Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
SF Gate: Gov. Jerry Brown vetoes bill banning some paid signature gathering
From SF Gate:
Supporters of the measure slammed the veto.
"This is a setback for reform in California," said Justine Sarver, executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. "The measure would have eliminated a powerful incentive for fraud while protecting Californians' ability to participate fully in direct democracy."
Maybe they shouldn't be surprised -- the governor may have given a hint at his position last week when he mused, in response to a question, that the bill could make initiatives such as the one he is planning on taxes, more expensive.
Supporters of the measure slammed the veto.
"This is a setback for reform in California," said Justine Sarver, executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. "The measure would have eliminated a powerful incentive for fraud while protecting Californians' ability to participate fully in direct democracy."
Maybe they shouldn't be surprised -- the governor may have given a hint at his position last week when he mused, in response to a question, that the bill could make initiatives such as the one he is planning on taxes, more expensive.
Monday, August 1, 2011
SJ Mercury: Vote-by-mail service under threat in budget cuts
VBM now at the mercy of the counties. Read the story here.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Martin Garrick Pleads No Contest verse Guilty
Assemblyman Martin Garrick on Friday, July 29th pleaded "No Contest" plea Friday on a drunken driving charge verse guilty on driving over the speed limit, running red lights, not pulling over when ordered by a police officer and having a blood alcohol level of 0.15 percent, almost twice the level limit.
Martin will perform 48 hours of community service, paying fines and assessments of $2,416 and lose his driver's license for four months. However, he will not have an ignition interlock device, as he supported in the 2009-2010 legislative session with AB 9 or attend a 9-month Drinker Driver Treatment Program, which he supported in the 2007-2008 legislative session with AB 1487.
Interestingly, he pleaded no contest verse guilty on the charges. On the website DUIAttorney.com it explains why people plea no contest, then taking full responsibility for their crime. They still need to answer yes when asked if they have been convicted of a crime, but they really aren't taking full responsibility for their crime in court.
Many times there is the quoting in supporting term limits is legislators need to go back to the public to live under the laws they pass. I would be interested in what conservatives think of Garrick's plea of no contest verse guilty, the sentencing and if he should seek higher office in the future?
Martin will perform 48 hours of community service, paying fines and assessments of $2,416 and lose his driver's license for four months. However, he will not have an ignition interlock device, as he supported in the 2009-2010 legislative session with AB 9 or attend a 9-month Drinker Driver Treatment Program, which he supported in the 2007-2008 legislative session with AB 1487.
Interestingly, he pleaded no contest verse guilty on the charges. On the website DUIAttorney.com it explains why people plea no contest, then taking full responsibility for their crime. They still need to answer yes when asked if they have been convicted of a crime, but they really aren't taking full responsibility for their crime in court.
Many times there is the quoting in supporting term limits is legislators need to go back to the public to live under the laws they pass. I would be interested in what conservatives think of Garrick's plea of no contest verse guilty, the sentencing and if he should seek higher office in the future?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
City Attorney's Race
Lost in the shuffle of the mayoral race in San Diego is the race for city attorney. One question that needs to be asked; is there going to be a prominent Democrat to challenge current city attorney Jan Goldsmith?
Assuming that the current city attorney gets re-elected, which is looking more like a done deal everyday. Then the next question that needs to be asked: who becomes the next city attorney if Bonnie Dumanis gets elected as mayor and the county board of supervisors appoints Goldsmith to be her replacement?
I know open ended "what if" questions are just what they are. But in a city where Democrats hold a 10-point registration advantage I cannot see why there isn't at least one prominent Democrat willing to run for city attorney? If for any other reason to position themselves for when the office opens up next. Be that in 2013 or 2016.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Potential Heavyweight Battle for Congress Brews in South Bay.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Garrick's History on DUI Legislation
Our own region's Assembly Member Martin Garrick (R-74th) was arrested this past June 15th for a DUI, which was driving a taxpayer covered state car with a blood alcohol of 0.15 percent, which is almost double the legal limit blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent. He ran several red lights, didn't respond to police officers to pull over and was driving above the speed limit. Reports have come out that Garrick might have received special treatment as an Assembly Member according to KCRATV and questioned about why he was not charged with reckless driving.
Garrick has apologized for his actions, which was the right thing to do and some don't do, we do not yet know his fines and sentencing, but looking over some of his past legislation votes it should give us an idea of what he would do as a judge on his case.
Garrick has apologized for his actions, which was the right thing to do and some don't do, we do not yet know his fines and sentencing, but looking over some of his past legislation votes it should give us an idea of what he would do as a judge on his case.
- In 2007-2008 session he sponsored legislation AB 1385 increasing the penalties for riding a motorized scooter with fines and even 6 months of jail time.
- In 2007-2008 session he sponsored legislation AB 1882, which would seek to notify ICE of an undocumented immigrant. He wrote in his analysis about an incident of an undocumented immigrant driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.016, double the legal level. He reference the danger of those caught with DUI and repeating themselves.
- In 2011-2012 session on June 6th (9-days before he was arrested for a DUI) he opposed AB 520, which would allow possible lesser sentencing for DUI with non-aggravated factors. Garrick didn't support lesser imprisonment sentencing for DUI cases.
- In 2009-2010 session he supported AB 91 a three-county pilot program that requires a person convicted of a DUI installing an ignition interlock device and depending on the person's income they paid for the device. While San Diego is not a test pilot county, but Sacramento is a test pilot county.
- In 2007-2008 session he supported AB 1487 lowing the blood alcohol level of 0.20 percent to 0.015 percent requirement to attend a 9-month Drinker Driver Treatment Program.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Pension Campaign’s Signature Gatherer Assaults Truth Squad
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pension Campaign’s Signature Gatherer Assaults Truth Squad Republican Campaign Operative Caught on Tape, Police Report Filed
SAN DIEGO – (July 19, 2011) – In the latest dirty tactic employed by the Republican ballot measure campaigns, a paid signature gatherer threatened and ultimately inflicted physical harm on a member of the “Just Say No, San Diego” Truth Squad yesterday outside a Best Buy electronics store on Mission Center Road in Mission Valley.
Video of the attack was captured after a Truth Squad member witnessed the Republican signature gatherer threatening to hit his female partner. After making the threat, the signature gatherer tried flee, saw that his likeness was being recorded, lost his temper, and hit the Truth Squad member who was recording his threats. Though the punch was intended for the educator’s face, it landed on his cell phone.
The assailant fled the scene after the incident. No one was seriously hurt, although the act of violence was reported to the San Diego Police Department.
“It’s shameful of the Republican campaign to verbally intimidate and ultimately resort to violence against members of the public,” said Kyle Haverback, spokesman for Just Say No, San Diego, a committee created to correct deception in the ballot measure process. “One reason why America is so great is that we all understand violence has no place in our political system. Just because the Republican campaign can’t win a debate on the issues doesn’t give it the right to raise its fist and retaliate.”
Haverback continued, “This is part of a larger trend. There are numerous reports of signature gatherers physically threatening educators. These signature gatherers are so afraid of open conversation that they resort to physical intimidation and battery, and then run away.”
The Just Say No, San Diego campaign calls on the Republican campaign proposing the measure to turn over information about the assailant to the Police.
“To the politicians that have boasted about making themselves indistinguishable from this campaign, it’s your responsibility to bring this matter to justice,” Haverback said.
View the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
The “Just Say No, San Diego” campaign is a project of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, which strives for more jobs, better jobs and better lives for all of San Diego’s workers, union and non-union. To learn more, visit www.unionyes.org.
Pension Campaign’s Signature Gatherer Assaults Truth Squad Republican Campaign Operative Caught on Tape, Police Report Filed
SAN DIEGO – (July 19, 2011) – In the latest dirty tactic employed by the Republican ballot measure campaigns, a paid signature gatherer threatened and ultimately inflicted physical harm on a member of the “Just Say No, San Diego” Truth Squad yesterday outside a Best Buy electronics store on Mission Center Road in Mission Valley.
Video of the attack was captured after a Truth Squad member witnessed the Republican signature gatherer threatening to hit his female partner. After making the threat, the signature gatherer tried flee, saw that his likeness was being recorded, lost his temper, and hit the Truth Squad member who was recording his threats. Though the punch was intended for the educator’s face, it landed on his cell phone.
The assailant fled the scene after the incident. No one was seriously hurt, although the act of violence was reported to the San Diego Police Department.
“It’s shameful of the Republican campaign to verbally intimidate and ultimately resort to violence against members of the public,” said Kyle Haverback, spokesman for Just Say No, San Diego, a committee created to correct deception in the ballot measure process. “One reason why America is so great is that we all understand violence has no place in our political system. Just because the Republican campaign can’t win a debate on the issues doesn’t give it the right to raise its fist and retaliate.”
Haverback continued, “This is part of a larger trend. There are numerous reports of signature gatherers physically threatening educators. These signature gatherers are so afraid of open conversation that they resort to physical intimidation and battery, and then run away.”
The Just Say No, San Diego campaign calls on the Republican campaign proposing the measure to turn over information about the assailant to the Police.
“To the politicians that have boasted about making themselves indistinguishable from this campaign, it’s your responsibility to bring this matter to justice,” Haverback said.
View the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
The “Just Say No, San Diego” campaign is a project of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, which strives for more jobs, better jobs and better lives for all of San Diego’s workers, union and non-union. To learn more, visit www.unionyes.org.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Thanks Bobby!
If you don't recognize the gentleman above let me introduce him to you. This is Bobby Glaser and he is owner and president of the La Jolla Group. The specialize in gathering signatures to place things on the ballot. Way back in the 1980's and early 1990's it was a political consulting firm but after a series of setbacks and embarrassments it kind of became a de-facto firm that specialized in local ballot initiatives. Recently Mr. Glaser was in charge of the signature gathering for the San Diego for Great Schools Initiative an attempt to "reform" the school board and the Unified school system. However they failed to get enough signatures to make it on the ballot.
Also Mr. Glaser was in charge of gather signatures for Carl DeMaio's "Competition" initiative . Which DeMaio, with great flourish delivered to the city clerk last year. Yet less than a month later the clerk verified that Carl didn't have enough signatures and after threatening to pay for a recount quickly backed down.
I wonder if he's in charge of gathering signatures for the 401 k initiative?
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
SD Rostra
It seems a previous post about San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn has spun some people up, when I wrote:
"SD ROSTRA won't write about it either, because he is a conserv[ative] now and their site is about looking at the injustices and falsehoods of only the liberals."
I was making a point that SD Rostra would not write a critical article about Horn misleading the public. However, I just wrote about them just writing about it, which they did and I apologize.
I would like to make these last three points:
"SD ROSTRA won't write about it either, because he is a conserv[ative] now and their site is about looking at the injustices and falsehoods of only the liberals."
I was making a point that SD Rostra would not write a critical article about Horn misleading the public. However, I just wrote about them just writing about it, which they did and I apologize.
I would like to make these last three points:
- I would point out the first article to come out of SD Rostra about Horn misleading the public spent a third being negative about me, a third praising Horn and eleven words that said, "Horn is taking his medicine and apologizing for those honest errors." I am not for sure what the apology is, but assume the apology was about misleading the public that he was arrested during the civil rights movement, he meet with Hall Brown and Rosey Grier at some later point to retell this misleading story and that he worked for Ralph Abernathy. Though, I would love to know how the misleading was an honest mistake verse a dishonest mistake.
- I will say thank you Bradley Fikes for expressing to a certain extent my feelings about some comments and articles on SD Rostra when you said, "Timmons is absolutely right. SD Rostra bloggers are zombie-like conformists who always agree with each other and toe the GOP/conservative party line.We don’t tolerate a whiff of dissent on issues like gay marriage, abortion and global warming. Meanwhile, lefty blogs like San Diego Politico not only tolerate but encourage their writers to express robust differences of opinion on those topics. You’ll never catch them mindlessly parroting partisan dogma!"
- I should not assume what others may do, but as the administrator over at SD Rostra recommended about challenges, then the next time I will throw down the gauntlet and see what is done.
News Alert - Horn Really Apologized for Misleading
Exclusive by campaign consultant for Republican candidates Mr. Jim Sills has notified that San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn has indeed now apologized for misleading the public of his civil rights record with Ralph Abernathy, Rosey Grier and arrest at a civil right event.
After San Diego Politico posted about Horn yesterday, Sills in SD Rostra yesterday then stated, "Horn is taking his medicine and apologizing for those honest errors."
Regardless that Horn has not made a public announcement, talked to anyone he directed his misleading statements at that previous hearing or asked, if possible, to correct his comments of the County meeting minutes we says thank you for doing the right thing and Voice of San Diego for Fact Checking this for the public and letting us and Horn know Hal Brown and Grier are still with us.
I hope the news (UT, Voice of San Diego, North County Times or CityBeat) can report Horn's apology, because that might be the only way the public gets to see he corrected his misleading record. Also, I think it is the first time he has ever corrected his past misleading statements. If I am wrong about Horn correcting his past misleading records, then I ask you to please post his past corrections in this post's comment section to help myself and others learn about them.
After San Diego Politico posted about Horn yesterday, Sills in SD Rostra yesterday then stated, "Horn is taking his medicine and apologizing for those honest errors."
Regardless that Horn has not made a public announcement, talked to anyone he directed his misleading statements at that previous hearing or asked, if possible, to correct his comments of the County meeting minutes we says thank you for doing the right thing and Voice of San Diego for Fact Checking this for the public and letting us and Horn know Hal Brown and Grier are still with us.
I hope the news (UT, Voice of San Diego, North County Times or CityBeat) can report Horn's apology, because that might be the only way the public gets to see he corrected his misleading record. Also, I think it is the first time he has ever corrected his past misleading statements. If I am wrong about Horn correcting his past misleading records, then I ask you to please post his past corrections in this post's comment section to help myself and others learn about them.
Friday, July 15, 2011
LGBT History No Longer Invisible
See the Press Release here.
Statement of Assemblymember Toni Atkins on Enactment of FAIR Education Act
(San Diego) On the eve of San Diego’s huge annual LGBT Pride celebration, I am thrilled that the Governor has signed into law Senator Mark Leno’s FAIR (Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful) Education Act, SB 48, of which I am honored to be a principal co-author. The FAIR Education Act requires that the historical contributions of LGBT people be included in school instructional materials and will rectify the near-invisibility that our community has had in our schools.
The FAIR Education Act will ensure that LGBT students know that people just like them have been an important part of our history, increasing their sense of self-worth. Accurate education also helps reduce stereotypes and negative views, which will lead to a reduction in bullying and harassment of LGBT students.
What a wonderful way to kick off Pride weekend! I am grateful to my colleagues in the state legislature and to the Governor for making this historic moment possible.
State GOP chairman assails redistricting panel, threatens referendum
From the Ventura County Star:
GOP Chairman Tom Del Beccaro said the party will attempt to qualify a referendum for the ballot to overturn the commission's final maps if they "remotely resemble the most recent visualizations."
GOP Chairman Tom Del Beccaro said the party will attempt to qualify a referendum for the ballot to overturn the commission's final maps if they "remotely resemble the most recent visualizations."
Senate passes Kehoe's pertussis vaccine bill
See the Press Release here.
SAN DIEGO – Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) announced today that the Senate unanimously passed her bill to extend the deadline for students to receive their whooping cough vaccine this coming school year. It now heads to the governor for his consideration.
SAN DIEGO – Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) announced today that the Senate unanimously passed her bill to extend the deadline for students to receive their whooping cough vaccine this coming school year. It now heads to the governor for his consideration.
"This bill will help get more young people vaccinated and give school districts time to put together an immunization plan at their campuses,” said Kehoe. “Protecting public health is one of the government’s biggest jobs, and this legislation reflects our obligation to keep Californians healthy and safe.”
SB 614 would allow 7th through 12th grade students up to 30 days after the school year begins to receive their whooping cough, or pertussis, vaccine. Students who fail to comply will not be able to attend school. Existing law requires students to receive the vaccination before the start of the 2011-2012 school year.
According to the California Association of School Business Officials, some school districts had proof of immunization for only 5 percent of their middle and high school students as of late June. San Diego Unified School District reports a 52 percent immunization rate, but rates at some individual schools are as low as 10 percent.
California reported 10 infant deaths and 9,120 cases of whooping cough last year.
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