Daily Archives: April 22, 2008

Budget

Recession Update: Record-Setting!

Yes, it’s a new record!

Sinking home values and the collapse of flimsy mortgages sent a record number of California homes into the foreclosure process in the first three months of this year, a real estate information service reported today.

Default notices — the first stage of foreclosure — were sent to owners of 110,000 California homes from January to March, about 1% of the homes in the state, according to La Jolla-based DataQuick Information Systems. Default notices were up 143% from the same quarter a year ago.

Most California homeowners in default are now eventually forfeiting their properties to lenders. Only about 32% of those receiving default notices prevent foreclosure by refinancing or selling their property to pay off their mortgages, DataQuick reported. A year ago, 52% of those in default were able to avoid foreclosure.

If you read between the lines here, the implication is that around 70,000 families are in the process of losing their homes.  In the first quarter 47,000 additional families had their homes repossessed, which is a 400% year-over-year increase.

This is hundreds of thousands of people, and it’s getting to be a significant percentage of the state’s population.  And the federal government is dragging their feet looking for a solution.  And the state can do little beyond stopgap measures.

This is why the budget projections are ballooning.

Uncategorized

Rockridge Closing — Why Building Progressive Infrastructure Matters So Much

Dave Johnson, Speak Out California

On the same day that Barack Obama raised one million dollars in one minute for his campaign George Lakoff’s Rockridge Institute announced that they will be closing their doors.

In the comments at the OpenLeft blog post, The Rockridge Era Ends, Paul Rosenberg wrote,

As If We Needed Any More Proof That Democrats STILL Don’t Get It!

This is really terrible news–not just because of the loss of Rockridge, as if that wasn’t bad enough, but because it shows so clearly that there is NO recognition of the need to build progressive infrastructure.

Just look at how many millions have been raised by the Presidential campaigns this cycle.  And just a tiny fraction of it could have not just kept Rockridge afloat, but DOUBLED it in size.  …

I want to say this about that:

Donating a dollar to a progressive infrastructure organization like Speak Out California today is like giving ten dollars to EACH progressive candidate in every local, state and nation race this November, two years later, and every election following.

Let me explain what I mean.  Progressive infrastructure organizations like Speak Out California and Commonweal Institute and information outlets like California Progress Report and Calitics are working to help the public understand and appreciate what progressives are about.  By explaining the benefits of a progressive approach they help build public acceptance of and demand for progressive policies and candidates — across the board.  As more people understand why progressive solutions benefit them more than conservative proposals, they develop a lasting positive identification with the progressive “brand.”  Then later, during the election cycle, they vote for progressive candidates — across the board.

This is how the conservatives have been so successful.  They work year-round to convince people to identify as conservatives.  (You’ve probably complained or heard people complain that that have managed to turn “liberal” into a bad word in people’s minds.)  When election time comes around it’s as though all that their candidates have to do is point at the opponent and shout “liberal” to win.  They ride a wave of nationally-advanced propaganda convincing people to support “tort reform” or “tax relief.”  This has been going on for years, so at election time everything is laid out for them on a silver platter, with the public prepared and primed.

Progressive candidates, on the other hand, are generally on their own, starting from scratch for each election.  Their general campaign begins in the late summer or fall, they have to decide what “issues” to run on, they have to develop a message from scratch, by themselves, and then they have to reach their voters from scratch.  And they have to do all of this on their own in just a few months.  No wonder conservatives, even with their awful “you’re on your own” philosophy, have managed to do so well and gain so much traction.

This is why building up a national progressive advocacy infrastructure would leverage all of those campaign donations and help us build a sustainable progressive majority.  A few dollars to progressive advocacy organizations on any given TODAY builds long-term support for every progressive candidate on any given TOMORROW.  It provides leverage — lowering the need for massive election-cycle funding.

The demise of Rockridge Institute demonstrates that the Democratic Party donor base hasn’t yet gotten that message.  Instead, masses of money have to be raised for candidates at the very last minute — for example a million dollars in one minute, the day before the big Pennsylvania primary.  And almost all of that money will just literally go up in the air to pay for TV ads that leave nothing behind to show for the money.  They don’t build the brand, they don’t tell people about the benefits of progressive ideas, they don’t help other candidates…  But almost nothing for the Rockridges and Speak Out California’s and Commonweal Institutes.

Please think about donating to help build a solid progressive infrastructure of organizations that will work year-round to help the public understand why progressive policies and candidate are better for them than the conservative solutions.  This will help build a sustainable progressive majority in America.  Please help these organizations grow.  It’s about building a progressive ecosystem that benefits all of us.

Click through to Speak Out California

Uncategorized

Enough With the Handwringing

11 Comments

We haven’t delved into the latest voter registration report from the Secretary of State’s office, which shows that Democrats are strengthening in the state while the rise of delcine-to-state voters is completely coming out of the hide of Republicans.  By November it’s clear that we’ll have well over 7 million Democratic voters in California, and possibly under 5 million Republicans.

This isn’t going away and can’t be redistricted into balance.  There is exactly one Republican (thanks, jsw) Congressional or legislative lawmaker in the ENTIRE Bay Area (Guy Houston in AD-15, and that seat will be strongly challenged in November).  Pray tell how redistricting will somehow “remedy” that.  Nationally, the trend toward Democrats is occurring in suburban and exurban districts.  These are the only remaining Republican strongholds, and they’re dissipating.  With the sucky job picture in the state – worse than Pennsylvania or Ohio – and the rise in citizen activism to protest disaster capitalism, this wave is not likely to subside.

The Democratic leadership in Sacramento is trying to cement their legacy in vastly different ways, one with edge-tinkering and the other by demanding that the entire legislature works for change.  The next two elections will use the current legislative district lines regardless of what happens with any redistricting initiative.  This is the moment to capitalize on the trashed GOP brand in the state and across the nation, and capture a 2/3 majority and the governor’s mansion, changing the vote threshold and allowing the legislature to actually govern.

This starts with the SD-12 recall, where Simon Salinas will run a strong campaign and needs to be supported.  It’s a referendum on the GOP.  The fretting about some random initiative is pointless compared to getting a 2/3 majority today.

Uncategorized

SD-03: Joe Nation’s Environmental Problems

With today being Earth Day, I thought readers would enjoy reading my article about Joe Nation’s environmental record.

Ex-Marin Assemblyman and State Senate candidate Joe Nation is working to stay above the fray between Mark Leno and Carole Migden.  Despite his moderate record on other issues, he speaks earnestly about the environment and climate change.  But why hasn’t the Sierra Club endorsed him, and why is he not popular with environmentalists in Marin County?  It may be because when Nation was on the Marin Municipal Water District in the late 1990’s, he proposed bottling water from Mount Tamalpais, voted for a pipeline to siphon water from the Russian River and supported widening the US-101.  Today, Nation is a climate change consultant for ENVIRON, where he primarily advises Coca-Cola – whose environmental record has spawned protests across the globe.  Now Coca-Cola runs a corporate green-washing campaign that pushes “water stewardship” – which is code for privatization of a natural resource, while running bottled water plants in California.

As a newcomer to the very contentious Senate race (and a relative unknown to San Francisco voters), Nation has campaigned on his environmental record in the Assembly – and touts the work that he currently does on climate change.  “I would not be in this race if it wasn’t for that issue,” he said at a candidates’ forum last month.  Therefore, it is helpful to hear what local environmentalists think about him.

The Sierra Club has not endorsed in the race – which is interesting, because Joe Nation has made climate change such a top priority in his campaign.  Nobody on their Board would talk to me on the record (the Club is still deciding what to do), but it was clear from learning about Nation’s history in Marin that he is not well liked among many environmentalists.

After losing an open Congressional race in June 1992, Nation was elected later that year to the Marin Municipal Water District – a very powerful stepping stone for higher office.  Three of Marin’s last 4 Assembly members have served on that board, including Nation – who ran for an open Assembly seat in March 2000.  The Sierra Club did not endorse him in that race, and when two progressive opponents split their votes, Nation eked out a victory.

In 1999, Nation angered environmentalists by sponsoring a proposal that the Marin Water District sell bottled water from Mount Tamalpais.  Activists opposed it because draining water from Redwood Creek (which flows from Mount Tam) would endanger a salmon run.  At a time when Marin residents were being asked to conserve water, they opposed having the District sell off such natural resources.  Bottled water, they said, is also a very wasteful practice – as it consumes large amounts of plastic.

After much community opposition, the Marin Water District shot down Nation’s idea.  Shortly afterwards, they passed an ordinance prohibiting such a proposal in the future.

In 2000, the Marin Water District (with Nation’s support) agreed to move ahead with plans for a new multimillion-dollar pipeline to siphon water from the Russian River.  Again, environmentalists opposed the idea – as it involved extracting natural resources when they urged the need for more conservation.  As he ran for the Assembly that same year, Nation supported widening the US-101 to relax gridlock – a reason why the Sierra Club did not endorse him (as their chosen candidate opposed it.)

Nation did get support from the League of Conservation Voters in his initial Assembly bid – prompting environmental legend David Brower to write an angry press release.  “Industry and pro-development politicians grow increasingly skilled at adopting green camouflage,” said Brower, as he accused Nation of being “the candidate favored by developers.”  At the time, Nation replied that he was a “realist” – not a “purist.”

In the Assembly, Nation’s voting record was solidly pro-environment (the Sierra Club endorsed him when he faced token opposition) – but some complained that he was more of a follower than a leader.  His signature bill was AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed – which capped carbon emissions, but most environmentalists agree is not enough.

Since leaving the Assembly in 2006 (after a second bid for Congress against Lynn Woolsey), Nation now works as a Climate Change Consultant for ENVIRON — which has a global staff of over 1,000 and helps corporations become more environmentally sound.  Most of Nation’s consulting work at ENVIRON, he says, is on behalf of Coca-Cola.

“We do a range of work for Coke,” he said, “and have lots of very smart people who count carbon molecules and do carbon footprints.  We’ll go in their facility and measure their energy use (CO2), and look at ways on how they can reduce it.  We give them recommendations on alternative technologies that they can use.  My expertise is in the area of off-sets and carbon emissions trading.”

Coca-Cola does not have the best environmental record.   The company manages bottling plants throughout the world – and its water-pumping in India has drained the wells of the country’s most impoverished villages.  Students on over 20 college campuses in the U.S. and Great Britain have succeeded in getting their schools to divest from Coke due to its repeated violations of environmental law.

Of course, Nation can argue that he’s helping Coke fix its environmental problems.  But even the company’s “green” improvements are under scrutiny.  “Coca-Cola has done a lot to greenwash their corporate image,” said Nick Guroff of Corporate Accountability, a non-profit organization that monitors corporate violations.  On its website, Coca-Cola features an environmental report that touts its “water stewardship” plan – which critics say is really just an effort to privatize a natural resource that people need in order to survive.

Coca-Cola says it’s doing what it can to reduce waste – as it makes less wasteful plastic bottles and plans to build a plant that will recycle 100 million pounds of plastic every year.  But activists – including Rev. Renee Rico from San Anselmo in Marin County – aren’t buying it.  “Don’t make the [water] bottles in the first place, and you won’t have to waste even more energy to recycle them,” she said.

An online campaign by Corporate Accountability is currently underway – urging consumers to drink tap water rather than buy bottled water from Coca-Cola and other companies.  The group recently convinced S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom to ban plastic water bottles in all City government buildings.

Nation’s work for Coca-Cola is consistent with his advocacy for bottled water nine years ago on the Marin Municipal Water District.  Today, bottled water is a growing industry – and Coke runs a plant near Mount Shasta despite opposition from the environmental community.  It would help Coke to have someone like Joe Nation in the California State Senate – especially a Democrat who touts his green credentials.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a private citizen, Paul Hogarth has endorsed Mark Leno for State Senate. He plays no role for the Leno campaign, nor did anyone on that campaign assist in  this story.

California, Economy

Global Food Shortages Come to California

5 Comments

I was wondering when this was going to happen (h/t to Suburban Guerilla):

Major retailers in New York, in areas of New England, and on the West Coast are limiting purchases of flour, rice, and cooking oil as demand outstrips supply. There are also anecdotal reports that some consumers are hoarding grain stocks.

At a Costco Warehouse in Mountain View, Calif., yesterday, shoppers grew frustrated and occasionally uttered expletives as they searched in vain for the large sacks of rice they usually buy.

“Where’s the rice?” an engineer from Palo Alto, Calif., Yajun Liu, said. “You should be able to buy something like rice. This is ridiculous.”

The bustling store in the heart of Silicon Valley usually sells four or five varieties of rice to a clientele largely of Asian immigrants, but only about half a pallet of Indian-grown Basmati rice was left in stock. A 20-pound bag was selling for $15.99.

“You can’t eat this every day. It’s too heavy,” a health care executive from Palo Alto, Sharad Patel, grumbled as his son loaded two sacks of the Basmati into a shopping cart. “We only need one bag but I’m getting two in case a neighbor or a friend needs it,” the elder man said.

The Patels seemed headed for disappointment, as most Costco members were being allowed to buy only one bag. Moments earlier, a clerk dropped two sacks back on the stack after taking them from another customer who tried to exceed the one-bag cap.

“Due to the limited availability of rice, we are limiting rice purchases based on your prior purchasing history,” a sign above the dwindling supply said.

Part of the issue is that in the face of rice shortages, Asian nations have begun rationing exports. California, one of the nation’s leading rice-growing states, has seen problems with rice production, especially with seawater intrusion in rice paddies in the Delta.

And although the article focuses on rice, it also notes problems with grains. Grain shortages have hit the rest of the globe hard, causing riots in Haiti and severe bread shortages in Egypt. Americans used to believe themselves to be immune to such “third world” disasters but our sense of privilege isn’t going to save us. Climate change, the idiotic biofuels policy, and financial speculation in commodities are all contributing to the shortages, and it’s only a matter of time before Californians face growing problems with the food supply.

Because agricultural policy is largely in federal hands it’s not clear what we can do at the state level to help mitigate this worsening problem. Advocacy around the national Farm Bill – still under debate in the US Senate – might be the best approach. Increased attention to levee repair in the Delta would be useful too.

Perhaps the best thing we can do here in California, though, is encourage local food production and consumption networks. Most towns now have farmers markets, and many folks (like me) subscribe to a local CSA. The next step would be to encourage community gardens for food production. It worked in World War II with the victory gardens and would be useful today – but will require state support, especially to secure rights to land on which to grow crops, and to override idiotic limits on gardens in various planned suburbs.

This is also ultimately an argument against the bad Prop 98 – cities need to be able to use eminent domain to take vacant or abandoned land and turn it over to the public for local food production. Prop 98 would severely limit the ability of cities to do this.

Sure, we may think Costco’s abundance is limitless, but we’re finding out that it is not, and we had better start preparing to do without it.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Blog Roundup, Budget

Odds & Ends April 22

The eyes of the nation are upon Pennsylvaia, but there's still a lot going on right here in California.  So, here are a few stories of note:

  • (SacBee) Remember that big plan to privatize the lottery that was going to bring in billions upon billions of dollars? Well, it turns out that potential bidders don't really like the way our lottery works, and want us to make some changes before they'll pony up. Of course, that requires a vote of the people, so it might be a while before Arnold's billions come rolling in.
  • (LA Times) A federal court is hearing a class action lawsuit against the VA alleging gross incompetence. Over 120 veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan commit suicide, while the backlog for services grows.  Good to see that the Bush Administartion supports the troops on TV, too bad they don't do it in real life.
  • (SF Chron) The fight between CNA and SEIU continues in court today, with SEIU arguing that CNA's restraining order violated the rules against SLAPP suits, thus infringing their first amendment rights.
  • The board (CCCC) that regulates salaries for elected officials meets at 10AM in Van Nuys. A note to you legislators out there, don't expect big pay hikes today. (h/t CapAlert)
  • Arnold has now dropped over $1.25 million into the redistricting initiative, and is hosting a fundraiser tonight. And, of course, he convinced his good friend “independent” Michael Bloomberg to drop $250K in as well. And oh, by the way, he still clings to the notion that McCain can win California. I think he should have a chat with Maria.
  • (SR P-D) Gas is expensive. Thanks for the insight there. I couldn't tell that by looking out the window, I need the media to confirm it for me. Incidentally, McCain's Dole-retread idea of pausing the gas tax would be disastrous for our infrastructure needs, and it's not clear that the oil companies would even pass the savings on to the consumer. Obama calls him out on it.

What else is going on?

Coachella Valley, education

(CA80AD) People Powered Assembly Candidate

4 Comments

The 80th Assembly District in California is one of the best pickup opportunities this year, and we have just the transformational candidate to make it happen. Manuel Pérez is a hands-on, no bs, Harvard-educated community organizer from the heart of the Coachella Valley, a direct, unapologetic progressive with experience in building a just and healthy society.  He won’t promise loyalty in Sacramento in exchange for support, he’s getting his mojo the time-honored way:  walking precincts, meeting with more union review committees, and he just participated in a podcast on Calitics.  

I’ve been posting on this race since last May, and have yet to compile the best quotes nor list the endorsers adequately.  Let’s kick it off with the  California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:

Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:

Manuel Perez knows first hand the struggles of working families and will be a champion of healthcare, education and creating new jobs in the State Assembly.

Dancing Perezes

What Folks Are Saying About Manuel Perez, Democrat for the 80th Assembly District:

(Update, CA Federation of Teachers’ just chimed in)

Marty Hittelman, President of the California Federation of Teachers:

Manuel Perez is a real education champion – he’s a former classroom teacher, earned a Masters in Education from Harvard University and serves as a school board member helping struggling schools to succeed. Manuel fights every day to give kids the educational tools they  need to succeed in life and in the workplace.

Steve Clute, Former California State Assemblyman:

(Perez) has the heart – corazón – and passion to truly represent the people.

Fred W. Lowe, Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer for Laborers’ Local 777:

He is a strong and clear voice for the communities he serves, and is willing to fight for fundamental rights; fair pay; fair treatment and justice; protections and security for our families; access to health care; better education and better working conditions for the residents of the 80th Assembly District.

Harvard Graduate School of Education, announcing Manuel Perez as a recipient of the HGSE Alumni of Color Achievement Award:  

Mr. Perez is being recognized for his work, which addresses issues of race and education in ways that offer new frames of thought and practice, and evidences a commitment to promote meaningful strategies to affect change and to improve educational opportunities for people of color.

David Dayen, blogger at Calitics, Hullaballoo, and The Right’s Field:

This is someone who hasn’t waited around for higher office to make a difference in his community; he’s rolled up his sleeves and dived in.  As a director for the Borrego Community Health Foundation, he’s created one of the first diabetes resource centers in the desert region and has delivered health services to underserved regions.  As a researcher for the California Institute for Rural Studies, he put together a groundbreaking study on women’s reproductive health issues in Imperial County, where women have little opportunities and resources to manage their own health.  With Promotores, he’s part of a group of community-based leaders devoted to teaching  about health issues and making sure people in the community get the facts about programs at their disposal.  As a schoolteacher he started his school’s first ever Chicano Studies program designed to allow students to learn history from their perspective.  With the Eastern Coachella Valley Social Change Collaborative, he identified farm workers living in the area and trained them to be community leaders themselves.  Believe it or not, he’s only 34.

…

Manuel Pérez is not only a perfect fit for this district, providing an opportunity to retake this seat and get us closer to 2/3.  He represents a new generation of Hispanic-Americans who are dedicated to working for change from the bottom up.  He would bring to Sacramento a unique set of skills, as someone who can build coalitions and train a group of leaders far into the future.  There are primary candidates on the Democratic side for this seat who appear to be very nice.  I don’t think anyone combines the résumé and the hope for the future more than Manuel Pérez.

Joe Murillo, President,  Coachella Valley Unified School District Board:

(Perez) likes to see improvement. He is not a man for the status quo.

Partial List of Endorsers:



California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO

United Domestic Workers

California Teachers Association

SEIU State Council

Laborers (LIUNA)

California Nurses Association

AFSCME

California Medical Association

Former Congressman Esteban Torres, 34th Congressional District, California

Congressman John Conyers Jr. 14th Congressional District, Michigan

Congressman Raul Grijalva, 7th Congressional District, Arizona

State Senator Gloria Romero

Joe Coto, Assemblyman and Latino Caucus Chair

Steve Clute, Former Assemblyman and 80th AD Candidate, 2006

Tony Cardenas, Former Assemblyman, current Councilman City of Los Angeles

Paul M. Rasso, Candidate, 64th Assembly District

Victor Carrillo, Supervisor, Imperial County Board of Supervisors

Ray Castillo, Former Mayor, El Centro

Joel Perez, Former School Board Trustee, El Centro Elementary School District

George Nava, Council Member, City of Brawley

Chuck Valenzuela, Former Mayor and Treasurer, Brawley

Joe Murillo, President, Coachella Valley Unified School Board

Eduardo Garcia, Mayor, City of Coachella

Steve Hernandez, Council member, City of Coachella

Tim Brown, City Manager, City of Coachella

Steve Brown, Assistant City Manager, City of Coachella

Carlos Campos, Attorney, City of Coachella

Jackie Lopez, Executive Director, City of Coachella Chamber of Commerce

Carlos Ortega, City Manager, City of Palm Desert

Mike Wilson, Councilmember, City of Indio

Maria Machuca, Former Chair, Mecca Community Council

Sal Alejo, Member, Mecca Community Council

Jennifer Baker, President, California Latino School Board Association

Alice A. Huffman, President, California State Conf. of the NAACP

Fred Lowe, Union Rep., LIUNA, Laborer’s Local 777

Jose Mejia, Director, Laborer’s International Union of North America

Antonio Tirado, Chairman of the Imperial County Democratic Central Committee

Michael Rosenfeld, Former President, CVTA

Richard Razo, Union Rep, CVTA

Bonifacio Hernandez, Union Rep, CVTA

Dale Wissman, Union Rep, CSEA

Don MacCready, CSEA

Joe Mota, Former Director, UFW

Juan Carlos Sanchez, DSCC Delegate & Community Organizer

Beth Caskie,  local Democratic activist / DSCC Delegate for the 80th AD

Ruben Gonzalez, President, Coachella Valley Voters League

Inez Cardoza Freeman, Volunteer of the Year, Democrats of the Desert

Amalia DeAztlan, Delegate, National Democratic Committee

Jose Carmona, Principal, Verde Group, Sacramento, CA

Rafael Aguilera, Principal, Verde Group, Sacramento, CA

Orson Aguilar, Associate Director, Greenlining Institute, Berkeley, CA

Hector Preciado, Health Policy Director, Greenlining Institute, Berkeley, CA.

Eric Reyes, Executive Director, Institute for Social and Economic Justice, Brawley

Jesse G. Enriquez, President, Hidalgo Society, Brawley

Lupe Quintero, CRLA Lawyer, Imperial

Jesus Perez, Former Candidate for Superintendent of Public Schools, Imperial County

Arturo Encinas, President, MAPA, Calexico

Bill Hodge, Union Rep, Calexico

Beatriz O. Zayas, Mana member at-large, Calexico

Danny Santillan, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Morris Reisin, President, Chamber of Commerce, Calexico

Ruben Gonzales, Former President, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo, El Centro

Rodolfo Pinon, Grassroots Organizer, Blythe

Dan Figueroa, Grassroots Organizer, Blythe

Mike Figueroa, Grassroots Organizer, Blythe

Alfredo Figueroa, Grassroots Organizer, Blythe

Rosalio Plata, Businessman, Cathedral City

Fred Deharo, Former President, Coachella Valley Rotary, La Quinta

Maria Deharo, Director RCOE Migrant Education Program, La Quinta

Gilberto Salcedo, CEO Que Crees Magazine, La Quinta

Greg Cervantes, Tribal Issues Consultant, La Quinta

Martin Martinez, CVMACC Co-Founder & Community Activist, Indio

Nadia Villagran, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, Indio

Mike Walsh, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, Indio

Roger Larranaga, Azteca America, Indio

Claudia Castorena, Co-Founder Martha’s Kitchen, Indio

Gloria Gomez, Co-Founder Martha’s Kitchen, Indio

Carlos Gonzalez, Grassroots Organizer, Indio

David Skinner, Educator, Indio

Chris Cuahape, Grassroots Organizer, Indio

Tony Rubio, Grassroots Organizer, Indio

Edgar Zendejas, Grassroots Organizer, Coachella

Lee Espinoza, Executive Director, Coachella Boxing Club, Coachella

Sal Velasquez, Community Activist, Coachella

Mirna Flores, Executive Director, CET, Coachella

Maria Arcos, Executive Director, Senior Center, Coachella

Elvira Murillo, Executive Director, Vocation and Rehabilitation, Coachella

Abby Figueroa, Community Activist, Coachella

Juanita Godwin, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club, Coachella

Emmanuel Martinez, Grassroots Organizer, Coachella

Jose Luis Huerta, Grassroots Organizer, Oasis

Anna Lisa Vargas, Grassroots Organizer, Thermal

Gina Chapa, Grassroots Organizer, Thermal

Roberto Palomino, Director, El Informador Newspaper, Indio

Leopoldo Trevino Sr. CEO, El Independiente Newspaper, Indio

Joe Beaver, Community Activist, Palm Springs

Freddy Nuñez, Grassroots Organizer, El Centro

Ron Amidon, Candidate for School Board, Calipatria

Dr. Gustavo Galindo, Professor & Grassroots Organizer, Calipatria

Antonio Ramos, Retired Probation and Grassroots Organizer, El Centro

Juan Arvizu, Probation Officer, Heber

Pete Salgado, Probation Officer, El Centro

Joe Arambula, Probation Officer, El Centro

Guillermo Niebla, Retired Probation Officer, El Centro

Alex Vasquez, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Jerry Grijalva, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Gilbert Grijalva, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Arturo Rioseco, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Margarita DeNecochea, Community Volunteer, Calexico

Guillermo Niebla, Community Activist, Calexico

Johnny Romo, Community Activist, Calexico

Last but not least, there’s a Binder poll out on the race, and it puts Manuel Perez as the strongest Democrat against the Republican opponent, beating him in the general.  May we see that come true this November.

Photobucket

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Budget, education

Students Protest Higher Ed Cuts in Sacramento and LA

4 Comments

Over 2,000 students from UC, CSU, and community colleges gathered today for a protest march from Raley Field in West Sac to the State Capitol to denounce Arnold’s planned higher ed cuts, and 200 more gathered at Arnold’s LA office. The protest is getting big coverage – it’s the featured article at SFGate this evening:

“Kick us out, we will vote you out,” the crowd in Sacramento chanted as they walked along a bridge crossing Highway 99, through downtown and onto the Capital steps. The line of students, which included hundreds from the Bay Area, stretched six blocks, and dozens of motorists honked in support as they drove by.

The fears, voiced again and again, where that if Schwarzenegger’s proposed funding cuts go through, students will end up paying more to attend, while reduced services and a narrower selection of classes….

One student from San Jose State, 24-year-old Joel Bridgeman, said raising the money for college was so tough that he was homeless – couch surfing – for about a year as he went to school.

“Most of the people who work in this building probably either went to CSU, UC or (community college), but as the next generation comes up they are looking for the easy solution,” he said. “They are looking for what is going to get them re-elected. They say our voice doesn’t matter, but I have a message for them… we are here to demand our chance.”

I especially liked that framing – it’s worth noting that millions of Californians owe their current wealth and prosperity to investments in higher ed made in earlier decades. Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, whose office helped organize the march, mentioned that both Ronald Reagan and Pete Wilson increased taxes to prevent destructive education cuts.

Of course, Arnold has no interest in doing the same – he’s a true believer in Milton Friedman’s shock doctrine theories – but lying to the public seems right up his alley:

Aaron McLear, a spokesman for Schwarzenegger, said higher education continues to be high priority for the governor, but considering the scope of the budget deficit, it would be unfair to cut certain items in the state budget while leaving others untouched.

“The governor is as frustrated as the students are that he has to make these cuts. He doesn’t want to make these cuts,” McLear said.

Students weren’t buying it.

And they’re right to not buy it, because it’s a lie. Arnold doesn’t have to make these cuts at all. If he hadn’t cut the VLF and insisted on borrowing our way out of the last big deficit we’d have a much smaller hole now. And if he supported closing the tax loopholes he could potentially raise $12 billion, which would prevent budget cuts that would destroy California’s economic competitiveness.

Organizers of the protest tell me this is just the beginning of activism on the budget. This is the fight of this generation’s lives, and the longer the Yacht Party refuses to accept reality and the need to find new revenues, the more activism we’re going to be seeing from young Californians.

Uncategorized

Please Help Mary Pallant in CA-24!

1 Comment

(While all eyes are on Pennsylvania today, let’s not forget about the Congress that will ensure the effectiveness of our next Democratic President. – promoted by Dante Atkins (hekebolos))

As most of us progressives sit on pins and needles helplessly watchful on the eve of the eagerly awaited Pennsylvania primary, I want to ask you for your help.  I have often written in support of Barack Obama, but tonight there is little I or other Obama supporters can do to help Obama.

What we can do, however, is support Democrats looking to fulfill Obama’s vision: expand the map, compete everywhere against the Republicans, stand unabashedly for Democratic values, and win in races that we should win, but that no one thought possible before.

Here in Ventura where I live, we have just such a Democrat, and her name is Mary Pallant.

I’ve had several meetings with Mary over the last few years, and she has impressed me greatly with her tough-mindedness, can-do spirit, strong knowledge of the issues, organizational prowess, and personal charisma and charm.  I believe in Mary and her ability to win this seat–and now that I live and work in Ventura County, I’ve signed on to be the Netroots Coordinator for her campaign.

Why should you help Mary?  Because she can win.  Seriously.  California’s 24th district has long been in the hands of the Republican party, largely because of its suburban and exurban demographics, as well as because of the presence of strongly conservative Simi Valley.  But the district has been changing for a long time now–and it’s poised to flip Blue this year.  As David Dayen noted in his House Races Roundup over at Calitics, the 24th district is now on the map for Democrats as it should be.  This beautiful district that lies between Henry Waxman’s solidly Democratic district in Los Angeles’ westside and Lois Kapp’s solidly Democratic district in Santa Barbara should by all rights be in Democratic hands this year–and with your help we can make that happen.

Turnout numbers in this district are off the charts as voters get increasingly sick of Republican rule.  This R+5 district saw Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by almost 4,000 votes earlier this year, partly due to the historic primary race.  Nor is there any indication that the Democratic turnout will do anything but increase in November as we approach this historic general election.  I was quoted extensively in the local paper the Ventura County Reporter in its story on Ventura County’s flip from red to blue in overall voter registration–one of the major reasons for Tom McClintock’s departure to the supposedly friendlier climes of CA-04 to take on Charlie Brown.

Republican Elton Gallegly, meanwhile, is a do-nothing, nearly invisible Rubberstamp Republican who has essentially ignored the needs of the district for years while supporting the unpopular Occupation of Iraq, Bush’s unpopular tax cuts for the wealthy.

This is a district that is ripe for the picking for a strong, progressive Democrat.  And Mary Pallant is just such a Democrat.  Strongly opposed to the Occupation of Iraq and a supporter of the Responsible Plan, an avid supporter of universal healthcare and creating a green economy, and a supporter of efforts to  end corruption in government, she is just the sort of progressive Democrat we need.  That’s why the Progressive Democrats of America have given Mary their enthusiastic support:

   On the evening of March 3, PDA’s Ventura County Chapter overwhelmingly endorsed Mary Pallant as candidate for California’s 24th Congressional District. Mary stated “I am proud to call myself a Progressive Democrat, proud of this endorsement and very proud to be a part of this national movement.”   [snip]

   Mary, who has also been endorsed by PDLA and PD/Santa Monica Mountains, has said, “I am proud to call myself a Progressive Democrat without being an apologist for a tradition consistent with the life, the works and the convictions of John F. Kennedy, Franklin Roosevelt, and Senator Paul Wellstone.” Another fan is PDA’s own Jeff Cohen, who stated, “I’ve rarely come across a community leader as talented, knowledgeable and public-spirited as Mary Pallant. I heartily endorse Mary Pallant for Congress.”

So why isn’t Mary on the Blue Majority or Red to Blue lists?  Why hasn’t most of the progressive community heard more about this exciting, totally winnable race?  It isn’t for lack of local media attention: Mary has been writing op-eds in local newspapers and appeared on local radio stations.  It all comes down to one simple word: fundraising.  Mary has raised significant funds so far, but not as much as some of the higher-rolling progressive candidates like Darcy Burner and Charlie Brown.  Without more money, Mary will have greater difficulty getting taken seriously by the national media, the DCCC, and Democrats nationally.  Without the attention, she will find herself shorthanded against the sleepwalking Gallegly in November.

That’s why I’m making this shameless push now for donations to Mary’s campaign.  Please help me turn my red district Blue this year and switch out one more rubberstamp Republican for a strong progressive Democrat in a very winnable district.

Help us put this race on the map: help Mary Pallant today.  And in November, we’ll finally be able to put this district where it belongs: squarely in the Democratic column.

Uncategorized

Calitics Radio Live @ 3:30 Today

As has become our custom for the last few weeks, we are going to have yet another Calitics radio show today at 3:30. We have taped interviews from Rick Gonzales, the final interview from AD-80, and from AD-10 candidate Alyson Huber. I quite enjoyed the chance to talk to both of these outstanding candidates.

So, check out the Calitics Show today…or later via the podcast here or at iTunes.