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Proposal Pairing Convention Center Expansion and Homeless Funding Gets a Thumbs Down From PANA

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The Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA) today became the second community organization to reject a proposal supporting convention center expansion in return for funding for affordable housing and homeless services.

Alliance San Diego issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the plan, saying “This crisis needs a dedicated response, not one tied to the fate of a major development as part of a ballot measure that may or may not win in an election.”

According to an article in the Voice of San Diego, organizations from a cross-section of political interests met last week for a discussion on possible emergency ballot measures proposed for the June 2018 primary ballot.   [Read more…]

A Caribbean Disaster, Ripe for Exploitation

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While an unprecedented crisis continued in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, with more than 3.5 American citizens in need, the President of the United States was keeping busy with remarks about athletes protesting, along with a ‘new and improved’ Muslim ban.

The conditions in Puerto Rico are near-apocalyptic. Food, fuel, medicines, and clean water are in short supply. The entire island is without power, with some reports saying it could be four to six months before power is restored. Conditions in the USVI are also bad. St. Croix, which was spared as Irma trashed St. John & St. Thomas, saw 70% of its structures in ruins following a direct hit from Maria.

Caribbean islands are all –to one degree or another– colonies. Even in the ‘enlightened’ 21st century, they exist to be exploited by the countries that ‘own’ them. They provide military bases, satellite launching centers and footholds in important terrains. They serve as protected markets for national corporations. American companies such as Walmart and Walgreens have more stores per square mile in Puerto Rico than anywhere else in the world.   [Read more…]

Will San Diego State Take Provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos’ Bait?

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After sticking the University of California at Berkeley with an estimated $800,000 security tab for a non-event, right-wing activist Milo Yiannopoulos is reportedly set to appear at San Diego State University in late October, according to the Daily Aztec. I’m suspicious about this announcement by the State College Republicans, who are promising an event at Montezuma Hall even though they have not completed the steps needed to be recognized as a student organization.

Multiple media outlets are reporting the canceled-at-the-last-minute ‘Free Speech Week’ was orchestrated by the alt-right firebrand to defame UC Berkeley and, in fact, doomed from the start.

During a Facebook Live stream following the cancellation of the Berkeley event, Yiannopoulos announced three future California appearances as part of his “Troll Academy” tour: on Oct. 25 at Cal State Bakersfield, Oct. 29 at San Diego State and Oct. 31 at Cal State Fullerton.   [Read more…]

Homeless Tents for La Jolla and Rancho Penasquitos? Progressive Activist Calendar September 22-30, 2017

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The consequences of years of neglect are now giving America’s Finest City’s reputation a beating as San Diego’s homeless crisis continues to unfold.

The Hepatitis A epidemic, long predicted as a consequence of the city’s failure to recognize the necessity of public restroom facilities, has claimed 16 lives and over 400 hundred people have fallen ill with the disease.

I don’t think the Mayor and his advisors get it yet. Given that his office has time to play political games with this situation, perhaps it’s time to start some serious advocacy for tents in some neighborhoods with enough clout to be heard at City Hall.

Maybe it’s time to start discussing tents for Ranchos Penasquitos, La Jolla, maybe even Kensington, somewhere up near Chamber CEO and former Mayor Jerry Sanders’ home.   [Read more…]

Follow The Money to Understand Graham-Cassidy. Use Your Heart to Stop It.

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Facts don’t matter when it comes to the Graham-Cassidy ‘get rid of Obamacare’ scheme. But feelings do.

They had seven-plus years to come up with a plan. The best the Republicans could do earlier this year was to create underfunded versions of the Affordable Care Act. Facing a September 30th deadline for getting a bill passed using 51 votes, they have opted to blow up the law entirely.

Just about every organization having contact with humans needing healthcare services has come out against Graham-Cassidy. Multiple analyses have all reached the same conclusion, namely that this legislation will cause harm.

But in the end, it may turn out that an emotional plea by late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel will be the thing creating the wave stopping this diabolical nightmare.   [Read more…]

Gomez, Democrats on San Diego City Council Refuse to Be Another Brick in Trump’s Wall

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San Diego City Councilwoman Georgette Gomez’s resolution opposing the construction of a border wall was approved by a 5-3 vote on Tuesday. Saying the border wall to be detrimental to San Diego’s environment and tourism, the motion asked for public disclosure of all companies involved in financing or construction of the proposed project.

Gomez left nothing to chance in shepherding the largely symbolic declaration, contacting a wide range of activist organizations asking for support, holding a press conference in advance of the Council meeting, and negotiating adjustments in the wording with the City Attorney’s office.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer issued a statement later in the day saying he would not support the resolution because “it includes language that could blacklist businesses based on the political leanings of the city council majority.” According to a Tweet from KPBS reporter Andrew Bowen, no veto is expected.   [Read more…]

Republican Bonnie Dumanis and Her Churlish Crew Are Already in Attack Mode

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Too many people in San Diego think County Supervisor candidate / former District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis is some kind of moderate. Heck, some people think she’s even a Democrat. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Do you need some evidence? Look at who’s running her campaign: Jason Roe, the guy tasked by the Chamber of Commerce and their associates for derailing minimum wage in San Diego. Look at who’s polling on her behalf: The Lincoln Club, smear purveyors extraordinaire.

It’s no small coincidence a smear campaign, complete with website appealing to the Beavis and Butthead demographic, against former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, favorite of the Democratic Party’s establishment for the District 4 County Supes contest, emerged this week.   [Read more…]

Graham-Cassidy: The GOP’s Last Stand on Trumpcare

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The United States Senate is about to consider one last attempt at Obamacare repeal. Legislation introduced by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is the vehicle of choice this time around.

Republicans are facing an end of the fiscal year deadline (11:59 pm September 30), at which point the rules of the Senate will revert to needing 60 votes instead of the 50 (plus the Vice President) to get the job done. Apparently, we have to fight this battle one more time.

At the heart of the Graham-Cassidy bill is an old idea near and dear to Republican hearts: block grants for the states to administer largely as they see fit. It ends the individual mandate, allowing states to waive Obamacare’s essential health benefits as well as its prohibition on rejecting those residents with preexisting conditions. Medicaid expansion states (mostly blue) lose big. Non-expansion states (mostly red) get more federal money.   [Read more…]

UPDATED: Do You Really Want to Pay More for Dirtier Electricity? – Progressive Calendar September 15-25, 2017

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Here comes the blizzard of baloney* from defenders of San Diego Gas & Electric.

City News Service reports a coalition of business and civic leaders are now working to undermine Community Choice Energy (CCE) programs.

CCEs –where power is purchased by public entities– across the state offer electricity with significantly more renewable content and comparable or lower costs. Customers can choose to stay with the status quo, if wanted.

The ‘Clear the Air Coalition’ would like to halt the move toward the cheaper, cleaner, and locally generated electricity in San Diego because of “uncertainties.”   [Read more…]

Press Conferences on Homelessness In San Diego: Another Way of Saying “Let Them Eat Cake”

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When it comes to unsheltered citizens, San Diego serves as the poster child for what not to do in responding to a crisis. The City Without Pity has now attracted international attention for its failure to serve its homeless humans.

Hundreds of people have contracted Hepatitis A and sixteen are dead from the highly contagious disease. Handwashing stations have been set up after months of delay, sidewalks are being power washed with bleach, and the City has presented the press with a list of places where it thinks homeless humans should go if they need to use the toilet.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer held a press conference on Wednesday to announce he would accept $1.5 million raised by local businessmen. Three tents with services will offer a few hundred people the opportunity to get off the streets. In three months. Maybe.   [Read more…]

Let the Medicare For All Debate Begin!

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Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced legislation acknowledging that health care is a right, not a privilege. Medicare for All, as we’re now calling it, doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of becoming law anytime soon.

Still, this is a discussion worth having, as fifteen or so Democratic Senators have agreed to be co-sponsors. Even as we continue to oppose Republican attempts take the nation back to the 19th century, it is time to be FOR something.  

As I understand it, the Sanders bill would cover everything from emergency surgery to prescription drugs, from mental health to eye care–and this is a biggie–along with dental care with no co-payments.   [Read more…]

Assembly Bill 805, Mending a Broken SANDAG, Heads to Governor’s Desk

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This is a good week for California Democrats in Sacramento and for Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher in particular. A half dozen emails from her office landed in my inbox yesterday, touting legislative victories large and small.

The biggie in this batch of wins was Assembly Bill 805, mandating a structural overhaul of the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG). The most significant impact, in my opinion, of such a restructuring will be a reduction in the power climate change denialists/obstructionists have over decisions regarding infrastructure.

There are plenty of reasons to question whether this all will come to pass, but I’m hopeful. Gov. Brown hasn’t weighed in on this legislation. Escondido Mayor Sam Abed and others are promising lawsuits. And the local right-not-to-get-paid-much types are apoplectic over a provision requiring skilled and trained workers to be employed on local transportation projects, a standard they feel favors unions.   [Read more…]

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