We can’t meet but I wanted to at least fill you in on what’s happening in the Flagler County Democratic Party, the county, state and country.
Our physical office is shut down, but we’re still working behind the scenes. More on this below.
On the national level, I’m sure all of you watch the news and have caught Trump on one of his bizarre news conferences. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going to panic and open America up for business. On the one hand, millions are suffering from economic hardship. But there’s help on the way. The Senate seems to have reached a deal with Trump on trillion-dollar emergency legislation aimed at propping up the U.S. economy and giving relief to workers hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. That’ll help. But it won’t stop the virus unless we starve it by keeping apart and disinfected.
And remember one critical point. Earlier versions of the aid bill bailed out Trump’s big business allies including his family’s businesses. Nancy and Chuck Schumer held fast and got financial aid for working people and those in need. The vote is scheduled for later today.
On the state level, DeSantis was as slow as Trump to react but has now virtually shut down the state. In fact, he issued Executive Order 20-80 on Monday, March 23, directing all persons whose point of departure originates from outside the State of Florida in an area with substantial community spread, to include the New York Tri-State Area (Connecticut, New Jersey and New York), and entering the State of Florida through airports to isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time of entry into the state or the duration of the person’s presence in Florida, whichever is shorter. Wow, no more Northeast immigrants! A wall, maybe?
Or course, you know Flagler County and the cities have virtually shut down. Beaches, bars, restaurants included. We have only a couple of confirmed cases of the virus, but there’s no sense in taking a chance. Advice… Don’t listen to a word Trump says about drugs and cures. Listen to your doctor and Dr. Fauci, if he’s still allowed to speak. And as far as the search for TP… good luck!
So, the Flagler Dem Party is working online. We are using this downtime to get set for the full campaign… getting our databases cleaned up and getting everything ready to go full bore when we can. We are still asking for volunteers to get ready for the tough summer and fall campaign. We need voter protection teams ready to deploy to Flagler polling sites during the August primary, early voting and on Nov 3. We need phone bankers and canvassers. The will be something available for anyone who wants to help. We can train you online at home. We’ll use your talents when and where available. So contact me right here or call (386) 864-4386 and tell me how you can help.
We are kicking off a branding campaign. We will get yard signs and bumper/window stickers with positive messages about the Democratic Party. This branding campaign will help define us locally and will help Dems at state and national levels. The first signs will be given to our Ambassadors (financial supporters), precinct captains and volunteers. Then made available at our cost to the public.
A last very important subject… our local candidates are hard hit by the COVID-19 crisis. Their speaking venues are shut down and they surely can’t knock on doors and get petitions signed. So, we are going to promote them online as often as we can. Please support them by donating and volunteering. Here’s our slate so far.
Please. please contact our candidates and ask how you can help.
And the last point. Open the link below. You will see and hear how much it means to America that Democrats remain strong and united.
Follow Flagler County Democrats on Facebook and on our web site https://www.flaglerdemocrats.com/
Cocch
Mike CocchiolaChair, Flagler Democratic Executive Committee