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A Weekend Trifecta for Activists – Defending Chicano Park, Building New Leadership, and Labor Solidarity

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I have no scandals to report on today. No political outrages that can’t wait. Instead, I want to pass along some success stories.

From Chicano Park to the Jacobs Center to Mission Valley and beyond, people stood up for noble causes and dedicated themselves to continued political action. There’s more to politics than working for a win in elections; community activism, education, and coalition-building go a long way toward getting desired results at the ballot box and improving opportunity.    [Read more…]

Progressive Activist Calendar – February 2-12, 2018

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There are forty-two events of interest to activists in San Diego over the next ten days. It’s safe to say the pace and intensity of progressive politics have not lessened as we enter into year two of Our Dear Leader.

I have a few observations to share before you get to the good stuff:

Superbowl Sunday is this weekend. I remember when it was something I looked forward to…
The Nunes Memo was released, and if you live in a fact-based reality, it was a dud…
ICE, aka, Immigration and Customs Enforcement are rapidly becoming the secret police…
  [Read more…]

Only One Voter in Rep. Duncan Hunter’s District Contributed to His Campaign

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Congressman Duncan D. Hunter’s dismal campaign finance reports have attracted national attention, and not in a good way. He raised a paltry $50,073 in the last three months of 2017 and spent $264,255, with $178,146 spent with five law firms. At the onset of 2018, the campaign had just $290,904 in the bank, less than half of what it did a year earlier.

Vape store owner Molly Sylvester was the sole donor living in the 50th Congressional District, contributing $2000 to the five-term Congressman’s re-election effort in the last three months of 2017. Other support came mostly from San Diego-area residents outside the district, D.C. lobbyists, and out-of-state political action committees.

Two strong Democratic opponents have emerged in the supposedly Ruby Red 50th, and both outraised Hunter, accord to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.   [Read more…]

Rightist Bordertown Patriot Provocateurs Plan Chicano Park Disruption

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A right-wing group calling itself Bordertown Patriots has announced plans for a “Patriot Picnic” at Chicano Park on Saturday, February 3. While they have couched their intentions in innocuous language, disavowed rumors of provocative actions, and deny any racial animus, a history of confrontations involving their followers suggests otherwise.

The advertised goal of these reactionaries is to remove the symbolic Aztlan flag flying in the park and replace it with an American flag. Their make-me-a-martyr style of organizing requires them to claim the park is a “no-go zone” for “patriotic Americans” and the U.S. Flag is therefore banned.

A similar event in September, promoted as a Pizza Party by many of the same right-wingers, drew a handful of participants who left under police escort after one of their group acted provocatively, attracting the attention of hundreds of peaceful counter-protestors in another area of the park.   [Read more…]

County DA Candidate Summer Stephan’s Paranoia About George Soros

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If you live in the Fox News bubble, billionaire George Soros is the devil incarnate.

More than a dozen fables about him have been debunked by the fact checkers at Snopes over the past two years, including allegations he bribed Democrats to trigger the most recent government shutdown, is grooming a Muslim Brotherhood candidate for governor, rigged voting machines in the 2016 elections, paid anti-Trump protestors, and funded Black Lives Matter.

Appointed District Attorney Summer Stephan is exploiting this particular paranoia in her re-election campaign. The first news article posted on her campaign website was an article about Soros from the far right Free Beacon website. She incorrectly suggested Soros is supporting her progressive opponent, public defender Genevieve Jones-Wright, in a recent candidate forum. And Summer’s fanboy twitter account brings up Soros paranoia like clockwork.   [Read more…]

The Koch Brothers Network’s State of the Union

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This past weekend the network of conservative plutocrats also known as the Koch Network met in Indian Wells, just a few hours northeast of San Diego. The area is a playground for the wealthy, and about as safe as it gets for those plotting to destroy democracy: 95.2% white, with 65.1% of residents (second highest in California) registered as Republicans.

It was their biggest conclave ever, going back to 2003 when the Koch brothers began convening like-minded donors twice annually. Their plans for the 2018 election cycle include spending close to $400 million to influence the mid-term elections, using the administration’s tax reform bill as bait. The group spent $250 million on politics in the 2016 elections, so it’s evident they are worrying about what’s coming in November.   [Read more…]

Local Democrats Get An Early Start – Progressive Activist Calendar, January 26 – February 4, 2018

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How can we make sure the Blue Wave washes some of the sludge out of local government?

By rolling up our sleeves and getting to work. Early. Like now. And that’s what the San Diego County Democratic Party and many local activists are doing. And there is still time for YOU to get in on the action.

It’s the middle of ‘winter’ in San Diego, and this calendar lists eight canvassing efforts, along with four forums giving people an opportunity to see candidates in person over the next week or so. Bravo!   [Read more…]

Nathan Fletcher, Candidate for District 4 County Supervisor: Build a Coalition for Change

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Democrat and former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher is running for termed-out Supervisor Ron Roberts seat in District 4. The outgoing Republican held that office since 1995, managing to get re-elected each time despite Democrats outnumbering Republicans his district 2 to 1.

Fletcher dropped out of politics a few years ago after a couple of angst-filled losses while taking flack for switching political parties. Most recently he was working for Qualcomm and teaching a class at UCSD. The urge to serve returned along with a long-term opportunity to end the GOP’s monopoly at the County level.

His opponents on the Democratic side in the June primary include former Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña and Attorney Omar Passons. The winner will likely challenge Republican Bonnie Dumanis in November. District 4 includes most of the city of San Diego, spanning La Jolla to Kearny Mesa, Encanto, downtown and Ocean Beach.   [Read more…]

Omar Passons, Candidate for District 4 County Supervisor: Policy Wonk With a Heart of Gold

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Part Three: The High Profile Democratic Candidates

Omar Passons is a first-time Democratic candidate running for termed-out Supervisor Ron Roberts seat. The retiring Republican held that office since 1995, managing to get re-elected each time despite Democrats outnumbering Republicans his district 2 to 1.

He’s a construction/land-use attorney lawyer and long-time North Park community activist running a campaign based more on ideas than partisanship.

His opponents on the Democratic side in the June primary include former Asssemblypersons Lori Saldaña and Nathan Fletcher. The winner will likely challenge Republican Bonnie Dumanis in November. District 4 includes most of the city of San Diego, spanning La Jolla to Kearny Mesa, Encanto, downtown and Ocean Beach.   [Read more…]

Lori Saldaña, Candidate for District 4 County Supervisor: The Truth Will Set You Free

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Part Two: The High Profile Democratic Candidates

Former Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña is running for termed-out Supervisor Ron Roberts seat, a Republican who managed to get re-elected despite Democrats outnumbering Republicans in the district 2 to 1.

She has a long progressive political pedigree and has maintained a high profile despite not currently holding office through her activism with groups advocating for the homeless, women’s rights, and environmental causes.

She is running against two high-profile Democrats in the June primary, hoping to challenge Republican Bonnie Dumanis in November. District 4 includes most of the city of San Diego, spanning La Jolla to Kearny Mesa, Encanto, downtown and Ocean Beach.
  [Read more…]

These County Elections Are The Ones to Watch in 2018

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The motto for San Diego County is “The noblest motive is the public good.” Questions to be answered in 2018 will decide if this is possible in the future.

I hold that the government of the County of San Diego is the single biggest factor standing in the way of solving many of the social problems facing the region. Voters have an opportunity to do something about it, starting in June.

San Diegans have the means at their disposal to make meaningful inroads into challenges surrounding child development (prevention), health (addiction, mental health), housing (affordability/homelessness), and economic inequality. All we need is the political will.   [Read more…]

Signs of the Times: The San Diego 2018 Women’s March in Photos

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Year two of Women’s Marches in San Diego and North County were bigger and more organized. This year’s theme in San Diego and nationwide was Hear Our Vote, calling attention to the 2018 midterm elections. 

The unspoken theme was intersectionality. After a year of bizarre, mean-spirited, ignorant, sexist, and racist rhetoric nobody needed to be told: Trump and his band of pirates are coming after everybody and everything we hold dear in the name of greed.

While the mood of the crowd at the rally was upbeat and friendly there was no denying the underlying seriousness of the march. 

The skies were blustery, and it sprinkled a few times. The speakers part of the program ran close to schedule, security looked confident, and there were no disruptions that I saw along the two-mile march route.   [Read more…]

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