Saturday, October 13, 2012

Labor Council Recommendations



Mail ballots are already starting to arrive and Election Day is right around the corner. Before you vote, make sure you check the list of Labor Council endorsements throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties!



Now it's our turn to support working families by voting for the candidates and issues that will support more jobs, better jobs and better lives for our region’s workforce.



Federal:
President - Barack Obama
Congressional District 49 - Jerry Tetalman
Congressional District 50 - No Endorsement
Congressional District 51 - Juan Vargas
Congressional District 52 - Scott Peters
Congressional District 53 - Susan Davis

State of California Ballot Measures:
Proposition 30 - Yes
Proposition 31 - No
Proposition 32 - No
Proposition 33 - No
Proposition 34 - Yes
Proposition 35 - Yes
Proposition 36 - Yes
Proposition 37 - Yes
Proposition 38 - No
Proposition 39 - Yes
Proposition 40 - Yes

State of California Legislature:

Senate District 39 - Marty Block
Assembly District 56 - Manuel Perez
Assembly District 71 - Patrick Hurley
Assembly District 75 - Matthew Herold
Assembly District 76 - No Endorsement
Assembly District 77 - No Endorsement
Assembly District 78 - Toni Atkins
Assembly District 79 – Shirley Weber
Assembly District 80 - Ben Hueso

Counties:
San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 3 - Dave Roberts

Cities:
San Diego Mayor - Bob Filner
San Diego City Council, District 1 - No Endorsement
Chula Vista City Council, Seat 3 - Pamela Bensoussan
Chula Vista City Council, Seat 4 - Mary Salas
El Cajon City Council - Ben Kalasho
Escondido City Council - Olga Diaz
Imperial Beach City Council - Bobby Patton
La Mesa City Council - Patrick Dean
Lemon Grove City Council - George Gastil and Racquel Vasquez
National City City Council - Alejandra Sotelo-Solis
Oceanside Mayor - Jim Wood
Oceanside City Council - Esther Sanchez
Vista City Council - Cody Campbell

School Boards:
Cajon Valley Union School District Board - Ken Jensen and Suzanne Mullins
Calexico Unified School District Board - Ben Horton and Antonio Valenzuela
Cardiff School District Board - Rick Cassar
Central Union High School District Board - Peter Rodriguez
Chula Vista Elementary School District Board, Seat 4 - Glendora Tremper
Coronado Unified School District Board - Scott Barr
Escondido Union School Board, Area 1 - Jose Fragozo
Escondido Union School Board, Area 3 - Virginia Lopez
Grossmont Union High School District Board - Zach Miller
La Mesa-Spring Valley School District Board - Jay Steiger
Poway Unified School Board - Kimberley Beatty
San Diego Unified School District, Seat A - John Lee Evans
San Diego Unified School District, Seat D - Richard Barrera
San Diego Unified School District, Seat E - Marne Foster
San Ysidro School District Board - Antonio Martinez
South Bay Union School District Board - Cheryl Quinones
Sweetwater Union High School Board, District 4 - Bertha Lopez
Vista Unified School District Board - Richard Alderson

College Boards:
MiraCosta College District Board - Jacqueline Simon
Palomar Community College District Board - John Halcon, Nancy Ann Hensch, and Roberto Rodriguez
San Diego Community College, District B - Bernie Rhinerson
Southwestern College Board, Seat 1 - William Stewart
Southwestern College Board, Seat 3 - Humberto Peraza

Judicial:

Superior Court Judge, Seat 25 - No Endorsement

Special Districts:
Helix Water District, Division 3 - Lori Kern
Imperial Irrigation District Board, Division 2 - John Pierre Menvielle
Imperial Irrigation District Board, Division 4 - Stella Mendoza
Imperial Irrigation District Board, Division 5 - Norma Sierra Galindo
Lakeside Fire Protection District - Ron Adams and Jim Bingham
Otay Water District Board, Seat 2 - Mitch Thompson
Palomar Pomerado Healthcare District Board - Jeff Griffith
South Bay Irrigation District, Seat 3 - Jose Preciado
South Bay Irrigation District, Seat 5 - Ernesto Zamudio
Tri-City Healthcare District Board - Charlene Anderson, George Coulter and Rosemarie Reno

Local Ballot Measures:

City of Carlsbad Proposition A - No
City of Chula Vista Proposition B - Yes
Cajon Valley Union School District Proposition C - Yes
Dehesa School District Proposition D - Yes
Counties:
Chula Vista Elementary School District Proposition E - Yes
City of Coronado Proposition F - Yes
Mountain Empire School District Proposition G - Yes
City of Del Mar Proposition H - Yes
City of Del Mar Proposition J - Yes
City of Encinitas Proposition K - Yes
City of Encinitas Proposition L - No
City of Encinitas Proposition M - Yes
City of Escondido Proposition N - No
City of Escondido Proposition P - No
City of Lemon Grove Proposition Q - No
Ramona Unified School District Proposition R - Yes
City of Imperial Beach Proposition S - Yes
City of Lemon Grove Proposition T - Yes
City of Santee Proposition U - Yes
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Proposition V - Yes
City of Solana Beach Proposition W - Yes
South Bay Union School District Proposition Y - Yes
San Diego Unified School District Proposition Z - Yes
San Dieguito Union High School District Proposition AA - Yes
Bonsall Union School District Proposition BB - No Position
Del Mar Union School District Proposition CC - Yes
MiraCosta Community College District Proposition EE - Yes
Brawley Elementary School District Proposition S - Yes
Coachella Valley Unified School District Proposition X - Yes

Friday, October 12, 2012

EHC: Vote For a Mayor Who Supports Our Families



Filner Pledges Support To Improve Neighborhoods
DeMaio Affirms Support For Polluting Businesses

At a KPBS debate last week, Bob Filner stood with the residents of Barrio Logan by supporting an update to the Community Plan that will separate polluting businesses from schools and homes.

His opponent, on the other hand, expressed concern about the update, highlighting his support of polluting businesses in our neighborhoods.

This is why EHJC endorses Bob Filner for mayor.

After 30 years of discriminatory land use and harmful mixed-use zoning, we must elect a mayor who stands with the residents of Barrio Logan. Bob Filner supports both waterfront industrial jobs AND clean air for Barrio Logan residents. 

Vote on November 6, join us at our October 15 event, and volunteer to help us elect a mayor who knows our communities and listens to us. Together we can take back our city.

Thank you,

Diane Takvorian
Executive Director

What Can You Do?

 1.    Register to Vote and vote on Nov 6
 2.    Vote YES on Prop 39
 3.    Vote for Bob Filner for Mayor of San Diego
 4.    Visit EHJC.org for our 2012 Voter Guide and volunteer to rock the vote  

Weber: Support for Our Local Biofuels Industry Will Prevent Pain at the Pump and Create Good Local Jobs



LEMON GROVE - As gas prices stay high across California after spiking 35 cents a gallon just last week in San Diego – Dr. Shirley Weber is calling for more support for our local biofuels industry to address the problem over the long-term. Weber, a candidate for state Assembly, called for an increase in state investment in local biofuels companies earlier this year – and she renewed her call today.

“Hard-working San Diegans will likely see the highest prices of their lifetime this week, according to the Oil Price Information Service,” Weber said. “The status quo is no longer good enough. Not for our families and not for our communities. I am committed to eradicating this preventable pain at the pump. I believe in investing in our local biofuel industry and the companies working to make us energy independent. California’s government owes it to the citizens of this state to make these investments now and for the future – so this doesn’t happen again. Because if we don’t, it will.”

Weber laid out three action items to support local industry while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

1. San Diego is home to groundbreaking research on biofuels, especially those developed from algae. It’s time to accelerate the production being done here so that we are in control our own energy future. Accelerated biofuel production would not only ease pain at the pump, it would put hundreds of San Diegans back to work in good-paying jobs in a growing sector.


2. We must continue to smartly support emerging technologies – like alternative fuel vehicles – that will not only improve our environment but will make these spikes in gas prices a thing of the past. Not every one of these alternatives makes financial sense and we need to be careful about our investments. But wise and steady work in this area can help stabilize the energy markets and put more people to work.


3. Preparation is key. As energy consumers we often find ourselves at the mercy of a broken pipeline hundreds of miles away, a seasonal refinery switch in Northern California, or a hostile regime a half a world away. Being prepared isn’t expensive and it isn’t a waste of time – especially for a problem we knew we’d face yet again. Our agencies need to better coordinate so that we are prepared to face these problems and not sit idly by while prices soar.


Earlier this year, Dr. Weber started an online petition citizens can sign to support increasing our production of biofuel and reducing our dependence on oil.


About Dr. Shirley Weber

Born to sharecroppers in Hope, Arkansas, Shirley Weber has lived in California since the age of three. Educated in our state’s public schools, she received her BA, MA and PhD from UCLA by the time she was 26. A respected community advocate known for her work on closing the academic achievement gap, Dr. Weber is the former President of the San Diego School Board. She currently serves as the mayor’s appointee and Chair of the Citizens’ Equal Opportunity Commission, where she has created jobs by tripling the number of small businesses contracting with the city of San Diego. Dr. Weber is also a professor at SDSU, and has lived in the 79th Assembly District for over 30 years. 
To learn more, visit http://www.drweber4assembly.com.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Forget Big Bird; Here Comes Grover!



Lobbyist, Tea Party Hero Rides in to Rescue Bilbray’s Teetering Campaign

San Diego -- The Scott Peters for Congress campaign today warned voters in the new 52nd Congressional District of a new character seeking to influence their votes in this hotly contested race.

“Forget Big Bird, here comes Grover,” said Peters Communications Director MaryAnne Pintar. “But it’s not Big Bird’s fuzzy blue friend from Sesame Street; it’s Grover Norquist and he’s coming to San Diego to thank his friend Congressman Bilbray for signing his pledge to never end subsidies for their mutual friends in the oil industry, and to never compromise in order to balance the budget.”

Even Jeb Bush -- not exactly an icon of liberalism -- criticized Republicans for signing the Norquist Pledge as an example of how extreme Brian Bilbray and his party have become.

Grover Norquist is a D.C. lobbyist who heads the extremist Tea Party group Americans for Tax Reform. He just reserved $1.3 million in television ad time to defend the ineffective record of Tea Party Congressman and former lobbyist Brian Bilbray, a millionaire who headlines local Tea Party events about "fiscal conservatism" while taking a $174,000 salary and two taxpayer funded pensions equalling nearly $30,000.

“Brian’s campaign is teetering on the edge so in rides Congressman Bilbray’s guru Grover to the rescue,” said Pintar.  He was even called the “most vulnerable Republican incumbent in California” recently by a highly regarded analyst.

For more information about Scott Peters’ campaign to fix Brian Bilbray’s broken Congress, please go to www.scottpeters.com.

Local Democrats Eager to Cheer Biden, Fact-Check Ryan



Volunteers Phonebanking Before Debate, Canvassing This Weekend

Democratic volunteers and supporters in San Diego are gearing up for tonight's vice-presidential debate, expecting the Vice President to directly address the American people about the Obama-Biden plans to keep strengthening the economy -- and expecting Congressman Paul Ryan to keep deceiving voters about his real positions on Medicare, deficit reduction, and tax cuts for the wealthy.

"In last week's presidential debate, Mitt Romney sounded nothing like the 'severe conservative' he declared himself to be earlier in this campaign," said Jess Durfee, Chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party. "The question tonight is whether Paul Ryan will adopt Romney’s dishonest strategy or stand by the extreme positions he’s taken as the 'intellectual leader' of the GOP. Either way, Vice President Biden will express in concrete terms what’s at stake for the middle class."

Dozens of phonebankers will show up at the San Diego Democratic Unity Center before the debate to make calls to mobilize local voters on behalf of Bob Filner for Mayor, Scott Peters for Congress, and other Democratic candidates. Then they'll take their places by the TV screen in the office when the broadcast begins at 6:00 p.m.:

WHEN:
Tonight, October 11 ~ Debate begins at 6:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Democratic Unity Campaign Center, 8322 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Suite 202, San Diego (92111)

WHO:
Democratic activists, volunteers, and supporters from throughout the county. San Diego County Democratic Party Chair Jess Durfee, also a member of the Democratic National Committee, will address attendees before the debate and will be available for interviews before and after the event.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

CARL DEMAIO CHANGES HIS POSITION ON PENSION OBLIGATION BONDS

 

DEMAIO WAS FOR THEM BEFORE HE WAS AGAINST THEM

October 9, 2012

This week, Carl DeMaio attacked Bob Filner for supporting pension obligation bonds to reduce the City’s unfunded pension liability, despite the fact that Filner has repeatedly stated that such bonds are no longer necessary because of nearly $1 billion in reduced pension obligations as a result of a 5-year freeze on pensionable pay which he has committed to implement.

Today, it was revealed that DeMaio himself endorsed the use of pension obligation bonds to reduce the City’s unfunded liability.


In a news conference on Monday, DeMaio denounced pension obligation bonds:

“Taking out another credit card to stretch out payments on the City’s pension debt and racking up hundreds of millions in additional interest is exactly the kind of risky move that got City Hall into the pension mess to begin with.” - Carl DeMaio

Source:  DeMaio news conference, KPBS, October 8, 2012


But in a 2004 Union-Tribune commentary authored by DeMaio, he expressed support for pension obligation bonds as one measure to address the City's unfunded pension liability:

"After creating an independent Pension Reform Committee to provide advice on reforms, city leaders have severely watered down the panel's recommendations…
Combined with the anticipated sale of pension obligation bonds, these reforms would put the pension fund back on firm footing."

Source:  San Diego Union-Tribune, August 13, 2004


In a 2004 report from DeMaio's Performance Instititute (funded by U-T San Diego publisher Doug Manchester), DeMaio offered a blanket endorsement of the reforms proposed by the City's Pension Reform Committee, which included issuance of $600 million in pension obligation bonds to address the City's unfunded pension liabilities:

"The City's Pension Reform Committee has been meeting and deliberating over a series of reforms to the Pension System. Based on the minutes and votes from the meetings of the Committee, the San Diego Citizens' Budget Plan offers a blanket endorsement of their reforms - likely to be presented before the City Council on June 29, 2004…

“…The Pension Reform Committee will likely propose that the City use Pension Obligation Bonds (POBs) to address the current liability in the Pension Fund. The current proposal is to issue a  $200 million POB this year, and instruct the City Manager to find an additional $200 million in FY 2006 and $200 million in FY 2007."  (pg. 21)

Source:  San Diego Citizens' Budget Plan, The Performance Institute, 2004


“This is just one example of the overwhelming hypocrisy and dishonesty with which DeMaio approaches this election,” said Filner.  "DeMaio himself supported these bonds when he was fronting for Doug Manchester, but now he’s attacking me for previously supporting them.  Apparently, DeMaio has no shame and no memory.”


###


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Nat’l Committee to Protect Social Security/Medicare Backs Peters Over Bilbray

 

San Diego -- The National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM), one of the most trusted, independent and effective advocates for these programs in the country, has endorsed Scott Peters for Congress, the Peters campaign announced today.

NCPSSM President and Chief Executive Officer Max Richtman said they are endorsing Peters over Bilbray because they trust Peters to protect Medicare and Social Security, while Bilbray has voted repeatedly to cut these critical programs which protect many of America’s seniors from living in poverty.

In a letter to Peters, Richtman said the organization “enthusiastically endorses your candidacy,” because, “our nation needs your leadership, vision and determination to fight for working families and older Americans.”

“I will absolutely fight to protect and preserve Medicare and Social Security today and into the future,” Peters said. “These are benefits seniors have earned over a lifetime of hard work. My opponent has voted to allow Social Security to be risked in the stock market, and to cut Medicare 10 times throughout his career. Our seniors deserve someone who will stand up for them.”

Most recently, Bilbray voted twice for the Ryan budget, which essentially ends Medicare. In fact, the American Association of Retired People said this about the plan in a letter to Congress: “this proposal simply shifts these high and growing costs onto Medicare beneficiaries, and it then shifts even higher costs of increased uninsured care onto everyone else…the proposal is likely to simply increase costs for beneficiaries while removing Medicare’s promise of secure health coverage -- a guarantee that future seniors have contributed to through a lifetime of hard work.” [AARP Letter, 3/21/12]

Peters is running to unseat 12-year-incumbent Brian Bilbray in the newly drawn 52nd Congressional District.  The hotly contested race is drawing national attention; most recently, National Journal called Bilbray “the most vulnerable incumbent” in California.

For more information, go to www.scottpeters.com.

###

BACKGROUND:

2011: AARP: Ryan’s Plan (That Brian Bilbray voted for twice) Would Increase Health Care Costs for Older Americans. AARP CEO Addison Barry Rand wrote to Members of Congress on House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget resolution. In the letter, Rand wrote: “this proposal simply shifts these high and growing costs onto Medicare beneficiaries, and it then shifts even higher costs of increased uninsured care onto everyone else. […] By creating a ‘premium support’ system for future Medicare beneficiaries, the proposal is likely to simply increase costs for beneficiaries while removing Medicare’s promise of secure health coverage -- a guarantee that future seniors have contributed to through a lifetime of hard work.” [AARP Letter, 3/21/12]

2011: Ryan Budget Would Affect Those 55 and Over by Increasing Their Prescription Drug Costs. In 2011, it was reported that the Ryan Plan would affect seniors 55 and older by increasing their costs for prescription drugs. “The policies in the House GOP budget, if enacted, would begin affecting millions of seniors almost immediately by increasing their costs for prescription drugs and probably long-term care.” [National Journal, 6/6/11]
 
2011: Bilbray Voted for the House Republican Budget Which Would Cost Seniors More Than $6,000. In 2011,Bilbray voted for the Republican plan to “significantly increase the out-of-pocket costs of health care for Medicare beneficiaries. In fact, out‐of‐pocket health care costs will more than double under the Republican plan. Based on estimates from the non‐partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the typical 65-year-old’s out-of-pocket health care costs will increase from $6,154 to $12,513 in 2022—or an extra $6,359.” [Congressional Joint Economic Committee, 5/20/11; H. Con. Res. 34, Vote #277, 4/15/11; Wall Street Journal, 4/4/11]

2012: Brian Bilbray Voted for House Republican Budget That Would Give People Making Over $1 Million Per Year a $394,000 Tax Cut.“New analysis by the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center (TPC) finds that people earning more than $1 million a year would receive $265,000 apiece in new tax cuts, on average, on top of the $129,000 they would receive from the Ryan budget’s extension of President Bush’s tax cuts.” [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/27/12; see also Tax Policy Center, Table T12-0078 and T10-0132; H Con Res 112, Vote #151, 3/29/12]

2012: Congressman Bilbray Voted to Slash Medicare, Give Tax Breaks for Millionaires, Encourage Companies to Ship Jobs Overseas. On March 29, 2012, Congressman Bilbray supported a budget that would end Medicare’s guaranteed benefit, protects $40 billion in tax breaks for big oil, provides people earning more than $1 million a year with an average tax cut of $394,000, and provides incentives for corporations to shift profits and jobs overseas. [H Con Res 112, Vote #151, 3/29/12; New York Times Editorial, 3/20/12; Center for American Progress, 3/20/12; Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 4/12/12; Tax Policy Center, Table T12-0078 and T10-0132; Citizens for Tax Justice,3/22/12]
###