California Donor Table Executive Director, Ludovic Blain, has partnered with Jim Araby of UFCW Western States Council to explore the role of unions on progressive gains in the last century and to outline the importance of philanthropy's role in fighting anti-union advances. Here, Blain and Araby offer 10 recommendations for philanthropists who want to support the vital work of unions and to fill in the gaps created by the retreat of union power.
President Trump claims that California allowed millions of non-citizens to cast ballots in the 2016 elections. This allegation, while totally bogus, has put California and its political leaders on the defensive. They are forced to respond as Trump and his allies use the lie to justify a new federal commission devoted to making it harder for all Americans to vote.
Californians should go on offense – by embracing Trump’s ugly lie and transforming it into a beautiful civic truth. Let’s make our state more inclusive and more democratic—by guaranteeing non-citizens the right to vote in our local and state elections. Non-citizens should also be able to run for local and state offices. Sounds radical, right? It’s not. In this country, there is no constitutional prohibition against non-citizens voting; states decide who gets to vote. And for most of American history, voting by non-citizens was commonplace. Given Trump’s attacks on immigrants and democracy, this is the moment to give the franchise back to non-citizens. Make California Great Again.
The California Donor Table is a community of donors who pool and align investments in leaders, groups and systems that make lasting progressive political change beyond any single election cycle or issue campaign.