San Diego Free Press

Grassroots News & Progressive Views

Trump’s Misogyny Is Causing Millions Mental and Physical Pain

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Trump’s runoff of fear and anxiety is affecting many Americans.

By Kali Holloway / AlterNet

According to a recently leaked video from 2005, GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump enjoys boasting about his regular practice of grabbing women “by the pussy.” Despite this revelation, Trump remains in striking distance of the presidency. A post-leak Washington Post/ABC News poll shows Hillary Clinton leading her opponent by a mere 4 points. An overwhelming number of Republican voters have expressed ambivalence about Trump’s remarks. But Trump’s words have resonated far beyond the circle of giggling, goading sycophants who surrounded him on that Access Hollywood bus.

For survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, the incident, far from the first example of Trump’s vile and violent sexism, caused yet another reopening of wounds only partially sutured by time. A 24-hour news cycle filled with Trump’s advocacy of sexual predation, disgusting misogynist remarks and allegations of sexual harassment and assault upon numerous women, as well as his hateful attacks on people of color, immigrants, the disabled and many others, have forced millions of survivors—many of whom already suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder—to mentally revisit the trauma of their abuse.   [Read more…]

Measure J: The Mission Bay Park Money Shuffle

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Measure J seemed like another non-controversial proposal at first.

It extended the lifetime of an earlier ballot measure dedicating a portion of revenues from leases on properties at Mission Bay Park and shuffled the formula for allocating funds to include other regional parks.

The idea was for these revenues to pay for bonds to be used in capital improvement projects for Mission Bay Park and regional parks, including Balboa Park.

Needless to say, Balboa Park groups existing amidst crumbling buildings and other infrastructure shortcomings were thrilled.   [Read more…]

Make the Convention Center Better, Not Bigger

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By David McCullough / UrbDeZine

Earlier this year, a hosted panel of local decision makers was brought together to discuss future of San Diego. Much of the conversation was around the convention center expansion. If you’ve been following the local news, you’ve noticed much of the dialog is about the benefits of a larger meeting space.

The conversation is often about the need for more space to keep Comic-Con in San Diego or the heavy regional impact, the tax revenues, or the attention it all brings to our city. At the end of the panel discussion, a younger, seemingly naive gentleman stood up to ask a question. The question was, “Why do we need a larger convention center when it seems vacant for most of the year?”

I, like most, blew this question off as I thought this person couldn’t possibly understand all the economic benefits of this institution here in our city. The answering panelist rattled off the economic forecast numbers that we have all likely heard before and the discussion quickly moved on in another direction.   [Read more…]

A Progressive Argument FOR Measure A

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Eds Note: Portions of this article appeared in Voice of San Diego By Michael Beck  It’s high stakes campaign time and you’re inundated with conflicting ballot arguments.  Measure A is no exception.  Following are the progressive, environmental, verifiable facts about Measure A. Climate change: Measure A would fund the most progressive transportation plan in the […]

Measure I Pits Balboa Park Advocates Against San Diego High’s Future

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Measure I started out as a seemingly non-controversial deal to maintain the status quo with two venerable San Diego institutions.

Now it has split the community between those who want to maintain the current location of the City’s oldest high school and those who say it should no longer occupy dedicated parkland.

The City Council placed Measure I on the ballot along with a package of reforms to the charter. It changes the language found in Section 55 of the foundational document governing the City’s use of dedicated parkland to allow a simple majority public vote to allow the existing use of that site to continue.   [Read more…]

Why Measure A is Bad on Climate and Bad for the Region

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Last week I ceded my column space to Jana Clark, a board member of both the Cleveland National Forest Foundation and Save Our Forest and Ranchlands who explained why environmentally-minded San Diegans should vote no on Measures A and B for a sustainable future for our region.

This followed a piece I co-authored with Nicole Capretz of the Climate Action Campaign and Nick Segura of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 569 explaining why progressives from labor, community, and environmental groups should say No Way to Measure A.

This week, I am pleased to share my usual spot with David Harris from SD 350 and Ruben Arizmendi, Chair of the San Diego Sierra Club, who will explain how Measure A is a manifestation of a “planning as usual” mindset that gave our region a transportation plan that “flagrantly disregards the State’s GHG [greenhouse gas] reduction mandates.”   [Read more…]

This National Boss Day, Recognizing Bosses Who Put Their Employees First

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By Mikey Knab, Meza Family Restaurant Group

On National Boss Day each October 17, some employees show up to the office with an extra coffee, or flowers, or maybe a “#1 Boss” mug, hoping to build a little extra good will with management. Others simply avoid the marking on the calendar and hope nobody notices. It’s difficult to deny that National Boss Day can be a holiday that’s observed out of obligation.

As Director of Operations at Meza Family Restaurant Group, you may expect that I’m hoping for a little extra appreciation from my staff at Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant and Rocio’s. But that’s not how I’m celebrating. This year, I’m turning the holiday upside down and marking Monday, October 17, as the day to honor bosses in San Diego who truly live up to the “#1 Boss” name.   [Read more…]

Looking Back at the Week: October 9-15

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This week’s edition of Looking Back at the Week features articles, commentaries, columns, toons, and other work by San Diego Free Press regulars, irregulars, columnists, at-large contributors, and sourced writers on: our ballot endorsements, Props 63-65 & 66, Measures E thru H, the second debate, developer dreams in Vista, El Cajon PD ordered to return medical cannabis, Chula Vista’s council election, SOHO’s endangered list, and lots of other grassroots news & progressive views from San Diego’s friendly, neighborhood, all volunteer, slightly funky, community news site.   [Read more…]

Why I’m Voting for Tanner and Schumacher for Carlsbad City Council

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On Sept. 10, 2015, I received a developer’s glossy mailer, urging me not to sign a petition to vote on his City Council-approved plan to build a shopping mall next to the city’s Agua Hedionda Lagoon. The five beaming faces of Carlsbad’s mayor and city council appeared above the headline: DON’T SIGN THE PETITION. A handy Signature Withdrawal Request card, addressed to City Hall, was attached, in case I’d already signed it. That was the day I decided not one of those elected officials deserved my vote in the next election.

Unfortunately, there are only two open seats on the November 8 ballot. The incumbents needing replacement this year are Keith Blackburn and Lorraine Wood. Check out their campaign websites here: Blackburn and Wood. You’ll find the two say nothing about the need to regain the trust of the community.   [Read more…]

Geo-Poetic Spaces: Leaf in River

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Falling in forest
floating upon sun’s gold leafed
treetops whirling home   [Read more…]

Weekly Progressive Calendar: Upcoming in San Diego

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I’m taking the day off. We published our San Diego 2016 Progressive Voter Guide this morning and I’m all tuckered out. It’s got links to our coverage on dozens of ballot measures, more than a hundred candidates, and, of course, endorsements.

I haven’t forgotten the weekly calendar…   [Read more…]

Chula Vista City Council Elections: Candidates Tackle Homeless, Housing

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On Sept. 7, 2016, Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce and the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors hosted a Candidates Forum at Southwestern College. Four candidates — two for District 3 and two for District 4 — debated each other in hopes of gaining your vote for Chula Vista City Council on November 8.

Less than 100 people attended the event.

New Districts For Chula Vista: As the second largest city in San Diego County, Chula Vista has approximately 250,000 residents. The eastern part of the City anticipates an influx of over 60,000 more people within the next two decades, in particular with the coming of a new University and the Millenia Project.   [Read more…]

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