Actions Set for September 4th as Fast Food Workers Vow to Do ‘Whatever it Takes’
By Doug Porter
San Diego is one of 100-plus cities targeted this Thursday as part of a nationwide protest of fast food restaurant workers aimed at low wages and working conditions.
Two new elements will be introduced into this latest round of protests, at least on a national level: acts of civil disobedience and a supportive presence by thousands of home-care workers joining the protests.
Workers are expected to strike at a dozen San Diego fast-food restaurants, including McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Jack in the Box. Clergy, elected officials and community supporters will join fast-food workers on the strike lines, according to local organizers. [Read more…]
A History of Neighborhood House in Logan Heights: Paul “Paulie” Torres
By Maria Garcia
Paul “Paulie” Torres is a retired longshoreman who attended Neighborhood House from 1947 to 1954. His family moved to Logan Heights from the Little Italy area of San Diego. Paulie says there was a little barrio located in the Little Italy area with several Mexican families living there. Little Italy was in the proximity of the canneries and as far as Mexicans could live in the downtown vicinity–Point Loma to the north was the dividing line where whites and ethnic Europeans lived.
Like many others, Paulie had heard stories about the Logan Heights guys and felt intimidated when he first moved there. Within a short period of time, Paulie fit right in with the other boys who called Neighborhood House their other home. He states in a straightforward manner that the reason everyone called it Neighborhood House was because everyone in the neighborhood went there. He recalls the boys sitting there on the steps, talking, laughing, hanging out for as long as they could. [Read more…]
Really, Really, Bad News About Climate Change (And a Chance to Do Something About It)
By Doug Porter
A United Nations report being shared with governments around the world prior to publication uses the strongest language to date, warning of dire consequences of continuing climate change.
Human influence on the planet’s climate is clear and having “widespread and consequential impacts on human and natural systems,” some of which may be irreversible, says the leaked draft of its final “Synthesis Report” which seeks to tie together previous reports the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released over the last year.
“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia,” the report concludes. “The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, and sea level has risen.” [Read more…]
The Little Thing Our Cities Can Do to Inspire Millions More People to Bike
Protected bike lanes help riders feel less exposed to danger, and are also appreciated by drivers and pedestrians, who know where to expect bicycles.
By Jay Walljasper / AlterNet
You can see big changes happening across North America as communities from Fairbanks to St. Petersburg transform their streets into appealing places for people, not just cars and trucks.
“Over the past five years we’re seeing an infrastructure revolution, a rethinking of our streets to accommodate more users—busways, public plazas, space for pedestrians and, of course, bike lanes,” says David Vega-Barachowitz of the National Association of City Transportation Officials. “More protected bike lanes is one of the most important parts of this.”
Protected bike lanes separate people on bikes from rushing traffic with concrete curbs, plastic bollards or other means— and sometimes offer additional safety measures such as special bike traffic lights and painted crossings at intersections. Protected bike lanes help riders feel less exposed to danger, and are also appreciated by drivers and pedestrians, who know where to expect bicycles. Streets work better when everyone has a clearly defined space. [Read more…]
Without Women, the Computer Game Boom Years May Not Last
By Julie Prescott, University of Bolton / The Conversation
An encouraging report by the International Game Developers Association recently found that women now make up 22% of the computer game workforce. This is a massive improvement from the previous figure of just 4% of the UK industry in 2009.
But it doesn’t go far enough. A serious sector ought to have a workforce that reflects wider society. Until it does, the industry will see its creativity diminish, its reputation suffer and eventually its bottom line will be hit. [Read more…]
Junco’s Jabs: Unfortunately for México the Flying Dutchman Does Exist
Junco’s Jabs: Tijuana Celebrates Advancing to the Next Round of the World Cup
San Diego Grit: Remembering Tony Gwynn
By Jim Miller
Tony Gwynn died last week and it stopped me. In part it was because he died too soon at 54, only four years older than me and many of my friends who grew up watching and admiring his skill as a player. As is always the case when someone who has been a part of your collective experience goes, there is a new hole in your life, that sense that something’s missing that won’t come back except as a ghost, a haunting memory.
But it was more than that. With the death of Gwynn, San Diego lost the last of his kind, a Southern California product who went to school at SDSU, came up with the Padres, and stayed here for his entire career, even when he could have left for greener pastures. In an era of pervasive corporate delocalization in sports and the culture at large, Gwynn was an old school guy who embodied loyalty to his town and his team. You couldn’t really think of San Diego without him. [Read more…]
The Dirty Energy War: Gov’t Shutdown Threat as the Koch Brothers Scheme in Dana Point
By Doug Porter
President Obama’s address to eight thousand graduates at the University of California Irvine campus this weekend made it perfectly clear he’s no longer willing to play games when it comes to regulating emissions. Saying ‘denying climate change is like arguing the moon is made of cheese’, he issued a call to action on global warming.
Republicans on Capitol Hill are issuing their own call to action. According to a report in the New Republic, senior members in the House GOP are seriously contemplating using appropriations bills necessary to keep the government open in order to block proposed EPA regulations on coal emissions. Pursuing this strategy could set the stage for a budget showdown, including a partial government shutdown.
Why the desperation? Perhaps because the people with the money to fund conservative causes say fighting to save dirty energy is a priority. A mere twenty miles south of the UC Irvine event, the Koch brothers told donors at a secret meeting in Dana Point this past weekend about the newest weapon in their political arsenal, a super PAC called Freedom Partners Action Fund.
The Community Plan Domino Effect: First Barrio Logan, Now Ocean Beach Challenged
By Doug Porter
More than four decades ago a grass roots movement arose in Ocean Beach in response to development plans that would have destroyed the essential nature of the community. Now the city planning commission is seeking to override sensible conditions for development included in the latest up date of the Ocean Beach community plan.
At issue is a change in the formula used to determine floor area ratio restrictions. Currently development in OB is regulated in size and scope by a requirement that can limit the size of the building on a lot. The change being insisted upon by downtown will allow development similar to that in place in Mission Beach, where sprawling buildings sit cheek by jowl in a soulless wasteland.
The grand plans drawn up back in the 1960s by the spawn of the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce for high rise hotels, apartment complexes and a yacht harbor may not be possible these days thanks to the 30 foot high limit and environmental concerns. However, the desire to over-develop with little or no regard for the consequences continues to exist.
The current community plan up for consideration was written over a 12 year period by community members and has the support of every community group. There are, however, several landlords with clout who have made their opposition known. [Read more…]
¡GOL! A Euro-American Woman’s Thoughts Turn to Fútbol
World Cup 2014
By Mic Porte
There I was, Thursday morning June 12, worrying about security in my hometown of Pacific Beach, the highest crime area in the city of San Diego. I was wondering how to interpret the previous evening’s powder-puff security forum at PB Middle School hosted by the new chief of police, Shelley Zimmerman and new temporary “everyman” council person/ lifeguard lieutenant, Ed Harris. Still mulling over the layers of bureaucracy that muddle the question of “who’s in charge now?” all of a sudden, I remembered.
I remembered what I’d been telling myself not to forget for the past several busy months. The Thing. The World Cup of Football(Soccer). Yes, it was here and I am penning this “au revoir” for the next several weeks to everything else. My thoughts turn to the strivings of athletic souls and stalwart warriors of the field , team against team, nation against nation, method against method, player against player, all football, all the time, thank you FIFA! [Read more…]
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