Pacific Palisades Democratic Club to Host Virtual Garden Party

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

The Pacific Palisades Democratic Club will host its annual Garden Party virtually for the second year in a row on Sunday, September 19, from 2 to 5 p.m.

In recent years, a club member in the Riviera lent their home for attendees to mingle with local representatives and other club members in a garden party setting. Due to a surge of the COVID-19 delta variant, the event will be held virtually again this year. The event has served as part of the club’s efforts to bring the community closer to local officials.

“Before COVID, it was specifically designed to be a time when you could mingle with your elected officials, so we wouldn’t have them speak a long time, but they would come and just chat so that you could personally ask your questions,” PPDC Vice President Janet Turner said to the Palisadian-Post. “We do miss that … now, they’ll speak and we will take people’s questions in advance as well as the day-of.”

This year’s guest speakers include Congressmember Ted Lieu, Assemblymember Richard Bloom, Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Councilmember Mike Bonin, LAUSD Board of Education Vice President Nick Melvoin and others.

Lieu is slated to discuss the $3.5 trillion economic plan, John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (which he co-sponsored) and American Rescue Plan. Kuehl will discuss housing and serving the homelessness, as well as climate change and its impact on fires, electricity and water.

Melvoin will discuss the 2021-22 academic school year, COVID-19 protocols and general LAUSD updates, while Bloom will address a number of different bills.

Turner said attendees can enjoy musical performances by Buffalo Romeo during this year’s virtual event, a singing duo comprised of former Palisadian and 1972 Palisades Charter High School alumni Sheldon Jones and his step-grandson Keenan Dorn. The event will feature their songs “Big Money,” “(If It) Ain’t About Love” and a reprise of “Hang on Ruthie.”

Throughout the event, PPDC will also be having its first-ever raffle for a chance to win prizes from local favorites, including $100 gift certificates to Kayndaves, Casa Nostra and K Bakery.

Last year, PPDC Vice President of Communications Adam Wolman told the Post that instead of the usual 100 or 120 attendees, there were 140 people in attendance: “We were thrilled to see so many supporters joining in and stepping up best we all could.”

A single ticket costs $35, and a ticket for two or more attendees will cost $50.

For more information, visit palisadesdemclub.org.