This week’s edition of Looking Back at the Week contains articles, commentaries, columns, and other work by San Diego Free Press regulars, irregulars, columnists, cartoonists, at-large contributors, and locally and nationally sourced writers on San Diego’s Deplorables, Jerry Cano, NRA’s cash problems, Proposition 6, lack of police oversight, Padres in Yuma, STVR vote, banning Styrofoam, unconscious bias and racism in National City, and lots of other grassroots news & progressive views from San Diego’s feisty, all volunteer, slightly funky, community news site. [Read more…]
Amazing Red Lotus Sea, Nong Han Lake Udon Thani. (North East Thailand) | Video Worth Watching
Just a short little video with some relaxing drone footage of a lake in Thailand known for its red lotus flowers. [Read more…]
You Gotta Believe In Something – Why Not Believe In Me? | Video Worth Watching
Artist/animator Nina Paley is working on a feature-length animation and she showcases here a brief segment featuring the Pointer Sisters singing Norman Whitfield’s “You Gotta Believe“. [Read more…]
Persistence Pays Off! The NRA’s Money Troubles | Progressive Activist Calendar August 3 – 13, 2018
Once again, an ongoing protest has changed the political landscape. Court documents filed by the National Rifle Association reveal an increasingly desperate financial situation for one of the most powerful political institutions in the U.S.
Pressure from New York State regulators in the wake of the Parkland, Florida massacre — including a letter asking financial institutions to heed “the voices of the passionate, courageous, and articulate young people who have experienced this recent horror first hand” — has led the National Rifle Association to plead in court that it will “be unable to exist… or pursue its advocacy mission.” They say the organization may be forced to shut down NRA TV or its print publications.
The lesson here about persistence should be taken to heart. Congressman Darrell Issa gave up after weekly protests outside his offices. The future of politics in National City will be changed for the better, thanks to the ongoing efforts of the folks standing up for Earl McNeil. And elected Trumpistas everywhere are looking over their shoulders, fearing a Blue Wave made possible by thousands of organizing efforts.
There are less than 100 days until the General Election. Now–not later–is the time to stand up and be counted. Candidates and causes need your time, your energy, and your support. There are many opportunities to join the fray in this week’s Progressive Calendar. [Read more…]
A Forensic Poem | Geo-Poetic Spaces
Diagnostic tests
failed to detect the foreign body
lodged in the abdominal cavity
The wound site
was irrigated
Closed
Dressings applied [Read more…]
Asgardia: The Real Space Nation | Video Worth Watching
Remember when Trump announced his decision to create a new branch of the military—the Space Force? I’m wondering whether he’s concerned about our relationship with the first space nation: Asgardia. Haven’t heard of the country of Asgardia? Not surprising. Here’s Full Frontal’s Amy Hoggart to provide the low down on this sky high insanity. [Read more…]
Truth and Justice in San Diego Takes Second Place in Quest for Police Oversight
Two recent episodes give proof to my belief that the Police Department is the most powerful government agency in San Diego with the least amount of taxpayer oversight.
This is nothing new. America’s Finest City has gone through decades of scandal and corruption being followed by hollow promises of reform. The point I’m making today is that things still haven’t changed, despite two changes of leadership, lawsuits, and political posturing.
What makes these political games more serious than say, the machinations around Civic San Diego, are the practical implications and applications for those with less privilege (and more melatonin) as they live their lives. [Read more…]
Responding to the Unconscious Bias and Racism at National City Council Meetings
By Mark Lane and Shane Parmely
We went to the Tuesday, July 24, National City Council meeting to speak out against the police brutality that left Earl McNeil brain dead.
For almost six weeks, we’ve peacefully and loudly protested at the National City Council meetings. For six weeks, we’ve asked the National City Police Department (NCPD) to release the videotapes pertaining to the in-custody death of Earl McNeil. For six weeks, we’ve been ignored by the three men who control the National City Council and the NCPD. For six weeks, we’ve been treated to excessive force and violence by the NCPD.
And last week, after an hour of the police, including Chief Manny Rodriguez, repeatedly and openly pushing us and other people attending the meeting, we sat down on the floor and were subsequently arrested. [Read more…]
The Privatization of Puerto Rico’s Public Schools Has Begun – Betsy DeVos Is On the Job | Video Worth Watching
The Real News’ Jaisal Noor interviews teacher and union activist Noelanie Fuentes Cardona who tells us about Law 85 and how Puerto Rico’s Democratic governor and Betsy DeVos have teamed up to introduce charter schools and online schools to an island still coping with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria. [Read more…]
Proposition 6: Carl DeMaio’s Endless Initiatives Strategy, Part One
The first phase of former Carl DeMaio’s plan to save the Golden State’s Grand Old Party (and himself) will appear on the November 2018 ballot as Proposition 6, the “Voter Approval for Future Gas and Vehicle Taxes and 2017 Tax Repeal Initiative.”
If approved by voters in November, the measure would amend California’s Constitution to require any gas and car tax added after January 1, 2017 be approved by voters and would repeal SB 1, the gas tax and vehicle fee hike signed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2017 after it gained a two-thirds majority in both legislative houses.
Regardless of whether this year’s measure succeeds or fails, there’s another one waiting in the wings for the 2020 election. DeMaio told the Sacremento Bee he’s calling phase two the “Robin Hood initiative — stealing our money back.” [Read more…]
Abolish ICE: Why We Need to Abolish Immigrations and Customs Enforcement | Video Worth Watching
From the Now This YouTube page:
Sean McElwee, co-founder of Data for Progress, thinks ICE should be abolished.
“ICE, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was created in 2003, as part of post-9/11 legislation that housed immigration enforcement under the Department of Homeland Security,” he explained. “This signaled a shift towards viewing immigrants as the threat to national security.”
After 9/11, immigrants were seen as a terrorist threat, and the policies that followed were created for mass migrant deportation. Trump and Stephen Miller have not only enforced this anti-immigration strategy, but increased it with aggressive, inhumane measures like their zero tolerance policy. ICE has been in the middle of all of this, and have become synonymous with these practices that are tearing families apart and causing long-term residents in the country to self-deport.
“We need to stop deporting people for what is fundamentally the civil violation of being in this country without documentation. We choose as a society what is criminalized and how those laws are enforced,” said McElwee. “We don’t have a militarized police force to prosecute financial crimes because the people who commit those crimes are powerful white men. We have to dismantle not just ICE, but the thousands of small offenses that put people on ICE’s radar. From marijuana possession to turnstile jumping, people enter into ICE’s net through over-criminalization.”
Why Does It Feel Like We’re Losing If There’s So Much Winning?
Is your head spinning yet? Mine is. As a certified news junkie™ I had a hard time digesting today’s headlines.
It’s a good day to remember that the only real way out of the mess we currently find ourselves in includes voting on November 6th.
Let’s start with Law and Order, White House Edition…
[Read more…]
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