I am pleased to present photos and commentary from and about our California Solano County Democratic Central Committee 51st Annual Crab Feed. It was held Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the Nelson Community Center, 611 Village Drive, Suisun City, California. Our special guest speaker this evening was Tom Steyer.
Jump the fold for more about the event.
I can not tell you how uplifting it was to hear a real billionaire (1.6 billion) talk about his and his wife’s commitment to fighting Donald Trump (fake billionaire) and the Republican Party. Moreover, this was not just empty babbling of alternate facts. This husband and wife team both work full time overseeing the re-investment of their considerable wealth back into the commons for the benefit of the people and life itself.
In 2010, Steyer and his wife signed The Giving Pledge to donate half of their fortune to charity during their lifetime. Since leaving Farallon in 2012, he has become a leading figure in environmental causes, being among the top donors of the 2014 election cycle, and an environmental advisor to the Obama administration. Wikipedia: Tom Steyer
In 2010, Steyer and his wife signed The Giving Pledge to donate half of their fortune to charity during their lifetime. Since leaving Farallon in 2012, he has become a leading figure in environmental causes, being among the top donors of the 2014 election cycle, and an environmental advisor to the Obama administration.
Wikipedia: Tom Steyer
Steyer, a Democrat who spent at least $87 million on the 2016 presidential election, was the biggest individual political donor in the race. According to Bloomberg, Steyer routes most of his money through the NextGen Climate Action Committee, a Super PAC he helped create in 2012 in an effort to devote himself to conservation. During the 2016 election, Steyer funded several anti-Trump ads through NextGen Climate. Fortune: Billionaire Tom Steyer: There’s ‘No Limit’ to How Much I’ll Spend to Combat Donald Trump
Steyer, a Democrat who spent at least $87 million on the 2016 presidential election, was the biggest individual political donor in the race. According to Bloomberg, Steyer routes most of his money through the NextGen Climate Action Committee, a Super PAC he helped create in 2012 in an effort to devote himself to conservation. During the 2016 election, Steyer funded several anti-Trump ads through NextGen Climate.
Fortune: Billionaire Tom Steyer: There’s ‘No Limit’ to How Much I’ll Spend to Combat Donald Trump
His wife, Kathryn "Kat" Taylor, loves spending long days running a small bank in a gritty part of Oakland. She is pragmatic, has an unfettered laugh and sports six tattoos, admitting, "There's no doubt if I turned up for a black tie event at the Pacific Union Club, I might not be what people expect to see." SFGATE: Couple invest in social change not scene
His wife, Kathryn "Kat" Taylor, loves spending long days running a small bank in a gritty part of Oakland. She is pragmatic, has an unfettered laugh and sports six tattoos, admitting, "There's no doubt if I turned up for a black tie event at the Pacific Union Club, I might not be what people expect to see."
SFGATE: Couple invest in social change not scene
My job at the event was supervising the trash and re-cycling so I was often out of the building and in the back of the kitchen while Tom spoke so let me refer everyone to this article about his speech by a local paper called the The Delta Confluence. Here are some excerpts:
“Democracy doesn't stop on election day,” said Steyer. “We don't have to wait until the next election, we have to take action now. We will use every tool, every grassroots tool that we can think of, to mobilize Americans.” Steyer emphasized the importance of focusing energy on mobilizing all Americans to fight against Trump and those that he described as “disloyal and un-American,” for their views on climate, society and equality. Describing the current situation as “having our backs to the wall,” Steyer called on everyone to organize, inform and engage their fellow citizens. “We want your ideas, this is a grassroots group,” said Steyer. “It has got to be from the bottom up. Anyone that wants to work with us, any idea that we can work on together — we're anxious to do. We know this isn't going to be easy...we're in a lot of trouble, and I know everybody in this room knows that that's true and that we can do it. I promise we will be there with you.” The Delta Confluence: Tom Steyer speaks to Solano County Democratic Central Committee
“Democracy doesn't stop on election day,” said Steyer. “We don't have to wait until the next election, we have to take action now. We will use every tool, every grassroots tool that we can think of, to mobilize Americans.”
Steyer emphasized the importance of focusing energy on mobilizing all Americans to fight against Trump and those that he described as “disloyal and un-American,” for their views on climate, society and equality. Describing the current situation as “having our backs to the wall,” Steyer called on everyone to organize, inform and engage their fellow citizens.
“We want your ideas, this is a grassroots group,” said Steyer. “It has got to be from the bottom up. Anyone that wants to work with us, any idea that we can work on together — we're anxious to do. We know this isn't going to be easy...we're in a lot of trouble, and I know everybody in this room knows that that's true and that we can do it. I promise we will be there with you.”
The Delta Confluence: Tom Steyer speaks to Solano County Democratic Central Committee
I believe Tom is serous about fighting Trump saving the environment. Visit his NextGen Climate Website and take him up on his request to get engaged.
Donald Trump has launched an all-out assault on the American way of life. That's why we need to hear your ideas. https://t.co/JKWBTavSrg pic.twitter.com/HH2IZWTloPâ Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) February 1, 2017
Donald Trump has launched an all-out assault on the American way of life. That's why we need to hear your ideas. https://t.co/JKWBTavSrg pic.twitter.com/HH2IZWTloP
This event was a fund raiser for the Solano County Democratic Central Committee and an opportunity for many of our elected Democratic officials to talk to their supporters.
In attendance at this event were US Congressman Mike Thompson, US Congressman John Garameni, California Senator Bill Dodd, and numerous other county and city elected officials.
We schedule the event in February in order to raise the funds for the next election. These funds pay for door hangers, mail outs, phone banking, and rent on store fronts for campaign headquarters.
Our emcee of the evening's events was Mayor Pro Tem Lori Wilson from our host City, Suisun City. I worked with her on the organizing committee for the event and have great respect for her approach to governance. At every meeting she took the time to listen to all the ideas the committee members presented and made sure there was consensus on the plan.
The guests were greeted by our registration team at the door. That was staffed by Dr. Young, Lilli, and Delores (Roach).
And, special thanks should go the our co-chairs of the event Margie and Paul.
The evening started off with Congressman Mike Thompson giving a fiery speech that he intends to defend our rights and protect us from the current Republican hegemony. And Congressman John Garamendi reassured those present that as Democrats we can resist and persevere.
Due to time constraints our house representatives only had a few minutes to set the tone of the evening. And that they did that well by stating unequivocally that we are fighting Republican Fascism. They both rallied the audience with the simple statement that they would say “NO” to the Republicans and Resist them.
Following this much needed “pep talk” and “rallying of the troupes” by Garamendi and Thompson the many other state, county, and city dignitaries present were introduced. A short break then was taken so the volunteer food servers could deliver the main entrée. And when all the guests got their dinners Tom Steyer delivered an inspirational speech about a better future for California and America.
One of the goals of our annual crab feed fundraiser is to provide an opportunity for our elected officials to meet and talk to their supporters.
On a personal note, when Mike Thompson came over to say hello to me I had only a moment to talk and I thanked him for the terrific field work his Vallejo District Representative, Mel Orpilla, did in staying in communication on the phones with individual district constituents over the last few months. I found myself closing our conversation in tears while touching his sleeve saying to him “Save our democracy.”
I had not realized how dispirited I was after the election. And this event was much needed to lift my spirits and give me hope for the future.
Below is an excerpt from the summary and thank you letter sent out to all the County Democratic Clubs by Jeanette Wylie our SCDCC Secretary:
Many thanks to all who helped tremendously to make the 51st annual crab feed a success! It was wonderful to see so many of our current members there and contributing in many different ways to the event. It was also wonderful to see the number of former SCDCC members there and enjoying time with friends and also jumping in to help with the event. And, it was terrific that the Clubs bought sponsorships and invited the members to participate in the evening. We need to capitalize on all those new faces there last night and get people involved locally. The preliminary comment from Paul regarding profits was positive. Most of the expenses and income should be ready to report at the February meeting. It looks like this fundraiser will help replenish our Treasury for the upcoming battles and elections we have ahead of us. Since I will not be at the February meeting, I wanted to give a shout out to all who helped last night and during the weeks and months leading up to the event! I won't be able to list everyone who helped without leaving someone out, so I apologize if you aren't recognized below--I just didn't see all the ways people helped since I was mostly in the kitchen area. Deanna--Thanks for the great job with publicity! Margie and Tom--Thanks for doing so much shopping prior to the event! Jon and Danny--Thanks for helping retrieve crab feed supplies out of storage! Brigette--Thanks for setting up the ActBlue site and giving updates on ticket sales to the committee! Robert, Jack (and Mom), Dorothy, Mindy, and others--Thanks for helping get all table covers in place and the places set! Maria and Brigette--Thanks for all your work making the the program and table signs look great! Joe and Paul--Thanks for all the fun sorting and moving those crab legs and bodies! Lilli, Dr. Young, and Delores (Roach)--Thanks for getting people signed in and greeted at the door! Ray and Joe--Great job manning the ticket table--and thanks for bringing the chicken (Ray) and your mom (Joe)! Lori--Thanks for serving as Emcee and being so welcoming to almost 300 people! You made everyone want to return to Suisun! Tom--Thanks for planning, shopping and dispensing all the libations from the bar! And, thanks for securing great helpers in the Bar Belles! Ian--Thanks for your "service with a smile" during your night behind the bar! Kelly--Thanks for helping out wherever needed! Lynette and Dorothy--Thanks for the "sweet touch" with the success of the dessert auction! And thanks to those who purchased desserts--many of you donated desserts and then also purchased desserts! (No one will tell you that you can't have two desserts THAT way.) Jonathan--Thanks for all your work handling the trash and for the efforts to get people to Recycle. Robert--Thanks for making sure we had a trash bin to dispense with the remains of many crabs! Brian and Joy Travis--Thanks for coming back another year to head things up in the kitchen. The crab was wonderful and the service from the Girl Scouts, Rodriguez students, and Young Dems was absolutely vital. And, it was great you had a new helper, and his family! Mona Hunley--Thanks for the tireless efforts throughout the night in the kitchen. You were a great help! Paul and Margie--Thanks for being Co-Chairs for the event! Only you know just how much planning and shopping goes into an event like this! Sincerely, Jeanette Wylie, SCDCC Secretary
Many thanks to all who helped tremendously to make the 51st annual crab feed a success! It was wonderful to see so many of our current members there and contributing in many different ways to the event.
It was also wonderful to see the number of former SCDCC members there and enjoying time with friends and also jumping in to help with the event.
And, it was terrific that the Clubs bought sponsorships and invited the members to participate in the evening. We need to capitalize on all those new faces there last night and get people involved locally.
The preliminary comment from Paul regarding profits was positive. Most of the expenses and income should be ready to report at the February meeting. It looks like this fundraiser will help replenish our Treasury for the upcoming battles and elections we have ahead of us.
Since I will not be at the February meeting, I wanted to give a shout out to all who helped last night and during the weeks and months leading up to the event! I won't be able to list everyone who helped without leaving someone out, so I apologize if you aren't recognized below--I just didn't see all the ways people helped since I was mostly in the kitchen area.
Deanna--Thanks for the great job with publicity!
Margie and Tom--Thanks for doing so much shopping prior to the event!
Jon and Danny--Thanks for helping retrieve crab feed supplies out of storage!
Brigette--Thanks for setting up the ActBlue site and giving updates on ticket sales to the committee!
Robert, Jack (and Mom), Dorothy, Mindy, and others--Thanks for helping get all table covers in place and the places set!
Maria and Brigette--Thanks for all your work making the the program and table signs look great!
Joe and Paul--Thanks for all the fun sorting and moving those crab legs and bodies!
Lilli, Dr. Young, and Delores (Roach)--Thanks for getting people signed in and greeted at the door!
Ray and Joe--Great job manning the ticket table--and thanks for bringing the chicken (Ray) and your mom (Joe)!
Lori--Thanks for serving as Emcee and being so welcoming to almost 300 people! You made everyone want to return to Suisun!
Tom--Thanks for planning, shopping and dispensing all the libations from the bar! And, thanks for securing great helpers in the Bar Belles!
Ian--Thanks for your "service with a smile" during your night behind the bar!
Kelly--Thanks for helping out wherever needed!
Lynette and Dorothy--Thanks for the "sweet touch" with the success of the dessert auction! And thanks to those who purchased desserts--many of you donated desserts and then also purchased desserts! (No one will tell you that you can't have two desserts THAT way.)
Jonathan--Thanks for all your work handling the trash and for the efforts to get people to Recycle.
Robert--Thanks for making sure we had a trash bin to dispense with the remains of many crabs!
Brian and Joy Travis--Thanks for coming back another year to head things up in the kitchen. The crab was wonderful and the service from the Girl Scouts, Rodriguez students, and Young Dems was absolutely vital. And, it was great you had a new helper, and his family!
Mona Hunley--Thanks for the tireless efforts throughout the night in the kitchen. You were a great help!
Paul and Margie--Thanks for being Co-Chairs for the event! Only you know just how much planning and shopping goes into an event like this!
Sincerely,
Jeanette Wylie, SCDCC Secretary
Thank you for reading this story! — Regards, Jonathan Gordon
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