Hard Truths is a monthly newsletter about national, state, and local issues, with (sometimes sassy, other times serious) personal updates from the author – Heather Schmidt, M.PA. Heather is the owner of Heather Christena Schmidt Community Consulting, President of VC Voter Edge, and a busy Mom to three.
Well. We survived another month without getting nuked off the planet. So there’s that, right?
National Nonsense
Over the last few weeks, news about policy changes in the United States military has circulated, focusing on two specific issues relative to selective service (a.k.a. the draft). The first is that the age of selective service is being increased to 44, which is still drastically younger than other countries that have a military draft (such as war-torn Ukraine, who has barred men from leaving the country thru to the age of 60). The second is a more striking move: that in the coming months, the draft will be done automatically when young men come of age.
On one hand, it could be argued that in the world of today’s rising tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, these changes in draft policy were ultimately a foregone conclusion. On the other hand: good luck. More than 40% of Americans are obese, 53% cannot read at or above a 6th grade level, and some 15 million Americans have at least one autoimmune disease. Drafting people functionally incapable of what is ultimately involved in military service may prove to be a more challenging task than the Pentagon currently realizes.
And this is the folly of American foreign and military policy that relies on the war machine working like a well-oiled machine when it is, in fact, not.
Though problems arising from these types of military interventions and policy changes aren’t unique to the US, either. In Ukraine, the consequence of policies around men leaving the country while the war against Russia continues are that thousands upon thousands of men have left the country for work (such as in the case of seafarers), physically abandoning their families for years now so that they can avoid being stuck in the country, in essence leaving so that they may avoid the financial abandonment that comes with being unable to work.
From the Greatest State in the Nation
Do we need to talk about Eric Swalwell? I feel like we need to talk about Eric Swalwell.
People are acting so surprised about the fact that Eric Swalwell is a slime ball. Except me.
I’m going to assume every single person reading this knows the full extent to which Eric Swalwell went from California’s next Democrat governor, to dropping out of the race and resigning from Congress, in a matter of three days. If you don’t: sexual assault – including drugged rape – claims from sex workers and former staffers came to light, and the chips fell from there.
Swalwell has given me the ick for years, though. I could never forget when Roe was overturned by the Supreme Court, and Swalwell was all over Twitter/X telling women to sit down and let him fight for their rights. A little gross, and yet somehow he got away with it.
Now, most people are projecting Tom Steyer – a billionaire whose key talking point is to abolish ICE – will be California’s next governor. Steyer does have some common sense ideas for turning the state around, as we continue to lose residents by the thousands annually over rampant rises in costs of living and poor jobs choices. Other possible winners are Chad Bianco, Steve Hilton, and Katie-verbally-abuses-staff-Porter.
Right now, I think my vote is going to the guy from Oxnard because… Oxnard…
Just Local Stuff
Speaking of Oxnard, my council member is embroiled in an attempted recall election, and the City is about to spend months engaged in a ridiculous level of clownery related to it.
Aaron Starr has been the thorn in the City of Oxnard’s side since he moved here 11ish years ago, suing the City at every turn and engaging in measures to make changes, even when only a handful of people are interested in those changes. Notably, Oxnard has an historically low voter turnout, which means it doesn’t take much for Starr to move the needle on some issues.
How he eventually got elected to the city council? Such low voter turnout that he was able to win with just 28% of eligible voters casting a ballot for him.
There are a lot of things I – personally – agree with Starr on, though; and have been pleasantly surprised by his responsiveness in his 15 months in office. But several items he has voted on in that time have been antithetical to the type of fact-based policy council should be voting in line with. On several occasions, his opinions came before the evidence, and his votes would have been harmful had he not be the only one voting in that way.
This isn’t to say I think council members should always go with the flow and accept the status quo; but a balance has to be struck between being a productive gadfly, and harming your constituents on principle. I had hoped Starr would take the initiation of the recall process as a moment to reflect and change course, but (as of now) it appears he’s just going to double down.
In any event, Oxnard is going to be a circus this year.
A Bit About Me
… and on that note …
I’m running for office again! This fall, three seats are up for election at the Oxnard Harbor District. After months of conversations, and a lot of support from people that know the position intimately, I decided to do it.
Over the last few years, I have struggled to determine where I fit in the bigger picture of local politics and community advocacy. I volunteer my time around the community, have offered free services to struggling residents and businesses… but still, as I have continued to witness the very real struggles of working families in the greater Oxnard area, I knew I could do more.
As a Public Policy Advisor, I work every day advising policymakers and politicians all over the state and country on issues the Port directly deals with – from jobs creation to climate resilience, service delivery times to youth programming and best practices for infrastructure. I specialize in research and policy advisement, and know the Port will benefit from an independent, evidence-based approach to supporting the working families of the greater Oxnard area and our coastal marine habitat.
More info for those that are local or just curious at https://heather4harbor.com
Until next month!
Heather Christena Schmidt Community Consultations 
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