Bob Platt for ACDC Chair

Removing Barriers to Participation in ACDC

Removing barriers to participation in public, community, and political events has long been recognized as a core Democratic value- and implemented by ACDC in many ways. For example, we try to hold meetings in ADA compliant rooms, providing translation services at key events, either for the hearing impaired or for those for whom English is not a first language, and respecting all religious faiths by not scheduling voting or other key events on major religious holidays which would prevent people from participating. (e.g. caucuses don't offer absentee balloting as an option).

On this last point, ACDC traditionally held its School Board Caucus on both a Thursday night and on Saturday in part to accommodate voters who could not participate on Saturday due to religious practices. Some people proposed to the ACDC Steering Committee that we should drop the Thursday night voting in order to conserve volunteer work load, and I argued against that move because of the unfairness to, among others, Jewish voters. The 2006 School Board Caucus was held only on Saturday and drew a lower voter turnout and letters of complaint from the Jewish Community as a result. A major reason why I volunteered to be School Board Caucus Director was to restore the Thursday night voting. In 2008, approximately 1,000 voters came on Thursday night, and it is once again recognized as an important part of the School Board Caucus.

As Chair, I will continue to be aware of scheduling decisions that may disinfrancise segments of the Arlington Democratic community, and will work to ensure that ACDC picks meeting locations and times that do not create unnecessary barriers to participation by members of religious groups, people with physical challenges, or similar factors. Please vote on January 6!
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