Supervisor-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas will be interviewed by Adrienne Alpert tomorrow at 11 a.m. on ABC’s “Eyewitness Newsmakers”. The half hour weekly program is “dedicated to a deeper exploration of local issues and concerns.”
Ridley-Thomas will take his oath of office to become L.A. County’s Supervisor for the Second District on Monday (December 1, 2008) in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room.
Swearing-in festivities for Supervisor-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas to be highlighted by music, choral performances and speeches citing the importance of working for change and delivering results for the people of the Second District.
Supervisor-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas will take his oath of office to become L.A. County’s Supervisor for the Second District on Monday (December 1, 2008) in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration (500 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles 90012).
The one-hour swearing-in ceremony will feature performances by the Para Los Niños children’s choir, Pledge of Allegiance by recording artist Samantha Strachan and a musical selection by the world renowned Agape International Spiritual Center Ensemble, directed by Rickey Byars Beckwith. The Korean Drum Troop will lead a processional at the conclusion of Supervisor Ridley-Thomas’ swearing-in ceremony.
CNN Headline News and Time Warner Local Edition news anchor Brad Pomerance will serve as master of ceremonies.
Honorable Kamala D. Harris, District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, will administer Mr. Ridley-Thomas’ oath of office.
Honorable Don Knabe, Chair of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors will deliver welcome remarks.
Bishop T. Larry Kirkland of the 5th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church will deliver the ceremony’s invocation.
Dr. Stephen B. Sample, President, University of Southern California; Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, L.A. County Federation of Labor; Cynthia McClain-Hill, President, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO); Robert K. Ross, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, The California Endowment; and Los Angeles Korean-American pioneer Susan Ahn Cuddy are scheduled to play prominent roles in Mr. Ridley-Thomas’ swearing-in ceremony.
Mr. Ridley-Thomas’ swearing-in ceremony will open with a R.O.T.C. color guard, followed by the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the National Anthem of the United States.
Performances by Second District church choirs and Korean drum performers will provide musical inspiration at the beginning, end and at interludes during course the ceremony program.
Following Supervisor-elect Ridley-Thomas’ swearing-in ceremony, a reception will be held in the BP Room at the Walt Disney Concert Hall (111. S. Grand Avenue, L.A. 90012).
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View the official invite and RSVP information here.
NOTE: We are reposting this important information after hearing of various voting problems citywide…
✪ Get Ready to Make History! ✪
BE PREPARED ON ELECTION DAY!
Tuesday, November 4
Polls Open at 7:00 a.m.
Polls Close at 8:00 p.m.
Top 10 Tips for Election Day Voters
1. Know where to go to cast your vote! Find your polling location here.
2. Bring your photo ID, if you have one. You are not required to show ID unless you are a first time voter, but play it safe. Bring an ID just in case.
3. Know your rights! Insist on voting on a regular ballot if you are a registered voter. But if there is a problem, vote using a provisional ballot. No voter can be turned away without being allowed to vote.
4. Review your sample ballot before going to your polling place. Bring a list of candidates and ballot measures – that you intend to vote for – with you. Visit our list of recommended sites for information on California Propositions and L.A. County ballot measures.
5. Check your ballot before you finalize your vote!
6. Bring a cell phone. If you have problems, call the Secretary of State’s VOTER HOTLINE (1-800-345-VOTE), Common Cause (1-866-MYVOTE1) or the Election Protection Hotline (1-866-OURVOTE).
7. Do not wear campaign T-shirts, hats or buttons bearing the name of any politician or political campaign on them, including Barack Obama.
8. Election Day voter turnout is expected to set all-time records. Be prepared to wait in long lines at your polling place. (a) Arrive early in the morning, if possible. (b) If you plan to vote at night, arrive before the polls close at 8:00 p.m. – you will be legally guaranteed your right to vote. (c) If you arrive before 8:00 p.m., do not allow poll workers to close the polls until you have voted.
9. Bring a folding chair if you have problems standing for an extended period of time at your polling place
10. Bring bottled water and a snack, if necessary.
Ridley-Thomas Engaged 2nd District Voters on ‘Election Saturday’, holding a Major GOTV Rally in Final Weekend Drive to Nov. 4 Vote
Approximately 300 supporters showed up to the Mark Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor campaign headquarters on Saturday for a major Get Out The Vote (GOTV) rally. Video from the event follows below…
Dr. Cornel West helped get the party started by joining 72-year-old volunteer Joe Stringer on an improvised dance floor!
Later, Dr. Cornel West pumped up the large standing room only crowd as only he can:
“When [Senator Ridley-Thomas] decided to run, I said I’m coming back again. Why? Because every election he’s had for 30 years I’ve been standing right by his side. Oh yes! Oh yes!
That’s why the folks call me up on the radio and TV and say, ‘Brother West, we want your endorsement’. No, endorsement is too weak. This is a wholesale, unequivocal, affirmation of who he is as a human being committed to unconditional truth and unconditional love and politics is just the vehicle for it.
That’s the kind of states-person we need. And that’s what you got here in L.A. County.”
Senator Ridley-Thomas followed Dr. Cornel West with a rousing speech of his own where he implored supporters to keep working “wall to wall until 7:59 p.m. [Tuesday] and then I’m going to squeeze the death out of that last minute”.
Earlier in the program, State Controller and Ridley-Thomas supporter, John Chiang, spoke about the sweeping change coming on election day:
“On Tuesday when we elect Barack Obama as President of the United States of America, when we elect Mark Ridley-Thomas as our next great county supervisor, we’re going to send a signal from the eastern shores to the midwest cornfields to the Rocky Mountains to our home here in Los Angeles, California that our hopes and dreams are alive.”
Prior to Chiang’s remarks, State Board of Equalization Chair, Judy Chu, enthusiastically endorsed Senator Ridley-Thomas:
“I’m so excited. I’ve known Mark Ridley-Thomas for 25 years now — ever since he was Director of SCLC. And ever since I’ve known him, he’s always been committed to equality, to justice and to the people. And that’s the type of person we need at the Board of Supervisors.”
Many other community leaders - including Inglewood City Councilman Daniel Tabor, L.A. County Young Democrats President Becca Doten, LAUSD Board of Education President Monica Garcia, and Cerritos Councilmember Joseph Cho, Ph.D - spoke about the importance of electing Mark Ridley-Thomas to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.
Tuesday, November 4
Polls Open at 7:00 a.m.
Polls Close at 8:00 p.m.
Top 10 Tips for Election Day Voters
1. Know where to go to cast your vote! Find your polling location here.
2. Bring your photo ID, if you have one. You are not required to show ID unless you are a first time voter, but play it safe. Bring an ID just in case.
3. Know your rights! Insist on voting on a regular ballot if you are a registered voter. But if there is a problem, vote using a provisional ballot. No voter can be turned away without being allowed to vote.
4. Review your sample ballot before going to your polling place. Bring a list of candidates and ballot measures – that you intend to vote for – with you. Visit our list of recommended sites for information on California Propositions and L.A. County ballot measures.
5. Check your ballot before you finalize your vote!
6. Bring a cell phone. If you have problems, call the Secretary of State’s VOTER HOTLINE (1-800-345-VOTE), Common Cause (1-866-MYVOTE1) or the Election Protection Hotline (1-866-OURVOTE).
7. Do not wear campaign T-shirts, hats or buttons bearing the name of any politician or political campaign on them, including Barack Obama.
8. Election Day voter turnout is expected to set all-time records. Be prepared to wait in long lines at your polling place. (a) Arrive early in the morning, if possible. (b) If you plan to vote at night, arrive before the polls close at 8:00 p.m. – you will be legally guaranteed your right to vote. (c) If you arrive before 8:00 p.m., do not allow poll workers to close the polls until you have voted.
9. Bring a folding chair if you have problems standing for an extended period of time at your polling place
10. Bring bottled water and a snack, if necessary.
1. Our Weekly endorses Mark Ridley-Thomas for 2nd District L.A. County Supervisor.
2. L.A. Weekly endorses Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor:
On Parks: “He was simply a disgrace as LAPD police chief, an obsessive Captain Queeg–like tyrant who busted out street cops for not shining their shoes while he closed his eyes to the corruption and mayhem as Rampart Division imploded. Many of the root problems at Rampart were incubated when Parks ran Internal Affairs, apparently while blindfolded. As a City Council member, he has consistently represented the interests of big business and landlords (at least when he’s found the time to stop his petty feud with his LAPD successor, Bill Bratton).”
On Ridley-Thomas: “He’s made generally good and reasoned decisions and has demonstrated an earnest investment in his responsibilities. He’s running an impressive ground campaign with the help of the massive L.A. County Federation of Labor, with whom he has forged close ties. In this case, that’s something I’m comfortable with. It’s a better group of friends than Parks has rallied and represented. Ridley-Thomas has shown serious commitment to the economic redevelopment of South Los Angeles and he has distinguished himself as someone fully able and willing to cross racial lines, adding a measure of harmony to some of the more rough-edged shifts of power among L.A. blacks and Latinos. Mark Ridley-Thomas for county supervisor.”
4. L.A. City Beat endorses Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor:
5. Anthony Asadullah Samad, Ph.D, says Tuesday will “represent [a] watermark change in American society” with the election of Barack Obama. He goes on to urge voters to vote for change at all levels of government:
“Change is going to come at every government level. From the top of the ticket at President, congressional seats, and local government seats and initiatives. The most important race in Los Angeles will be the race for County Supervisor, considered the most powerful position in the state (after Governor and Assembly Speaker). Don’t sleep this seat, and don’t be tricked out of this seat. Mark Ridley-Thomas is the choice for this position. The expectation is that many voters, particularly younger ones will vote for Barack and nobody else. Vote Obama and Ridley-Thomas and everything in between. Change at the top can’t happen alone. Don’t bypass the opportunity to make great change this election, and don’t let this change pass you by.”
6 The Bernard Parks campaign is now $338,423 in debt. And this is in spite of raising at least $52,000 from companies that contract with the MTA — where Parks is a sitting member of the Board.
7. “If you like Burke, you’ll love Parks,” according to Dr. Suzanne De Benedittis on The Front Page Online:
“I wonder if [Burke] considers her mockery of democracy as patriotism, and her endorsement of Bernard Parks as a way of continuing her reign.
I wonder why Mr. Parks was not there to use his influence and power as Los Angeles Councilman to demand that Burke take the time to do this thing right and avoid lawsuits from his constituents?”
8. Senator Ridley-Thomas and Bernard Parks spar on KPCC over the future of King Medical Center.
9. Culture Kitchen, a community blog committed to providing a platform to political activists and cultural creatives, endorses Mark Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor.
10. Senator Ridley-Thomas convened a high-level symposium on the foreclosure crisis to discuss “strategies for implementing recently passed loan-refinancing legislation authored by Ridley-Thomas.”
11. According to Betty Pleasant at The Soulvine, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, “one of Mark’s staunchest supporters,” might have interest in the Senator’s senate seat.
UPCOMING EVENTS
12. Help Amigos de Mark Ridley-Thomas make bilingual outreach calls to Latino voters in the 2nd District from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight at campaign headquarters (2092 W. Jefferson Blvd, L.A., CA 90018).
13. Poll monitor training session tonight at the Inglewood Office, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 235 E. Manchester Blvd., CA 90301.
14. GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) rally featuring Dr. Cornel West this Saturday at 11 a.m. at campaign headquarters (2092 W. Jefferson Blvd., L.A., CA 90018).
15. Poll monitor training session on Monday at campaign headquarters, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 2092 W. Jefferson Ave., CA 90018.
Obama Senior Advisor Dr. Cornel West – Scholar, Author, Civil Rights Activist, Princeton Religion Professor – Set to Fire Up Volunteers for Ridley-Thomas Campaign at ‘Get-Out-The-Vote’ Rally for Final Weekend Push to Election Day
Dr. Cornel West firing up volunteers before the primary election.
State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas today announced that Barack Obama senior advisor and Presidential campaign surrogate, Dr. Cornel West, will rally more than 200 supporters and volunteers preparing to canvass key precincts throughout the 2nd District for “Get Out The Vote Weekend” on Saturday, November 1 at 11:30 a.m. at Mark Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor Campaign Headquarters (2092 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles 90018)
Dr. West – a noted scholar, author, and Princeton professor of Religion – will be the featured speaker at the kickoff of the Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor campaign’s major district-wide voter outreach and mobilization drive during the final two-day weekend before Election Day (Tuesday, November 4).
Dr. West will be joined at the rally by Democratic Club members, elected officials, representatives from business and organized labor, religious leaders, women’s groups, environmentalists and community activists.
1. Suzanne DeBenedittis is fed up with County Supervisor Yvonne Burke ignoring her constituents and offers up some sound advice on how to fix the problem in an Op-Ed on The Front Page Online:
Second, please vote for state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor. He has tirelessly worked on the public’s behalf to ensure transparency and oversight throughout this process. He has been actively involved, from requesting the County to give the time necessary for Culver City and the public to help craft a meaningful set of regulations, to serving as our watchdog with the state agencies who regulate the drilling.
As Supervisor, Mark Ridley-Thomas will continue to act on behalf of the public.
2. Senator Ridley-Thomas “issued a statement Monday expressing his condolences” to Bernard Parks whose father died yesterday.
3. Senator Ridley-Thomas joined representatives of the Latino, Asian-Pacific and African American caucuses to oppose Proposition 11, which would create a 14-member citizen commission to redraw the state’s district lines after each national census. The worry is that the Proposition “is not conducive to the representation of minority groups”.
UPCOMING EVENTS
4. Attend the last Candidates Forum tonight at 6:15 p.m. at Thomas A. Edison Middle School Auditorium, 6500 Hooper Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90001.
5. There will be live jazz and a complimentary soul food buffet at the above free event. More information here.
6. Poll monitor training session tonight at the Compton Office, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 1001 W. Compton Blvd., Compton, CA 90221.
Walking a precinct like the young volunteers in the video above is just one of many ways to help the Mark Ridley-Thomas campaign over these last 12 days before the election for County Supervisor. Please call Shauna at Campaign Headquarters at (323) 733-2002 to get involved. Or drop by one of our offices in your neighborhood:
Campaign Headquarters
2092 W. Jefferson Blvd
L.A., CA 90018
Satellite Offices
Inglewood
235 E. Manchester Blvd.
Inglewood, CA 90301
A broad coalition of Latino elected officials, religious leaders, community activists, environmentalists, police officers and business leaders announced their support for Mark Ridley-Thomas for County Supervisor on Thursday at Mercado La Paloma. Videos from the well-attended press conference follow below…
Latino Community Leaders Endorse Senator Ridley-Thomas
Dozens of Latino community leaders attended the news conference to lend their support to Senator Ridley-Thomas. A few of those leaders –Lynwood Mayor Pro Tem Aide Castro, South Bay Latino Chamber of Commerce President Candy Saenz, LAUSD School Board Vice President Yolie Flores Aguilar, retired Senator Martha Escutia and Senator Gil Cedillo — appear in the video above.
Latina Elder Julia Botello
Julia Botello has lived half of her 82 years in Los Angeles and calls Senator Ridley-Thomas her fighter. Below is an English translation of her remarks which were made in Spanish:
“I have lived in South Central Los Angeles for half of my life. I am 82 years-old, so I have experience. I may not be that intelligent but I have experience and I want to advise you to vote for [Mark Ridley-Thomas]. Like they say in Mexico — this is my fighter.”
Jose Orellana
Jose Orellana is a distressed homeowner who supports Senator Ridley-Thomas because he “will fight for us.” Below is an English translation of his remarks which were made in Spanish:
“My name is Jose Orellana. I live in South L.A. I work as an accountant and my wife works for the school district. We have two kids ages 13 and 16.
In 2003 we became homeowners. Because we did not have experience, we were misled into a high-interest rate loan. We were also misled about the condition of the house.
I had to take out extra money to make repairs and got behind. We are now fighting to save our house because the payments keep going up. We are like a lot of families in South L.A. — we work hard but we have been taken advantage of by predatory lenders.
I feel we need a County Supervisor who has fought to stop predatory loans. That’s why I’m supporting Mark Ridley-Thomas for County Supervisor. Thank you.”
2. EGP News recommends Mark Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor (2nd District).
3. The L.A. Times’ John Mitchell has an interesting article about the Second District Supervisor’s race that can be summed up by the following quote by Cal State Fullerton political scientist, Raphael J. Sonenshein:
“A Ridley-Thomas victory is really a step forward for a younger generation of African Americans — including those with closer ties to organized labor — liberals, and Latinos,” he said. “A Parks victory would reaffirm the enduring strength of the older black political establishment that built itself during the Bradley years and is very cohesive.”
In a nutshell, Ridley-Thomas represents the new while Parks represents the old. Or, Ridley-Thomas represents change while Parks represents the status quo.
4. The Los Angeles Police Protective League has started a radio campaign OPPOSING former police chief Bernard Parks for Supervisor.
5. The Wave Newspapersreport that Bernard Parks, “who when he announced [his] issues-only tour said he would not use the occasions to attack his opponent,” then “blasted Mark Ridley-Thomas.” Oddly, Parks also criticized Senator Ridley-Thomas for “relying too heavily on his long list of endorsements.” As if having a long list of endorsers was a bad thing.
6. The Wave Newspaperswrite about the overwhelming support Senator Ridley-Thomas enjoys from organized labor. AFL-CIO Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Maria Elena Durazo, “pledged to use all their resources to elect Ridley-Thomas” for Supervisor. She went on to say:
“We know the voters want a change [in] the way decisions are made about reopening the hospital and quality health care, making our communities safer and creating good jobs and opportunities.”
7. Frank Stoltze of Southern California Public Radio, KPCC 89.3, has an audio segment about Senator Ridley-Thomas’ Latino support.
UPCOMING EVENTS
8. From 2:06 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. this afternoon, Patt Morrison will referee a debate between Senator Ridley-Thomas and Bernard Parks on KPCC 89.3.
9. TONIGHT is the Mark Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor Inglewood satellite office kickoff! Don’t miss out on this fun event which starts at 5 p.m. at 235 E. Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301. Be sure to check out past kickoff videos from the Gardena office, the Carson office and the main office.
10. State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas will join the Sierra Club early Monday evening when it hosts another in an on-going series of family hikes in Kenneth Hahn State Park.
It is billed as “A Twilight Walk in the Park With Mark.”
The 75-minute, one-mile hike will start at 6:30 at the Japanese Garden of the park, 4100 S. LaCienega Blvd. Refreshments will be provided, but participants are invited to bring flashlights since it will be dark shortly.
More information and contact information is available in the “Community Update” section of The Front Page Online.
1. Councilman Herb Wesson’s wife, Fabian, apparently believes Senator Ridley-Thomas is going to win the Supervisor’s race. The Wave Newspaperswrite that she is “laying the groundwork to succeed [Ridley-Thomas]. But being a woman of abundant tact, she will wait until Nov. 5 to make her announcement”.
2. Betty Pleasant of Soulvine writes about Bernard Parks’ latest campaign stumble. Parks used city resources — his official 8th District newsletter — to link to a dated right wing smear piece about Senator Ridley-Thomas in violation of the city ethics ordinance. Adding insult to injury for Parks, the offending links went to a virulent anti-Obama website.
3. The City Council voted for a dramatic 13% rise in the cost of ambulance services provided by the LAFD. Bernard Parks said that the now $1,004 price tag was necessary to “try to remain consistent with the rates charged by the county of Los Angeles.”
4. Our Weeklynotes that the format for the Community Coalition’s candidates forum had to be changed last minute because Bernard Parks was a no-show. It was “turned into a question and answer session” with Senator Ridley-Thomas. See photos from the event here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
5. In a noon press conference today at Mercado La Paloma, located at 3655 S. Grand Avenue, L.A., Latino leaders will announce their support for the Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor campaign.
6. Don’t miss the Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor Compton satellite office kickoff rally this Saturday at 10 a.m. The office is located at 1001 W. Compton Blvd, Compton, CA 90220.
On Monday night the Mark Ridley-Thomas for Supervisor campaign opened its Gardena satellite office to a packed house. It was standing room only for the more than 70 volunteers and community leaders that came out for the spirited office kickoff. The night proved once again that the Ridley-Thomas campaign will work hard to win the L.A. County Supervisor’s race on November 4th and have fun doing so!
Gardena Councilman Steve Bradford Introduces Senator Ridley-Thomas
“There is no bigger Barack Obama supporter in this room than me right now and I would be willing to fight anybody to prove that (laughter). But that’s not why I am here right now. The most important election is the local elections because it will be our next county supervisor, not Barack Obama, who determines if Martin Luther King Hospital is open. So these local elections are important. This is where are focus should be…”
“It’s important to understand why I am supporting the Senator for Supervisor. It’s not about popularity, it’s not about personality, it’s about policy, it’s about leadership, it’s about moving this county in a brand new direction that we haven’t seen in a long time… So it is important that we have a public servant, not a personality, a public servant in that position. Someone who understands the issues, someone who understands the community, someone who understands the needs of working men and women and have done that their entire life, not just lately.”
Senator Ridley-Thomas Speaks to Supporters
Senator Ridley-Thomas thanks his supporters and encourages them to work hard over the final three weeks of the campaign. A raucous roll call follows where individual supporters identify themselves as being associated with various organizations including blacks in government, Progressive Democratic Club, SEIU, UTLA, sheet metal workers, Sierra Club, black journalists of Southern California, retired public employees and the Samoan Federation. Senator Ridley-Thomas concludes by pointing out the significance of the diversity in the room:
“It seems to me that you have an appreciation for the depth and breadth of this coalition that is building to support this candidacy. This is not a one-dimensional proposition by any standard. It is broad in its outreach and its focus and that is essentially what we will bring to bear on the County Board of Supervisors.”
Gardena Community Leaders Endorse Senator Ridley-Thomas
Supervisor-elect Mark Ridley-Thomas will be interviewed by Adrienne Alpert tomorrow at 11 a.m. on ABC’s “Eyewitness Newsmakers”. The half hour weekly program is “dedicated to a deeper exploration of local issues and concerns.”
