Jorgensen Backs Tea Party Strategy Threatening Economic Meltdown While DeMaio Stays Silent

Even as the consequences of the government shutdown are felt throughout San Diego, Marine veteran Kirk Jorgensen wants to compound the irresponsible Tea Party crisis and default on the country’s debt, risking another major recession.

At the same time, candidate Carl DeMaio, who once called a press conference to announce he was signing a petition, still won’t say whether he would vote for the ongoing shutdown or the looming default crisis. On the most important issue facing San Diego and the country, Carl DeMaio refuses to tell people where he would stand.

“Both Kirk Jorgensen and Carl DeMaio are failing critical tests of responsible leadership,” said Matt Inzeo of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Kirk Jorgensen is pushing reckless Tea Party approaches that threaten America’s economy, and Carl DeMaio refuses to tell San Diegans where he stands during this reckless shutdown. San Diego needs real leaders who will solve our problems, not Kirk Jorgensen to make our challenges worse or Carl DeMaio to duck tough issues.”

BACKGROUND:

Jorgensen Backs Extreme Position to Not Raise Debt Ceiling Without Concessions. On October 8, 2013, Jorgensen posted on his Facebook that Congress should not raise the debt ceiling without “immediate spending cuts.” [Kirk Jorgensen Facebook, 10/08/13]

“Republicans Ignore Calls from Business Community Raise the Debt Ceiling Now and Pass Reforms Later.” “Business leaders are increasingly warning Republicans that their refusal to lift the nation's ability to borrow more money could badly damage the economy, but the GOP, under ferocious pressure from conservatives to force budget concessions from President Barack Obama, are standing their ground. While business groups acknowledge that major bills like the debt ceiling have historically offered opportunities for major reform, they are pressing lawmakers not to take their negotiations past the Oct. 17 date set by the Treasury Department that could risk default.” [Yahoo News, 10/08/13]

“Debt Ceiling Debacle is No Big Deal to Tea Party Republicans.” “The biggest threat facing the United States today may be the monumental ignorance of the tea party Republicans who have captured the once-great Republican Party. While economists and financial experts on Wall Street are uniformly warning that failure to raise the nation’s debt ceiling would be a catastrophe that would send world stock markets into a nose dive, members of the tea party caucus in Congress are insisting it would be no big deal at all.” [Los Angeles Times, 10/09/13]

GOVERNOR SIGNS ATKINS BILL EXPANDING ABORTION PROVIDERS

 

(San Diego)  Governor Brown has signed AB 154, legislation carried by Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins that expands access to abortion.  The bill broadens the categories of trained healthcare professionals who may perform early abortions to include nurse practitioners, physicians’ assistants, and certified nurse midwives. This expansion will help alleviate a shortage of abortion providers in California, where more than half the counties have no abortion provider.

“Timely access to reproductive health services is critical to women’s health,” says Atkins.  “AB 154 will ensure that no woman has to travel excessively long distances or wait for long periods in order to obtain an early abortion.  I appreciate Governor Brown’s support of women’s health.”

A recent comprehensive study conducted by the University of California San Francisco and published in the American Journal of Public Health showed that trained nurse practitioners, midwives and physicians’ assistants can safely provide early abortions and that women appreciate receiving care in their own communities.  AB 154 includes stringent training and competency requirements for these practitioners.

The bill is sponsored by the California Women’s Health Alliance, a coalition of groups such as Planned Parenthood, California Church IMPACT, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice and Black Women for Wellness.  The Alliance is dedicated to protecting and improving the reproductive health of California women. The bill is also supported by the California Medical Association.

ATKINS BILL TO STREAMLINE TRANSGENDER NAME CHANGES SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

 

(San Diego)  Assembly Bill 1121, authored by Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins, was signed into law by Governor Brown today.  The bill provides transgender people seeking legal name changes to reflect their gender identity with a streamlined and inexpensive process that protects their privacy. Current law requires a transgender person to obtain a court order and to publish the name change application in the newspaper. This process can be expensive and also publicly exposes the person to potential discrimination, harassment or even violence because of being transgender.

AB 1121 creates a new administrative option for transgender people seeking to amend the gender marker on a California birth certificate through the State Registrar.  It also deletes the costly newspaper publication requirement.

“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,” says Atkins. “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.”

Transgender people’s understanding of themselves as male or female is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.  Medical science recognizes this condition as Gender Dysphoria and prescribes specific treatments to help the transgender person transition physically, so their bodies match their gender identity.  This often includes surgery, medication, and mental health support. Being transgender is not a choice.  A person’s gender identity is set at an early age and cannot be changed at will.

The transition to living in accord with one’s gender identity also involves a legal process because birth certificates and a person’s name usually reflect the sex they were assigned at birth. In California, a person seeking a court-ordered name change has to publish a notice in a newspaper for four weeks.  They are also required to have a public hearing before a judge, the record of which is also public.  The process is lengthy and can be expensive.

Forty-four percent of transgender people experience discrimination, harassment and assault.  A public name change process heightens the likelihood of these occurring.  AB 1121 allows the transgender person to avoid the public notice and court process by applying directly to the state Office of Vital Records for a name change.

AB 1121 is sponsored by Equality California and the Transgender Law Center.

Block measure targets service inequities to children with developmental disabilities

SACRAMENTO – Governing boards of the state’s 21 regional centers of the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDS) will receive training and support to increase their linguistic and cultural competency under SB 367, a measure approved today by the governor.

SB 367 would also require the regional centers’ governing boards to assess how well they are serving linguistically and culturally underserved populations and to provide recommendations to the director of the regional center and post on the Internet the training provided to their governing boards.

“We know we must do better to provide services and care to children with autism and other disorders,” Block said. “We can and must perform better for regional center clients by identifying areas for improvement and providing additional support and training to the governing boards who direct those centers. Strong leaders are critical in any organization.”

DDS contracts with the 21 regional centers across the state to coordinate, purchase and provide community-based services for eligible consumers with developmental disabilities. More than 220,000 Californians with developmental disabilities are served through this system.

Block said race, language and socio-economic status play a large role in creating obstacles to access. “That shouldn’t happen, and SB 367 will help us focus on creating equal access to services. My bill will help ensure that our regional centers are working to eliminate cultural and language barriers to treatment.”

Block’s bill is part of a Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders legislative package. In April 2012, the state senate conducted a hearing to determine how well regional centers were serving their clients. The hearing resulted in a 119-page report, “A Preliminary Report by the Taskforce on Equity and Diversity for Regional Center Autism Services,” which identified 19 recommended changes to practice within the Developmental Services system.

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Proudly representing the cities and communities of San Diego, Del Mar, Solana Beach, and Coronado

Carl DeMaio’s Model Legislator: Senator Ted Cruz

As the government shutdown continues to hurt San Diego workers and businesses, Carl DeMaio compared himself to the architect of the crisis, Tea Party Senator Ted Cruz, holding him up as someone who “can make a difference.” While San Diegans and people across the country look for responsible solutions to the shutdown, Carl DeMaio promises more of Senator Cruz’s radical approach.

“The only difference Ted Cruz is making is irresponsibly shutting down the government with his reckless antics, but Carl DeMaio is holding him up as a model for how to behave in Washington,” said Matt Inzeo of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Senator Cruz has been the leader of the reckless push to shut down the government, and Carl DeMaio will be a loyal foot soldier pushing these irresponsible crises – that’s not the kind of leadership San Diego wants.”

BACKGROUND

DeMaio Compares Himself to Ted Cruz. On Tuesday at the San Diego Lions Club, when asked how as a junior congressman he would be able to change Washington, DeMaio pointed to Ted Cruz as an example saying “Take a look at what Ted Cruz is doing. Freshman Senator, he’s certainly creating a lot of stir. So I do believe one individual can make a difference. And it’s a question of whether you are willing to stand your ground.” [San Diego Lions Club Video 4, 10/1/13]

House Republicans Credit Ted Cruz for Government Shutdown.  “House Republicans give one person the most credit for bringing Congress to its current standoff over funding for the federal government: Ted Cruz […] Many lawmakers said they would have been here had it not been for the junior Senator from Texas.” [Huffington Post,  9/29/13]

“Cruz: Tie Debt-Ceiling Rise to Obamacare Changes.” “Sen. Ted Cruz says legislation raising the debt ceiling is among the best leverage that Congress has to rein in the White House and should include changes to the nation's new health insurance system. The Texas Republican said Sunday in addition to what he calls "Obamacare," Republicans should also look for a "significant" plan to reduce new spending and avoiding new taxes.” [AP, 10/06/13]

GOVERNOR SIGNS ATKINS SNOOPY PLATE BILL TO SUPPORT MUSEUMS

 

(San Diego)  AB 482, a bill to improve the cost effectiveness of the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE) and to fund museums through the sale of a Snoopy license plate, was passed by the State Legislature today and sent to the Governor.

 

“California’s museums preserve our cultural identity for future generations while providing enjoyment and education for everyone,” says Atkins.  “Snoopy is himself a cultural institution and having his partnership in support of our museums is sure to make a huge difference in keeping them financially strong.  I hope everyone will sign up for a Snoopy plate and I thank Governor Brown for signing AB 482.”

The CCHE was established at the California State Library in 2003.  Since then, it has provided $122 million in grants to not-for-profit groups, government entities, and Native American tribes from funds generated by voter-approved Proposition 40.  These grants have supported the acquisition, restoration, preservation, and interpretation of our state’s historical and cultural resources. Due to dwindling Prop 40 funds, CCHE’s activities and staff face significant reductions and a winding down of the grant program.

Under AB 482, which is sponsored by the California Association of Museums, the CCHE would move over to the Natural Resources Agency where efficiencies can be implemented, with savings to the state of approximately $30,000 per year.

At the same time, a permanent source of funding for CCHE’s programs became possible when the widow of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz offered the rights to Snoopy’s likeness for a license plate that would raise funds for museums.  AB 482 authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to offer the Snoopy plate, which, like all specialty license plates would cost $50, plus another $48 if motorists want their plate personalized .  DMV will accept requests for the new plate.  They require at least 7,500 prepaid requests before starting production.  The California Association of Museums has already received more than 9,200 pledges from Californians who say they will purchase the plate once it is available.  The proceeds from the plate will be distributed through a competitive grant process.  All museums will be eligible.

ATKINS LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS COPPER PAINT WATER POLLUTION SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

(San Diego)  Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law AB 425, a bill by Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins to require the State of California to address water pollution caused by copper-based anti-fouling hull paint.  Under this bill, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is directed to complete by February 1, 2014 its work to evaluate and make recommendations regarding whether the paint should be subject to increased state oversight and how best to mitigate its potentially harmful effects.

“Copper-based paint is effective in keeping boat hulls free from damaging organisms like barnacles and algae but it also poses a threat to aquatic animal and plant life when it leaches into water where recreational boats are moored,” says Atkins.  “We need to complete the scientific analysis in order to develop sound and balanced environmental policy that protects our marine ecosystem without being overly burdensome.”

Copper based hull paint is legal in California as long as it is registered as a pesticide; however, the level of pollution in some bodies of water exceeds that allowable under the federal Clean Water Act and state water quality regulations.  This, in turn, endangers plant and animal life, particularly in areas with limited water circulation and a high concentration of moorings for personal recreational boats, which can remain stationary for long periods.  For example, Shelter Island Yacht Basin in San Diego Bay has been ordered to reduce its copper pollution by 76% by the year 2022.

DPR has been conducting ongoing research and analysis of the issue for a number of years without issuing recommendations.  AB 425 is intended to jump start this process and require DPR to complete its work so that informed policy decisions can be made.

FACT CHECK: NRCC’s New Health Care Ad Campaign Is A Big Fat Lie

The National Republican Congressional Committee has launched new radio ads falsely claiming that Representative Scott Peters voted to protect “Congress’ taxpayer funded healthcare” and ensure “members of Congress receive special subsidies to pay for their healthcare.”

It’s a big fat lie.  In reality, major nonpartisan organizations have concluded that there is no special exemption or subsidy, even some House Republicans have admitted it isn’t true and House Speaker John Boehner lobbied to protect it.

FACT CHECK

·         CNN: Congress, Staff are Not Exempt from Obamacare. “Congress is no more exempt than any other employer who drops coverage and then helps employees purchase insurance on the exchanges.” [CNN, 9/25/13]

·         Politifact: “False.” “Cruz… said the president ‘just granted all of Congress an exception.’ … We rate Cruz’s claim False.” [Politifact, 8/14/13]

·         FactCheck.org: “Lawmakers and their Staffs Face Additional Requirements that other Americans Don’t.” “Congress isn’t ‘exempt’ from the law…In fact, as we’ve said before, lawmakers and their staffs face additional requirements that other Americans don’t… federal employees will have to get insurance through the exchanges set up by the Affordable Care Act. Other Americans with work-based insurance aren’t subject to such a requirement.” [FactCheck.org, 8/30/13]

·         Roll Call: Norm Ornstein, AEI: False. “On the assertion that Members of Congress are exempt from the provisions of the Affordable Care Act: also false. Members of Congress are subject under the health care reform law to the same mandate that others are to purchase insurance, and their plans must have the same minimum standards of benefits that other insurance plans will have to meet. Members of Congress currently have not a gold-plated free plan but the same insurance options that most other federal employees have, and they do not have it provided for free.” [Roll Call, 5/11/11]

·         The Hill: “At least two House Republicans have acknowledged that the policy is not an exemption from the healthcare law. Rep. Krisi Noem (R-S.D.) reportedly told one of her constituents that Congress is not exempt, and Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) also pushed back against talk of an exemption." [The Hill, 9/30/13]

·         National Review: “They haven’t been “exempted” from the amendment that forces them onto the exchanges, in a way no other American is […] The net result of the law and the workaround isn’t a “special handout” for congressional employees […] But people who happen to be paid by the federal treasury don’t deserve to have the entire value of their existing coverage stripped away, as almost no Americans will experience. [National Review, 9/27/13]

·         Speaker Boehner Protected These So-Called Subsidies. “Yet behind-the-scenes, Boehner and his aides worked for months […] to save these very same, long-standing subsidies, according to documents and e-mails provided to POLITICO. […] Boehner wondered aloud at one point whether he and the Nevada Democrat could quietly slip some language into a bill to end the problem without it receiving any public attention.” [Politico, 10/1/13]

Gov. Brown Signs Into Law Assembly Bills 1024 and 1159 by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez

San Diego-area Assemblywoman’s Bills Are Part of State’s Efforts to Empower California’s Immigrants As Federal Reform Stalls

SAN DIEGO – (Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013) – California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) applauded Gov. Jerry Brown’s announcement today that he signed into law legislation authored by Gonzalez to provide the state’s undocumented immigrants with consumer protections and career opportunities that will improve their quality of life and allow them to more productively contribute to California’s economy.

Brown signed into law Assembly Bills 1024 and 1159, both authored by Assemblywoman Gonzalez, as well as six other bills protecting immigrants on today’s National Immigration Day of Action, where rallies across the United States will draw attention to Congress’ inability to pass federal comprehensive immigration reform. Assemblywoman Gonzalez participated in one such rally at San Diego’s Balboa Park this morning.

AB 1024 will authorize the State Bar to award law licenses for immigrants who pass the State Bar exam. AB 1152 cracks down on immigration scams that have frequently surfaced since the President and Congress announced immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship was imminent.

“San Diego County and the rest of California has waited on Congress to fix our broken federal immigration laws for too long, but we can’t wait any longer. Our state must do what it can to improve the lives of people who are falling through the cracks because of Congress’ inaction,” Gonzalez said. “I want to thank Governor Brown for approving a package of reforms my State Capitol colleagues and I crafted to protect, empower and improve the quality of life for our friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members who are suffering under the status quo.”

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez authored AB 1024 in an effort to permit the California State Supreme Court to admit as an attorney any applicant that has passed the State Bar examination and fulfilled all other requirements.

AB 1024 is a direct response to a case currently pending at the California State Supreme Court. Recently, the Court heard testimony in the case In Re Sergio C. Garcia on Admission (S202512), which concerned Mr. Garcia’s petition to obtain a law license in California.  Having passed the State Bar examination and fulfilled all other requirements, Mr. Garcia was routinely sworn into the legal profession in 2011.  Two weeks later, his license was rescinded on the basis that the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act passed by Congress in 1996 prohibits undocumented immigrants from receiving professional licenses with the use of public funds, unless state law explicitly overrides it.

“AB 1024 completes the promise we’ve made to DREAMers who have worked hard, studied hard, passed the Bar exam and now just want the right to make a living for themselves as an attorney,” Gonzalez said. “I am also thrilled that the Governor’s endorsement of this law could lead to a positive outcome for Sergio Garcia, who through no fault of his own has been kept from reaching his own American Dream of becoming a lawyer.”

Gov. Brown also signed AB 1159, which would require that lawyers and consultants performing services under the pending federal immigration reform act abide by common sense business practices. Assemblywoman Gonzalez authored the bill in order to protect more than 2.5 million potentially eligible Californians from the unauthorized practice of law by non-lawyers, fraud, and unnecessary mistakes that could jeopardize a client’s pursuit of citizenship or – worse – result in deportation. The bill, which was sponsored by the State Bar of California, received unanimous support in both the Assembly and the Senate.

“As millions of California families face the historic opportunity of improving their lives by pursuing a pathway to citizenship, the state must be ready to ensure immigration services are performed by competent professionals and include anti-fraud protections,” Assemblywoman Gonzalez said. “AB 1159 prepares California for this upswing in demand by creating more accountability and transparency in an otherwise daunting process for immigrants, who are already targets of fraud now.”

Under AB 1159, the state will crack down on the unscrupulous practice by some professionals to demand payment for immigration reform services by promising that clients could “cut to the front of the line” when federal immigration reform is eventually enacted by paying now. AB 1159 would prohibit those advanced payments. The bill also increases the bonding requirements for non-attorneys performing immigration reform services and requires that contracts for immigration reform services include a disclaimer about how to report immigration fraud to the State Bar or Attorney General in the language of the client receiving the services.

AB 1159 also expands current law to apply to “anyone who is not an attorney” from advertising as a “notario,” not just notaries public. This ban prevents confusion that has oftentimes been capitalized upon by non-attorneys hoping to present themselves as attorneys, as a “notario” in many Latin American nations is a type of lawyer.

In addition to Assemblywoman Gonzalez’s bills, Gov. Brown also signed into law other immigrant-related bills, including his approval on Wednesday of AB 60 by Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Watsonvillle) to provide driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants who qualify.

Other immigration-related bills signed into law by Gov. Brown on Saturday:

•            AB 4 , known as the “TRUST Act,” by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) – Prohibits a law enforcement official from detaining an individual on the basis of a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold after that individual becomes eligible for release from custody, unless specified conditions are met.

•            AB 35 by Assemblymember Roger Hernández (D-West Covina) – Provides that immigration consultants, attorneys, notaries public, and organizations accredited by the United States Board of Immigration Appeals are the only individuals authorized to charge a fee for providing services associated with filing an application under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's deferred action program.

•            AB 524 by Assemblymember Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) – Provides that a threat to report the immigration status or suspected immigration status of an individual or the individual's family may induce fear sufficient to constitute extortion.

•            SB 141 by Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) – Requires that the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and requests that the University of California, exempt a United States citizen who resides in a foreign country, and is in their first year as a matriculated student, from nonresident tuition if the student demonstrates financial need, has a parent or guardian who was deported or voluntarily departed from the U. S., lived in California immediately before moving abroad, and attended a secondary school in California for at least three years.

•            SB 150 by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) – Authorizes a community college district to exempt pupils attending community colleges as a special part-time student from paying nonresident tuition.

•            SB 666 by Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) – Provides for a suspension or revocation of an employer's business license for retaliation against employees and others on the basis of citizenship and immigration status, and establishes a civil penalty up to $10,000 per violation.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez represents the 80th Assembly District, which includes Chula Vista, National City and the San Diego neighborhoods of City Heights, Barrio Logan, Paradise Hills, San Ysidro and Otay Mesa. For more information, visit http://asmdc.org/members/a80/. 

WEBER INVITES PUBLIC TO PRESENT LEGISLATIVE IDEAS FOR 2014

San Diego, CA - Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego) will host a Legislative Brainstorming Session Saturday, October 12, 2013 to consider new bill ideas for the next legislative year that begins January 6, 2014.  California State legislators are allowed up to 40 bills in each two-year legislative session, and Assemblymember Weber invites her constituents to share their ideas for her 2014 legislative bill package at this event that will occur from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Zamorano Elementary School, 2655 Casey St; San Diego, CA 92139. 

The session will feature a presentation by Assemblymember Weber, explaining “How a Bill Idea becomes a Law” including what it takes to process a bill idea and how the legislative process works.  Additionally, Assemblymember Weber will share her perspective as a decision-maker and her legislative involvement and accomplishments this past year.
During the event, attendees will break into sessions based on the following topics of interest:
    •    Room 1: Education and Higher Education
    •    Room 2: Health and Human Services/Woman’s Issues
    •    Room 3: Economic Development/Transportation and Environment
    •    Room 4: Veterans/Housing/and Other Issues

The purpose of these sessions is to allow constituents the opportunity to share their concepts directly with the Assemblymember and her staff.

For additional event information or to RSVP, please contact LaShae Collins (lashae.collins@asm.ca.gov) or Tanisha Martin-Chiles (tanisha.martin-chiles@asm.ca.gov) or call 619-531-7913.

Block to state utilities commission: San Onofre closure costs should be paid by operators and shareholders

Block urges repayment to ratepayers of revenue already collected to pay for failed generators

SAN DIEGO—State Senator Marty Block today released the following statement at the San Diego meeting of the California Public Utilities Commission investigative hearing into the outage of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS):

“Dear Commissioner Florio and members of the California Public Utilities Commission:

“Thank you for conducting this important hearing today in my community of San Diego.

“Radioactive leaks in the steam generators at San Onofre resulted in reported costs of more than $768 million. It is unclear how accurate this estimate is and what unknown future costs will occur as the removal, cleanup and replacement of this energy source are undertaken.

“While the “easy fix” may be to pass these costs on to ratepayers, I strongly urge your opposition to any attempt to convert ratepayers into the ATM for any unreasonable expenses that led to the closure of San Onofre.

“I also urge you to require that Southern California Edison – SCE – provide documentation of costs and act in a transparent manner before increasing utility rates to cover any portion of the costs related to the failed steam generators.

“This is especially critical as Southern California Edison’s decision to prematurely retire the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) was a choice, made by its internal management, absent any input by any state regulatory authorities.

“These outlays related to the utility’s decision to retire the plant, should rightly be charged to the plant’s operators and their shareholders – not to California ratepayers.


“In addition, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric have already collected an estimated $1.6 billion from California ratepayers to defray the San Onofre-related expenditures before any investigation regarding the appropriateness of this revenue collection has been concluded. 

“It would be highly unjust to make California ratepayers financially liable for both the ongoing costs of keeping the plant on life support while also being charged for replacement power while the plant was idle.

“I urge the PUC to rule that:

    1.    Ratepayers not be charged for any of the estimated $768.5 million spent as part of the steam generator replacement project at SONGS;

    2.    SONGS operators should cease to charge ratepayers for ‘operational costs,’ capital costs and other expenditures associated with the non-operational power plant; and

    3.    Ratepayers be reimbursed for revenues collected while SONGS stood idle from January 2012 to the present.

“The Commission has a duty under Public Utilities Code Section 451 to ensure that all utility charges are just and reasonable. The three steps I list are necessary to ensure that consumers are protected from unjust and unreasonable rates associated with the SONGS termination.

“As the Public Utilities own Division of Ratepayer Advocates noted, charging ratepayers for the expenses of a non-operational plant is so clearly unreasonable that failure to eliminate SONGS costs from rates immediately would result in a violation of Section 451.

“I respectfully urge your full consideration of the three steps I have outlined.”

Assemblymember Weber’s Bill to Require Carbon Monoxide Detectors in New Schools Signed Into Law

 

SACRAMENTO, CA- Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber’s (D-San Diego) AB 56, which will require carbon monoxide detectors be installed in all public and private school buildings, was signed into law by Governor Brown earlier today.

AB 56 requires the State Fire Marshal to propose appropriate standards for the installation of carbon monoxide devices in school buildings, by January 1, 2015. With this guidance, the California Building Standards Commission will then include the standards in the 2016 California Building Standards Code, and any public or private school buildings built after these codes have been adopted in 2016 will be required to install carbon monoxide detectors.

On December 3, 2012, 43 students and 10 adults from Finch Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia were evacuated and taken to the local hospital after firefighters discovered a carbon monoxide leak from the school’s furnace, causing it to work overtime and leak high levels of CO into the public areas and classrooms.

“Carbon monoxide detectors are essential to ensuring our children’s safety by detecting this poisonous gas early and all of our schools should have them. If we require fire and smoke detectors in schools, then it is a no brainer to require carbon monoxide detectors in schools to protect California students from this toxic gas and ensure they have a healthy learning environment,” said Assemblymember Weber.  

AB 56 received bipartisan support in both the Senate and Assembly and was co-authored by many other members of the state Legislature.                                  

David Alvarez: Building Blocks

From Working Families for a Better San Diego

ATKINS BILL THAT COULD EXPAND DEL MAR RACING SEASON SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

 

(San Diego) A bill by Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins to allow the California Horse Racing Board to reallocate racing dates currently held by Hollywood Park Race Track, which is closing at the end of its 2013 winter season, has been signed into law by the Governor.  The bill permits these dates to be distributed to the remaining Southern California tracks, most notably Santa Anita and Del Mar Racetracks. AB 1074 also renews for one year the statewide marketing organization administered by the horseracing industry.

“Horseracing fans from all over Southern California have travelled to Del Mar since before Bing Crosby sang about where the surf meets the turf,” says Atkins.  “My bill would position Del Mar to compete for the coveted Breeder’s Cup.  This would be exciting for horseracing fans and a tremendous boon to our local economy.”

The Breeder’s Cup is a two-day event that features one of racing’s largest purses and is estimated to bring as much as $60 million into the local economy of the racetrack that hosts it.

Hollywood Park was opened for racing in 1938.  The historic track has hosted some of racing’s most legendary horses, including Sea Biscuit, Affirmed and, more recently, Cigar.  However, after years as one of the premier racetracks in the United States, Hollywood Park will close this year to make way for a new retail/residential development.

Del Mar Racetrack is located at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, in the northern San Diego County city of Del Mar.  It was founded in 1937 by a partnership among a number of famous Hollywood celebrities, including Bing Crosby, Pat O’Brien, Gary Cooper, Joe E. Brown, and Oliver Hardy.

The marketing association renewed by this bill has been renewed every legislative session since it was established in 1998 by SB 27.  That bill delineated both how the funds for the association were to be collected and how they could be disbursed.

AB 1074 is supported by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and Thoroughbred Owners of California.

Democrats Endorse Alvarez, Boot, Kim

The San Diego County Democratic Party endorsed David Alvarez for Mayor at a special meeting Tuesday night, tapping him as the candidate best prepared to fulfill the Democratic vision for San Diego that voters backed last year.

Members spoke in favor of both City Councilmember David Alvarez and former Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher. Alvarez garnered 62%, achieving the 60% threshold for endorsement on the first round of voting. Former City Attorney Mike Aguirre and Save Our Heritage Organisation leader Bruce Coons also sought the Party's support.

"Central Committee members have developed strong relationships with David Alvarez over the years and appreciate his record of progressive votes and values," said Francine Busby, Chair of the County Party. "We believe he will be an outstanding candidate and leader for our city."

Acknowledging the importance of keeping a Democrat in the Mayor's office in this very Democratic city, the Committee further voted to endorse any Democrat who makes it into a runoff against a Republican after the November 19 special election.

The Party also endorsed candidates Sarah Boot for San Diego City Council District 2 and Carol Kim for Council District 6. Both of them will be on the June 2014 ballot.

Environmental Health & Justice Campaign Endorses David Alvarez

Organization says candidate from Barrio Logan leads by protecting residents’ rights to clean air, green jobs and healthy neighborhoods

September 24, 2013— Today, Environmental Health & Justice Campaign (EHJC), an organization that empowers communities to achieve environmental justice, endorsed candidate David Alvarez for Mayor of San Diego. Focused on communities south of I-8, EHJC says that the Barrio Logan resident and candidate represents a critical chance to elect a leader who represents all San Diegans. It declared that communities of color located south of Interstate 8 have the voting power to ensure the District 8 Councilmember wins the special election on November 19.

"This is our time to finally a have a leader emerge from San Diego’s communities and guide our region into a new way of thinking for the next decade," said Diane Takvorian, executive director of EHJC. "For too long our communities have shouldered the burden of environmental injustice and Alvarez represents a sea change for the entire region.

According to EHJC, communities in urban south San Diego, such as City Heights, Barrio Logan, Logan Heights and Sherman Heights, have historically felt the burden of pollution, air quality issues and other environmental degradation from the lack of thoughtful leadership in the region.



"The time is now for our communities. Our children deserve clean air, and we want green jobs to improve our economy," said Beatriz Barraza, President of EHJC. "We have long been ignored by city hall, but we now have the opportunity to elect a mayor who understands, listens and takes action to our needs."



Alvarez has represented communities south of Interstate 8 as a city councilmember and has demonstrated leadership that protects the residents' rights to clean air, green jobs and healthy neighborhoods.  Alvarez recently led the effort to secure City Council approval for the Barrio Logan Community Plan Update, ensuring improved environmental and economic health.  EHJC also selected Alvarez because of this mayoral platform, which has prioritized neighborhood investment in infrastructure, parks and public safety.



"We want a mayor who understands the environmental, health and economic issues we've faced for generations and one who understands how we can work together to move beyond those burdens and achieve a greater quality of life for all," said Takvorian.



Environmental Health & Justic Campaign, a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation is an affiliate of Environmental Health Coalition (EHC), a 501 c (3) organization. EHJC’s purpose is to advocate for public and private initiatives that protect public health and the environment by means of community education and community organizing, to monitor government and industry actions that cause pollution, and to engage in other activities that promote social and environmental justice.



Paid for by Environmental Health and Justice Campaign.  Not authorized by a candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate.

Former Democratic Party Heads Endorse Alvarez for Mayor of San Diego, Call on Central Committee to Follow

September 23, 2013, SAN DIEGO – Today, three former Chairs of the San Diego County Democratic Party: Maureen Steiner, Bob Jellison, and Kennan Kaeder, endorsed David Alvarez for mayor.  The Chairs called upon the County Democratic Party delegates to support Councilmember Alvarez in the Party's endorsement vote on Tuesday.

"David is truly the best person to represent the Party in this important upcoming election," said Maureen Steiner.  "He deserves the full support of the San Diego County Democratic community."
The three Chairs agreed that Councilmember Alvarez represents the values and character of the San Diego County Democratic Party.  As the progressive voice of the San Diego City Council, he has carried those issues effectively and consistently.

"David's candidacy has excited and energized the base of the Democratic Party which is critical in the upcoming special election, and to maintaining our progressive majority in San Diego," Bob Jellison said.

When comparing the record of Councilmember Alvarez to that of former Republican turned independent Assemblymember turned Democrat Nathan Fletcher,  "a vote for Fletcher is a vote for Faulconer," Kennan Kaeder stated.

Steiner was ultimately impressed by the combination of Alvarez's character, effectiveness, and viability.  "When he ran for City Council, he confounded expectations and proved naysayers wrong," she said.  "He has a proven track record of how to put the right team together with a winning strategy to build a broad progressive coalition.  I'm proud to support him and I call on my fellow Democrats to do the same."

Jellison added, "By providing a united voice of support for a candidate who truly personifies the values of the party, we will be sending a clear message to voters on November 19th."
More information can be found at www.alvarezformayor.com.

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David Alvarez: The candidate for Mayor sharing the same values as all San Diegans - values that make San Diego great and improve the quality of life for all communities. That means transparency in government, having an honest and respectful public dialogue about civic issues and ensuring all voices have an opportunity to be heard. www.alvarezformayor.com   

Why I'm supporting Alvarez by Larry Remer

This is an edited version of an email I wrote to a very close friend who is supporting Nathan Fletcher for Mayor explaining why I’ve chosen to support David Alvarez. I appreciate the opportunity to share my thinking with the broader Progressive community.

I like Nathan Fletcher. In fact, I like him a lot. He’s VERY SMART. (David Alvarez is also VERY SMART.) And he’s very dynamic.

I am also really glad that Nathan has become a Democrat. We should welcome him with open arms. As crazy as the Republican Party has become, it’s amazing that there aren’t more defections. 

BUT my problems with Nathan’s mayoral candidacy are the following:

One. I am worried that Nathan simply CAN NOT WIN (against Faulconer or against DeMaio or against any well-funded Republican) and those who are supporting Nathan (and are doing so in good faith) are inadvertently setting up San Diego for Kevin Faulconer.

It’s no accident that the Republicans are running Faulconer. They are a lot savvier and more disciplined than the Democrats. They pulled their top people together. They commissioned a lot of polling. They thrashed it all out and they got behind their STRONGEST candidate. Believe me, they polled Nathan Fletcher versus Carl DeMaio and Nathan Fletcher versus Kevin Faulconer and Nathan Fletcher versus Ron Roberts and even Nathan Fletcher versus Mickey Mouse.

They (the Republicans) are very confident Faulconer can beat Fletcher. That’s because Nathan has what we pundits and spin doctors call “very serious negatives”. 

This election is all about TRUST. Bob Filner, after all, betrayed our TRUST. 

So, what do you think the voters are going to TRUST after the Republicans spend a gazillion dollars pummeling Nathan for all of the various contradictory positions he’s taken? Remember, this will be a special Mayoral election where turnout will be more conservative than the Presidential general last November that re-elected Obama that elected Bob Filner.

I don’t want to go into the gory details of how somebody like Karl Rove can and will fillet and fry Nathan because I don’t want to give Papa Doug and his ilk any new ideas. But, trust me, that’s what’s coming.

Carl DeMaio and Bob Filner were the most polarizing political figures in San Diego. Yet, DeMaio got 47% of the vote in the high turnout Presidential. Now, DeMaio is gone (Filner too) and I certainly don’t expect the DeMaio voters will now turn to Fletcher?

Enter now a “supposed” moderate named Kevin Faulconer. I say “supposed” because we insiders all know he’s 100% with Carl DeMaio on policy. He’s really Carl DeMaio with a smile. But the voters know him as a 2-term Councilman with a sprinkling of environmental credentials and enough ertatz accomplishments to be “sold” as a moderate who can be “TRUSTED”. 

So, that’s my first concern.

Two.  We do have another excellent option. David Alvarez is a lifelong Democrat with a proven history. David is a solid progressive. Pro-choice his entire career. Pro-environment when tough votes needed to be taken. Pro-education. Pro- worker. I could go on.  Look at the phenomenal job he did this week on the Council championing the Barrio Logan Community Plan and earning his community a measure of justice and self-determination.

David grew up in Barrio Logan, was the first in his family to attend college, and lives in the community with his family. He has a strong moral rudder and he knows which side of the race/class/neighborhood/working people divide he stands on. If elected, he will be the first Latino mayor in San Diego’s history.

Over the weekend, 150 people gathered in David’s backyard to start his campaign and walk precincts. He doesn’t have a multi-million dollar paid walk program like Nathan does. He knows that he’s not well known across the city and that the odds against him are high. But he believes that the Mayor of San Diego should be chosen by the people in the neighborhoods and not by billionaires (Dem or Rep) who use their wealth to manipulate the process.

For a parallel, just look at what just happened in NYC. The “smart” money was behind Quinn. She had the money. She had the Name ID. She had all the “smart people” and all the insiders. But DeBlasio had better politics – and a solid track record to prove it.  DeBlasio stood up to police. He stood up to Wall Street. He stood up FOR working people. He stood up to all of the self-appointed power brokers – and now he’s poised to be New York’s next Mayor.

Thinking about San Diego, those who believe that Nathan is “inevitable” because of all the money that seems to be behind him, just remember that money didn’t elect Peter Q. Davis, Ron Roberts or Steve Francis.

This, to me, is what primary elections are for. This is when we should vote with our hearts and with our beliefs . . . when we should be called to answer to our better natures.

Three. As happy as I am that Nathan is now a Democrat, I think he needs to prove himself before we anoint him as our savior and our leader.

In my book, Nathan should run for City Council. There are openings in Districts 2 and 6. We need more Democrats on the Council regardless of who the Mayor turns out to be. Nathan could/should serve a term or two on the Council. He can prove himself and his Democratic credentials by making tough votes, working with neighborhood groups, parsing thorny problems and showing us some of his mettle. 

But, instead he runs for Mayor. He’s said that he didn’t plan to run, but suddenly it became open. Well, he still didn’t have to run. Much as I dislike the Republicans, at the end of the day their best candidates sat down and hammered it out. Think about it: Carl DeMaio (of all people!!!!) took one for the team.

Why didn’t Nathan offer do the same? Why didn’t he try to sit down with Toni Atkins and Todd Gloria and David Alvarez et al and say, We need to get behind the strongest candidate. Let’s poll. Let’s assess strengths and weaknesses. Let’s agree that we are all in this together and unite the progressive forces for the betterment of San Diego.

Instead, he got out in front with the argument that HE ALONE was the best candidate to beat DeMaio. No proof. And – most important of all – no accountability. We all know he wants to be Mayor. He says that he is running as a Democrat. If he fails to make it through the primary, I assume he will he endorse and work for David Alvarez. Has anyone asked him that question? 

Having said all of that, if Nathan Fletcher does emerge in a runoff as a candidate against Kevin Faulconer, I will support him. I believe him when he says that his politics have evolved. I believe that he’s no longer the Republican back-bencher with the abysmal record. And I believe he will be a better Mayor for the issues I hold dear than Kevin Faulconer, if that’s the choice.

But, in the interim, I am supporting David Alvarez because:

-He’s a proven progressive.

-He’s accountable to the community.

-It’s time to vote my beliefs and not “settle”.

-We need to keep not just Nathan Fletcher and Kevin Faulconer honest, but we also need to keep the system honest.

Larry Remer has been a fixture in San Diego progressive politics for more than 40 years. He worked on the DOOR in the early 70s, went on to found SAN DIEGO NEWSLINE and later became a political consultant who works for progressive Democratic candidates and to pass school bonds including Propositions S and Z for San Diego public schools.

Legislature Approves Bills Authored by Assemblywoman Gonzalez to Protect and Empower California’s Noncitizens With Federal Immigration Reform Stalled

AB 1024 will Authorize Law Licenses for Noncitizens who Pass Bar Exam; AB 1152 Cracks Down on Immigration Reform Scams

SACRAMENTO, CA– (Friday, September 13, 2013) – Both  houses of the California State Legislature overwhelmingly approved bills authored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) that provide professional opportunities and consumer protections to noncitizens in California while Congress struggles to approve comprehensive immigration reform.

Both Assembly Bills 1024 (Attorneys’ Right to Practice) and 1159 (Immigration Fraud Consumer Protections) are headed to the desk of Governor Jerry Brown for signature after winning large bipartisan approval in the last few hours of legislative session on Thursday evening.

“San Diego County and the rest of California has waited on Congress to fix our broken federal immigration laws, but we can’t wait any longer to improve the lives of people who are falling through the cracks because of that inaction,” Gonzalez said. “Instead, these bills are part of a package of reforms my State Capitol colleagues and I crafted to protect, empower and improve the quality of life for our friends, neighbors and family members who are forced to suffer under the status quo.”

On bipartisan votes in both the Assembly and Senate, AB 1024 was approved in an effort to permit the California State Supreme Court to admit as an attorney any applicant that has passed the State Bar examination and fulfilled all other requirements.

AB 1024 is a direct response to a case currently pending at the California State Supreme Court. Recently, the Court heard testimony in the case In Re Sergio C. Garcia on Admission (S202512), which concerned Mr. Garcia’s petition to obtain a law license in California.  Having passed the State Bar examination and fulfilled all other requirements, Mr. Garcia was routinely sworn into the legal profession in 2011.  Two weeks later his license was rescinded on the basis that the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act passed by Congress in 1996 prohibits undocumented immigrants from receiving professional licenses with the use of public funds, unless state law explicitly overrides it.

“AB 1024 completes the promise we’ve made to DREAMers who have worked hard, studied hard, passed the Bar exam and now just want the right to make a living for themselves as an attorney,” Gonzalez said.

AB 1159 would require that lawyers and consultants performing services under the pending federal immigration reform act abide by common sense business practices that will protect more than 2.5 million potentially eligible Californians from the unauthorized practice of law by non-lawyers, fraud, and unnecessary mistakes that could jeopardize a client’s pursuit of citizenship or – worse – result in deportation. The bill received unanimous support in both the Assembly and the Senate on Thursday.

“As millions of California families face the historic opportunity of improving their lives by pursuing a pathway to citizenship, the state must be ready to ensure immigration services are performed by competent professionals and include anti-fraud protections,” Assemblywoman Gonzalez said. “AB 1159 prepares California for this upswing in demand by creating more accountability and transparency in an otherwise daunting process for immigrants, who are already targets of fraud now.”

Assemblywoman Gonzalez has asked that the Legislature act in order to crack down on the unscrupulous practice by some professionals to demand payment for immigration reform services based by promising that clients could “cut to the front of the line” when federal immigration reform is eventually enacted by paying now. AB 1159 would prohibit those advanced payments. The bill also increases the bonding requirements for non-attorneys performing immigration reform services and requires that contracts for immigration reform services include a disclaimer about how to report immigration fraud to the State Bar or Attorney General in the language of the client receiving the services.

Expands current law to apply to “anyone who is not an attorney” from advertising as a “notario,” not just notaries public. This ban prevents confusion that has oftentimes been capitalized upon by non-attorneys hoping to present themselves as attorneys, as a “notario” in many Latin American nations is a type of lawyer.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez represents California’s 80th Assembly District, located in southern San Diego County including the cities of San Diego, Chula Vista and National City. For more information, visit http://asmdc.org/members/a80/.

ATKINS SNOOPY PLATE BILL TO SUPPORT MUSEUMS SENT TO GOVERNOR

 

(Sacramento)  AB 482, a bill to improve the cost effectiveness of the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE) and to fund museums through the sale of a Snoopy license plate, was passed by the State Legislature today and sent to the Governor.

“Museums need financial support to remain viable and to keep entry fees affordable for all Californians,” says Atkins.  “Snoopy is a beloved American icon and having his ‘endorsement’ is sure to increase sales of the license plate.  I am excited about partnering with him in support of preserving California’s cultural treasures.”

The CCHE was established at the California State Library in 2003.  Since then, it has provided $122 million in grants to not-for-profit groups, government entities, and Native American tribes from funds generated by voter-approved Proposition 40.  These grants have supported the acquisition, restoration, preservation, and interpretation of our state’s historical and cultural resources. Due to dwindling Prop 40 funds, CCHE’s activities and staff face significant reductions and a winding down of the grant program.

Under AB 482, which is sponsored by the California Association of Museums, the CCHE would move over to the Natural Resources Agency where efficiencies can be implemented, with savings to the state of approximately $30,000 per year.

At the same time, a permanent source of funding for CCHE’s programs became possible when the widow of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz offered the rights to Snoopy’s likeness for a license plate that would raise funds for museums.  AB 482 authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to offer the Snoopy plate, which, like all specialty license plates would cost $50, plus another $48 if motorists want their plate personalized .  If the bill passes and is signed into law, DMV will be able to accept requests for the new plate.  They require at least 7,500 prepaid requests before starting production.  The California Association of Museums has already received more than 9,200 pledges from Californians who say they will purchase the plate once it is available.  The proceeds from the plate will be distributed through a competitive grant process.  All museums will be eligible.

Governor Brown has until October 13 to sign or veto the measure.