Thanks to Matt Pope, President of the Democrats of Napa Valley, for this wrap-up of their recent event.

Yountville Community Center, Yountville CA: On Saturday March 24, 2007, the Napa County Democratic Central Committee and the Democrats of Napa Valley launched their Inaugural Tamale Dinner to rave reviews!

In a season typically known for crab feeds, Napa County Democrats looked to shake things up a bit by serving up authentic handmade tamales. The tamales were expertly prepared by the El Capricho Association whose mission is to benefit their namesake community in Mexico that has been hit by hard times in recent years.

The keynote speaker was none other than California Democratic Party Chair Senator Art Torres (Ret.), who rallied the crowd with an impassioned speech about the importance of Democratic values and California’s new February primary – a positive step towards allowing greater diversity in the selection of the next president of the United States.  Chairman Torres challenged the group of grassroots Democratic activists present by pledging a four dollar ‘bounty’ for each newly registered Democrat the group can sign up.

The Tamale Dinner was a tribute to the Democratic Party’s tradition of inclusion and was a celebration of the heritage and contributions of Latinos in the Napa Valley.

Included among the honored guests were Napa Valley’s Latino elected officials including Mayor of American Canyon Leon Garcia, Calistoga City Councilmember Placido Garcia, Napa Valley Unified School District board members Frances Ortiz-Chavez and Jose Hurtado, and St. Helena Unified School District Member Ines DeLuna-Macias. The Napa County Democrats were also honored by a large contingency from the Veteran’s Home in Yountville as well as students from Napa Valley College.

Gifts of wine baskets and a shirt autographed by Chairman Torres were raffled off to the crowd.

The Tamale Dinner proved to be a great success not only in terms of raising funds for grassroots Napa County Democrats, but also in providing a fun night full of great food, great speakers and a celebration of family, diversity and Democratic values in the Napa Valley.   

Comments

[David Serrano]

Jan. 9, 2007 is the 150th anniversary of the last great San Andreas earthquake in Southern California, a magnitude 7.9 event that shook the entire region. The earthquake ruptured more than 225 miles of the fault from Parkfield (Central California) to the Cajon Pass, with horizontal displacements up to 9 meters in the Corrizo Plain. However, the southernmost segment of the fault, from the Salton Sea through the Coachella Valley to San Bernardino, has not ruptured in more than 300 years. In 1906, the great San Francisco earthquake ruptured more than 300 kilometers of the San Andreas fault, with horizontal displacement up to 6.4 meters.

It is a fact Southern California will be jolted by a giant earthquake. All scientists agree the "Really Big One" is inevitable. Geologic studies reveal the S.A.F. is currently under extreme pressure. L.A. County is the most populated county in the U.S.A. And, L.A.C. is completely unprepared for the "Really Big One". Nobody is saying to run down the street screaming: "Earthquake! Aaahhhhh!" Instead, be educated and be prepared. The “City of Angels” is barely over 200 years old. Los Angeles is a very young city by world standards. "L.A. and S.B. Counties” have NEVER been as populated as they are today. 300 years ago, American Indian tribes lived upon this land. For example: The Cahuenga Indians once held ceremonies on the grounds, where the Hollywood Bowl is now located.

Look on a map of Southern California. The San Andreas fault runs along the north side of the San Gabriel Mountains, in the high desert. Start at the north-west corner of L.A. County and go eastwards: the San Andreas fault runs under the 5 freeway by Gorman, then under the 14 freeway by Palmdale. It continues past Wrightwood, under the 15 freeway. The San Andreas fault creates the San Gabriel Mountains, while building the San Bernardino Mountains. The S.A.F. curves southwards through San Bernardino and Coachella Valley, shaping the land all the way to where Baja California separates from Mexico. It continues under the water, creating the Gulf of California. The San Andreas fault is no joke. When the “Really Big One” strikes, people shall fear and respect the earth-quaking power of plate-tectonics.

In Japan, they built some of the most “earthquake resistant” architecture on the planet; yet, up in the Hollywood hills, there are many houses built on stilts, along with mansions, hanging off the side of the Santa Monica Mountains. Many homes and mansions in Pacific Palisades are in serious peril. Parts of Malibu and Pacific Palisades will be wiped off the map, reminiscent of the deadly La Conchita landslide. The very earth beneath people’s homes will slide from under them. Whole communities will be wiped out. Communities along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains will suffer great damage. Northern Glendale, north La Canada-Flintridge all the way east to northern Glendora, have communities built on high, steep terrain, up in the foothills. Aqueducts will be torn asunder. Water and power will be off in many areas of LA, SB and RS counties. Meanwhile, simultaneous fires rage out of control in the San Gabriel, Santa Monica and San Bernardino mountains. Mountain communities will be threatened with annihilation by wildfires. Desert cities like Palmdale will suffer great damage. In Los Angeles, on Mount Washington by Highland Park, there are many houses built on stilts that are in serious peril. City Terrace is an old neighborhood in the hills of East LA, with a lot of rickety old buildings. In Glendale, Pasadena & Altadena old buildings, freeways and bridges will be destroyed and severely damaged. An 8.0 [or bigger] along the S.A.F. will be unlike any other earthquake “L.A. County” and “S.B. County” has ever experienced. But, if the vast majority of Southern Californian, "Angelinos" are prepared, then we can save many lives and lessen the amount of suffering and lamentations. With an 8.0 earthquake [or bigger] along the S.A.F. many parts of LA County will have no electricity. Food will go bad. Stores will not have enough supplies. Therefore, people must ALREADY HAVE bottled water and canned goods on hand. Water and power will be off throughout much of L.A. County: L.A. County emergency workers will be overwhelmed in the North. What will happen in the South? Fires and riots? Mayhem in the streets? Maybe, or maybe not. In Compton, there is almost no business and no jobs. In Lincoln Heights, at least there is the DMV, along with stores, shops and fast food restaurants. You don't see that in Compton. Business looks abandoned.

I will tell you this: Nobody is going to save us. We must save ourselves. FEMA will NOT save us. Many in the California National Guard will be in Iraq. Therefore households in Southern California must already have the necessary supplies stashed away, in an easily accessible place. Freeways will be destroyed. Water and power will shut off. Food will go rotten. There will be simultaneous fires in San Bernardino, Riverside, the Santa Monica Mountains, the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Bernardino Mountains. We need fire fighters and forest rangers for proper land management. Fire fighters should be lighting backfires, clearing dry brush from around “dry-brush areas” near homes and businesses. Households must already have bottled water, canned goods and a can opener stashed away. Crank radios are the best because batteries will be scarce. People must prepare.

It is simple for any household to prepare for the inevitable, giant earthquake in our collective future. To prepare for the "Really Big One", go to a store like Smart & Final, Costco or your local Super Market; and purchase some water and canned goods. Bottled water stays good for around 2 years. At Smart & Final, I bought 7 sealed 3gallon bottles of water in November of 2006 and they're good until 09/2008. You don't have to buy all of your supplies at once. You can accumulate your supplies week by week. "Store'em in a closet; and forget about'em." At Smart & Final, you can buy stacks of water, big cans of food and manual can openers. "Stash'em and forget'em, till you need'em." A "Bird Flu pandemic" breaking out in the next few years is theoretical and highly unlikely. Birds have always carried viruses. I say cook the stupid bird and eat it! Remember how “SARS” was going to "get us"?

A giant earthquake striking along the Southern California, San Andreas Fault is scientific fact. The “Really Big One” is for sure. Thus, we need to start a campaign of information: Those living in the danger areas must be especially vigilant. We need to invest in our police, sheriffs, firefighters, nurses and teachers. It is money well spent. (As long as there is as little waste as possible.) Don't be scared; be prepared. The California Lottery, along with “scratcher-tickets” and the multi-state Mega Millions Lottery is a deplorable waste of money. If 100% of that Lotto money went into essential state infrastructure we could hire more teachers, police, firefighters, nurses and fund more after school programs for kids with working parents, as well as fund nutritional classes for kids and families, emphasizing fruits, vegetables, milk and 100% juices over sodas and “junk-food” like chips and candy. We can raise some taxes in a fair and intelligent way, which does not "scare-off" corporations as well as other businesses, costing Californians their jobs. Also, a fair and intelligent tax will not overburden low-income and poor, working middle-class families. End the Lotto. If you want to gamble, go to a California Indian Casino. Las Vegas will lose power in the next great earthquake. The World Tsunami in 2004, and then New Orleans & the Gulf Coast in 2005 testify to the destructive potential of nature. Soon it will be our turn to suffer. Nevertheless, if we are prepared, we shall triumph over this inevitable adversity. God Bless the world.