2009 Tommie Awards Tonight, 5:30pm

Thanks to you, our many progressive allies, who have contributed to our grassroots organizing, GOtV efforts, listening campaigns, and public forums on progressive principles, Progressive San Diego has grown and blossomed! Last summer, we formed EMPOWER San Diego, a 501(c)3.

Come Celebrate Our Progressive Community with

EMPOWER, a New Non-Profit Organization,
at the
2009 Tommie Awards
Recognizing activists working toward an equitable, sustainable San Diego/Tijuana Region
Thursday, April 16th
5:30pm Doors Open
Local, Sustainable Food/Live Music by the Marcia Forman Band
Award Ceremony and Farewell to Tommie Watson

At the home of Linda and Carlos LeGerrette
1359 Grove Street | San Diego, CA 92102

We thank these sponsors for their contributions:
Big Kitchen, Garden of Eden Organics, La Milpa Organica and Old World Deli.

Schmooze with:

Tommie Watson
Outgoing Executive Director, Progressive San Diego & EMPOWER San Diego

Annie Lorrie Anderson-Lazo, Ph.D.
Incoming Executive Director, EMPOWER San Diego

Emily Serafy Cox
Incoming Development Director, EMPOWER San Diego

& All the Recipients of the 2009 Tommie Awards

---

EMPOWER San Diego, a non-profit 501(c)(3) education organization, will continue to support the efforts of residents and communities working together for an equitable, just and sustainable society.

Progressive San Diego, a non-partisan political action committee that works to create more equitable and sustainable society in the San Diego region by promoting progressive candidates and policies.

For More Information Contact: Emily@EmpowerSanDiego.org

Meet n Greet n Say Goodbye

SAVE THE DATE!
Progressive San Diego & Empower San Diego
invite you to

Meet n Greet n Say Goodbye
“TOMMIE’S FAREWELL PARTY”

Tommie Watson
Outgoing Executive Director, Progressive San Diego & Empower San Diego

Annie Lorrie Anderson-Lazo, Ph.D.
Incoming Executive Director, Empower San Diego
An applied anthropologist, educator, and organizer who has worked in San Diego, as well as throughout California and Central America over the last fifteen years, Annie Lorrie will take up her post on April 1, 2009.

Emily Serafy Cox
Incoming Development Director, Empower San Diego
Former PSD Board Member and Chair of the Fundraising Committee, joins Empower as a staff member on April 15, 2009.

Thursday April 16th
6pm @ the home of Linda and Carlos LeGerrette
1359 Grove St.
San Diego, CA 92102

Thanks to you, our many progressive allies, who have contributed to our grassroots organizing, GOtV efforts, listening campaigns, and public forums on progressive principles, Progressive San Diego has grown and blossomed!

Last summer, we formed Empower San Diego, a new non-profit 501(c)(3) education organization, which will continue to support the efforts of residents and communities coming together to build an equitable, just and sustainable society here in San Diego. As Empower, we will develop new programs and projects to amplify our most successful strategies in the areas of grassroots organizing, policy-development, voter education, and coalition building. We envision a vibrant San Diego where civically-engaged individuals and families work with their elected and appointed officials to create communities that are livable and accessible, with a transparent, accountable government, and a flourishing independent media.

Goodbye…

We will miss greatly the talents and efforts of Tommie Watson, who plans to return to his home in Boston, where he will continue the good work of nurturing and building progressive community. We especially recognize his leadership in campaigning for progressive candidates, advocating for the living wage campaign, and garnering the Reeds Award for the Best GOtV Plan, with his stellar execution of the Trick or Vote Campaign.

Trick or Vote San Diego Featured on Travis Smiley | PBS Web Exclusive

Progressive San Diego lead a team of organizations and individuals a week ago today (Halloween) to go door to door in the SDSU area and "trick or vote." The group knocked on doors in a number of precincts and were followed by Video Your Vote, a collaboration between PBS and Youtube. The co-sponsors of the event were: Common Cause, The N3twork, League of Women Voters, the Bus Project and the SDSU Debate Class.

TRAVIS SMILEY | Trick or Vote | PBS

PRESS RELEASE: Progressives Leave Big Mark on Election Day

-- For Immediate Release --

San Diego, CA – On November 4, 2008, voters in the San Diego region made a loud statement to the region’s conservative establishment by electing numerous progressive candidates endorsed by Progressive San Diego. Progressive candidates won expected as well as surprising races on the San Diego City Council, on the San Diego Unified School District, and in the California Legislature.

San Diego City Council

PSD’s endorsed city council candidates Sherri Lightner, Todd Gloria and Marti Emerald all won their respective elections. In District 1, Sherri Lightner put on an impressive performance to beat Phil Thalheimer, who previously ran against Scott Peters. Todd Gloria won in District 3 against another PSD-endorsed progressive, Stephen Whitburn. In District 7, Marti Emerald holds a small advantage over her conservative opponent, April Boling.

San Diego Unified School District

The biggest upset of the night came from another PSD-endorsed candidate, John Lee Evans, in the School Board District A race against incumbent Mitz Lee. Evans won the seat by an impressive nine percentage points. In San Diego no school board member has been unseated in almost 30 years, but Evans broke that record. Additionally, PSD board member Richard Barrera won the School Board District D race without opposition.

California Legislature

Another big win for progressives came in the open seat of the 78th Assembly District, where endorsed candidate Marty Block won by almost ten percentage points. A republican has held that seat for the past six years. In the 76th Assembly District, progressive Lori Saldana was easily re-elected to serve another term. Also, incumbent progressive Christine Kehoe retained her seat on the State Senate.

Progressive San Diego

Formed in 2003, Progressive San Diego is a non-partisan political action committee that works to create a more equitable and sustainable society in the SD region by promoting progressive candidates and policies. Active in the community, PSD has hosted candidate forums and trainings, public speakers and film events. PSD has been vocal on such issues as San Diego City Charter Reform, attacks on livable wages, the big-box ordinance, quality and affordable healthcare and same-sex marriage.

Endorsements

San Diego City Council: Sherri Lightner, Todd Gloria, Stephen Whitburn and Marti Emerald.
San Diego Unified School District: John Lee Evans and Richard Barrera.
San Diego City Attorney: Michael Aguirre.
California State Assembly: Marty Block and Lori Saldana.
California State Senate: Christine Kehoe.

Tommie Watson
Progressive San Diego

Statement in Response to Anti-Whitburn Mailer

When Progressive San Diego’s board of directors considers whether to endorse a candidate, the candidate’s ability to wage a clean campaign and spread a positive message while civilly debating his or her opponent is the subject of much discussion. Because PSD believes that candidates must have a positive agenda and be willing to stand up for progressive principles rather than simply opposing an opponent’s nonprogressive positions, we also believe that campaign strategies must focus on spreading that positive message and be limited to responding to attacks on a candidate’s character and integrity. Attack ads, no matter how effective they may be, have absolutely no place–none whatsoever–in a progressive candidate’s campaign. There is nothing progressive about cutting down one candidate so that another will stand out. Progressives have a strong message to spread, but personal attacks and other mud-slinging seriously undermine that message and fuel speculation about the credibility of those who benefit from such tactics.

In the strongest possible terms, Progressive San Diego condemns the recent “hit piece” against City Council District 3 candidate Stephen Whitburn. We do so not because Stephen, along with Todd Gloria, has earned our endorsement. Our condemnation stems from our deep commitment to promoting clean, honest, positive debate among all candidates for public office and keeping gutter politics out of elections. People certainly have the right to express their views about political candidates. But PSD also has the right to call out anyone who tries to stain the respectable campaigns that its endorsees try to run.

This morning PSD spoke to both candidates about the attack on Stephen. Todd unequivocally denied having anything to do with the attack, and PSD takes him at his word. Both candidates rejected attack ads as illegitimate campaign tactics.

What makes the attack especially disturbing is the false light that it casts upon Stephen’s campaign contributors. While PSD is not familiar with every contributor listed in the ad, the overwhelming majority of them are people with impeccable progressive credentials, people who have dedicated themselves to putting public interest over self-interest and are anything but back-room dealers. For the attack’s sponsor to suggest otherwise not only tempts candidates to respond by stepping out onto the slippery slope of gutter politics, but it leaves an unfair and unacceptable trail of collateral damage. It should be obvious to every good progressive candidate that allowing committed members of the progressive community to be sacrificed for political gain is intolerable.

For these reasons, PSD calls on Todd to immediately and publicly denounce the recent attack ad against Stephen and other members of the progressive community; and further calls upon both Stephen and Todd, along with their surrogates and supporters, to refrain from similar attacks. In the final days of this election, each campaign should focus on affirmatively demonstrating that its candidate is the best man to represent the residents of District 3.

Approved by the Board of Directors, October 30, 2008

Progressive San Diego: Official Reasons for Dual Endorsement in D3

The post below requires a response from Progressive San Diego. Progressive San Diego aims to put into practice the openness and transparency we advocate. ALL OF OUR REASONS for the dual endorsement were stated in our letter AND there were no other reasons. The blog commentary below is absolutely false speculation. I encourage all readers to take a look at PSD's endorsement letter.

Tommie Watson
operations director, PSD

"Energy Crossroads" Screening with Debbie Cook

Peak Oil Film & Discussion
Think Gas at $4.50 is Expensive?
Tuesday, July 29th

FEATURING: Award-winning film Energy Crossroads (2007)

SPECIAL GUEST: Debbie Cook
Huntington Beach Mayor and Candidate for Congress

Film begins at 7:00pm
Discussion follows at 8:00pm
Joyce Beers Community Center
3900 Vermont St. (in Hillcrest Trader Joe's shopping center)

RSVP to: Progress@ProgressiveSD.org
Suggested Donation: $10-20 (but no one will be turned away for lack of funds)

Think gas at $4.50 is expensive? Most oil industry geologists and analysts predict that within a few years, world oil production will reach a peak and then begin an irreversible decline, as huge decades-old oil fields are depleted. This is likely to significantly increase the price of everything produced from or transported using oil, including gasoline, plastic, chemicals, and food. Join Progressive San Diego and Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook for a movie and discussion about peak oil, its impacts on our sprawling region, and what San Diego can do to mitigate its effects.

Debbie Cook, Mayor of Huntington Beach, California is an attorney and environmental activist and is currently running for U.S. Congress in California's 46th district. She serves on the boards of directors of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO-USA) and the Post Carbon Institute, and has spoken internationally about what local governments can do in response to the imminent peak in world oil production.

For more information visit:
Progressive San Diego
Debbie Cook for Congress

RSVP "Get to Know Your Candidates" Forum

Get to Know Your Candidates
(Not Your Typical Candidate Forum)

Progressive San Diego invites you to our one-on-one candidate mixer on
Thursday, April 17th
6:00pm - 8:00pm
1359 Grove Street
San Diego, CA 92102
The event will feature PSD's endorsed candidates and City Attorney candidates. Our event is open to members and friends of PSD that would like to have some one-on-one face time with the candidates.

Donna Frye
will be our special guest speaker to discuss the No on Proposition C campaign for June 3rd.

Confirmed Candidates So Far
Mike Aguirre, Scott Peters, Brian Maienschein, Jan Goldsmith, Amy Lepine, Richard Barrera*, John Lee Evans*, Sherri Lightner*, Arlie Ricasa*, Sheila Jackson, Todd Gloria, Stephen Whitburn

RSVP to: Tommie Watson@ProgressiveSD.org or (617) 365-6788

Suggested Donation: $20.00
Host Committee: $75.00

*PSD Endorsed Candidates

Progressive Picks

Progressive San Diego tipped its hat to two Democratic candidates for San Diego Unified's school board, handing endorsements to Richard Barrera and John Lee Evans.

Barrera's endorsement isn't a big surprise: The labor organizer sits on Progressive San Diego's board, and is currently the sole qualifying candidate in the race to replace trustee Luis Acle.

Evans, a Democrat and a psychologist who works in Poway, is competing with incumbent Mitz Lee, a Republican.

According to PSD, Barrera and Evans were the only candidates in their respective races to answer the group's request to enter the endorsement process, which includes a questionnaire and an interview.

Progressive San Diego hasn't endorsed in the third school board race, for Sheila Jackson's seat, because the group has yet to meet with Jackson and her competitors, said Tommie Watson, the group's operations director. Watson explained that the group had prioritized more heavily contested races. (Prior to Acle's failure to qualify, the race for his seat look competitive, Watson said.)

~Emily Alpert
Voice of San Diego

This Valentine's Day tell local officials to lead with their Hearts!

Livable Wages: The Heart of San Diego's Vision for New Development

Good, middle-class jobs paying livable wages should be the heart of San Diego's plan for future development. Yet Mayor Jerry Sanders has removed the vision of livable wages from a proposed update of the General Plan, our city's guideline for development decisions. A council committee agreed with CPI and restored livable wages as a goal, but the battle is not over; the full council will vote on March 3rd. Join CPI, Progressive San Diego and countless other organizations and send a letter to your local officials.

Send Mayor Sanders and the City Council a Valentine's message, click here. Tell them we want a city that values workers and expects new developments to help build the middle class.

Progressive San Diego Endorsement for the 78th A.D.

Progressive San Diego
"A United Voice for San Diego Progressives"

After much consideration and deliberation, Progressive San Diego is proud to announce our endorsement for the 78th Assembly District Democratic primary: Marty Block and Arlie Ricasa through the primary.

We are fortunate to have several candidates running in this race who have a commitment to PSD's ideals and philosophy. Of these candidates, Marty Block and Arlie Ricasa stood out as having demonstrated a long and successful track record on progressive issues. We believe that either candidate will be excellent legislators who will be able to promote a progressive agenda for the people of San Diego and California.

Progressive San diego will re-evaluate the race after the primary to decide who we will endorse in the general election.

To learn more about our endorsements please visit www.progressivesd.org

The Threat of War with Iran: An Evening with Reese Erlich

Progressive San Diego presents "The Threat of War with Iran: An Evening with Award-Winning Author and Journalist Reese Erlich"

Film Screening of "War Made Easy"

Featuring Norman Solomon and Narrated by Sean Penn

Saturday, November 17th
6:30pm Film Screening
8:00pm Reese Erlich Talk

Joyce Beers Community Center (Corner of Vermont and Cleveland, across from Trader Joe's)
RSVP to: Tommie.Watson@ProgressiveSD.org

For more information visit: Progressive San Diego

Reese Erlich, an independent radio producer and journalist. He reports on Iran in the latest issue of Mother Jones and is author of the book "The Iran Agenda: the Real Story of U.S. Policy and the Middle East Crisis." Mr. Erlich will respond to questions regarding to the film "War Made Easy" as well as speaking about the current crisis in Iran. Additionally, Mr. Erlich will talk about the connection of the War in Iraq to the San Diego Fires.

Free Screening of "The Corporation"

Progressive San Diego is putting on a screening of "The Corporation" this Saturday, 7pm at the Joyce Beers Community Center in Hillcrest. The film is a must see for anyone that is concerned with the direction that our society is headed in. The film is about the rise of the dominant institution [the corporation] and the impacts that corporations make on the economy, environment and culture. "The Corporation" has won countless awards and is really part film, part movement.

The film will be followed with a discussion led by Progressive San Diego's own Bruce Reznik. Mr. Reznik is the Executive Director of San Diego Coastkeeper and is one of the main leaders of the San Diego environmental community.

What: "The Corporation"
When: Saturday, October 6th @ 7pm
Where: Joyce Beers Community Center in Hillcrest (Vermont Street, two blocks north of University Street, across from Trader Joe's)
Price: Free (though donations will be accepted in order to keep the ensure more film screenings)
RSVP: tommie.watson@progressivesd.org or 617-365-6788
Snacks and Drinks Provided