Hundreds of students have walked out of their classes in Alameda in a protest over the state’s proposed budget cuts.
Students from Encinal High School marched off campus and straight to the school district’s headquarters.
Tuesday night, the district school board voted to cut $200,000 out of sports programs and to increase class sizes on some campuses to save money.
This got national cable news coverage today, by the way.
I’m not saying this is akin to protesting the draft in the Vietnam War era, but the similarity is that when you threaten the livelihood of a whole mass of people, you awake a sleeping giant. And society actually has a compelling interest in providing a full platter of school programs to create a well-rounded and engaged class of young people. It won’t be long before these students are joined by teachers and parents on the streets.
Republicans can keep their heads in the sand or they can take note. The governor’s already flopping like a fish, bringing it down to the “it depends on what your definition of tax increase is”. He knows that his political legacy is on the line and that you’re going to anger the whole state if you try to balance the budget on the backs of students. Democrats need to simply defend the principle that the state is worth paying for. The public will be with them. The ghost of Howard Jarvis is being slain.
A quick, throwaway article crossed my path last night that two Jurupa Community Services District board members (from Calvert’s 44th District) are bullish about receiving federal funding for water projects after visiting DC last week. The article promptly disappeared and doesn’t show up in searches of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin or San Bernardino Sun websites, but the google cached version remains:
“We felt we needed to make a strong statement,” said board President R.M. “Cook” Barela about the meeting with Rep. Ken Calvert. “He seemed really interested in helping us with our projects.”
Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) Legislative Committee members Barela and director Kenneth McLaughlin were in Washington representing JCSD’s needs before legislators during the Association of California Water Agencies conference Feb. 26-28.
The district has been self-reliant in funding projects and services but as the area has grown in population, district officials have started seeking federal funding for major projects, Barela said.
What exactly are these projects, and why would Ken Calvert be “really interested in helping” with these projects? Sure there’s pork in Washington, but this sounded familiar:
They are also asking for money to turn an inoperable well into a water-producing producer. Both projects are in Mira Loma and would total $1.8 million, Barela said.
The district is also seeking funding for its 100-year-flood protection project to provide bank reinforcement at one of the district’s plants in Mira Loma.
Mira Loma you say? Now maybe I understand Calvert’s interest. Ken Calvert bought up a bunch of public land in Mira Loma back in 2006 from, yup, the Jurupa Community Services District. And as it turns out, did so unethically if not illegally because the District didn’t open the land up to the public for sale (as required by law)- just went straight to Calvert. They claim they did notify other people and organizations, but they have no proof and nobody’s substantiating the claim.
The deal allowed Calvert, R-Corona, and his partners to buy public land without competition in a booming sellers’ market. The partnership also might have benefited from rising property values because a long escrow period tied up the property for more that a year while prices were climbing 15 percent to 25 percent a year, real estate experts said. Calvert, who has been in the real estate business since before his 1992 election to Congress, said he and his partners paid at least market value.
Calvert co-sponsored legislation that would increase the water supply of the Jurupa Community Services District and other water agencies by providing money for desalination facilities.
But what land in particular, and what’s it like?
The Calvert partnership plans to build a mini-storage business.
The land, just west of the Stater Bros. grocery store on the south side of Limonite Avenue, could have served as the only community park in a predominately Hispanic, lower-income neighborhood in Mira Loma, said Warren Lucio, a former board member of the local park district.
Jurupa Area Park and Recreation District officials said they were dismayed that they didn’t have a chance to buy the land. “It is a shame they didn’t follow the rules and guidelines; it would have been nice to have the opportunity to bid on the property,” said Dan Rodriguez, the district’s general manager. “It’s a good size for a ball field with tot lot and a picnic area.”
Emphasis mine. So Ken Calvert sponsors legislation to expand water infrastructure in Mira Loma. Then the local government gives him an absurd and likely illegal deal on land in Mira Loma where he plans a business that will profit from the migratory nature of low-income communities without improving the community. Then local officials visit DC and Ken Calvert is “really interested” in getting them some funding for further development projects around the land he snagged himself.
JCSD President R.M. “Cook” Barela said in the original article “He was very receptive we’re making contacts to see who can help us…we laid the groundwork that was needed.” I’m sure those contacts will play all sorts of unexpected dividends going forward.
Ken Calvert has a list of shady dealings as long as my…arm. That’s not news. What’s surprising(ish) is that he just keeps plugging along with this stuff like nobody cares. This in spite of Republican activists trying to prevent him from getting a spot on Appropriations because he’s so slimy. I suppose it’s just an old dog/new tricks situation. But it would be nice to beat him in November. We have good candidates and plenty to run on.
Senator Russ Feingold is once again looking for progressive candidates to select as a “Progressive Patriot.” Vote now to place Bill on this list. In 2006, Patriots on this list received hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions. Don’t let this slip through our hands.
And one more thing… While you’re at it, it’s on the same page, could you just…
Vote for Dan Lungren for the League of Conservation Voters’ “Dirty Dozen”!
In 2006, The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) defeated 9 of 13 “Dirty Dozen” members of Congress with the worst environmental records. Now for the first time ever, LCV is inviting its supporters to nominate members of Congress to the “Dirty Dozen.” A vote for Dan Lungren for the environmental “Dirty Dozen” is one vote he truly deserves.
The Sacramento Bee has accurately described Lungren’s environmental record as “abysmal.” Lungren has received the following ratings from LCV over his past 3 years in Congress: 2005 0% ; 2006 8%; 2007 -8%. The “Republicans for Environmental Protection” give Mr. Lungren a whopping minus 4% rating, subtracting points for Lungren “non votes” on significant environmental issues.
Progressive Democrats of America has presented a national endorsement to Vickie Butcher, Democratic candidate in the 52nd Congressional District.
This will mean national phone banking and other support for Vickie, who is running in an open seat to replace retiring Congressman Duncan Hunter.
“We couldn’t be more happy or more proud,” PDA Metro-San Diego president Judy Hess said in an e-mail informing Vickie of the national endorsement. “You’ve joined the ranks of Donna Edwards and other great progressives.”
Vickie has fought for civil rights and voting rights, challenging segregation in her youth. She’s been doing what is right ever since. She became a teacher of the deaf and later taught civics, before earning her law degree after her fifth child was born. She’s chaired a local planning board and served on water and hospital boards. Nationally, she headed up the National Medical Association auxiliary, working with her husband, a physician, to make healthcare accessible to those in need. She supports universal healthcare for all and has expertise to make this a reality. Vickie also founded Water for Children Africa, meeting with world leaders and leading efforts to bring water and medicines to people in 15 nations. Now she’s fighting to give a voice to all of us in Congress-not the special interests!
Read about Vickie’s long history of progressive leadership here: www.votevickiebutcher.com
Vickie faces a tough primary battle against a former Navy Seal who was a liaison reprsenting the Department of Defense (Special Forces Operations) in Congress.
We’ve got people power to walk precincts and man phonebanks — but need money to cinch victory. Please help by donating to help a true progressive and internationally acclaimed humanitarian win this seat! www.votevickiebutcher.com.
(The 52nd is a tough district, but you don’t win without trying. Good luck Ms. Butcher. – promoted by Brian Leubitz)
According to a story today at the Progressive Democrats of America website, the Metro San Diego chapter of PDA has endorsed Vickie Butcher in the 52nd Congressional District. Excellent choice! Vickie is running for the seat that Duncan Hunter has held for forever and a day. His son, Duncan Jr., is running in his stead in the upcoming June primary. There are several Democratic candidates running in this race, but Butcher is the clear progressive choice, and I’m very happy to see an endorsement for Vickie Butcher from San Diego’s Metro PDA Chapter.
Vickie generated much excitement among those present as she spoke against the war and for universal health care, election reform, and ending poverty. She plans to join the Congressional Progressive Caucus next January.
Vickie easily won the endorsement and is genuinely pleased to have the Metro chapter’s support. A true progressive in every sense, she faces three candidates in the CA 52 Democratic primary on June 3, none of whom sought the endorsement.
more on the flip side….
Vickie Butcher’s public service and leadership resume is impressive, to say the least. She’s been an East County resident for 27 years, has taught in the Grossmont School District and at Grossmont Community College. She has chaired the El Cajon Planning Commission, and been a member of the Grossmont Hospital Foundation Board and California Regional Water Quality Control Board. She also has a law degree, and many years of experience with a wide range of public agencies.
Butcher’s leadership skills haven’t been contained by the boundaries of CA-52! According to her campaign website:
I also bring national and international leadership skills to this race. As past president of the National Medical Association Auxiliary, and a member of an FDA panel on medical issues, I speak with authority in support of universal healthcare for all. As executive director of Water for Children Africa, a nonprofit organization, I have led international humanitarian efforts to bring water and medical supplies to those in need. I also organized 11 international trade and business conferences. As a small business owner myself, I understand the needs of the business community, while also supporting the rights and needs of working people.
That’s very modest. Read her campaign website’s Bio page for more about Butcher’s extensive leadership experience and impressive catalog of achievements. Public service is clearly one significant part of her life’s calling, and becoming the Democratic Congressional representative for the 52nd is another step on that path.
San Diego’s East County has been strongly Republican for a long time, but that is changing. In the presidential primary just past, 45% of the voters in the district voted for a Democrat. That’s an amazing number to this long-time East County resident who’s seen Duncan Hunter win election after election by extremely large margins. Another Congressional District is turning blue….and they said it couldn’t be done. Oh boy, were they wrong.
Please help Vickie win by going to her website at www.votevickiebutcher.com and make a generous donation! And if you’re a member of the La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club you can also support her by attending tomorrow evening’s endorsement meeting at 7pm at the La Mesa Recreation Center (4975 Memorial Drive, just off University Ave. in La Mesa).
Then in the upcoming June election, Vote For Vickie!
I decided to run for Congress against John Doolittle because I believe we desperately need a new direction for America.
My decision was never about political ambition or blind partisan loyalties, but fulfilling a promise I made to defend our country, and to serve the community where Jan and I have been proud to live, work, and raise our children these past 17 years.
Today, State Senator Tom McClintock announced he is going to move from his district in Southern California in order to run for Congress in our district.
My position hasn't changed. I still firmly believe we need a new direction – for our country.
And I believe the last thing District Four needs is another career politician who needs driving directions just to find our district.
Click here to give Senator Tom McClintock a warm welcome when he arrives.
This will be the ninth different political office that Tom has run for in California. If you are scoring at home, here's the list:
Chair, Ventura County Republican Party
CA State Assembly, District 36 in Southern California
U.S. House of Representatives, District 24 in Southern California
CA State Controller
CA State Assembly, District 38 in Southern California
CA State Senate, District 19 in Southern California
CA State Controller – Again
CA Governor in the recall election
CA Lt. Governor
U.S. House of Representatives, District 04
For 30 years, Senator McClintock has been relentless in pursuing his next partisan political power grab. His current address in Thousand Oaks, California is 418 miles from Roseville.
Now, 418 miles is a long drive, especially when the price of gas is pushing four dollars per gallon.
Together, we can give Senator McClintock the proper welcome when he arrives, and show him that CD4 is looking for real change-not another partisan political opportunist (and we've seen several come and go from this race already). And that's exactly the message we'll send by raising $100 for every mile Tom must travel to get from his district to our district.
Our goal is $41,800. by the FEC Deadline of of March 31st.
Click here to help us welcome Tom McClintock to town.
You built this campaign. When no one believed, you were there. And today, we have enlisted more than 12,000 people in our campaign for change–$25, $50 and $100 at a time. That's 12,000 people who believe, just as I believe, that our district and our country can do better. And for the sake of our security, our economy, and our children's future, we must.
I've said it before. This election is about putting patriotism before partisanship.
It's about CD4's interests, not some career politician's self interest.
It's about electing people who lead by example and get results.
That's why we launched the Veterans Charity Challenge, and why we're donating 5% of every dollar we raise to help veterans and families in need.
Together we can send the message that our district is ready to move forward, and beyond the politics of personal ambition exemplified by Sen. McClintock and John Doolittle.
P.S.Click here to donate today and help us raise $100 for every mile Senator Tom is going to have to drive to get from Southern California to our district.
(This is the story of the week here in California, and deserves front and center attention on Calitics today. Updated with a YouTube of the press conference and a transcript of some of Perata’s remarks. – promoted by Robert in Monterey)
The headline, State Democrats determined to raise taxes, is kind of ridiculous, but the meat of the story indicates that Democratic leaders are drawing a line in the sand.
Democratic legislative leaders declared this morning that they are prepared to delay the state budget this year if that’s what it takes to get tax increases, which they called the only reasonable solution to California’s multibillion-dollar shortfall.
“This is going to be the fight of a lifetime,” Senate leader Don Perata (D-Oakland) declared at a news conference on the steps of a Sacramento high school that faces teacher layoffs and bigger classes under the governor’s proposed budget, which closes the deficit with spending cuts, borrowing and deferrals.
“We are not going to be going anywhere this summer,” he said, referring to the annual midyear process of trying to agree on a budget by the July 1 start of the new fiscal year. “I told everybody that wants to go to the Democratic [National] Convention, … TiVo it. That is close as you are going to get.”
Perata drew his line in the sand while standing with his successor as Senate chief, Democrat Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento, and other Democratic senators and school leaders. Perata said the governor’s proposal to cut school spending by 10% is unacceptable, and Democrats will reject any budget that includes less for education next year than this year.
There was a big press conference with a union coalition and the LAUSD today that essentially had the same purpose. The Democrats are going to use this proposed slash to the education budget – with which will impact almost every county in the state – to demand a sensible resolution to our broken revenue structure. Here’s Perata’s message:
Asked how Democrats propose to make up the difference, Perata said: “Raise taxes. That clear enough? Raise taxes.”
Given the state’s dire finances, he said, “no one is going to tell me . . . the average Californian would not be willing to pay pennies on the dollar more for an education system . . . that is worth what we believe California is about.”
The second statement is exactly the way to play this. California is worth paying for. This state deserves a better education system than it’s getting, a better health care system than it’s getting, better infrastructure than it’s getting. Because of the broken revenue model, we can’t even fund the landmark global warming law that got the Governor on the cover of all those magazines. Paying for this state to have the society everyone generally wants is a patriotic act. That’s exactly the frame the Democrats are using.
There’s a hint of a “go-for-broke” strategy here, which I believe is sped up by the transition in the leadership. We’ve needed to have this fight for 20 years. Despite legislative majorities, the conservatives have been leading the way on fiscal issues for far too long. It’s time to have this conversation once and for all, out in the open so that every Californian knows what’s going on. Let’s put on our helmets. This is going to be a long, tough slog.
UPDATE: From an Education Coalition press release:
Today a local coalition of concerned parents and educators held a press conference to discuss the real impact on local schools of the Governor’s proposed $4.8 billion cut to education funding, including more than $1.3 billion in projected in cuts to Los Angeles County schools. They called upon members of the Legislature to uphold Prop. 98, the minimum school funding guarantee, and reject the draconian proposed cuts to schools and students.
“Schools in Los Angeles are striving to meet the needs of a diverse student population while working to improve student achievement,” said LAUSD Superintendent David L. Brewer III. “Our state’s leaders cannot continue to cut back on students’ education, without expecting to undermine our state’s most valuable resource and shortchanging California’s future.”
The proposed cuts are the equivalent of cutting more than $24,000 per classroom.
They’re planning on running ads about this, too.
UPDATE 2 [Robert]: Some of Perata’s remarks are transcribed below:
Perata: Well it’s not enough. He’s cut about 5 billion and he’s only half way there. We’re looking at everything including the tax breaks. The governor recanted a day later so I don’t think he’s there yet. Got snapped at by the Republicans and went to the right corner. We want to fund education consistent with the need. First thing got to do and Tom McClintock says when in a hole got to stop digging. We’re in a deep hole. I will settle for being eye level with street.
Q: How are you not going to cut the school classrooms?
[Robert: this is the best part of Perata’s remarks, IMO]
P: Raise taxes, is that clear enough. Raise taxes. No one is going to tell me what’s at stake that average Californian wouldn’t be willing to pay pennies on the dollars more for an educational system here that is worth what we believe what California about. Let’s face it sending more people to prison and paying $60,000 a year because we don’t have enough opportunities for kids when younger . We’re backwards. It’s not going to get any better if keep doing this. I don’t care if it is a temporary tax increase, a long term tax increase, the longer we stop talking about the need to have more revenues and say that’s a nice anticeptic phrase for raising taxes the longer we are going to be here. And I tell you we’re not going home, we’re staying here, we are committed, if the Reeps can hang out last year for 30 days to undue the state budget we will do no less to make sure we will preserve the one institution that is the cornerstone of democracy. If we believe it have to show we believe it.
Q: What taxes, cuts?
P: Hard enough for people to come to grips with saying the words. Now we are wet and you can’t get more wet so we are going to do what we have to do. We are going to have to make cuts but we are not going to make cuts out of the classroom. There’s a lot of services Californians want that if you put that next to classroom education pales in comparison so they will be put on the table…And say let’s eliminate these things because we can’t afford them….the Governor thought he would try that with parks, that didn’t last too long, lasted about an hour. There are other things we do around here people don’t know about we are going to have to stop doing them. Make hard choices. But Savaging 10 percent of the school budget is not a hard choice it’s no choice at all. Not going to make that choice.
Q: What can schools count on?:
P: That this is fight of a lifetime. Not going anywhere. Democratic Convention. Told them Tivo it, close as you are going to get. Dems in 90’s hung out until October and election year. We won and we won seats. [Robert: this likely refers to the 1992 budget fight with Pete Wilson, which dragged into October. Interestingly 1992 was a very Democratic year at the ballot box, just as 2008 is expected to be.]
Q: What types of taxes, temporary?
P: Two things have to consider, temporary is, we love sunseting things around here. We don’t have the best record for the way we spend people’s money. So maybe temporary better. We may want to do more allow local districts like this one to have more flexibility, more opportunities to go to their own parents, own voters have kind of schools we used to have before Proposition 13. Before Prop 13 school districts’ board members would decide what kind of budget they wanted to reflect their students and set the tax rate. While here ought to be thorough look at everything.
What people seem to like best is a sales tax or raising taxes on others.
