2021-22 Resolutions

#7 Resolution #2022-4, passed April 2022

Censuring Mayor Khan for Participating in Hate Speech and Years-Long Association with Genocide Deniers

WHEREAS, it was recently revealed that Mayor Farrah Khan has had years-long relationships with Armenian Genocide denialists: a relationship with Ergun Kirlikovali since at least December 2019; whose hate speech towards Armenians has gone on for decades; and Erkan Demiragci, the President of the OC Turkish Americans Association, which has promoted Kirlikovali’s denialist events; Mayor Farrah Khan appointed Armenian-Genocide Denialists Kirlikovali and Demiragci to her Mayoral Advisory Committee, who are known to have been serving in February 2021; 

WHEREAS, Mayor Khan has had years-long relationships with the governments of Turkey and Azerbaijan, whose state policy is Armenian Genocide denial; the California Democratic Party has recognized the Armenian Genocide since 2001, as did President Biden recognize the Armenian Genocide in 2021; in 2021, Mayor Khan falsely claimed that Azerbaijan, a consolidated and repressive dictatorship, is a secular democracy; Mayor Khan actively opposed a City of Irvine resolution condemning the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey for their military attacks against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh and committing gross violations of human rights;

WHEREAS, Mayor Farrah Khan participated in hate speech towards Armenians, joking about Armenian Genocide with Kirlikovali, seen on video, and confirmed by Kirlikovali. 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democrats of Greater Irvine censure Mayor Khan for her participation in hate speech, supporting and promoting Armenian Genocide denialists and continued denial of the years-long relationship with Armenian Genocide denialists; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democrats of Greater Irvine call on the Democratic Party to hold hate speech toward Armenians to be as reprehensible as toward any other protected group, as well as condemn any relationships with Armenian Genocide denialists.

#6 Resolution #2022-3, passed March 2022

Opposing Evisceration of the Sunshine Ordinance.

WHEREAS California’s Brown Act requires that the public be provided with advance publication of agendas for meetings of local government bodies and adequate opportunity to comment at such meetings; and

WHEREAS in 2018, the Irvine City Council unanimously enacted the Sunshine Ordinance, expanding the notice requirements under the Brown Act, affirming the Staff report stating that: “The City, including its Council, its commissions, and its committees, exists to conduct the people’s business. That business is conducted most effectively when the public has the information and the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the city’s legislative and other decision-making processes”; and

WHEREAS transparency and public participation in government decision-making are essential to the democratic process and core values of the Democratic Party; and

WHEREAS the agenda for the Irvine City Council meeting of March 22, 2022, includes in Item 5.1, a proposal to eviscerate the Sunshine Ordinance by reducing by nearly fifty percent the current requirement that agendas be published 12 days in advance, as well as a proposal to severely restrict the current opportunities for public comment at Council and commission meetings, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that Democrats of Greater Irvine strongly oppose the proposals set forth in Agenda Item 5.1 and demand that Irvine City Council members vote to reject and defeat these proposals.

#5 Resolution #2022-2, passed February 2022

REQUEST THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ORANGE COUNTY (DPOC) FOLLOW TRANSPARENT AND OPEN PROCESSES FOR ENDORSEMENTS THAT INVOLVE CHARTERED CLUBS IN THE PROCESS 

WHEREAS, geographical chartered Democratic Party clubs like the Democrats of Greater Irvine (DGI) are in the best position to know local candidates and frequently provide significant financial and on-the-ground support to these candidates; and

WHEREAS, the local clubs are often best informed on the issues and politics in their geographical area and desire that their role be respected by having influence in the DPOC early-endorsement and standard endorsement processes; and

WHEREAS, the geographical clubs should have the opportunity to invite local candidates to club meetings to present their campaign ideas and answer questions from club members before a DPOC early-endorsement; and

WHEREAS, qualified candidates might choose to enter a local race after the primary election on June 7, 2022 and understand that an early endorsement might prevent such a candidate from receiving the DPOC endorsement.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democrats of Greater Irvine (DGI) request that the DPOC consider early endorsements for local nonpartisan races no earlier than June 14, 2022, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that local clubs be provided at least six weeks advance notice of any scheduled DPOC subcommittee vote on early endorsements in local nonpartisan races in order to schedule our own members’ opportunity to participate in the process.

#4, Resolution #2022-1, passed February 2022

SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRATS APPOINTING AND ELECTING DEMOCRATS

WHEREAS, Democratic party-endorsed elected officials and Democratic party leadership have the opportunity to inspire, recruit, and support new Democratic leaders in our communities; and

WHEREAS, Democratic-party endorsed elected officials have the ability to appoint Commissioners and Committee Members who not only influence policies but obtain experience and skills that assist them when running for and serving in elected office; and

WHEREAS, when Democratic party-elected officials appoint registered Democrats to Commissions and Committees and where Democrats support other Democrats for leadership roles on Commissions and Committees, Democratic policies get enacted and Democrats get elected,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Democrats of Greater Irvine (DGI) strongly encourages our Democratic party-endorsed elected officials and Democratic party leadership to recruit Democrats for, appoint Democrats to, and support Democrats in Commissions and Committees and that we disfavor the appointment of Republicans and those with other party affiliations, who do not share our values in these roles where Democrats, who do, are willing and able to serve.

#3, October 2021

SUPPORT BY DEMOCRATS OF GREATER IRVINE (DGI) FOR A PROCESS THAT INCLUDES DEMOCRATIC CLUBS IN THE SOLICITATION AND NOMINATION OF PROSPECTIVE AWARDEES BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ORANGE COUNTY

Whereas it is important for local Democratic clubs to be directly involved in support of their local elected officials and leaders within Orange County and where a club-based nominating process will serve to introduce the accomplishments of our local Democratic award nominees to a wider county audience;

Whereas it is incumbent upon the DPOC to increase awareness of the importance of local elections and encourage club participation in DPOC activities including, but not limited to, events like the DPOC Awards Dinner,

Whereas there is no description in the current DPOC bylaws of the process of nominating deserving Democratic leaders for any awards issued from the DPOC;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Democrats of Greater Irvine support a solicitation and nomination process be implemented by the DPOC to create an inclusive and transparent process for the selections of award-recipients of DPOC awards that includes direct club votes or a club representative to serve on the DPOC awards committee.

#2, June 2021 support of DPOC Resolution

ENCOURAGING SECONDS TO AGENDIZE ITEMS

Whereas, Democrats are often in the minority on City Councils, School Board, and various government boards, but often have a second or third elected Democrat on this same body and seek a second to bring an issue into a public debate,

Whereas debating an issue is a cornerstone of democracy and silencing a request to do so is undemocratic;

Whereas elected Democrats on any city council, school board or government body has a duty to their oath of office to examine issues in the public interest;

Be it Resolved that the Democratic Party of Orange County strongly encourages that any request from an elected Democrat to agendize a subject for public debate offer a second to Democrat requesting a second. By debating an issue, the community is educated on points from every side. And any issue can be defeated with a vote of the elected body; but failure to allow debate is not a core value of the Democratic Party.

#1, May 2021 Resolution

Adoption of District Elections in Irvine

WHEREAS Irvine, with about 287,000 residents, elects its Council members at-large; many smaller cities have already adopted district elections; and Irvine’s ratio at approximately 57,500 residents per elected Council member is much higher than the two next largest and next smallest cities, whose average ratio is approximately 37,600 residents per council member; and

WHEREAS Irvine Democrats believe that a healthy democracy is based on representative government, with all eligible voters able to participate in the election of their representatives. We oppose the culture of cronyism and corruption and demand transparency and accountability from our local government. District elections are recognized throughout the country as the most representative way to elect City government, and are supported by the California Democratic Party Platform; and

WHEREAS the influence of developer and special-interest PAC money and independent expenditures has historically dwarfed campaign contributions candidates have raised and spent on their own, which allows corporations to wield a disproportionate influence over local elections. District elections empower neighborhoods, create accountability, and make campaigns affordable while preventing corporations or special interests from controlling Irvine’s political agenda. District elections ensure that grassroots candidates can compete without needing to raise prohibitively large sums of money; therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that the Democrats of Greater Irvine urge that (1) Irvine adopt single-member Council districts plus a Mayor elected at-large citywide; (2) these districts be drawn by an independent panel of retired judges, for more equitable and direct representation; (3) City Council candidates be required to have resided in their district (made it their actual, primary, and voting residence) for at least six months before their election and during their entire tenure in that office; (4) election of a district’s Council member be limited to voters registered at addresses therein; (5) the Irvine City Council agendize and support or place a districting proposal on the ballot during the 2021 special election and (6) Irvine City Council members and Orange County Democratic elected officials support this resolution publicly and in writing.