San Diego Free Press

Grassroots News & Progressive Views

Vote No on Measures A and B for a Sustainable Future for San Diego

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Much of the reporting on the early campaign surrounding Measure A is falling victim to the proponents’ attempts to greenwash their deeply flawed measure by representing a few astroturf “environmental” organizations in league with big money from corporate interests and a handful of unions doing the bidding of downtown insiders as a “split” in progressive circles. This is unfortunate as the fact of the matter is that the opposition to Measure A by the Quality of Life Coalition represents a historically significant new alliance between progressive labor and nearly all of the local environmental organizations doing serious work around climate.

Two weeks ago in this space I was pleased to co-sign a column as Chair of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council Environmental Caucus along with Nicole Capretz, the Executive Director of the Climate Action Campaign, and Nick Segura, Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 569, explaining why progressives should say No Way to Measure A. In that same spirit, this week I am happy to cede my usual spot to Jana Clark, a board member of both the Cleveland National Forest Foundation and Save Our Forest and Ranchlands to explain why both Measures A and B are bad for San Diego.   [Read more…]

Prop 63 – Ammopalousa, GunGhazi and Second Amendmenting

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This measure is Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s baby. Prop 63 requires a background check to purchase ammo, bans possession of large capacity ammo clips, sets up a way to remove guns from felons, and requires reporting of stolen firearms/ammo.

This is all good stuff and there no denying it’s part of Newsom’s image building in the lead up to the 2018 gubernatorial contest.

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) also has political ambitions. He’s been feuding with Newsom over who is the true leader on gun control, In July, the legislature approved bills requiring background checks for ammunition purchasers and outlaw magazines that hold more than 10 bullets.   [Read more…]

Vista’s Mixed Use Zone: A Developer’s Dream

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Imagine a city where developers are able to choose from among 57 different business enterprises for a downtown site, either for a single use or any combination thereof.

Welcome to Vista, California, where the purpose of its Mixed Use Zone is “…to allow for a mix of residential and commercial, or just residential, or just commercial (standalone) land uses.”

It’s a developer’s wet dream.
  [Read more…]

Looking Back at the Week: October 2-8

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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: Props 57-62 & 66, police shootings, Fred Glass, skyrocketing rents, old badgers, CV’s sales tax increase, greening your wardrobe, Spanos’ trick play, ACLA seeking answers for Olango, the 5th anniversary of Occupy SD, and lots of other grassroots news & progressive views from San Diego’s friendly, neighborhood, all volunteer, slightly funky, community news site.   [Read more…]

On Being Suicidal

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“I am suicidal.”

Three words only — but, the three most difficult words I’ve ever had to say. I did not want to say them. I fought so hard to leave them in the chill darkness of my depressed mind and now their expression feels like a declaration of defeat.

I fear that giving voice to my suicidal thoughts will make them more dangerous. And, when I admit being suicidal, the demonic voices whispering on the edges of my consciousness will escape through my words to materialize as physical shadows hounding me wherever I go.

Because of these fears, I tried desperately to ignore what the words meant. Having already attempted suicide twice in my life, I know what can happen if I deny the words for too long. I know where that seductive path leads.

And so, after several weeks in one of the worst depressive episodes I’ve experienced in years, I sit in the white light of my psychiatrist’s office, head in hands, spitting the words — and their awful taste — out.   [Read more…]

Celebrating the 5th Anniversary of San Diego’s Occupy Wall Street

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On Oct. 7, 2011 – a long 5 years ago – the Occupy Wallstreet movement burst upon the San Diego scene.

Upwards of 4,000 demonstrators marched through downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp District, rallied at Civic Center Plaza at City Hall – renamed “Freedom Square” for awhile -, and then returned to Children’s Park – all the while protesting the inequalities of the American economy. A tent encampment was set up – which moved the very next day to the plaza at City Hall.

It was on that October 7 that San Diego had very visibly and demonstrably joined the nation-wide movement – then a world-wide movement – against the disparities of the financial system. Local activists had been meeting for a couple of weeks and had planned the large protest.

The numbers of San Diegans who turned out was stunning – and gratifying for those of us who worked on the event. And of course, the Occupy San Diego movement raged in downtown for the next several months, with large police raids, many arrests (few charged) and more huge rallies with union members, bicyclists …

But on Oct. 7, 2011, I was there, see my full account here. Following are a few highlights.   [Read more…]

Geo-Poetic Spaces: Heirloom

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Nothing
for water to consume
nor wind to disseminate

No bone to char
nor ash for earth   [Read more…]

Props 62 & 66 – Nay or Yea on the Death Penalty

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An eye-for-eye and tooth-for-tooth would lead to a world of the blind and toothless.–Book of Exodus [21:24]

Both points of view regarding the death penalty managed to get a measure on the November ballot.

Prop 62 will eliminate the death penalty. Prop 66 will streamline the process of executing people. If both pass, the measure with the most votes will supersede the other.

In a perfect world, there could be a discussion about the advisability of government sanctioned executions involving actual facts and figures. We won’t see much of that sort of thing this fall.   [Read more…]

Police Shootings: Law, Policy, and Accountability

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By William John Cox

From amongst themselves, the people of the United States have empowered some of their members to enforce their laws and to police their society, but things have gone terribly awry.

The police are killing those they are sworn to protect and they themselves are becoming the target of public anger over racial inequality and discrimination. Video images of recent police shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota were followed by the mass murder of police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, apparently in response to these shootings

The killing of an unarmed mentally-disturbed man last week by El Cajon, California police officers—and resulting civil disturbances—once again raises the question of the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers. The question involves complicated issues of law and policy, but the decision to shoot must often be made in a nanosecond.   [Read more…]

Chula Vista’s Sales Tax Increase: It Actually Might Be a Good Idea

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Way back in February 2016 I attended a meeting of the GMOC, where a city employee said Chula Vista needs $600 million for infrastructure repairs. To address the crisis, the city considered either a half-cent sales tax hike that would bring $16 million per year, or a $200 million bond. Both would fall short of actual needs.

Bond money would come from property taxes. The half-cent sales tax would be paid at the time of the sale of goods and would not apply to certain items, such as groceries and prescription medicines. According to a survey conducted in English and Spanish, with about 880 participants, more residents supported the sales tax measure.

Thus, on our November 2016 ballot, Chula Vistans will have Measure P.   [Read more…]

The How of Trump’s Little-to-No Personal Tax Payments

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By Frank Thomas

In recognition of Trump’s extremely complicated tax situation, James Stewart in a recent NY Times article asked him to just simply submit ten numbers – adjusted gross income and actual federal taxes paid over his last 5 year returns.

That seems a simple request for Trump to respect. But the legally allowed complex tax concessions given to real estate developers complicates making judgments about Trump’s moral business integrity and obligation to expose his returns.

If Trump’s consolidated actual tax payment numbers are very modest, if not nil, as I certainly expect they are relative to income flows, then Stewart’s numbers will inevitably encourage some sharp public criticism. But this doesn’t necessarily mean he has done anything wrong if he has used the tax concessions and provisions in a manner the law allows. After all, In addition to real estate developers, many wealthy people pay little or no tax.   [Read more…]

Prop 61 – Big Pharma Promises Revenge If It Passes

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Proposition 61 seems pretty straightforward. The price paid for prescription drugs in California state health care programs must be equal to or lower than what is paid by the Veterans Administration.

Sadly, it isn’t that simple. There’s $101 million (and counting) being spent on this measure, which only directly affects 12% of Californians.

When I saw the words “badly flawed” in ads against Prop 61, I reflexively assumed the bad guys of Big Pharma were desperate to confuse the public… But…   [Read more…]

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