By Doug Porter
Mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher’s campaign has had their fair share of issues over past six weeks or so. The former assemblyman is taking hits from both the right and the left; direct mail pieces have flooded city mailboxes seeking to exploit what polling says are the front runner’s vulnerabilities.
I’m not persuaded that these efforts are working, despite the fact that I share the sentiment behind them.
But I’ve found common ground with the Fletcher campaign’s refusal to participate in the latest exercise in “transparency journalism” at UT-San Diego. Snoop dog reporter Trent Seibert‘s latest exercise in lunacy includes a stab at rounding up of mayoral candidates’ college transcripts.
Fletcher’s campaign refused to play along.
In a brief interview last week, Fletcher spokeswoman Rachel Laing said the transcripts weren’t relevant to the mayor’s race. U-T Watchdog also approached Fletcher directly, and he responded simply, “No.”
Do voters really need to know about whether somebody participated in marching band or advanced surfing classes?
One candidate apparently thinks so.
Faulconer said his willingness to make public his transcript showed a bright-line contrast between him and Fletcher
“You can’t be trusted to lead San Diego as mayor if you’re not willing to be fully transparent during this campaign,” Faulconer said.
Another candidate said he had nothing to hide.
“I’m proud of my accomplishments — being the first in my family to attend college, my San Diego State degree, and my record of public service,” Alvarez said in a statement. “I have nothing to hide. My background speaks to who I am and I’m not afraid to be open about it.”
I‘m perfectly aware of the argument that such ‘transparency’ makes a statement about a candidate’s….something or another. Pish-posh.
I would hope we can elect humans who might have made a not-good decision or two while they were in college. Maybe they smoked a joint. Maybe they got drunk at a frat party. Maybe they got a D in ballroom dancing when they were 19 years old. I don’t care.
UT-San Diego is currently running a poll asking their readers if candidates should make school transcripts public. Two thirds of the people voting say “no”.
I’ll take that sentiment one step further and say even asking the question demonstrates just how bad UT-San Diego has become as a vehicle for journalism.
What’s next? Colonoscopy results?
While I’m Selling Out to the Fletcher Campaign…
I’m pleased to announce that the Fletcher campaign forwarded their candidate’s answers to our Virtual Mayoral Debate questions yesterday. I strongly recommend that you take the time to read our daily questions and their answers.
The virtual forum presents the candidates’ verbatim responses that we believe reveal crucial information about their approach to some of the issues facing San Diego.
Candidate Kevin Faulconer’s answers continue to be represented by an image of the empty chair used by Clint Eastwood in his performance at the 2012 GOP convention. (It’s never too late to play, Kevin!)
DiFi (Maybe) Sees the Light on NSA Snooping
The headline at the Foreign Policy blog tells the story all by itself:
‘We’re Really Screwed Now’: NSA’s Best Friend Just Shivved The Spies
The most stalwart defender of this country’s intelligence operations in Congress has long been California Senator Diane Feinstein.
As revelations and accusations have piled up against the scope and nature of the National Security Agency’s collection efforts, the Senator has been their best defense, assuring the press that their activities were all legal, misunderstood, or simply exaggerated.
She even stood by the agency when revelations about wiretaps involving Mexico’s and Brazil’s governments (legit) activities were revealed. Feinstein’s been at the forefront of the ‘shoot the messenger’ (Edward Snowden/Wikileaks) crowd.
From Foreign Policy’s The Cable blog:
One of the National Security Agency’s biggest defenders in Congress is suddenly at odds with the agency and calling for a top-to-bottom review of U.S. spy programs. And her long-time friends and allies are completely mystified by the switch.
“We’re really screwed now,” one NSA official told The Cable. “You know things are bad when the few friends you’ve got disappear without a trace in the dead of night and leave no forwarding address.”
In a pointed statement issued today, Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Dianne Feinstein said she was “totally opposed” to gathering intelligence on foreign leaders and said it was “a big problem” if President Obama didn’t know the NSA was monitoring the phone calls of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She said the United States should only be spying on foreign leaders with hostile countries, or in an emergency, and even then the president should personally approve the surveillance….
…Perhaps most significant is her announcement that the intelligence committee “will initiate a review into all intelligence collection programs.” Feinstein did not say the review would be limited only to the NSA. If the review also touched on other intelligence agencies under the committee’s jurisdiction, it could be one of the most far-reaching reviews in recent memory, encompassing secret programs of the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, agencies that run imagery and spy satellites, as well as components of the FBI.
Truth Dig editor Robert Scheer’s response to the California Senator’s change of heart is to wonder whether or not she and President Obama, who now admit how little they knew about certain NSA conduct, will change their accusatory approach towards Edward Snowden.
… the fact of the matter is that [Feinstein] was clued in only thanks to the public service performed by Snowden in exposing the NSA’s despicable behavior. In June, Feinstein rushed to condemn Snowden as a traitor, saying, “I don’t look at this as being a whistle-blower. I think it’s an act of treason. … He violated the oath. He violated the law. It’s treason.” She should now apologize to Snowden for honoring his oath to protect the Constitution.
But what of Feinstein’s dishonoring the Constitution? If Feinstein is “totally opposed” to the surveillance of foreign leaders, why has she given a blank check for such surveillance of most Americans, violating their rights under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that she has taken an oath to defend? That’s a question that also ought to be answered by the president, who should welcome Snowden back to his country and give him the Medal of Freedom for his public service.
It don’t think that’s gonna happen. But maybe it’s time to clean house. Let’s go back and look at the successes and failures of the Church Committee investigation of the spy world back in the 1970’s. It’d be a start.
Ch-Ch-Changes at City Hall
Interim Mayor Todd Gloria’s reorganization plan for San Diego’s executive branch was unanimously approved by the City Council yesterday.
On paper, the changes look good. The real test will come with the implementation of the changes.
From City News Service via KPBS:
Three new departments will be created: Planning, Communications, and Analytics and Performance Management; while management training will be implemented and a consultant hired to search for efficiencies within city operations.
The changes will make city departments and employees more efficient and accountable, Gloria said.
“I believe that it will help us save time and money and help us serve our constituents more effectively,” Gloria said. “I want to make clear that this is not a radical overhaul, but rather a series of strategic, common-sense tweaks that will help us run better.”
Food Stamp Cuts to Hit Over a Quarter Million San Diegans
Consider this: Nearly 450,000 people in San Diego County live under the poverty line, meaning they have a household income of less than $11,000 for an individual and $22,550 for a family of four.
As of November 1st, thanks to Congressional inaction and gridlock, nearly 270,000 of those people who managed to qualify for food stamp assistance (called CalFresh in California) will be seeing a 5% cut in their benefits.
Considering that CalFresh assistance is typically exhausted in the third week of the month, this means even more people will be turning to San Diego’s food banks, which already stressed.
From KPBS:
It’s a major hit to families who are already struggling, said Jennifer Tracy, executive director of the San Diego Hunger Coalition.
“These benefits are calculated in a very old formula that doesn’t actually give people enough dollars to spend on food for the month,” saidTracy.
Any hopes for Congressional action on this matter needs to be tempered by two things:
- Legislation currently (sort of) moving through the House proposes to cut another $4 billion annually from the food stamp program, along with changes restricting eligibility and work requirements.
- The Senate’s version of this act also cuts, but only to the tune of $4 million.
They’re Baaack. Ugh.
From Mother Jones:
Reports that the Mormon Church had given up the fight over gay marriage were premature. Earlier this year, Mother Jones and other news outlets noted the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was making a concerted effort to mend its tortured relationship with gay members and their families and to stay out of divisive political fights over gay marriage. The church sat out virtually every state ballot measure on the issue in 2012, helping assure that marriage equality bills passed in Maryland, Maine, Minnesota and elsewhere. It launched a website,mormonsandgays.org, to urge better treatment of LGBT members. Mormons even marched in pride parades in Salt Lake City.
Now that the 2012 election is over, and Mitt Romney, the nation’s most famous Mormon, is no longer running for president, it seems the church is back in the ring. This week, the Hawaii state legislature began a special session to consider a bill that would legalize gay marriage in the state. The church is actively working to kill that measure.
On This Day: 1956 – “The Huntley-Brinkley Report” premiered on NBC as the evening news show. The show replaced “The Camel News Caravan.” 1966 – The National Organization for Women was founded. 1971 – Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident in Macon, GA
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I’ve interviewed the top three mayoral candidates.
Aren’t there four running?
actually i think there are 16 on the ballot … and mike is an old family friend but he’s polling at 8% and wont make it to the run off.
I wish he was polling stronger but he’s not.
However he is making sure that the people who he represents have there voice heard and I think that is equally important.
I am very surprised at how well Alvarez is doing and I think he could be a real dark horse.
This is a very interesting election.
As an Associate Professor for a local college district, I have many questions regarding Nathan
Fletcher’s ballot description, derived in part from being appointed as a “Professor of Practice” at UCSD. This is a new title, apparently unique, created for Fletcher by someone at UCSD who perhaps thought “Lecturer” was not appropriate or lacked a certain gravitas for an aspiring politician.
What exactly does a “Professor of Practice” do, and what’s the value of this newly minted academic category?
Does one lecture? Do research? Prepare exams? Develop syllabi and presentations? Read and grade assignments? Attend academic conferences? Participate in faculty activities? Attend seminars? Publish research papers? Review journal submissions?
Basically: What were his responsibilities, in and out of the classroom?
This is not simply about qualifications. It’s about integrity.
And it’s easy to understand the allure of “professor.” San Diego is, overall, a highly educated region. Residents generously support our schools financially via votes on bonds. We attend and graduate colleges and universities at slightly higher rates than the state average: 30% of San Diegans have college degrees, vs. 27% statewide.
Given these factors, candidates wanting to call themselves “educators” is not new, even when it is patently false.
But going above and beyond, and bestowing the title “Professor” upon Fletcher, makes a hollow mockery of the teaching profession. Those who have earned degrees in education, taught for many years in classrooms as adjuncts and teaching assistants, and, if luck and budgets allow, become tenured instructors or professors, know how difficult it is to achieve this.
Teachers of every level should also be concerned that Fletcher has refused to release his college transcripts, for his years at California Baptist College. What is he hiding? As a “Professor,” presumably he knows the value of academic achievement and appreciates the rigorous standards that normally go into earning a degree. Is he not proud of his own record?
Unfortunately, if UCSD has somehow failed to thoroughly vet someone, this wouldn’t be the first time. The campus found itself embroiled in a similar controversy over another high profile “professor’s” qualifications 10 years ago, when Quincy Troupe, a well-regarded poet and instructor, resigned from his position after it was learned he had misrepresented his academic background:
“In early 2002, Troupe was named California’s first Poet Laureate and took office on June 11, 2002. A background check related to the new position revealed that Troupe had, in fact, never possessed a degree from Grambling; he attended for only two semesters in 1957-58 and failed most of his classes. After admitting that he had not earned a degree, he claimed to have studied Political Science, but there is no evidence that he ever did so, and he earned no academic credits whatsoever from Grambling. He resigned from the Poet Laureate’s position and retired from his post at UCSD rather than face an administrative review.” (from
There are some troubling similarities to the Fletcher appointment: both men, while talented in their endeavors, lacked the academic requirements for a full professorship. When this became public knowledge, they turned to Political Science as a fallback position. It is likely Fletcher’s title was derived from his 4 years of work as a legislator in Sacramento.
Troupe did the honorable thing and resigned. Fletcher needs to be called upon to do the honorable thing as well: release his transcripts to demonstrate how, exactly, he is qualified to claim the title Professor, or concede that this is a cynical form of administrative “grade inflation” to boost his public image, which devalues other’s academic efforts and achievements.
This year we have seen all too clearly what happens when a person conceals their true nature, and runs on a platform of deception. San Diegans won’t be fooled again; we deserve better from our next Mayor.
Here is a link to information about Fletcher’s alma mater.
From:
I have no issue with UCSD wanting to see Nathan Fletcher’s transcript. That’s relevant to the situation.
UT-San Diego is another story altogether.
I think an (old fashioned) analogy explains my position: It’s one thing to hand your bankbook to a bank employee in the process of a transaction. It’s another thing to give it to some guy on the street.
Fletcher is running on a public ballot as a “Professor.” It’s fair to inquire what his academic background contains that would qualify him for that title.
The city suffered enough under the duplicity of Filner, despite the alarms raised by myself and others when we became aware of his misdeeds. Better to ask for more scrutiny and information than not enough.
Fletcher could submit a summary of his transcripts and redact information he doesn’t feel necessary or relevant. But to flatly deny the request suggests something is amiss.
I think this is an inane question for a daily newspaper to be asking. Of any mayoral candidate. Even their readers agree with me. I can see verifying their degree. I can’t see whether they paid attention in class at age 19 as being relevant.
The only result of the UT “investigation” has been wisecracks about marching band classes and advanced surfing. This sort of low-brow reporting results in the trivialization of what could be serious discourse about what people stand for. It’s on a par with the Huffington Post’s “sideboob” headlines.
Is Nathan Fletcher a real college professor or educator? Nope, no matter what his college grades were.
There’s an article in the Reader today about how he and UCSD were using each other. His willful involvement in those kinds of relationships are relevant to questions of what kind of person he is today.
Agreed!
Sadly, Chancellor Dyne’s opinion has apparently been forgotten since he stated this in 2002, when Troupe resigned from UCSD, rather than face an investigation over his transcript kerfuffle: “His decision reflects our shared view that teachers are role models who must uphold the intellectual honesty we cherish as a community of scholars.”
Where is that UC community today? Will no one speak out and state the obvious: Fletcher is no scholar, and by trying to pass himself off as one, he is no role model.
Worse, his silence and reticence to share even an abbreviated view of his academic history demonstrates that he lacks candor, which is honesty in its most basic form.
Of note: Statement regarding Troupe’s resignation, from
UCSD Chancellor Robert C. Dynes said, in acceptance of the resignation, “Although I understand and agree with Quincy’s decision to step down, he will be greatly missed as a colleague and friend who brings prodigious talent to the classroom, to his writing, and to his role as a national figure in the arts. His decision reflects our shared view that teachers are role models who must uphold the intellectual honesty we cherish as a community of scholars.”
The resignation will go into effect at the end of this academic year. Until then, Professor Troupe will fulfill his teaching obligations, continue to perform extensive community service, and speak to student groups about the importance of education, creativity and integrity in their lives.
UCSD and Quincy got what they both wanted for a long time. UCSD’s Literature Department — like most humanities disciplines at that science- and engineering-based campus — was desperately underfunded and overworked, but from my office two door away I could see the parade of students hanging at that door waiting to get a word in to the radical artist and best-selling writer who lit them on fire. He lasted longer at UCSD than FletcherNathan will as a San Diego-based politician.
What a person does is what counts.
Thanks Bob- I use Troupe as an example of incomplete transcript review. There’s no doubt Troupe was a talented and dedicated teacher, and did the right thing in the end when questions were raised.
My concern is Fletcher has never demonstrated the same level of judgement or maturity, and lacks the capacity to admit he received this “professorship” based on personal connections and fundraising potential, not academic effort.
This situation cheapens the title “professor” (whether it is qualified “of practice” or not) and deceives the voters who see the title “Professor” in his ballot statement and believe it means something that clearly it does not.
Sure, I couldn’t agree more on the issue of the phony professoriate at UCSD. People work years to write their dissertations, get the Ph.D., and afterward serve on committees and continue to write in their fields to advance from asst. to assoc. and then the rank of full professor. It’s an insult to UCSD for this tin professorship to have been awarded. They’ll have to live with it, and try to figure how to justify the money they’re giving FletcherNathan.
You have to figure that UCSD threw the paper and money at FletcherNathan because it was not a science or medical or engineering chair, but a “practice” chair in some discipline related to p.r. and fundraising. Or, it was simply the university’s attempt to indirectly recognize Irwin Jacobs’ contributions to engineering by taking on part of his load of advancing this strange FletcherNathan.
We may see the “professor of practice” awarded by the university to Lindsay Lohan or to Kanye West or to Tom Clancy– after all, they’re only working in trades more or less close to the humanities and arts, that no longer count — but it’s a sure thing neither the School of Engineering or The School of Medicine will allow this bogus handout to someone who’ll bring the discipline into disrepute.
Giving the degree to FletcherNathan would be similar to the School of Medicine awarding one to a lawyer with a history of suing pharmaceuticals in class action suits. FletcherNathan is being rewarded for destroying 2-party politics and clear thinking. UCSD will have to live with him, though he’s probably not going to show up to teach, or do whatever work the school contracted for.