Democracy OJAI

10/09/2026

NEWS FLASH!!!

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko is coming to Ojai on October 14 at 6:00 pm to discuss protecting the upcoming midterms and to answer any other questions the audience might ask. Thanks to Councilwoman Rule for making Kent Hall available for this event which should be of interest to the entire Ojai community.

10/05/2026

Okay, now's the time to stop talking. And start DOing.

Ballots are coming this next week. And to help you navigate that crazy maze of propositions, here's some non-partisan guidance to help you protect our democracy:

-DO vote NO on Proposition 39.

Prop 39 is an attempt to rig our elections and is funded by right-wing billionaires. It will make voting harder, more expensive, and less safe for Californians.

-DO vote YES on Proposition 40.

Make billionaires pay their fair share in taxes. And stop sticking the middle class with the bill.

Prop 40 is a one-time wealth tax created to make up for budget shortfalls caused by the so-called Big Beautiful Bill,which lowered taxes for billionaires and cut funding for Medi-Cal, the Affordable Care Act (Covered California), education, and SNAP.

90% of Prop 40 funds will go to healthcare. The rest, to food assistance and education. It will allow Californians to keep their health insurance without seeing premiums skyrocket.

-DO vote NO on Proposition 41.

And don't sabotage Prop 40.
Prop 41 and 42 were both created to sabotage Prop 40 and hobble future wealth tax proposals. Vote NO on both.

Prop 41 would require all new ballot initiatives that raise taxes to be audited while the initiative is still in the signature-gathering phase.

Prop 41 states that it applies to “current” voter-approved measures. Because Prop 40 has already gone beyond the signature-gathering phase, it’s too late for it to comply with Prop 41, so Prop 40 is legally dead if Prop 41 passes.

-DO vote NO on Proposition 42

And don't sabotage Prop 40.
This is another billionaire-funded trick to cancel out the billionaire tax. It's a redundant, expensive trick to allow approximately 200 billionaires to avoid paying their own taxes while YOU get stuck with the bill.

Their fear-mongering ads suggest that Sacramento is already considering taxing the value of the average person’s savings accounts and retirement funds, and that a yes vote on Prop 42 will stop them. Don't buy that hogwash.

-DO click this link Voters Guide if you want trustworthy guidance on other propositions:

https://www.progressivevotersguide.com/california

AND HERE'S A LIST OF OTHER SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUR VOTE:

1.DO protect your vote by taking your completed ballot to the Ballot Drop Box outside at Ojai City Hall. (401 S. Ventura St.)

To ensure your vote is counted, fill out your ballot immediately and take it to our local Drop Box. (And encourage everyone you know to do the same.)

This is our safest recommendation at the moment. But things are fluid. So, we'll update you as we receive more info from our trusted sources.

2.DO pick up some free postcard packets from our fearless leader, Kim Bryson.

We have FREE postcards to voter kits, complete with stamps, addresses, and easy-to-follow directions.

It's never been easier to make a difference.

Email Kim at [email protected] and arrange to pick some up.

3.DO share this email with friends and family in Ventura County.

And encourage all your loved ones to get on our mailing list.

DO CLICK THIS LINK TO JOIN US:

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/nFAfWfF

DON'T JUST SIT THERE. DO SOMETHING.



Because small, consistent steps can make a big difference in protecting our vote. And saving our democracy.

09/07/2026

LET'S FACE IT:
With the midterms less than 2 months away, worry, fear and what if's are running rampant.
While there's plenty that's out of our control, we DO have the power to come together as a collective and hold a higher vision.

As Albert Einstein said "The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking."
(You don't have to be a genius to know that there's evidence that people coming together with a shared positive vision can create change.)

SO, HERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT YOU CAN DO FROM NOW ON:

DO spend a few moments everyday, envisioning the kind of country (and world) that you want to live in.
Imagine how you'll feel when:

-Our democracy is flourishing.
-The Constitution and rule of law are honored.
-Our inalienable rights and freedoms are protected; regardless of race, creed or country of origin.
-Our visionary and benevolent leaders put the needs of the people first.
-Peace and unity, kindness and compassion reign supreme.
-The well-being of our planet is a priority.
-America takes her place as a beacon of light working in alliance for the highest good of all.

-DO feel free to choose your own words and vision.
DO NOT focus on "how."
Instead, imagine what your mind, body and spirit would feel like if your vision became a reality. (Would you feel joy? Relief? Finally get a good night's sleep?)

And last but not least, DO pass this on.

And encourage those in Ventura County to get on our mailing list. (Scan the QR Code below)

We'll be sending out these simple TO DO lists on a regular basis. And once the ballots arrive, we'll also share our voting recommendations because we're all in this together.

SO, DON'T JUST SIT THERE. DO SOMETHING.

Your thoughts and actions are powerful.

Small, consistent steps can make a big difference in protecting our vote and saving our democracy.

09/05/2026

09/01/2026

HOLY MOLY! The midterms are just two months away.

And you don't need us to tell you about the mounting threats to our elections, freedom, and democracy itself.

But we are here to let you know what you can DO about it.

HERE'S YOUR WEEKLY TO-DO LIST:

1.DO got to the website VoteAmerica.org to make sure you're registered to vote.
It takes only 30 seconds to find out your registration status.

And if you're not registered, no worries, you can quickly and easily register at the same website.

2.DO protect your vote by taking your completed ballot to the Ballot Drop Box outside at Ojai City Hall. (401 S. Ventura St.)

Ballots are expected to be mailed out soon.

To ensure your vote is counted, fill out your ballot immediately and take it to our local Drop Box. (And encourage everyone you know to do the same.)

This is our safest recommendation at the moment. But things are fluid. So, we'll update you as we receive more info from our trusted sources.

3.DO pick up some free Get out the Vote postcard packets from our fearless leader, Kim Bryson.

We have FREE postcard kits, complete with stamps, addresses, and easy-to-follow directions.

All you do is write a short personal note, telling the recipient that their vote matters. (Or as we like to say, "voting is your superpower.")

It's never been easier to make a difference.
Email Kim at [email protected] to make arrangements to pick them up.

4.DO share this email with friends and family in Ventura County.

And encourage them to get on our mailing list. (Scan the QR Code below)

We'll be sending out and posting these simple TO DO lists on a regular basis. And once the ballots arrive, we'll also share our voting recommendations because we're all in this together.

SO, DON'T JUST SIT THERE. DO SOMETHING.

Because small, consistent steps can make a big difference in protecting our vote... and saving our democracy.
Scan the barcode below to get on our mailing list so you can keep up to date the latest information about your voting rights and protecting our democracy!

08/07/2026

"WHAT THE BLEEP CAN I DO 
TO PROTECT OUR VOTE?"
— No. 1 in a series —

Tick. Tick. Tick.

The midterm elections are less than 90 days away. And the promise of free and fair elections is anything but guaranteed.
So, we believe it's time to transform our collective concern into action.

One simple step at a time.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW:

1. DO follow the link in the comments to check if you're registered.


It takes only 30 seconds to check your registration status at VoteAmerica.org. And if it turns out you're not registered, no worries.

You can quickly and easily register at the same website.

2.DO share this action step with your friends and family in Ventura County.

And encourage them to join this facebook group.

We'll be sharing simple TO DO lists on a regular basis.

SO, DON'T JUST SIT THERE. DO SOMETHING.

Because small consistent steps can make a big difference in protecting our vote. And saving our democracy.

07/14/2026

Today, July 14th ICE was back in Meiner's Oaks, kidnapping people once again.

To date, 10,000 PEOPLE Have been kidnapped BETWEEN 6/25-6/30 2026

ICE has a goal OF 2,000 KIDNAPPINGS DAILY ACROSS THE US.

Two innocent people have also been murdered by ICE in July (Lorenzo Salgado Araujo on

7/7 in Texas, and Joan Sebastian Guerro on 7/13 in Maine.

What can you do?

Come to this training on July 21st and do whatever you can to help! We need everyone to galvanize and protect our community!

05/02/2026

A call to action!!
Thank you Elizabeth Kucinich:
Despite today’s vote to remove the chemical liability shield, the Farm Bill currently under consideration in the House remains a devastating failure of policy and responsibility.

This is a moment for caution, not celebration. If we signal victory now, before the full House vote, we risk sending exactly the wrong message to America, that this bill is now safe to support. It is not.

This Farm Bill still erodes states’ rights, limits the ability of communities to protect their citizens, entrenches industrial agriculture, and locks farmers further into dependence on costly chemical inputs and consolidated corporate power.

This bill represents massive federal overreach, overriding constitutionally established protections and preventing states from improving standards beyond federal baselines across agriculture, from pesticide use and spray protocols to animal welfare. It replaces a system in which federal law sets a floor with one that imposes a ceiling, locking in the lowest standards nationwide, stripping states of their authority, and opening the door to the destruction of the very land we call America.

Read more: https://kucinichreport.substack.com/p/house-must-vote-no-on-the-farm-bill

04/27/2026

There are moments when the world feels especially loud, when the weight of current events, conversations, and constant noise begins to settle into our bodies.

You may have felt it lately, a heaviness in the heart, a fatigue in the spirit, and a longing for something simpler, softer… more human.

And yet, even in times like these, there are spaces where we can come back to ourselves.

Where we can reconnect—not through debate or division—but through something far more ancient and unifying.

This Sunday, we invite you into a gentle, joyful pause from it all…an opportunity to stand side by side with your neighbors and lift your voice in songs of peace, connection, and shared humanity.

No singing experience is needed. Just bring your presence…your open heart…and a willingness to let your voice move freely.

Because something beautiful happens when we sing together.
And for a little while, harmony replaces the noise.

🎶 Singing for Peace 🎶

Sunday, May 3rd at 2:00 PM

Libbey Park, Ojai

04/21/2026

Urgent this week! 💥

Perhaps you’ve already made up your mind as to which gubernatorial candidate you are going to vote for in the upcoming June primary or, or you have yet to decide.
In either event, because of the uniqueness of this election, Democracy Ojai is asking you to wait until after the upcoming debates to fill out and submit your ballot.

There are 62 candidates running for Governor on the June ballot, but only the top two vote-getters will be on the November ballot.
This opens the possibility that the two final candidates could be from the same party.
It is vitally important to choose more wisely than usual.

We're asking you to be a more informed voter by waiting to fill out your ballot until after the three debates.

The debates will be televised:

April 22nd on KTLA

April 28th on CBS

May 5th on CNN

Listening to what each candidate says might reinforce your original choice. On the other hand, you might change your mind on who you want to support, but it will be too late if your ballot has already been sent.

The strategy is this:

⭐️Avoid voting early
⭐️Listen to the debates

Whoever emerges as the clear winner after May 5th should have ALL of our votes.

We will also be doing much more research and sharing what we learn.

⭐️And here in Ojai, we have our Ventura County Clerk and Recorder, Michelle Ascencion, coming to speak at Sarzotti Park this coming Saturday. Come speak with her and learn how to protect Ventura County against dangerous misinformation. ⭐️