San Diego Free Press

Grassroots News & Progressive Views

Reflecting Upon the First Year of Desde la Logan

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By Brent E. Beltrán

One year ago today, October 12, 2012, my first Desde la Logan column was published here at San Diego Free Press. To date I’ve written forty-nine pieces: forty-four Desde la Logan columns and five articles on Comic-Con. If I had more time I probably could’ve written fifty more.

Like all SDFP writers I do not get paid to write. I write because the stories that I want to share rarely, if ever, get covered by the mainstream press. And the community I live in and write about doesn’t get much positive media attention.

I’ve taken it upon myself to cover the stories and issues that don’t get covered. To unashamedly champion the places, people, issues and causes that are near and dear to my community and myself.   [Read more…]

Tío Emilio and the Secrets of the Ancestors: Chapter 21 — Sending Energy to Thoughts

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“You create your reality through your thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and intent, which determine your vibration and thus the people, objects, events, and circumstances you attract to your life.” Orin, in Spiritual Growth: Being your Higher Self by Sanaya Roman.

By Richard Juarez

“Welcome back, mijos,” said Don Emilio, as we walked into the garden shed. He was seated next to the worktable.

“Good morning, Don Emilio,” I said cheerfully. It had been three weeks since our last session, and I was anxious to get back to our discussion on creating.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Don Emilio,” added Tony. “Did you celebrate Thanksgiving?”   [Read more…]

I Have Fallen in Love Again

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By Sunny Rey

I have fallen again
again and again
in love
with this man
this man who I have met and re-met
in all lightings of the fluorescent-structured street sun
I have seen him glow under and outshine
only to quiet down in the evening
turning half his face away into a shadow   [Read more…]

Why We Should Let the Red States Secede from Obamacare

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Allowing the blue states to create the kind of health system they truly want will allow us all to learn from their innovations.

By David Morris / Alternet

In 2009, when Congress passed the health care bill, only one Republican voted in favor. In 2010, with opposition to the new health care law as their rallying cry, Republicans gained a net 63 seats and control of the House of Representatives. They also won control of 11 additional states, bringing their total to 25.
On October 1st, the first day of the new federal fiscal year and the launch of the new health care exchanges, the victors of 2009 collided with the victors of 2010. The entire nation felt the impact.

Even when it ends, the government shutdown will have demonstrated the willingness, indeed the eagerness, of Republicans to do everything possible to stop the health care law. Already well-funded campaigns are trying to persuade healthy 25 year olds not to purchase health insurance through the exchanges. If successful, these campaigns will result in higher premium rates for those who do sign up, which will spawn dissatisfaction with the new law.   [Read more…]

Koch Brothers Letter, Plummeting Poll Numbers Bring GOP to Table

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By Doug Porter

In the wake of two major developments over the last 48 hours, Republican intransigence appears to be weakening in the Battle of the Budget, 2013 Version.

Small, mostly symbolic, steps occurred yesterday towards ending the threat of default triggered by a Tea Party-led refusal to raise the debt ceiling and, possibly, the re-opening the federal government.

Following a White House meeting for Republican representatives, a public willingness to engage in further discussions emerged. Congressman Paul Ryan told the press both sides should “put their guns back in their holsters”, according to Politico.

This motivation to sound reasonable came on the heels of a letter from financiers and Tea Party backers David and Charles Koch responding to claims made by Senate leader Harry Reid implicating them as instigators of the current standoff.   [Read more…]

When Public and Private Meet, Extra Care Is Needed

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By Donald Cohen/California Labor Federation

Across the nation, private companies are looking to take over public services. A legislative battle in Sacramento over a bill to privatize state trial courts epitomizes the promises and pitfalls of privatization.

Assembly Bill 566 (Wieckowski) would require that before contracting services out, courts must provide proof of cost savings, create employment standards, engage in a competitive bidding process, and undergo regular financial and performance audits bill sits on the governor’s desk for signature or veto and the lobbying is intense.

As in most debates over outsourcing of public services, opponents’ central claim is that privatizing essential courtroom services such as court reporting, processing cases, probate investigations, and interpretive services, saves dollars.

Yet the track record on privatization of public services and assets is decidedly mixed. Public agencies that hire private companies without strong mechanisms of accountability, transparency, rigorous evaluations of contracting costs and standards have learned the hard way.   [Read more…]

One Step Towards a Better Life for Transgender People – AB1121

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By Eva Posner

Gov. Jerry Brown of California signed a bill this week streamlining the process of changing identity documents to reflect the gender identity of transgender people.

Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins of San Diego sponsored the bill, AB 1121.

“Transgender people are entitled to have their official documents and their legal name reflect their true identity without a burdensome and expensive process that endangers their personal safety,” Atkins said in a statement released by her office. “This bill improves the lives of transgender Californians because it creates a simpler, more affordable, and safer process. I am very pleased that Governor Brown agrees and that he has signed my bill.”   [Read more…]

An Introduction to North Park’s Latest Celebrity– Meet Sunny Rey

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Author – “Quotes and Poems of a Nobody”

By Judi Curry

Not too long ago, I had a chance meeting with Sunny. And it didn’t start out all that well.

Sunny is the sister of Ian Rey, the young man that worked at Henry’s for over 14 years and was let go because of a missing jacket. I had been talking to another store about the possibility of Ian working there, and Sunny misunderstood my intentions. She thought I wanted to do a story – like the other media – when, in fact, I wanted to introduce Ian to the owners of Baron’s Market, where he now works.

After talking to Sunny and straightening out the reason I wanted to talk to Ian, I found her to be an absolutely delightful person; a poetess in her own right; on the upward path of becoming an entity of her own, writing, reading her poetry, etc. to a wide audience in San Diego. To say that she has a following in San Diego and beyond is mild compared to who she is and what she is becoming.   [Read more…]

You Don’t Want to Miss the Golden Hill Street Fair – Sunday, Oct. 13

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Its back … the Golden Hill Street Fair.

The 2nd annual Golden Hill Street Fair is happening this Sunday, October 13th from 10:30AM until 8PM, and will be held on 25th Street in Golden Hill.

The event will feature an incredible array of delicious local food, have a shaded beer garden with selection of local craft beer. This event will bring together Southern California musicians to highlight the music scene in our neighborhood with free live music all day.

The musical acts include San Diego Music Awards nominees Tropical Popsicle, Wild Wild Wets, and Ed Ghost Tucker.   [Read more…]

Widespread Salmonella Outbreak in Raw Chicken Includes California – But Public Health Workers Are Furloughed

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As the government shutdown has furloughed the vast majority of the nation’s public health officials, it may not be any easier to trace the salmonella strain.

By Tara Culp- Ressler / ThinkProgress – Nation of Change / October 9, 2013

On Monday night – Oct. 7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a public health alert for raw chicken packaged in California. The chicken has been linked to nearly 300 salmonella cases across 18 different states, a widespread outbreak that appears to have begun in March.

According to a spokesperson from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, investigators have “had a difficult time pinpointing the source of the illnesses.”   [Read more…]

Boy Scouts of America: Be Prepared to Find a Way to Care

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“Scouting for All Rally” in Front of Boy Scouts Headquarters, 1207 Upas St. at 11:00 on 10/13/13

By Ernie McCray

Oh, if the Boy Scouts of America
could just begin to understand
how much better the quality of life
could be in this land
if they would just completely
put aside their homophobe-ary
and recognize the humanity
of folks who are LGBT,
folks who add to and enrich our diversity –
if they would just embrace all of them,
even those who are older than eighteen,
the age at which gay boys can still be dismissed
as no longer being worthy of boy scout membership.
It’s way past time they
began treating
all human beings with respect
and decency.   [Read more…]

City Heights Farmer: The Art of Raising Chickens in San Diego

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By Janis Mork / East County Magazine

City Heights – On the weekend of September 21st, some 30 would-be urban farmers flocked to hear Farmer Bill Tall from City Heights Farmers Nursery offer advice on how to raise chickens. San Diego, along with several other jurisdictions locally, recently legalized backyard ownership of hens – though not roosters.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Tall led off with tips on keeping eggs.

“You don’t have to refrigerate them as long as you don’t wash them,” he said. He advised storing washed eggs in a separate container from foods.   [Read more…]

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