Statement from the Peters Campaign Re: Mitt Romney's Choice of Rep. Paul Ryan for VP

"Mr. Romney's choice of Rep. Ryan is bad news for America, but will help make the choice for voters in CD 52 crystal clear," said Peters spokesperson MaryAnne Pintar.

"The Ryan/Brian scheme to end Medicare as we know it, risk Social Security in the stock market and further burden the middle class so millionaires and profitable corporations can get bigger tax breaks will be scrutinized at every level, and Mr. Bilbray pushed for it every step of the way," she said. "It's disappointing that Mr. Romney bought into the Ryan-Brian-Tea Party agenda; it's totally out of step with this district. The voters now have a clear choice between Peters, a leader and consensus builder who wants to balance the budget right way, and Bilbray, another soldier in the extremist army."

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Ocean Champions Endorses Scott Peters for CA-52

Civic Leader Has Created Jobs While Protecting the San Diego Coast

Washington, D.C. – August 9, 2012 – Ocean Champions, which works to build political power for the oceans by helping to elect pro-ocean candidates to the U.S. Congress, proudly endorses Scott Peters for California’s 52nd District in the House of Representatives.

“Scott Peters has a long and distinguished record of leading initiatives that improve coastal water quality while increasing jobs and raising quality of life in San Diego,” said David Wilmot, Ph.D., Ocean Champions’ President and Co-Founder. “This stands in stark contrast to incumbent Congressman Brian Bilbray, who has supported numerous bills that attack our oceans.”

As a City Councilman, Scott Peters chaired the San Diego Foundation Climate Initiative that deepened community awareness about climate change’s local impacts and inspired reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.  He believes our energy policy should emphasize development of sustainable, clean technologies to lower environmental impacts while creating American jobs and enabling energy independence.  His opponent, Congressman Bilbray has jumped on the “drill, baby drill” bandwagon, voting to lower offshore drilling safety standards to levels that led to the BP Gulf oil spill and failing to vote against a bill that expanded offshore oil drilling to new coastal areas, including Southern California. Bilbray has also voted to continue granting billions in subsidies to Big Oil while cutting funds to important initiatives like the National Ocean Policy. 

As Co-chair of San Diego’s Clean Water Task Force, Peters led the rehabilitation of an aging sewer system, reducing spills and their resulting beach closures by 80%.  He also implemented measures to reduce coastal pollution by controlling runoff.  As a City Councilman, he received consistently high grades on work to promote water quality.  More recently, as San Diego Port Chairman, he brought leading scientists from Scripps, San Diego State and Sea World together in an effort to restore sea life and habitat on the harbor floor.  Congressman Bilbray, on the other hand, supported one amendment to block funding on initiatives to limit runoff pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, and another to block the EPA from implementing new water quality standards to prevent toxic green slime from polluting Florida’s lakes and rivers.  Bilbray has also supported numerous attempts to gut Clean Air Act standards that protect San Diegans and their coastal water.

“For San Diegans, the ocean defines our quality of life," said Peters. "It's a precious natural resource and also critical to our economy. That’s why we reject the notion that we must choose between a clean water and a strong economy; we must have both," he said, adding, “the new 52nd has some of the most spectacular coastline in the country.”

As a civic leader who has consistently created jobs and helped San Diego’s economy grow while improving coastal environmental quality (and quality of life), we believe Scott Peters is a true ocean champion, and the best choice to represent California’s 52nd District.

 

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SOLANA BEACH BEGINS SAN DIEGO COUNTY’S FIRST PLASTIC SHOPPING BAG BAN ON THURSDAY

 

Deputy Mayor Roberts hands out reusable shopping bags to promote City’s efforts to conserve resources and protect the environment

SOLANA BEACH — Solana Beach becomes the first city in San Diego County to ban the use of plastic shopping bags in grocery stores and pharmacies when a new city law takes effect starting on Thursday.

The city has instituted this ban specifically targetting single-use carry-out plastic bags in an effort to conserve non-renewable resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, waste, beach liter and marine pollution.

“Plastic bags harm marine ecosystems and clog landfills with materials known to take more than a century to decompose,” said Solana Beach Deputy Mayor Dave Roberts. “Solana Beach is leading the way by encouraging  ecologically green and clean practices which help protect our beaches, local wildlife, and the environment,” said Roberts.

San Francisco passed the first law banning the use of plastic bags in 2007 and 44 other cities in California and over two-dozen others around the country have followed suit.

This ordinance effects grocery stores and pharmacies. For all other retailers, the ordinance goes into effect on November 9. Single-use plastic carry-out bags are often derived from petroleum and are given at point of sale purchases to carry goods such as marchandise or food. This ordinance does not include include bags provided to transport products such as produce, meat, poultry, dry cleaning or laundry items.

The new city law also requires stores to charge a ten cent fee for each paper bag they use in an effort to push consumers toward using more reusable shopping bags. All revenues from this fee are to be kept by the individual stores.

WHO:
Solana Beach Deputy Mayor Dave Roberts and community volunteers
                               
WHAT:San Diego’s first plastic bag ban begins; Solana Beach city leaders hand out reusable canvas shopping bags to kick-off the new program

WHEN:Thursday, August 9, 2012 
11:00 am – 12:00 pm

WHERE:Sprouts Farmers Market, 659 Lomas Santa Fe Drive at I-5, Solana Beach, CA

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Network launches new website and announces free legal assistance

San Diego -  In response to the new program that provides relief for undocumented immigrant students, known as the Deferred Action for Child Immigrants (DACA), the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium (SDIRC) has formed the Dreamer Assistance Network (which consists of legal, faith and community based groups from throughout San Diego County) to inform, prepare and assist eligible youth to take advantage of this program.

Today, the Dreamer Assistance Network publicly launches its website: www.dreamerassistance.org.

The Network will assist undocumented youth by holding free informational forums, eligibility assessment events, and application assistance workshops in various locations throughout the county.   At all the events, immigration attorneys from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) will be present to provide information and answer questions

At the free application assistance workshops, AILA attorneys will also work with Network partners to assist eligible applicants in completing an application for DACA. In order to get assistance at the workshops, applicants MUST attend one of the eligibility assessment events on September 8th. 

  Upcoming events:

Friday, Aug 17 at 6-8 PM:  Information Forums on new DACA applicationThe Dreamer Assistance Network will host several community forums at which immigration attorneys will provide the most up-to-date information about the DACA application set to be released by USCIS two days earlier on August 15th.
    •    Everyone is invited but space may be limited, so come early to get your seat.
    •    Spanish interpretation will be provided.
    •    3 locations: Oceanside, San Diego, and National City
 
Saturday, Sep 8 at 9AM - 12PM:  Eligibility Assessment Events (required for workshops)
The Dreamer Assistance Network will host several events to assess the eligibility of potential DACA applicants, register the clearly eligible individuals for free application assistance workshops later in the month, and refer out others to qualified immigration attorneys for individual consultations.

Please note that those seeking application assistance at the workshops, MUST attend one of the eligibility assessment events. Eligible applicants will be registered for the workshop on a first come, first serve basis. Workshop registration is limited to 250 at each of the September workshops.
    •    Spanish interpretation will be provided.
    •    3 locations: Oceanside, San Diego, and National City

Saturday, Sep 15th at 9 AM - 3 PM:  Application Assistance Workshop in National City  
The Dreamer Assistance Network will host a free application assistance workshop at Sweetwater High School in National City for an estimated 250 people. Volunteers will assist applicants to complete the DACA application form, attach the required evidence, and prepare the application package for mailing. All applications will be reviewed by our legal team of AILA attorneys.
    •    The workshop is limited to applicants who registered at one of the September 8th Eligibility Assessment Events.
    •    In addition to being registered on the 8th, applicants will have to bring all of the required documents necessary to complete the application.
 
Saturday, Sep 22 at 9 AM - 3 PM:  Application Assistance Workshop in Oceanside  
The Dreamer Assistance Network will host a free application assistance workshop at
MiraCosta College Community Learning Center (CLC) for an estimated 250 people. Volunteers will assist applicants to complete the DACA application form, attach the required evidence, and prepare the application package for mailing. All applications will be reviewed by our legal team.
    •    The workshop is limited to applicants who registered at one of the September 8th Eligibility Assessment Events.
    •    In addition to being registered on the 8th, applicants will have to bring all of the required documents necessary to complete the application.

The Dreamer Assistance Network and San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium are powered by the Equality Alliance of San Diego County (soon to be called Alliance San Diego). For a full list of Dreamer Assistance Network partners, for more information on DACA, and to stay updated on our events, please visit www.dreamerassistance.org.

Contact: Ricardo Favela, (760) 659-3620

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Assembymember Atkins named new Majority Leader

Speaker John A. Pérez Announces New Assembly Leadership Positions and Committee Chairs

SACRAMENTO– Today Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) announced changes to his Assembly leadership team, and appointed new committee chairs to serve out the 2011-12 Regular Session.

 “I’m pleased to announce the members of our talented new leadership team and new committee chair assignments,” said Speaker Pérez.  This group represents a diverse cross-section of California and offers an incredible amount of knowledge and expertise on the important issues impacting our state.”

The following Leadership changes will take effect on September 1^st:

Speaker pro Tempore                          Hon. Nora Campos (D-San Jose)***

Assistant Speaker pro Tempore          Hon. Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco)

Majority Floor Leader                     Hon. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego)

Assistant Majority Floor Leader         Hon. Michael Allen (D-Santa Rosa)

Majority Whip                                     Hon. Roger Hernández (D-West Covina)

Asst. Majority Whip                           Hon. Chuck Calderon (D-Whittier)

(*** From August 10 – September 1, Assemblymember Nora Campos will serve as Assistant Speaker pro Tempore.)

The following members will retain their current Leadership positions:

Majority Policy Leader                       Hon. Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles)

Asst. Majority Policy Leader              Hon. Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto)

Democratic Caucus Chair                   Hon. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo)

Rules Committee Chair                       Hon. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley)

The following committee chair appointments will take effect on August 10th:

Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego) will Chair the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee.

Assemblymember Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) will Chair the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Assemblymember Mike Davis (D-Los Angeles) will Chair the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee.

Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) will Chair the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee.

Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) will Chair the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources and Transportation.

Assemblymember Bill Monning (D-Carmel) will Chair the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration.

Assemblymember Rich Gordon (D-Redwood City) will Chair the Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee.

Assemblymember Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) will Chair the Assembly Education Committee.

Assemblymember Luis Alejo (D-Salinas) will Chair the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.

Assemblymember Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) will Chair the Assembly Health Committee.

Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) will Chair the Assembly Higher Education Committee.

Assemblymember Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) will be Vice Chair of the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee.

Assemblymember Henry Perea (D-Fresno) will Chair the Assembly Insurance Committee.

Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) will Chair the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Assemblymember Nora Campos (D-San Jose) will be Vice Chair of the Assembly Local Government Committee.

Assemblymember Michael Allen (D-Santa Rosa) will Chair the Assembly Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security Committee.

Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes (D-Sylmar) will Chair the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee.

Assemblymember Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) will Chair the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee.

Assemblymember Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) will be Co-Chair of the Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee.

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