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Archives for September 2012

Garage Sale Politics and Why Obama Will Get My Vote

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Today, during a multi-family garage sale on my street, I met a rather vocal Republican (no shocker there) and his wife. They were taking quite an interest in a painting I had leaning against my car — that is until the man saw my Obama 2012 bumper sticker.

He stood up, pointed at it and grumbled. I asked with a laugh if the bumper sticker was a deterrent to buying the picture and he replied, “Sorta. Yeah, it is.”

He continued, much to his wife’s chagrin: “Just do me a favor. Just watch the movie, and you can see the direction he is trying to take this country.”

The movie I can only imagine he’s referring to is Dreams From My Real Father, an anti-Obama DVD of which 1.5 million copies have reportedly been sent — unsolicited — to voters.   [Read more…]

‘Won’t Back Down’ Film Pushes ALEC Parent Trigger Proposal

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by Mary Bottari and Sara Jerving /PRWatch.Org

Well-funded advocates of privatizing the nation’s education system are employing a new strategy this fall to enlist support for the cause. The emotionally engaging Hollywood film “Won’t Back Down” — set for release September 28 — portrays so-called “Parent Trigger” laws as an effective mechanism for transforming underperforming public schools. But the film’s distortion of the facts prompts a closer examination of its funders and backers and a closer look at those promoting Parent Trigger as a cure for what ails the American education system.

While Parent Trigger was first promoted by a small charter school operator in California, it was taken up and launched into hyperdrive by two controversial right-wing organizations: the American Legislative Exchange Council(ALEC) and the Heartland Institute.

(Editors Note: this film is being promoted in San Diego by a group calling itself “Up for Ed”. They’re hosting a premiere this week, with a “panel” that, interestingly enough, includes not a single teacher. You can read about Up for Ed’s involvement with so-called reformer Michelle Rhee in this excellent article by San Diegan Aaron Belfer.)    [Read more…]

The Dove and the Cockerel: Chapter 2

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The chirping of his pager awakened him from a deep and peaceful sleep. In his dream state, the incessant beep, beep, beep was not, however, a pager, but a smoke detector alerting him to the fire, now all around him in his dream.

Damn it. What a time to be buck-naked with Sister Carol Anne, and why the Hell is she more interested in a recipe for salmon mousse than getting out of this burning walk in closet? were his dreamy, half-awake thoughts.

His mind pulled him up to a conscious state. Awake now, he realized it was the pager which had triggered a rather bizarre set of images, now mere fragmented memories.

“I should really see a shrink,” he muttered to himself.   [Read more…]

Obama Supporters to ‘Welcome’ Mitt Romney on Saturday in Del Mar

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The word is out. Mitt Romney’s back in California, looking for more money to keep the sinking ship that is his campaign afloat. And local Organizing for America volunteers and Obama supporters are gathering in Del Mar early Saturday afternoon to “Welcome” the GOP candidate as he kicks off this trip inDel Mar. Starting at12:30 Democrats, led by San Diego County Chair Jess Durfee, will be holding a press conference at the corner of Carmel County Road and Ted Williams Freeway (56) to discuss what’s at stake in the November election.   [Read more…]

The Starting Line — Study Paints a Stark Picture of Economic Reality in San Diego

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An analysis released yesterday by the Center for Policy Initiatives based on recently released census data shows more than a third of San Diego County residents are living with economic hardships. The report says that across most industries in San Diego County, the spending power of the average paycheck is dropping, with inflation-adjusted earnings decreasing in 10 of the region’s 15 largest industries, compared to 2007, and more people falling into poverty in last year.
Other Stories in Starting Line Today: The Art of Park(ing) Day, San Diego’s Largest Rally Ever Against WalMart , Lim(p)baugh Blames Shrinking Penis on ‘Feminazis’, Imperial Beach MediPot Supporters Beat the Bushes, Quail Brush Power Plant Foes to Rally, North Park Officially Hip Now and so much more! Come on inside and catch up!   [Read more…]

The CalFresh Challenge: Could you live on $34.31 per week?

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By Lorena Gonzalez / Center for Policy Initiatives  Blog

From September 9th – 15th, CPI board member Lorena Gonzalez, Secretary-Treasurer of the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, participated in the CalFresh Challenge. “The goal is to raise awareness and understanding around the challenges faced by millions of Americans receiving CalFresh/SNAP benefits. The average benefit in California is about $4.90 per person per day, or about $34.31 per week.” This blog post compiles how Lorena Gonzalez ate for one week living on that amount.

When I agreed to attempt to live on a food stamp budget for a week, I knew it would be tough. But, I didn’t realize that one of the toughest challenges would be time. In order to maximize my $34.31 budget for the week, I had grand ideas of going to a farmers market and two or three different stores to capitalize on weekly specials. In my first lesson of the working poor, I was reminded that the Saturday Farmers Market would be impossible to get to if I was scheduled to work, which I was. So, I woke up this morning on a budget with no food.   [Read more…]

Field of View: Under the Boardwalk

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OK, so the walk along the Mission Beach boardwalk doesn’t lead to under anything at all, but whenever I’m there that song by The Drifters always pops into my head.

Here are some pictures from two different trips. In addition to a surprisingly quiet Belmont Park, I was able to catch the sunset and — man, oh man! –what a sight. Putting politics aside for a moment, we live in a beautiful world.

All photos by Annie Lane   [Read more…]

Caravan for Peace Comes to the USA: From the Carnage of the Bi-National Drug Wars, a Quest for Justice and Dignity

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By Enrique Morones (borderangels.org)

After a month on the road, bringing an inspirational message of justice and dignity to dozens of cities across the country that have been ravaged by America’s failed war on drugs and other harmful policies, the Caravan for Peace finally rolled into Washington, D.C. this past week to conclude its historic journey.

The 150-member caravan has been crisscrossing the United States since early August, sharing stories and testimonies about the pain that so many have suffered as a result of the war on drugs. Led by Mexican poet Javier Sicilia, whose son Juan Francisco was murdered in Mexico last year, the caravan’s mission is to bring attention to five critical elements affecting relations between the United States and Mexico: the failed war on drugs, money laundering, arms trafficking, the need for humane immigration policies, and building closer ties between the two countries.   [Read more…]

San Diego City Council Passes Two Measures to Hold Banks Accountable for Abandoned Homes

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Certain circles of San Diegans are celebrating. The article in the UT San Diego yesterday [Wed. Sept. 19] said it all:

“The San Diego City Council Tuesday unanimously approved two out of three ordinances designed to keep banks accountable for distressed homes.”

The two ordinances passed will arm San Diego with more methods and ways to monitor and hold property owners responsible for abandoned properties, and they also will require banks that conduct business with the city of San Diego to provide information on lending, foreclosures and service to minority communities. The third ordinance will not be discussed until October.

Progressives who worked on these issues are giving thanks to the leadership of Councilmembers Todd Gloria and Tony Young. A broad coalition had come together to apply pressure and the San Diego City Council passed the Abandoned Properties Ordinance and the Responsible Banking Ordinance the same evening.   [Read more…]

San Diego For Free – Canyon Hikes, Exploring the Peaks and Valleys of San Diego County

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A weekly column dedicated to sharing the best sights and activities in San Diego at the best price – free! We have a great city and you don’t need to break the bank to experience it.

San Diego has an amazing breadth of natural features: coast, mountains, deserts, oceans, lakes, rivers, and much more. If you’re looking for a good way to get acquainted (or reacquainted) with the natural side of San Diego County check out the Canyoneer Hikes from the San Diego Natural History Museum.
  [Read more…]

Escondido Mayor Promises Controversial Check-points Will Be “Strengthened” While Police Chief Placed on Leave

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Local Residents Rally in Support of Police Chief While Mayor Disputes Connection with Check-points

Politics inside the City of Escondido continue to confuse and confound outsiders. But we know several things:

We Need Obama to Pick Supreme Court Justices for You and Me

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I read a little essay the other day about Black clergy telling their flock not to vote in this election because Obama backs same-sex marriage – as though as president of the Land of the Free he should not politically and morally stand up for people who simply seek equality.

The flock was also told, in an effort to keep them away from the polls, that Romney is a Mormon, a religion one of them referred to as a cult, that once banned men of African descent, not to mention women of any descent, from entering its ministry. I couldn’t help but wonder, even if a brother was allowed in the priesthood of the church, what he’d say to a congregation of Latter Day Saints beyond “Damn, I must be at the wrong address!”

Anyway, it was all nonsensical to me and I can only hope that the flock takes time to reflect and realize that the proverbial Adam and Steve is absolutely no threat to the sanctity of matrimony in a world that claims “The third time’s a charm.” And isn’t it a fact that one religion demonizing another is like the pot calling the kettle black? We don’t need that.   [Read more…]

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