October 26, 2020
Ms. Magazine 10/6/2020 by Susan Rose Gender equality in elected office sets the stage for gender equity on boards and commissions, as well as legislation that improves the lives of women and children. And U.S. Senator Kamala Harris is no exception. As Harris has risen through the pipeline of elected offices, she has focused on a range of criminal justice issues—including eliminating the rape kit backlog. When I retired from elected office, I became involved with an organization […]
October 19, 2020
Though progress has been made in some areas, today we’re still debating women’s rights and gender equality, trying to convince disparate communities and governments of all levels that women play a critical and necessary part of the world, and should be considered as such. I have included the link to an article published in Women’s eNews titled, “World Leaders Should Champion Gender Equality” by Nisha Varia, a women’s rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. […]
June 19, 2019
As county Board Supervisor from 1999 to 2006, one of Susan’s significant achievements was to initiate the Safe Parking Program in Santa Barbara County. The program enables homeless people to sleep safely in their cars or vans at night in designated parking lots. The program, now operated by an organization called New Beginnings Counseling Center, has expanded to include the City of Goleta, and some unincorporated areas in Santa Barbara County. As it is becoming […]
March 4, 2019
A private reception was held for Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, Eli Saslow, at the home of Susan Rose before his public lecture co-presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures and the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion and Public Life, at UCSB Campbell Hall. Saslow discussed his new book Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist, the powerful story of Derek Black, who was raised to take over […]
October 4, 2017
While a Santa Barbara County Supervisor representing the 2nd District, Susan Rose led a successful two year collaboration with the Trust for Public Lands and county staff to preserve in perpetuity over 200 acres of undeveloped land located in the San Marcos Foothills. The land includes a unique habitat, natural resources, and breathtaking views just northeast of Santa Barbara. It is known today as the San Marcos Foothills Preserve. On October 4th, 2017 elected officials, […]
February 8, 2017
I marched in New York with my BFF Louise and her granddaughter Zoe. My daughter Carrie and her son, Levi, marched in LA. We tweeted each other across the country and across generations. As a part of feminist history forever, the march was an energizing and inspiring experience.
January 18, 2017
(WOMENSENEWS)–With the election of Donald Trump to the presidency and his conservative agenda, the American women’s rights movement is organizing for battle. The Trump campaign for president had no platform reflecting women’s issues, a major omission for activists long advocating for a feminist agenda. Many of Trump’s most visible supporters were anti-choice and opposed to funding Planned Parenthood. Others articulated right wing ideology that included repealing the Affordable Health Care Act, rounding up immigrants to […]
December 24, 2016
Dear Ben, Cole, Avi and Levi, It was eight years ago that we first volunteered for Hillary Clinton’s campaign for President. Like many we longed to see a woman become president, but we supported her for one essential reason- we believed in her ability to govern. On Nov. 8th, our dream collapsed. Despite the fact that Hillary won the popular national vote, she lost the necessary 270 votes in the electoral college. Many like ourselves, […]
November 16, 2016
Nancy Cohen, historian and author, published Breakthrough, the Making of America’s First Woman President this year in advance of the election and appears this week at the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee to talk about the results. Her writings on women and American politics have appeared in mainstream publications like the Guardian, the Los Angeles Times, and the New Republic. Having taught at Occidental College, Cal State Long Beach, and UCLA, she sits on the […]
July 29, 2016
(WOMENSENEWS)—Hillary Clinton made history this week at the Democratic National Convention by becoming the first woman to receive the nomination for president of the U.S. by a major political party. Thousands of Democratic delegates, including me, rose to the occasion during the historic moment in Philadelphia to give her a standing ovation. I first volunteered for Clinton eight years ago, convinced then that she was the most qualified candidate to become the U.S. president. This […]
July 21, 2016
I ran to be a district delegate for Hillary Clinton at the Democratic presidential convention, which starts next week. The election was done by caucus on May 1, a process where registered members of political parties voted for candidates by selecting delegates to represent them at the convention. In California, 317 district-level delegates and 30 alternates were elected in 53 Congressional districts. For most of the electorate, the process is a confusing one. No formal […]
June 14, 2016
I have worked in politics most of my adult life, in various capacities. I have walked districts and knocked on doors; raised funds for candidates; dialed for issues and candidates and volunteered for organizations like Planned Parenthood. I have created political action committees to support women candidates and feminist issues; and I have run for office and won. Most of those efforts were played out in primary or general elections. When the email came to […]