SEIU California State Council Endorses Sid Voorakkara for State Assembly District 79

From the Voorakkara campaign:

SEIU California State Council Endorses Sid Voorakkara for State Assembly District 79

Voorakkara’s campaign continues to build major momentum with yet another endorsement from a major statewide labor organization

San Diego, CA – Days after campaign finance reports showed Sid Voorakkara with a sizable cash-on-hand and fundraising advantage over his opponents, his campaign today announced winning an endorsement from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California State Council.

The SEIU California State Council represents over 700,000 social workers, nurses, classroom aides, state workers, security officers, home care workers, janitors, and other workers throughout California

The endorsement from SEIU California State Council adds to the growing momentum behind Voorakkara’s campaign.  In recent weeks he secured an exclusive endorsement from the California Nurses Association.  In addition, campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State last week showed Voorakkara with a strong cash-on-hand lead, a key indicator of the strength and viability of his campaign going into the final two months before the June primary election.

 “I am honored to have the support of such a distinguished organization,” said Sid Voorakkara. “SEIU has been a strong voice for workers in the face of serious political opposition. Protecting our workers health and retirements is vital to getting California back on the path to economic strength. I look forward to working closely with the SEIU to put worker’s needs back on the table in the State Legislature.”

SEIU California State Council now joins the California Nurses Association, the California API Legislative Caucus, State Board of Equalization Member Betty Yee, Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski, Assemblymember Mike Eng, Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett, Senator Jim Beall, Jr., and dozens of local elected leaders in backing Voorakkara’s campaign.

Sid Voorakkara is running for the California State Assembly District 79.  

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Sid Voorakkara is a nonprofit director and workforce program manager with extensive experience in improving the quality of life for underserved individuals and communities by bringing people and organizations together to improve healthcare access, job training and employment opportunities. For almost seven years, Sid has worked for The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation that makes grants to organizations and institutions that directly benefit the health and well being of the people of California.  Working closely with high schools within the 79th Assembly District, San Diego’s hospital and community clinic systems, and numerous immigrant and refugee organizations, Sid has improved healthcare access for San Diego’s most vulnerable citizens and provided opportunities for students to pursue high-growth, high-wage jobs. Sid created the San Diego Workforce Funders Collaborative, which leverages philanthropic resources with government and the private sector to get San Diegans the training they need for today’s job market.

A desperate Scott Peters, trying to divert attention from his refusal to release his taxes, attacks Saldaña

From the Saldaña campaign:

Behind in the polls and struggling to jumpstart his floundering Congressional campaign, Scott Peters tried to divert attention from his refusal to release his taxes with an attack on former Speaker Pro Tem Lori Saldana.

The attack, based upon old newspaper articles, criticized Saldana's support for labor and consumer-backed legislation, claiming she supported "special interests."
“Everything cited in the Peters’ press release has been public for years. Yet Mr. Peters doesn’t believe in applying transparency to himself,” Joe Kocurek, a Saldaña spokesperson, said.

"This is a smear by a candidate who is losing the campaign and who is facing a growing chorus of public criticism for refusing to subject his tax returns to public scrutiny," he said. “Just this week, President Obama signed a bill to ban insider trading by members of Congress.

“The public has the right to know what Mr. Peters’ sources of income are; what tax breaks and loopholes he has utilized; and how much tax he pays,” he said.
Several weeks ago, Ms. Saldana made her tax returns public and asked the other candidates in the race to do the same.

“Congressman Bilbray has responded to former Speaker Pro Tem Saldana’s challenge to release his taxes," Kocurek stated. "Even Mr. Peters’ La Jolla neighbor, Mitt Romney, released his taxes.”

Peters attack on Saldana cited two trips she took. "No taxpayer dollars were ever used by Ms. Saldana on her trade missions," Kocurek said."Their purpose was to help expand and grow California’s economy. This is in stark contrast to the $660,000 in taxpayer money Mr. Peters spent on legal fees when he was found grossly negligent by the SEC for mismanaging the city of San Diego’s budget.”

On one mission, Ms. Saldana, a co-author of California's landmark Greehouse Gas Reduction Act, visited a rural swine farm in Brazil in order to examine the latest technology for creating methane gas as an alternative fuel.

The spokesman said that Ms. Saldana is proud of her 100% Sierra Club record and her support for consumer-backed bills, including the two cited by Mr. Peters.
One bill to expand public access to broadband internet to low-income familes, was supported by the California Labor Federation and the American Heart Association and passed the Assembly unanimously, 77-0.

 The second bill, to target green energy efforts on low income rental units, was supported by the Western Center for Law and Poverty, the consumer group TURN, and passed the Assembly.

"Mr. Peters’ press release is filled with factual inaccuracies and mischaracterizations." Kocurek stated.

“The candidate who is behind in the polls is always the first to attack,” he said.

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Peters Campaign Calls on Saldaña to Explain $39,000 in Gifts/Trips from Special Interests

From the Peters campaign:

San Diego, CA – Today the Scott Peters for Congress campaign called on candidate Lori Saldaña to release her expense reports, receipts, itineraries, agendas, correspondence and all other information pertaining to the more than $39,000 in gifts and trips she received from well-funded special interests from 2005-2009 while serving as a member of the California State Legislature.

Saldaña accepted the majority of the $39,000 in the form of lavish trips to exotic destinations. She traveled to places such as Vietnam, China, Venezuela and Chile where she stayed at posh hotels, enjoyed expensive meals and even had her own personal wait service during a stay in Argentina.  These luxurious junkets were funded by oil, gas and utility companies such as Chevron, Pacific Gas and Electric, AT&T and Sempra Energy.  All of these corporations wanted her support for legislation that affected their bottom lines. And, she voted in their favor, both before and after the opulent travel.

“Lori Saldaña accepted luxurious junkets funded by big corporations who had legislation before her that affected their bottom line. She accepted the trips and the corporations received the support from her they were seeking,” said Peters’ Campaign Manager Robert Dempsey.

 “If Lori Saldaña is for transparency, as she claims, she should release all documentation related to these expenses and explain to the voters how this isn’t a blatant conflict of interest,” he added. “The taxpayers deserve to know where she went, who went with her, who paid her way and what they got in return for their generosity.”

From 2005 through 2009, Saldaña reported receiving $22,058 in travel as gifts, including a 2006 trip to South America. During the trip she stayed at exclusive hotels such as the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, and the five-star Ritz-Carlton in Santiago Chile. While staying at the spectacular Alvear Palace Hotel in Buenos Aires, she even had her own personal butler to attend to her.

 The 2006 South America trip was paid for by an organization funded by Chevron, AT&T, Sempra Energy, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Comcast and Northern Star Natural Gas. She was joined on the trip by representatives from oil, gas and electricity companies and others.

“Why would any legitimate fact-finding trip require such luxurious accommodations and a private butler?” questioned Dempsey. “Compare Saldaña’s record on this to Scott Peters who was recently highlighted in a U-T San Diego article because he pays all his own travel and meal expenses at the Port. The voters want a representative who isn’t beholden to special interests bearing gifts.”

Saldaña’s fondness for expensive gifts from special interests caught the attention of the Fair Political Practices Commission in 2010 when it fined her for failing to report meals, as required by law. They included meals paid for by the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, the Pechanga Band of Indians, and a $110.00 lunch from Bank of America. There was no record that these expenses ever were reimbursed.

 
BACKGROUND:
In August 2006, Saldaña voted for AB 2987 which allowed telephone companies to compete and offer cable television services without signing cable franchise agreements for the cities or counties in which they operated.  News accounts reported that AT&T was in support of the bill. The City of San Diego registered its opposition to this bill. In a June 19, 2006 vote the San Diego City Council unanimously passed a resolution urging the state to amend the bill.


In June 2009, Saldaña voted for AB 413, which would have eliminated rate freezes for residential customers of electric utilities, a bill supported by PG&E, Sempra Energy and Southern California Edison.  The bill would have lifted some measures enacted in 2001 during the state’s energy crisis that capped and restricted the energy rates paid by customers.  The bill later died in the Senate Rules Committee.

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Lightner supports Proposition B or the DeMaio/Dumanis/Fletcher “Comprehensive Pension Reform” (CPR) Measure

All quotes from the SDUT

A little more than a month ago, Lightner’s prime opponent in the race, Republican Ray Ellis, sent out a campaign mailer saying he was the only District 1 candidate in support of the measure, an assumption Lightner said was wrong.

Though the pension reform measure has been in the local political spotlight for six months, Lightner had yet to publicly state her position on it until talking to a reporter on Tuesday.


This sounds like a decision made on the fly. Lightner has had more than enough time to consider the issue and concluding that supporting the measure now would be a good thing for the campaign only serves to baffle the activist base and her supporters.


“I am in support of it, but the devil is in the details,” she said. “It means continuing to work with our employees closely.”


So she supports the idea but is not offering any solutions. The timing of her statement appears opportunistic. It looks like she’s grasping at the caboose of the Prop B train hoping to ride the rails through to the run off.

Unfortunately, joining the chorus of  “me too” this late in the game does not gain you supporters but it does attract derision.

Great editorial by Alex Kreit & Howard Wayne in today's Union-Tribune

Justice delayed is justice denied:

SDUT Editorial: Crisis in the Courts

Stonewalling on Taxes by Scott Peters and Brian Bilbray Feeds Public Suspicions, Saldaña says

From the Saldaña campaign:

Stonewalling on Taxes by Scott Peters and Brian Bilbray Feeds Public Suspicions, Saldaña says

“What are they hiding?”

SAN DIEGO – A month after she released her taxes to the public, Democratic frontrunner Lori Saldaña said that the stonewalling by the other candidates for the 52nd Congressional District is fueling public suspicions about what they are hiding.

“This year, people are angry and demand to know whether candidates have enjoyed tax breaks that are not available to the average middle-class voter,” Saldaña said. “The public rightfully believe that, if elected, they will perpetuate these tax policies at the expense of the middle class.”

“Do Mr. Bilbray and Mr. Peters pay a lower tax rate than a teacher, a machinist or a barista? Are they hiding funds tax free in the Cayman islands?”

“Voters need to know that the Buffet Rule applies to the people they elect to Congress,” Saldaña said.

Saldaña released her taxes to the San Diego Union Tribune on March 3rd and challenged the other candidates to do the same.

The leading Republican contender, Brian Bilbray, originally agreed to release his returns, but so far has not done so.

Scott Peters, - whose vast personal wealth is estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars - has refused repeated calls to make his tax returns public.

Saldaña noted parallels between Peters’ intransigence and multimillionaire Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney who, when he finally released his taxes, was found to only pay l3.9 percent of his income in taxes, a lower tax rate than most middle-income Americans.

"It's simple: I believe in transparency," Saldaña stated. "When I talk with San Diegans and hear their stories, it's clear many are still struggling even as the economy improves. By releasing my tax returns I want them to know: I get it. I hear you loud and clear. My family's a lot like your family."

"If they have nothing to hide, Mr. Bilbray and Mr. Peters should release their taxes and put the public's suspicions to rest," she said.

Saldaña is leading the other challengers to unseat the long-term Republican Congressman Brian Bilbray in the new-drawn 52nd District, which includes La Jolla, Poway, Mira Mesa, Clairemont, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, Downtown San Diego and Coronado.

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U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein Endorses Mat Kostrinsky for City Council District 7

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein Endorses Mat Kostrinsky for City Council District 7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kimber Tabak (619) 500-3580

San Diego, CA – March 5, 2012 – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, one of California’s most respected elected officials, endorsed Mat Kostrinsky for City Council District 7.

"I have known Mat Kostrinsky for more than a decade, and relied on his counsel on matters in San Diego. He’s strong and independent,” said Senator Dianne Feinstein. “I’m confident Mat will make sure city government is working for you, and all the people of District 7,” added Feinstein.

"It is an honor to be endorsed by Senator Feinstein. She has an incredible record of bringing together people with diverse opinions to solve problems and get results," said Mat Kostrinsky. “I look forward to working with her to ensure we support our veterans, strengthen our economy, and keep San Diego safe.”

In addition to being supported by Senator Feinstein, Kostrinsky has also been endorsed by former San Diego Councilmember Donna Frye and current Councilmembers Todd Gloria, David Alvarez and Marti Emerald.

Kostrinsky grew up in the San Diego communities of San Carlos and Del Cerro. He attended Pershing Middle School, Patrick Henry High School and graduated from San Diego State University. Mat and his wife, Jen, a family practice physician, are raising their two children in the same neighborhood where Mat grew up. For more information, please go to his website at www.Mat4CityCouncil.com

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Lori Makes "EMILY's List"!

Lori Makes "EMILY's List"!

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, announced it is placing Lori Saldaña, a candidate for California’s 52nd congressional district, “On the List.”

The EMILY’s List community now stands at more than one million members strong. These supporters are getting their information earlier, quicker, and on the web and they’re ready to take action now. “On the List” is a new way for EMILY’s List members to engage with and support promising candidates early in an election cycle. By putting Saldaña “On the List,” EMILY’s List is ensuring that she has access to this powerful network of supporters.

“Lori is a strong and enthusiastic leader who we are thrilled to put ‘On the List’,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. “As an environmental leader and a state Assemblywoman, Lori has proven herself to be a tireless advocate for working families, the environment, and California’s veterans. We need Lori’s strong voice in Washington standing up for women and families against the radical Republican agenda. The EMILY’s List community is proud to stand with Lori every step of the way.”

A San Diego native, Saldaña has always recognized the importance of giving back to her community. She graduated from San Diego State University and has had a long career in education, with a focus on workforce development programs for at-risk youth. In the California State Assembly, Saldaña fought to protect the environment, improve access to healthcare, and adequately fund public schools. Drawing on her experience as the daughter of a career Marine, Saldaña has also fought hard for California’s military families and veterans.

In the 2009-2010 cycle, EMILY’s List raised more than $38.5 million to support its mission of recruiting and supporting women candidates, helping them build strong campaigns, and mobilizing women voters to turn out and vote. With a community of more than 1,000,000 members across the country, EMILY’s List is one of the largest political action committees in the nation. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY’s List has worked to elect 87 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 16 to the U.S. Senate, nine governors, and hundreds of women to the state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices. In the 2009-2010 cycle, EMILY’s List had the largest number of members and donors in our 27 year history.

For more information please visit the  EMILY’s List website.

City Council by the Numbers!

Here is the breakdown of the City Council 2012 races, which reported by 9:44 pm on Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012:

District 1

Ray Ellis

Total Contributions Received:	$151,105.00
Total Expenditures Made:	$47,948.59
Burn Rate	31.73%

NOTES: This is without any loans by a person with the financial means to put their own money into the race. Very impressive. However, we need to remember money has not equated to a win for candidates, especially those challenging an incumbent at the city level. Ray will have a tough road to defend his support for Prop D to his conservative base and his pension settlement vote to the general public.

Sherri Lightner

Total Contributions Received:	$117,808.00
Total Expenditures Made:	$47,720.54
Burn Rate	40.51%

NOTES: This is a very good report for Sherri in a normal period. Looking at previous reports of incumbents this number is par for the course. Also, she will have her incumbency to lift her up even more. In addition, talk is she will be a hard person for the opposition to lock down as favoring any certain interest group. She has shown an independent streak, which did very well for Scott Peters, when he was challenged from the right by a wealthy individual too.

District 3

Todd Gloria

Total Contributions Received:	$127,903.65
Total Expenditures Made:	$51,241.01
Burn Rate	40.06%

NOTES: There is no challenger and anyone that would get into the race would be behind the money, even if they self finance their race. In addition, incumbency has its power for city council races.

District 5

Mark Kersey

Total Contributions Received:	$120,229.00
Total Expenditures Made:	$41,219.02
Burn Rate	34.28%

NOTES: There is no challenger and anyone that would get into the race, except for a self financing candidate that is conservative, then there would not be a steep fundraising climb ahead.

District 7

Mat Kostrinsky

Total Contributions Received:	$76,106.00
Total Expenditures Made:	$20,106.89
Burn Rate	26.42%

NOTES: Several items jumped out at me in this report from Mat. He has the lowest burn rate of the entire field of candidates running for city council, including those without an opponent. If you look into his report he has more cash on hand then Scott and he should be taken serious looking that he went into this race with a sizable early loan. Though, this race will be expensive without name ID and require a more heavier fundraising number reported at the next period.

Scott Sherman

Total Contributions Received:	$61,890.00
Total Expenditures Made:	$37,469.35
Burn Rate	60.54%

NOTES: Scott's numbers were released a few weeks ago, so the number are not new, but the amount he has spent is very surprising with most not going towards voter ID, but consultant fees and fundraiser fees. A little high for someone claiming to be a business person. If he runs his business or will run his council office like he is running his campaign, then we should look at what business model he uses. We should expect with the recent court ruling and this report the Republican Party has already started to prop Scott's campaign up with party money going into his campaign.

District 9

Marti Emerald

Total Contributions Received:	$70,399.25
Total Expenditures Made:	$30,449.88
Burn Rate	43.25%

NOTES: There is no challenger and anyone that would get into the race, except for a self financing candidate, then would have a steep fundraising climb ahead. Though, they would need to add incumbency, which makes this a lock for Emerald to win election.

Dirty DeMaio: Will Carl DeMaio eliminate police pensions?

After months of waiting, on Friday San Diego finally got its first mayoral debate featuring all four leading candidates. And it didn't disappoint.

Things started off simply enough, by asking Carl DeMaio whether, in light of steadily improving pension numbers driven by a steadily improving economy, he still felt that police officers should eventually be transitioned to 401k. DeMaio caved on including police officers in his ballot measure, but assured San Diego that he still planned to take away police pensions down the line. DeMaio had a lot to say in response to the debate question, but despite being pressed, refused to answer the question.

Read the post here.

Soldiers for the Cause: San Diego Occupiers Stranded in Texas by Greyhound Anti-Occupy Bus Driver

13 occupiers from San Diego en route to Washington D.C. to attend Occupy Congress were left stranded in Amarillo, Texas. The bus driver, Donald Ainsworth, locked the occupiers in the bus and called the police to have them removed because of his anti-occupy beliefs.

Read the post here.

SDUT: Mayoral debate includes pension humor

Filner called the initiative a fraud that throws public employees under the bus for the disastrous decisions made by previous mayors — Republicans, he noted — that created a nearly $2.2 billion pension deficit. He is offering an alternative plan that would cap pensions at about $106,000, reach a five-year labor deal with workers and refinance the pension debt with low-interest municipal bonds. Filner said it would free up $500 million over the next few years, although he has yet to release specifics.

Read the article here.

Another candidate enters the race for D7

Nathan Elbert Johnson, American Independent Party

San Diego City Clerk page.

Two Cathedrals: 5 years on, CPUC issues new fire prevention rules

From Two Cathedrals:

The California Public Utilities Commission unveiled new rules this week — reacting to lessons of the 2007 wildfires to toughen regulations that hopefully will prevent power lines from starting fires in the future. The rules are welcome, since otherwise SDG&E was under absolutely no obligation to change its practices — the practices that started the Witch Creek fire.

Arcing power lines, buffeted by Santa Ana winds, were blamed by investigators for the Oct. 21, 2007, Witch Creek fire. Ignited near Santa Ysabel, that fire eventually merged with the Guejito fire, which had begun early Oct. 22 in the San Pasqual Valley and quickly burned into Rancho Bernardo. More than 1,600 structures were lost in the fires.

Power lines were also blamed for the Rice Canyon fire that burned hundreds of homes in Fallbrook later that week and, farther from San Diego, the Malibu Canyon fire.

Two state investigations concluded that SDG&E equipment, and to a lesser degree Cox Communications, caused the Witch Creek/Guejito fire and the Rice Canyon fire.

There are still hundreds of 2007 fire victims waiting to get their settlement, and that it’s taken four and a half years to address the practices that caused the devastation is amazing. The City of San Diego is among those still waiting for its settlement. If your home was destroyed by the fire, the ship has long since sailed on getting a settlement in a timely manner, but if and when SDG&E finally finishes this process depends in part on the huge rate hike it’s seeking.

The relationship is so tight between SDG&E and its regulatory agency that it’s the SDG&E press shop that gives statements to the media defending the independence of the CPUC, the absurd irony of which remains stunning.

So it’s against this backdrop that SDG&E seeks upwards of a billion dollars in rate hikes — hikes to pass on the cost of fire damage to customers and undermine the growing solar industry. It’s perhaps worth remembering as they ask for a billion dollar handout from the general public that, not only was SDG&E was responsible for devastation that has still not been remedied five years later, but that its parent company Sempra doubled its profits in the third quarter of 2011 and announced last month that it will significantly exceed its annual profit projections.

Of course, if SDG&E doesn’t get the rate hike that allows the cost of fire settlements to be passed on to the public, it has to pay out of pocket and all those amazing profit figures are going to take a hit. Meaning that the calculation is whether the cost of the fire caused by SDG&E practices should be born by its stock price on Wall Street or by San Diegans who had to wait four and a half years to get a ruling that amounts to ‘we’ll try not to do it again.’

An easy choice for the corporation, which succeeds by protecting profits. But the public interest? That might be a little different.

by Lucas O’Connor

Carl DeMaio's hollow veterans jobs plan

From Dirty DeMaio:

Carl DeMaio rolled out a new veterans proposal yesterday ahead of today's first mayoral debate to feature all four candidates. It makes sense strategically since he's running against Bob Filner, who's worked on veterans issues for years in Congress, and Nathan Fletcher, a decorated veteran who released a veterans plan months ago.

But reading through it, it turns out DeMaio's veterans plan does not include any step in which jobs are created. In fact, you'd be forgiven if you thought it was just his campaign's "Job Creation" page with the word 'veteran' thrown in a few times to narrow the focus. It's impressive at least for its consistency, since his Job Creation plan doesn't have a step where jobs are created either.

For someone who claims to be so driven by data and trackable performance and careful measure of outcomes and tough accountability, you would think there would be something remotely resembling a tangible goal here. But the sort of hard, trackable goals that usually indicate seriousness aren't anywhere to be found in this plan.

And since its a jobs plan that doesn't create jobs, it just means DeMaio's plan is to promote hiring certain people over others -- instead of having enough good jobs for everyone. That probably makes a certain sense for DeMaio, since he thinks the private sector is "good enough" already.

This plan that doesn't create any jobs was released from his city council office, not through his campaign. So it will be interesting to follow along and see, compared to his previous Pathways and Roadmaps, how much effort DeMaio actually puts into campaigning on the taxpayer-funded proposal and how much time he devotes to actually trying to pass any of it as a current member of the council.
He hasn't had much luck actually passing any of the items in any of the previous elaborate, taxpayer-funded policy packages, and you'd be hard pressed to see evidence of him trying. But given how much trouble Carl DeMaio has showing up to his day job or even keeping track of what goes on when he's playing hooky, maybe there just isn't enough time in the day.

Hard to justify calling DeMaio a 'taxpayer watchdog' who's 'cleaning up City Hall' when he's struggling to show up or push his very own agenda -- while making sure he spends every taxpayer dime he can on campaign fodder. Just like it's hard to take a jobs plan seriously that doesn't even include the step of actually creating jobs.

Rancho Bernardo Patch: DeMaio, Dumanis and Fletcher Talk Veterans

The three mayoral candidates have each offered plans for helping veterans. 

Read the article here.

Donna Frye Endorses Mat Kostrinsky for City Council District 7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          

 Donna Frye Endorses Mat Kostrinsky for City Council District 7

Champion of Open Government and Environmental Protection Supports Longtime Community Leader

San Diego, CA – January 12, 2012 – Donna Frye, respected leader of the San Diego City Council for over a decade, has endorsed Mat Kostrinsky to represent San Diego’s newly formed Council District 7.  District 7 is comprised of the eastern San Diego communities of Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, Grantville, San Carlos and Tierrasanta, as well as communities that were previously represented by Frye during her term as a councilmember; Birdland, Mission Valley, Serra Mesa, and southern portion of Linda Vista.

Donna Frye has long been recognized as a reformer and was honored by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) San Diego Pro Chapter’s 2011 with the Sunshine Award for her tenure on city council from 2001 to 2010.  SPJ stated, “[Frye] was dedicated to open government, boycotting closed council sessions until city council rewrote its policy on such sessions, forcing the lifting of limits on public comment at meetings, forcing the public release of a study that determined the true costs of providing sewer service and showed that residential customers were partially subsidizing service for businesses, and helping pass a ballot measure that improved access to city records, among other efforts.”

During her time in office, Frye made the right decisions for the right reasons and put the public interest first.  “I am proud to be endorsed by a leader who took such bold action: when she saw a problem, she spoke out and tried to fix it, just like I will on behalf of the community.” Kostrinsky said.

“Mat Kostrinsky has already proven himself to be a community leader in District 7.  He knows the residents, he understands the issues, and he knows how to bring people together to achieve results for the community,” stated Frye.  “Mat grew up in District 7.  For years he has been involved in projects and issues that have made our neighborhoods a better place for our community and our children.  Now we need him on the City Council to help improve our entire City,” continued Frye.

Kostrinsky grew up in the San Diego communities of San Carlos and Del Cerro.  He attended Pershing Middle School, Patrick Henry High School and graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science. Mat has shown his dedication to our neighborhoods through volunteerism, representing them on numerous community boards, working on numerous projects in the district and improving the district through beautification projects such as Lake Murray Playground Project. Currently, Mat is a Home Health Advocate for UDW, ensuring that our State’s elderly and disabled receive the respect and care they deserve in their own homes.

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Labor Council Response to Mayor Sanders’ 2012 State of the City Address

 
For Immediate Release
January 11, 2012

Labor Council Response to Mayor Sanders’ 2012 State of the City Address

SAN DIEGO - San Diego Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer Lorena Gonzalez made the following statement in response to tonight’s State of the City address:

“Mayor Sanders’ speech tonight was the equivalent of a spoonful of lukewarm porridge. San Diego is tired of lukewarm vanilla porridge.

“Instead, our city was looking for answers to the important questions facing them. How will he put San Diegans back to work in good jobs? What assurances will the city make to employ local workers on the projects he’s been proposing? And what is the city doing to keep city residents in their homes when foreclosures are wrecking families and blighting neighborhoods?

“Tonight’s speech sounded a lot like the same ‘to do’ list that Mayor Sanders has given us in every single State of the City address since he was elected. It’s disappointing he won’t be able to have more accomplishments checked off when he leaves office in 11 months.”

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San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council
The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO includes 134 affiliated labor groups in the region with a membership of more than 192,000 working families.  Founded in 1891, the Labor Council advocates for more jobs, better jobs and better lives for all of San Diego’s workers – union and non-union.
www.unionyes.org             

"Kicking Ass for the Middle Class" rally! postponed

Stay tuned for details.

SDNR: Lawyer who sued city last week says he will run for City Council

A lawyer who recently sued the city of San Diego to have the Children's Pool in La Jolla closed during harbor seal pupping season said today he will run for a seat on the San Diego City Council.
 
Bryan Pease said he would officially enter the race to challenge incumbent Sherri Lightner in District 1 on Thursday.

Read the article here.