Tramutola

06/09/2022

Want to defeat Trump supporting members of Congress?

We are looking for organizers for four California campaigns. Completely independent of candidates, we are focusing on grassroots organizing and outreach.

Know someone that is interested. Contact [email protected]

07/05/2017

Interesting op-ed. Would you agree?

https://nyti.ms/2uoHGEa

Our politics are broken because of ordinary people who are doing it the wrong way.

03/03/2016

Recruitment for our next TOLA class is taking place now. Interested? read more about how to apply here http://www.tolacademy.org/index.php/apply/

02/08/2016

http://www.publicceo.com/2016/02/attorney-general-opinion-bond-reform-needed/

02/04/2016

Protecting taxpayers' interests is important. It's worth taking the time to form a team of advisors who are independent of each other, and who will provide the district with independent analysis and assistance. Avoid "one stop shops."

Here are five questions anyone involved in the hiring of municipal finance advisors should ask of the potential firm:

1. What are your total costs in dollars, not percentages?
(Ask for an itemization of what this covers)
2. Do you do polling?
3. Do you do political consulting?
4. Have you read the Attorney General's opinion? Does the opinion impact your firm?
5. Have you lobbied the Legislature or encouraged school districts to vote against reforms or restrictions on municipal finance advisors?

02/04/2016

AG Kamala Harris released an opinion regarding questionable bond financing practices last week. Read the opinion here
https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/opinions/pdfs/13-304.pdf?utm_source=Attorney+General+Opinion+-+Bond+Reform+Needed&utm_campaign=AG+Opinion+Bond+Reform+Needed&utm_medium=email

05/28/2015

"Water or Milk"
http://www.sacbee.com/food-drink/article22438713.html =Morning_Newsletter

Part of nationwide efforts to discourage obesity in children, the city of Davis is requiring restaurants to first offer milk or water – not soda – with kids’ meals.

05/21/2015

Dear Friends,

Don't forget that The Organizing and Leadership Academy (TOLA) application deadline is tomorrow. If you know of anyone who is currently working on their application please remind them.

If applicants are having a difficult time getting their letters of recommendation to us by the deadline, we advise that they still submit an application and resume by tomorrow. If applicants have any questions have them contact our program director Christian Garcia at 831-707-4583 or [email protected].

Don't miss out on this life changing experience.

Learn more about TOLA by watching this video https://vimeo.com/123432078 or at www.tolacademy.org.

Thank you,

The TOLA Team

Hear from the founder, Larry Tramutola, director, Christian Garcia, and alumni member, Lolís Ramirez.

04/16/2015

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I’ve been involved in the rough and tumble world of politics for many years and I'm not innocent when it comes to aggressive campaigning. I have written my share of tough mail pieces that highlight my candidate’s strengths and have produced ads and mailers discrediting my opponent. All is part of democratic discourse.

However today we are seeing a different type of campaigning: more personal, more strident and more disgusting than ever before. If a candidate supports a woman's right to choose he or she may be described as a baby killer. if a person suggests that pension reform is needed they are vilified as “anti worker”. Democrats and Republicans who may occasionally cross party lines to attempt compromise and solutions to problems are viewed as sell-outs.

I was at a Democratic Central Committee meeting recently where a Democratic candidate was characterized as "a vile and despicable human being" for suggesting we needed to find solutions to the pension crisis. No one in attendance objected. In that gathering of Democratic partisans, there were many elected officials and more than a few potential candidates. What did they learn?

While the offending words may have been intended to rally the troops, they also sent a message that if you disagree you are vile; if you propose solutions that are not "politically correct" you are despicable. Will those present and future elected officials be willing to challenge the status quo? Will they be willing to work with others across party lines to find solutions to problems?

There are many vile and despicable human beings in the world, but labeling a political opponent as one because we do not agree with him or her on an issue, does not serve our democracy or our common values.

There are many people who I have worked hard to defeat. None of them were vile. None of them despicable. The people who choose to run for public office may not be perfect, but in the end our democracy depends on leaders working with others to find solutions to problems. Name calling and belittling those who choose to run, helps no one.

--
Larry Tramutola

01/28/2015

Learn about TOLA Graduates!

01/26/2015

Lots of new things happening this 2015, stay tuned!