting data from the 2020 Presidential Election (as well as prior elections), visit the Maryland State Board of Elections Press Room at https://elections.maryland.gov/press_room/index.html

Stats for the General Election are listed under 2020 Presidential General Election Reports.

Starting January 19, 2021, the Calvert County Health Department is taking online preregistrations for the Covid-19 vaccine. To register online, or for more information, go to

https://www.calvertcountymd.gov/Vaccine

Preregistration by phone is also available to residents at 410-535-0218. The phone line is available Monday through Friday from 7 am to 7 pm.

At our Zoom meeting on January 5, 2021, the slate of current CCDWC officers was re-elected for the 2021-2022 term. The slate ran unopposed.

The CCDWC officers are:

• President: Cindy Yoe
• Vice President: Celeste Alexander-Frye
• Treasurer: Fran Inacio
• Secretary: Linda Copeland

Congratulations to our new officers!

Please register at

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8516104137450/WN_fKoN2Si7TG6nJp1VmgZYiA

Download an event program at  https://www.calvertdemocrats.com/events/inauguration-celebration

For additional information, contact Jeanette Flaim at  jeanetteflaimdemcentral@gmail.com  Thank you!