The American Dream is the opportunity for families to own a home, access an excellent and affordable education, and find good jobs. This dream is only possible if we invest in education, public safety, and critical social services. But this dream is under attack as school days are being eliminated, social services for low-income families and seniors are being slashed to the bones, and university tuition continues to rise at unprecedented rates. Meanwhile, our elected leaders are doing little to protect and unify immigrant families and workers through comprehensive immigration reform. We can restore the American Dream by demanding that the wealthiest 1% of Californians pay their fair share in taxes and invest in the public good. The progressive Korean American voice can make an impact in this year’s elections and restore the American Dream. This is why 2012 is a critical election year.
On June 5 of 2012, Los Angeles voters approved Local Measures H and L, which maintain funding to schools, public safety, and critical social services. Volunteers ranging in age from high school to senior citizens at the KRC contacted over 20,000 voters to mobilize the Korean American community and make an early impact in the June elections. KRC sent informational voter guides to 20,000 registered voters in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, registered 1,458 new voters, and made 45 appearances in the Korean American press and talked about the need for voter engagement. Volunteers also contacted 3,196 voters over the phone and in person and helped 240 community members understand and participate in the elections.
On November 6, there will be a critical ballot measure called the “Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act,” in which voters can choose to raise taxes on those earning over $250,000 annually in order to restore $7 Billion of funding to public schools and critical social services. This budget bill will be a reflection of our community’s progressive values and is a step on the path towards restoring the American Dream. KRC will work to educate the community about ballot propositions and important issues in the fall. KRC plans to mobilize over 13,000 voters to the polls on November 6, 2012, and take back the American Dream.
We need your help phone banking, talking with your neighbors, talking with voters, and registering new voters every day. Consider getting involved and taking a stand for our communities! To get involved or for more information, contact Dayne Lee, Civic Participation Coordinator, at (323) 937-3708 or dayne@krcla.org.
Save the Date: KRC will be hosting a Community Town Hall on the morning of Saturday October 6th. Location and more details to come in the summer. For more information, please contact Dayne Lee, Civic Participation Coordinator, at dayne@krcla.org
