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SeaWorld Calls It Quits on Orca Breeding, Promises to End Killer Whale Shows

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Starting off with the admission that Americans’ attitudes about orcas have changed dramatically, SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby has announced –via an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times– the end of the company’s controversial breeding programs and the phasing out theatrical killer whale shows at all its locations.

SeaWorld has been the target of nationwide protests over its treatment of captive orcas in recent years. Revenues and attendance began a steady decline following the release of the documentary “Blackfish,” which spotlighted the animals’ living conditions and the dangers posed to their handlers.

The company currently has 29 orcas listed in its care — seven in Orlando, five in San Antonio, eleven in San Diego and six in Loro Parque, Spain.   [Read more…]

It’s Time to Stand Up to the Bully Trump

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More than twenty progressive and liberal organizations on both sides of the Hillary/Sanders split released a letter yesterday calling on all Americans to join together in taking action to oppose the candidacy of Donald Trump.

Calling him “a five-alarm fire for our democracy,” the letter sets forth concrete steps to oppose the Republican front-runner — from protesting to organizing large-scale voter turnout efforts.   [Read more…]

It’s Time for Some Changes at the San Diego Police Department

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Will the City Council expand oversight of the San Diego Police Department? That’s the question being considered on Wednesday, March 23rd, as a city council committee considers an amendment to the charter making the Community Review Board on Police Practices more transparent and accountable.

Evidence that there may be a problem with oversight keeps piling up. The ACLU and 26 other groups have called upon the Department of Justice for an investigation into the SDPD’s use of force when encountering people living with mental illness.

A preliminary report from an independent study following up on concerns of racial profiling by the SDPD was delayed for eight months so the information wouldn’t come out “piecemeal.”   [Read more…]

Beat the Press: The Violent Side of Trump’s Campaign

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“The next time we see him, we might have to kill him.”–Trump supporter, arrested for sucker-punching a protester

The rise of The Donald as a presidential candidate is universally described as an expression of anger on the part of American voters. His promises to deport Mexican rapists, discriminate against Muslims and/or teach the Chinese a lesson all play upon fears born of economic and political desperation.

The implied violence of Donald Trump’s rhetoric has inspired his followers to take action. Intimidation of the “other” is an essential part of his campaign, allowing the candidate to avoid protesters upset with his racism, along with questions about his checkered past.   [Read more…]

Gonzalez Bill Opens the Door for Gig Economy Workers Rights

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Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez has (re-)introduced legislation (AB 1727) ensuring that independent contractors working in the gig economy are allowed workplace rights currently enjoyed by conventional employees. Thus begins what will likely be a multi-year struggle to redefine the role of labor in the 21st century.

The rights under consideration include negotiating as a group, communicating with customers and the public, boycotting or critiquing a hosting platform’s business practices, and reporting publicly or to law enforcement any practices in violation of local, state, or federal laws.

The 1099 Self-Organizing Act, as it’s called, would apply to businesses and workers in the “gig economy,” where companies use online systems and mobile apps to match laborers with customers. State labor law would be amended, allowing 10 or more independent contractors, who work for “hosting platforms” such as Uber and Lyft, to join in union-like groups and negotiate workplace protections.   [Read more…]

Will California Feel the Bern? Vermont Senator’s Michigan Win Changes the Game

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In past years, California’s presidential primary has come so late in the cycle as to be irrelevant. This year might be different.

Despite pollsters unanimously saying Senator Bernie Sanders would lose to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by as much as 20 points, he won in Michigan. Sanders trails in total delegate count at this point, but my prediction is that last night’s upset will quell talk of an early conclusion to Democratic contests.

The Donald carried Michigan, Ted Cruz carried Idaho and Marco Rubio got nada. John Kasich thinks he stayed alive by coming in third in Michigan. In Miami, Trump gave a totally bizarre victory speech that at times sounded like an infomercial for his retail lines. ….And there are a few interesting tidbits in local politics to share today.   [Read more…]

International Women’s Day: A Google Doodle, 79 Cents on the Dollar and a Dollop of Socialist History

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We should all be thankful that retailing moguls haven’t been able to figure out a way to make International Women’s Day a sales event.

In San Diego, a mid-day downtown (7th & B) demonstration heralded the struggles of Immigrant Women around the world, calling out poverty, abuse and exploitation in the janitorial workforce.

Today we’ll take a look around the media world to see what is happening with regard to women on March 8, 2016…UPDATED, plus there is coverage of today’s demonstration.   [Read more…]

Homeless Evicted in San Diego as Major El Niño Storm Approaches

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UPDATE: Advocates to attend Tuesday City Council meeting…  “wearing trash bags to signify the only protection from the elements the city has left to hundreds of human beings who spent Monday night huddled under the overpasses in East Village. Our message: Stop treating human beings like garbage!”

You have to wonder what they were thinking in city hall. On Monday morning the police department conducted a sweep of sidewalk homeless encampments as a major winter storm bore down on San Diego.   [Read more…]

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime for Corporate Welfare?

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Political consultant Jason Roe is making the rounds of local media, hemming and hawing over whether there will be a campaign opposing San Diego’s long-delayed opportunity to vote on a modest increase in minimum wage.

KPBS and Voice of San Diego have provided platforms for this passive-aggressive approach to class warfare and you can be sure the original thinkers at the local broadcast media won’t be far behind.

In between crying the blues about probable lack of funding for a defense of corporate welfare (minimum wage jobs require government assistance for employees to survive), Roe’s letting loose with the usual misinformation designed to confuse voters.   [Read more…]

A Surprise Candidate for City Council in District 1

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The future makeup of San Diego’s city council took an interesting turn yesterday as Bruce Lightner declared his intention to run for the District 1 seat being vacated by termed-out Sheri Lightner, who just happens to be his wife.

Sheri Lightener is a Democrat, who at times has been willing to play nice with Republicans on the council. Bruce Lightner is a Republican, who has an adversarial history with Ray Ellis, the other GOP candidate in the race along with others in the party hierarchy. In short, he’s a wild card.

Prior to this announcement the contest for D1 was shaping up to be the battle for partisan control of the council. When Joe LaCava dropped out of the race in January, Democrat Barbara Bry was left with a one-on-one contest headed into the June primary, which historically has brought out more right-leaning voters. Republican Ellis was raising and spending more money.   [Read more…]

Trumpaggedon: The Right Confronts Its Love Child

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The annual Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) conference is underway. Billing itself as the largest conservative conference in the country, it has in past years served as a political fashion show for politicians of the right wing persuasion.

This time it’s different. CPAC amounts to a day of reckoning for conservatives. Will they pledge allegiance to The Donald? Or will they fight on? A history of generous donations to the sponsoring American Conservative Union has apparently greased the wheels for a Trump appearance on Saturday morning.   [Read more…]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? San Diego Democrats Set to Shoot Themselves in the Foot Again

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News of a credible Democrat entering the race for mayor of San Diego barely made it onto social media yesterday before intra-party sniping began. The political party with majority registration in America’s Finest City couldn’t even field a candidate, and now its past bad behavior is threatening to sabotage a chance at salvation.

This should have been a serious bump in the road to Kevin Faulconer’s primary coronation, namely that a third well-known candidate made the 50%+1 threshold more difficult, with former City Council member Ed Harris jumping into the mayoral race, according to papers filed with the city clerk.

Running as a Democrat, Harris joins independent activist and former state legislator Lori Saldaña as a second major candidate running against the incumbent mayor. The long time lifeguard and union leader was appointed to the council representing District 2 in 2014 following Faulconer’s ascension to the top job in a special election.   [Read more…]

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