San Diego Free Press

Grassroots News & Progressive Views

A Good Moral Philosopher Would Go Hungry These Days

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Long running disregard for the care of mentally ill exacerbates chronic homelessness, creates public safety dilemma.

By Bob Dorn

Today (ed., January 22) the park rangers moved out the couple living across the street in our dilapidated corner of Balboa Park.

I wasn’t sorry to see them go. I wasn’t happy to see them go. Homelessness long ago became another national shrug. No one’s to blame any more, neither the Republicans nor the Democrats, maybe not even the very wealthy, unless they were lucky enough to own banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America which made The American Dream a thing of the past for many, like the two across the street.

This is an unlikely pair. He sports a trim grey beard, a black porkpie and an overcoat, looking like a former rock and roller or rogue spy gone to seed. He might be 50, he might be70. I doubt he lives there with her because I frequently see him riding his bike down in the mornings, and leaving on the bike before nightfall.   [Read more…]

Jake Ducey: Finding His Own Path

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By Judi Curry

San Diego has some remarkable native-grown youth. We probably hear about many of them in a negative way, and it is always so uplifting to meet one that is making a difference in the world. When I sat down to talk with Jake Ducey I found that it was so exciting, so much fun, that I didn’t want it to end.

Who is Jake Ducey, you ask? He is an extremely tall – think basketball tall – handsome young man of 22, born and raised in Encinitas, with long curly hair, a smile that goes from ear to ear, blue eyes that sparkle with mischief, enthusiasm, and sincerity. He has gone from a drug filled life and a basketball scholarship to an author, a script writer, a motivational speaker, and an actor that will soon be a household name all over the world. He has written a book that appeared on the Amazon best seller for weeks – “Into the Wind” – and is writing his second book to be published in 2015 having to do with setting your principles and going after them. In his second book he interviewed 27 people and has written about their successes and how they were obtained.   [Read more…]

The Story Behind Those Illegal Campaign Contributions in San Diego

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By Doug Porter

The big story today concerns the dark side of campaign finance.  Acomplaint unsealed in federal court yesterday indicates that law enforcement agencies are building a case around illegal contributions made by Mexican businessman Susumo Azano to candidates in recent San Diego elections.

Ravi Singh, owner of ElectionMall Inc., and retired SDPD detective Ernesto Encinas have alreday been charged with conspiring to funnel more than $500,000 of illegal contributions to various campaign committees during 2012 and 2013.  The candidates’ names are redacted in the federal complaint, which refers to them as c1, c2,c3,and c4.

Campaign finance records and inside sources talking to reporters at UT-San Diego indicate the monies went to PACs working to support District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis’ mayoral run, former Mayor Bob Filner and former Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher. One candidate, who ran for federal office in 2012, remains unidentified.   [Read more…]

Wildfires: San Diego’s Ecological Elephant in the Room

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By Lawrence A. Herzog

If the unusually hot, dry January weather in San Diego was not enough to remind us of global warming, interim Mayor Todd Gloria recently doubled down in his State of the City address when he vowed that “San Diego will be a global leader in addressing climate change.”

It’s good news that Gloria and others are advocating for policies that will make San Diego more sustainable, from zero waste, bicycle friendly streets, and building retrofits, to recycled water and alternative transit. However, there is one glaring ecological threat that hovers over our region’s policy makers: wildfires.

Consider our recent history: over the last decade or so, we’ve had two of the most frightening and environmentally devastating wildfires in the nation. The 2003 and 2007 mega-fires burned several million acres of land, destroyed thousands of homes, and caused over one half million people to be evacuated from their residences. We all remember the white soot suspended over the regions for days, even along our normally breezy shores. We recall the thick, acrid air that kept us indoors.   [Read more…]

What Does City Heights Lose when Albertsons Closes?

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The importance of keeping the public benefit issues alive when redevelopment is dead

By Anna Daniels

On January 15 Councilmember Marti Emerald released a statement about the imminent closure of the Albertsons store and pharmacy in the City Heights Retail Village. This announcement took the community by complete surprise. While it is true that “This planned closure of a major retailer is unfortunately a common story in older, low income neighborhoods…,” this particular Albertsons is part of a unique, extensive redevelopment effort in City Heights.

Albertsons opened in 2001, has a large footprint, carries fresh produce, is clean and well lit and includes the kinds of onsite services within the store that one associates with its more suburban (read successful) counterparts– Starbucks, deli, bakery as well as services tailored to City Heights tastes and needs.

It is frankly difficult to perceive how this particular store fits into the “common story” narrative.   [Read more…]

Peters, Family Health Centers Combine Efforts to Bring Health Care to Local Residents

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Logan Heights branch of Family Health Centers of San Diego adds twist to Congressman’s ACA outreach efforts.

By Andy Cohen

Congressman Scott Peters may have his issues with the Affordable Care Act—and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?—but you’d be hard pressed to find another elected member of Congress who has done more, conducted more outreach efforts to inform his or her constituents about what the law really is, how it works, and how they can best take advantage of what it has to offer.  It’s an imperfect solution to an even more imperfect healthcare system, but it’s a start, and a reasonably good one particularly given the current political environment and adamant GOP opposition to a law they have exactly zero chance at undoing.

The ACA, or “Obamacare” as it’s come to be known, is a work in progress, says Peters.  It can be a success, and it will be, but we have to work to make it better.

His Republican colleagues, says Peters, would seem to prefer a return to the old way of doing things with regard to health care in America, and that’s simply not an option.  The old way wasn’t working…..for anyone.  And yet they have done everything in their power to undermine and sabotage the first significant expansion of healthcare in America since Teddy Roosevelt first tried over a century ago.  “They’ve talked a lot about alternatives, but they haven’t offered a single one,” said Peters.  Thankfully, he says, now that the law has been fully implemented, the days of constant repeal votes in the House of Representatives appear to be at an end.  At least that‘s the hope.   [Read more…]

More Ad Wars: Sanders’ Billion Dollar Baloney, Lincoln Club’s Crummy Photoshop

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By Doug Porter

It’s hard to miss the Faulconer campaign’s warm and fuzzy broadcast ads featuring former Mayor Jerry Sanders. We’re told several times about how the Republican Mayoral candidate “saved” San Diegans a billion dollars through pension reform. We’re told this money can be used for needed projects in our neighborhoods.

Those assertions are fine examples of the ‘lots of baloney, served often’ strategy being used on Faulconer’s behalf.  Our ex-mayor is an excellent salesman, ready to sell you discount passes for the (toll-free) Coronado Bridge is you’re gullible enough.

Voice of San Diego revisited that oft-quoted one billion dollar figure yesterday in light of newly released information, deciding it merited no better than a ‘misleading’ rating.

Pension savings of $1 billion will come over decades and any contention that they can be put back into neighborhoods immediately, as Faulconer implied in November, is misleading.

  [Read more…]

On-Line Dating, The Saga Continues…Oh, And Who Is This Man?

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By Judi Curry

Those of you that have followed my “on-line” dating experiences probably thought that after the “Thomas” episode I was finished with my research project. Actually, I thought I was also, until I received a notification from “OKCupid” that I had been matched with a man that they thought I would have a lot in common with.  His name – at least the name he was using on their site was “Mohitasaurus.”  When he wrote to me, however, he said his name of “Jerry Shawn” and that he lives in the 92108 zip code.

Granted, 92108 encompasses a wide territory – Mission Valley and some surroundings.  How similar it was to Thomas who told me he lived in Imperial Beach.  Rather than bore you with the details of his writings, I am going to copy them verbatim for you to read. I did not correct his spelling errors. (Note: You still might be bored!)   [Read more…]

Superbowl 420, A Big Hit with Bud Fans Everywhere

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By Doug Porter

A gaggle of overgrown men in body armor chasing an inflated pigskin up and down a grass field in New Jersey named after an insurance company in the dead of winter just took on a whole new level of symbolism.

The Seattle Seahawks came from behind in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday’s NFC championship game, joining the Denver Broncos, who defeated the New England Patriots in the earlier AFC championship game, in heading to the Super Bowl.

Both teams are from states,Washington and Colorado, that legalized marijuana at the ballot box in 2012. Given that it’s a holiday and otherwise slow news day, today’s column will begin by talking about the latest developments in weedworld, er…stonerland…, er, marijuana legalization.   [Read more…]

David Alvarez is the Living Embodiment of King’s Dream; Faulconer, Its Antithesis

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By Jim Miller

This year our ritual celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. comes in the midst of a contentious mayoral election.  And while some might try to bracket this year’s remembrance off from the ugly fray, that would be a mistake.  As I noted in an earlier column on this subject, remembering “a sanitized version of King as a vanilla saint who called on us to just move beyond our differences does a disservice to him and his legacy” because “[o]ur collective remembrance of MLK is most useful when it troubles us.”

And King would be deeply troubled to see where we are today nationally and locally.  Yes, the man who said, “one day we must come to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring” would be profoundly disturbed by the fact that we are living in an era of historic economic inequality.

He would decry the reality that here in San Diego the wealthiest 20% of households take in half of all income in the region while more than 28% of working San Diegans earn less than a self sufficient wage and one out of five children in San Diego lives in poverty.   [Read more…]

Apple Pie and the Economy: Enough is Enough

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By Will Falk

I hope the economy doesn’t recover.

There. I said it. And it feels really good.

We are in the midst of the Earth’s sixth mass extinction and it is not being caused by volcanic eruptions or asteroids– it is being caused by human activity. And yet, it seems every time we flip-up our computer screens, read a newspaper, or turn on the television, people everywhere are bemoaning the state of the economy.

Not me. I am celebrating. So are salmon, redwoods, polar bears, Torrey pines, and tigers.   [Read more…]

La Bodega Grand Opening Celebration a Big Hit

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Barrio Logan’s newest art space launches to large, art hungry crowd

By Brent E. Beltrán

La Bodega Gallery and Creative Studios held their grand opening celebration on Saturday night to a massive, art-loving audience. Hundreds of people from throughout San Diego made their way to Barrio Logan for the inaugural event.

“It’s great to see all the people come out and support,” says La Bodega’s Milo Lorenzana. “Everyone is excited.”

La Bodega, the creation of Milo, Chris Zertuche, Max Bojorquez and Bucky Montero, is located on the corner of Logan Ave. and Sampson St. In addition to housing a gallery it also hosts artistic studios from area artists and designers including The Spot, DJ V-Rock, Dos Caras Swimwear, San Diego Taco Company, Border X Brewing, Waist Knot Want Not, Spencer Little, Valor Fight Club and others. About eighteen artists studios will eventually be housed inside La Bodega.

Milo says that “we still have a lot of work to do.” The renovations to the building are about 60% done but enough work has taken place that the Bodega crew felt comfortable holding a grand opening.   [Read more…]

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