In Community Storytelling Series has Launched!
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest is proud to share that their storytelling project, In Community, has launched!
In Community spotlights local community stories and partnerships across San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial Counties, and highlights the advocacy efforts of Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest.
Visit voteforchoice.org/incommunity for more about In Community’s inaugural story, which explores the intersection between reproductive justice and sanitation justice in San Diego County – a pervasive issue that impacts people’s access to safe, clean public restrooms and affects their ability to take care of themselves and their reproductive health.
Special Election: San Diego Board of Supervisors
If you live in San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 4, there’s an important Special Election being held on November 7 to elect your new Supervisor. For this election, Planned Parenthood Action Fund has proudly endorsed Monica Montgomery Steppe!
Remember, your County Supervisor makes decisions that impact your family’s and community’s well-being every day. San Diego County Supervisors are in charge of a 8.1 billion dollar budget that directly impacts access to health care, affordable housing, parks, libraries, and other public services.
Not sure if you reside in District 4? Click here to find out.
Please note: If you were mistakenly sent two ballots you can still vote by returning either ballot. The San Diego County Registrar of Voters has instructed voters to simply return one ballot and destroy the unused ballot.
What are my voting options?
Vote by mail: Starting October 8, mail ballots will be sent to the address on your voter registration file. Voting by mail is easy and efficient. You can complete your ballot in the comfort of your home and return it through the U.S. Postal Service – no postage needed.
Voters who return their ballot through the U.S. Postal Service can track it by signing up for california.ballottrax.net/voter. Just make sure to date and sign your ballot so that it is counted:
Starting Tuesday, October 10, you’ll have the additional option of dropping off your ballot at any official ballot drop box located around the county.
In person: If you would rather vote in person, that option is available too. Avoid long lines by taking advantage of early in-person voting:
- Starting Monday, October 9, early voting is available at the Registrar’s office, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On the final day of voting, November 7, the Registrar’s office will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Starting Saturday, October 28, select vote centers will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until the final day of voting on November 7, when all vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Click here to find a Vote Center Location near you.
To find out what district you’re in and for more election information, visit voteforchoice.org/specialelection.
Endorsements
Each election cycle, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest endorses and rates candidates that will fight for access to health care, comprehensive sex ed, and reproductive rights.
To see which candidates have been endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest as of September 25, 2023, be sure to visit voteforchoice.org/endorsements.
If you are a candidate interested in seeking our endorsement, you must complete and return the following questionnaire. Endorsements are for the 2024 election cycle only. We endorse candidates for public office who share and promote our values. Click here to fill out our 2023 Candidate Questionnaire.
Protecting LGBTQ+ Students in Riverside County
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest and community partners are asking the Riverside County Board of Education to protect LGBTQ+ students against attacks on their rights by local school boards. Schools should be safe spaces for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
On Wednesday, October 4, 2023 Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest organizers, volunteers, and community partners came together to show support, make public comments, and ensure that the Board of Education knows we stand with LGBTQ+ students and want safe school environments for all.
Humanitarian Crisis at the Border
On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously declared the lack of federal resources for asylum seekers a humanitarian crisis. They also made several recommendations. The vote follows recent public concern over migrants being dropped off in the San Diego County area near U.S. border agents.
Members of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest’s External Affairs team collected essential items to support asylum seekers who were temporarily in Imperial County and in need of basic hygiene and other supplies. Items collected included clothing, toiletries, activities for kids, baby care supplies, and menstrual hygiene products.
Monetary donations are still being collected: You can send monetary donations to the Brown Bag Coalition in Imperial Valley. They accept donations via Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle sent to [email protected].
There is Still Time to Support our Stand Now! Campaign!
On Thursday, October 12, 2023, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest was joined by Event Chairs Drs. Stacy and Benjamin Hulley on the Honorary Committee for the 32nd annual Stand Now! Campaign to fuel the Action Fund's vital electoral, education, and advocacy programs. The funds raised through the Stand Now! Campaign directly translated to more voters reached — at home, on the phone, on the street — and more legislation passed.
The important funds raised at this event will help Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest continue the work decades in the making to elect leaders across San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial counties who have made California a refuge for people seeking safe and legal abortion. Indeed, over the past year, the Action Fund successfully lobbied the California legislature to pass 16 bills that protect and expand access to reproductive health care. This advocacy resulted in $200 million in increased funding measures for reproductive health services throughout the state. And through the Action Fund's get-out-the-vote efforts, we codified reproductive rights in California's constitution last fall.
With the presidential election just over a year away, we need to ensure that the Action Fund has the resources needed to continue building a pipeline of local, state, and federal leaders who support everyone's right to make their own health care decisions.
If you missed the Stand Now! event, there is still time to support our Stand Now! Campaign. Please visit www.voteforchoice.org/standnow for more information on how you can donate.
Empower Your Birth Workshop
On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest, in partnership with the Sankofa Birthworkers Collective and The Village House, hosted Empower Your Birth: A Workshop on Understanding Birthing Advocacy & Choices at the Civil Rights Institute in Downtown Riverside.
The workshop was informative and interactive, and attendees had opportunities to engage and ask questions. Over 15 people attended, and came away with a better understanding on how to prepare themselves for different birthing possibilities, how to interact with medical providers while pregnant, and ways to rely on their surrounding community both during and postpartum.
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest’s Virtual Day of Action
On Thursday, October 19, 2023 Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest brought together community partners, volunteers and allies for a virtual gathering where regional updates, information on the ongoing "I'm for Planned Parenthood” campaign, and ways to get involved in our 3 county region were shared.
It was replete with conversations about the ongoing attacks on abortion rights, our local advocacy campaigns, and was closed out with a swag & gift card giveaway.
You, too, can join this important conversation online by posting on your social media using our toolkit at bit.ly/imforpp.
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