Changing the Political Landscape

How can progressive activist in Fresno leverage the work they do to have more impact and influence on public policy? Is there a strategy that we could implement that would make the sum of our parts more effective and greater than the whole? The answer is YES.

The situation right now is that we have dozens of progressive groups in Fresno working on a variety of issues - immigrant rights, an end to the war/occupation of Iraq, environmental justice, labor unions that are organizing the unorganized, health care reform, etc. Progressive activists feel passionate about the issues they are working on and that is great. But, if we want to win political power, we need to do more.

The Community Alliance newspaper has played a role in linking the progressive community, there is a greater awareness of progressive activity in the area, and we have given a voice to activists so they can frame their issues (in their own words) - they no longer are forced to rely on the corporate media to get their message out. As important as having an alternative/independent media and a vibrant progressive movement in Fresno is, it is not enough. . . if what we want to do is change the world. . . or at least Fresno.

If members of the progressive community want to change the political landscape in Fresno, they need to play a larger role in local electoral politics. Decisions affecting all of our issues are made at the local level by elected officials. Conservatives on the right have figured that out and that is why they mobilize their base to elect politicians to local office that will represent their interests.

The left in this community does not have a unified electoral strategy, even though a progressive victory in local elections would benefit each of the groups that are so busy working on their single issues. Every progressive group would benefit and could win significant victories if they had more influence in electing representatives at City Hall and on the County Board of Supervisors.

The trap the left in Fresno has found itself in is that we react to an injustice or a problem in the community, we form a committee, and the group spends years trying to right a wrong. Sometimes we win on a single issue and sometimes we lose. Even when we win, there are ten more issues that pop up to demand our attention. The right has got us trapped into being reactive and not thinking strategically about how to win the political big picture.

Progressive groups need to join together and support a united electoral strategy that will get progressive candidates elected. When we do that, we will have a fighting chance to achieve social and economic justice on local issues. As long as the right can keep us divided, reactive, and hacking away at the tentacles of injustice we will be playing their game.

It is my belief that the vast majority of Fresno voters will support a progressive agenda, but we need to be able to articulate a clear and unified vision for peace, social and economic justice. Our candidates need to demand that the money being wasted on the war in Iraq be re-directed to improve our schools and decaying infrastructure, they will demand that jobs pay a living wage, work towards a public policy that treats our homeless with dignity and respect, and end urban sprawl that is degrading our air and water quality.

Fortunately for us all, there is already an organization in Fresno that is working toward the goal of getting progressive candidates elected to office. The Central Valley Progressive PAC (http://www.cvppac.org) holds public forums so candidates who are running for office are asked questions of concern in the progressive community. Where does each candidate stand on the Independent Police Auditor question? Do they support the needle exchange program? Do they want to see a nuclear power plant built in Fresno or do they support alternative and sustainable energy like wind and solar? This issue of the Community Alliance newspaper includes the mayoral candidates answers to many questions of interest to the progressive community. See page 4. For more about what the mayoral candidates had to say, plus responses from Fresno City Council and Board of Supervisor candidates, go to: http://www.fresnoalliance.com/ 2008election

The CVPPAC also raises money and endorses candidates who most clearly match its members values. Howard Watkins, the current president of the CVPPAC, has an article on page 3 analyzing the local races and making recommendations about who deserves our vote.

One goal of the CVPPAC is to move beyond just analyzing the existing candidates and to support progressives to run and win in local elections. That will take more resources and people who understand that achieving political power, at the local level, will benefit all of our causes. You can find out more about how to join the CVPPAC by going to http://www.cvppac.org or calling (559) 435-1992.

Running and supporting progressive candidates is just the start. Once elected, those politicians must be held accountable to the grassroots. That means ongoing involvement in the electoral political process. I was embarrassed at the March 29 CVPPAC candidate forum when only a handful of people came to hear what the candidates had to say. The lack of attendance was bad because it could lead the candidates to think they don’t have to take us seriously. The other problem with poor attendance is that the progressive community does not hear directly from the candidates about their positions on the issues. Also, these candidate forums are a great opportunity to develop a personal relationship with elected officials. It is much more effective to contact the mayor or someone on the City Council when they know who you are.

In addition to working on the nuts and bolts of the electoral process, those of us on the left should be working for campaign election reform. We need to level the playing field so that more people vote and money is less influential in who wins an election. Less than 30% of registered voters are expected to vote on June 3. If you include the people who are eligible to vote but aren’t registered, the actual voter turn out will be closer to 15 - 20%. Then, there are people who are residents, but for a large variety of reasons can’t vote (they are felons on parole or in prison, undocumented workers, etc). When you take that into account, you are down to about 10% of adults that will vote in the upcoming election. We absolutely have to work to get more voter turnout or democracy has no meaning. How about getting the elections department to take voting booths into the Fresno County Jail? Most of those people have not been convicted of a felony (or anything) and they literally can’t get out to vote. There are thousands of homeless people who have been disenfranchised because they move around a lot and don’t believe they are eligible. It is shameful (perhaps criminal) the way so many people have been cheated out of their vote.

Campaign finance reform is needed because the rich and powerful in this community (primarily the builders and developers) have undue influence in the current system. Poor and working people simply can’t compete when politicians are forced to sell themselves on TV like they are a bar of soap. We need to establish public financing of political campaigns so elections are about a candidates positions on the issues, not about a 30 second advertisement or who has the most signs up in town. Media should, as a public service, provide an opportunity for all candidates to make their case for why you should vote for them. That is why this newspaper has a grid in this month’s paper in which the candidates for local office answer the questions of interest to the progressive community.

The future of this community is in your hands. Vote on November 3, join the CVPPAC, and work to hold our elected officials accountable to the grassroots. Think Globally, Act Locally!