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The Starting Line – Both California Senators Blocking Filibuster Reform

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Two of the leaders of the effort to reform Senate filibuster rules, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Tom Udall of New Mexico, are now saying that 48 senators have confirmed their support for making the filibuster a real, talking filibuster. Further, all 48 have committed to reforming the filibuster by using the “constitutional option”—that is, by changing the rules of the Senate with a simple majority of 50 votes plus the Vice President.

There are seven Democratic members of the Senate who have not yet committed to reforming the filibuster in this way: Sens. Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein of California, Carl Levin of Michigan, Max Baucus of Montana, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, and Patrick Leahy of Vermont.
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Inside.. The UT’s Gospels of Fear and Falsehoods, Gun Control Proposal, Nurses United and much more…   [Read more…]

Desde la Logan: San Diegans Dancing in Solidarity with Idle No More

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This column is usually reserved for happenings that take place within the community of Barrio Logan and the surrounding Historic Barrio District. On occasion I will deviate from that if there is an issue that is near and dear to my family and I. This is one of those times.

My wife Olympia, her teenage children, and her mom Glo Andrade have been involved with Native culture most of their lives. Olympia has been a danzante Azteca since she was a teenager, most recently dancing with Danza Mixcoatl until she was pregnant with our toddler son Sandino. Her mom and family have attended sweat lodge ceremonies over the years as well as Sundance ceremonies in Arizona. Native culture and ways are a vital part of their existence. And the Idol No More movement is something they are in solidarity with.

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Remembering Murray Galinson

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By Larry Remer

I first met Murray in 1976 when I wrote a story for San Diego Magazine about San Diego’s “connection” to newly elected Vice President Walter Mondale. Murray and Elaine were relatively fresh from Minnesota and I was instantly charmed by Murray’s grace, wit and generousity of spirit — not to mention his strong Democratic commitment.

We became warm friends and allies in the cause of changing San Digeo.

San Diego was a “Very Red” town in those days and Murray managed to navigate the intricacies of local politics. I teased him relentlessly about his appointment by Pete Wilson to the Police Practices Commssion. He was, after all, a federal prosecutor. But, he played a very progressive role in helping to prod what had been a Redneck police force into a modern, community sensitive outfit.   [Read more…]

Time to Count the Homeless; Volunteers Needed

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Approximately 10,000 individuals, families, and unaccompanied children experience homelessness annually in San Diego County. Here’s one way that YOU can help.

In the early morning hours of January 25, 2013, roughly 700 volunteers will participate in WeAllCount locally. This event, led by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, enables local agencies to better understand the scope, impact and potential solutions to homelessness; allowing communities to qualify for funding that is critical to addressing and alleviating homelessness in San Diego County. Communities across the country will be conducting similar events during the last ten days of January.   [Read more…]

Hope Abounds at Ramona Unified School District

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by Dave Patterson

It might be the season of hope that is guiding the decision makers at RUSD because the employees, Administration and School Board seem collectively unified in the idea that the only way out of the looming fiscal mess is to pass a school bond that has failed 5 times previously. It’s good that they are unified because they need to resolve some pressing issues very soon, or the school district will be in the red as soon as 2013. It’s not good that they are unified because they seem unable or unwilling to see what is really happening, a slow degradation of our school system to pay off a ballooning debt.

There are a couple of constants that I consider when pondering the future of our school system. 1. No amount of employee sacrifices can fix the long-term debt wave that is engulfing the school district. 2. The district cannot default on the loan made by the previous school board, and the bondholders will get their money. 3. The district can either pass a school bond that has failed 5 times in a row, or surrender the school district to the state.   [Read more…]

Ten Reasons that 2012 was an Unprecedented Winning Year for San Diego Region Working Families.

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by Lorena Gonzalez

Workers throughout the United States and in San Diego faced unprecedented challenges this year. A full scale attack on middle-class wages and benefits, along with a tough economy, made 2012 seem like a very long year for middle and working class folks. But, when it was all said in done, this year should leave a smile on our faces in San Diego – and these are 10 of the reasons why…   [Read more…]

The Euclid Tower and the Ghost of Christmas Past

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I’m sure that there are a number of us who can still remember the Euclid Tower before it was re-imagined with bright paint and a dazzling design. In 1988, when My Beloved and I moved into our little house on 45th street, the Euclid Tower jutted above the streetscape like a grey missile poised for launch. Its graceful art deco architecture and lovely leaded glass lotus windows couldn’t redeem it from a peeling cold war paint job.

I can also remember not only the grey paint job, but the smiling face of Old Saint Nick providing some inscrutable message of good cheer for a number of years over the neon signage of the Tower Bar. There was nothing quite like the 4th of July and looking up at the peeling Tower with Saint Nick beaming down upon us. This was how I knew I was home in my thoroughly mixed up community of City Heights. And stone cold sober.   [Read more…]

No White Flag of Immigration Surrender

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by Carlos Batara

Soon after the 2012 elections ended, a wave of predictable knee-jerk reactions followed. Political pundits, news reporters, and immigrant advocates credited the New America for President Obama’s re-election. The Republicans jumped out first. They quickly acknowledged the need for immigration reform. They began floating flawed proposals, like the ACHIEVE Act, and discussed the shift from their campaign postures.

Meanwhile the Democrats decided to take time off to celebrate their victory. For all the talk by Obama supporters about the urgency of immigration reform during the campaign, they did not feel the need to start work on relieving at least some of the stress imposed by current policies on immigrant families until after the Christmas break.

When it comes to fixing our immigration system, immigrant families cannot afford such partisanship.

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Typhoons, Cyclones, Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Flooding Increase in 2012

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In 2011 more than 80% of all the deaths around the world caused by natural disasters occurred in Asia. The Phillipines were the epicenter with 33 natural disasters, more than any country in the world. Typhoon Washi claimed more than 1200 lives in late 2011. Super Typhoon Bopha which struck December 2012 took 900 lives.

Super Typhoon Bopha packed winds of up to 100 miles per hour bringing torrential rains that destroyed villages and left 320,000 homeless. A total of 184 had perished in Compostela Valley, including 78 villagers and soldiers who died in a flash flood that swamped two emergency shelters and a military camp. Most of the typhoon’s victims appeared to have drowned or been hit by falling trees or flying debris, officials said.   [Read more…]

Brown Announces New Oil Industry Regulations Ahead of “Promised Land” Release

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by Dan Aiello/California Progress Report

The Brown administration Tuesday proposed new draft regulations that would require the oil industry to disclose where its California oil extraction operations are using hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as “fracking,” in advance of a new movie meant to bring public awareness to the environmental destruction caused by the practice.

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Is the Political Tide Turning … for the Oceans and the Environment?

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By David Helvarg / Blue Notes / December 17, 2012

We just had an election in which the public seemed to see the need for larger changes in society. And of course changes of any kind tend to come in waves. Along with the emergence of a new demographic profile of the U.S. electorate we saw people in a number of states voting for Gay marriage equality, legalized use of marijuana and in California, a tax increase to help save public education.

At the same time Super Storm Sandy’s impact on the shore put climate change front and center on the public policy agenda for any politician willing to take the heat from the fossil fuel industry. Unfortunately, while average people may be open to big changes the two party political system has become far more polarized and incremental than it once was. That’s why the keystone laws that protect America’s oceans like the Clean Water Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Coastal Zone Management Act and others are now close to middle age. The Clean Water Act is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.   [Read more…]

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