2010 A New Direction
Over at Pam’s House Blend they are discussing how 2010 may be fatal for the LGBT community and their fellow progressive allies because the Republican Party is most likely going to get the majority in both houses of congress. It is understandable that there is some fear in the possibility that President Obama miscalculated his mandate to the American People and that the American People did not realize that Obama was one of the most left winged presidents in American history.
However Republicans will need to tread carefully in 2010 and not go overboard like the Democratic Party has in their four years of power in congress. The American voter is not afraid to make a correction and go back to the Democratic Party if the Republicans spend worse than President Obama and decide to submit to the theocratic branch of the conservative movement with upcoming legislation.
The middle is where its at in politics. I hope we can change the status quo in 2010 and I hope my individual rights and liberties do not get infringed with the change of leadership in congress.
We Deserve Better
Ontario residents deserve better. We do deserve representatives that do not have the perception of being bought by outside interests such as Councilman Wapner, just because we do not have the thousands of dollars to stuff in their campaign accounts does not mean that we should be ignored.
Our city does deserve growth and opportunity, but at what price should this growth and opportunity provide for our city? It is not about NIMBYism, it is about being pragmatic to business and our residents which make our city work. Since the advent of Proposition 13 we are reliant on sales tax revenue to fund our local government, we should learn to work with the concerns of the residents so businesses would be able to navigate the hoops of public relations.
It has been almost a decade since Target, Toys R’Us and Food 4 Less left the parcel on Fifth and Mountain and if Wal-Mart wants to stop being an absentee landlord they need to negotiate with the residents and clean the blight they purchased.
Unlike the Chino Spectrum, this planned Super Center is near a residential district. Wal-Mart needs to make concessions in order for their project to happen. If concessions such as forgoing the 24/7 nature of the operation can not happen, then Wal-Mart needs to sell off the property so we can find a tenant that would fit well with the neighborhood.
From Norma: 61st District Woman of the Year Nominations Needed.
Assembly member Norma J. Torres
Seeks Nominations for
Women of Achievement
Please nominate a deserving woman!
To celebrate Women’s History Month in March, Assembly member Norma J. Torres is seeking community input for nominations for outstanding women to be recognized as Women of Achievement of the 61st Assembly District.
Nominees must live, volunteer or work in the 61st Assembly District, and not be a public elected official.
Assembly member Torres is also seeking nominations for outstanding female students to be honored as Emerging Young Women Leaders of the 61st Assembly District.
Nominees must live in the 61st Assembly District and be K-12 students, 18 years of age or younger.
If you would like to nominate a woman or female student who is making a difference in our community, please share their story and submit a nomination form.
INFORMATION DETAILS:
The women who are selected will receive special recognition in the district. One woman will receive the title of "Woman of the Year" and be invited to a recognition event to be held at the State Capitol in March.
Click here for a nomination form.
Assemblymember Norma J. Torres
Attn: 2010 Women’s Awards
822 North Euclid, Suite A Ontario, CA 91762
Telephone (909) 984-7741\Fax (909) 984-6695
The 61st Assembly District includes the cities of
Chino, Montclair, Ontario and Pomona.
More Reflections on Wal-Mart in Ontario, California
For the last decade the former parcel on Fifth and Mountain in Ontario has been an eyesore since their former tenants left. Ontario residents have been fighting Wal-Mart who bought the property and the city government to prevent a Super Wal-Mart from being built in their neighborhood.
I could understand that the city of Ontario would like to have more sales tax revenue and more jobs flowing thru, but it seems the city only listens to big money flowing thru its leader’s campaign accounts. There should be an amicable compromise between the residents and the property owner to make things happen.
I would suggest solutions on restricting the hours of operation where it would only be 24/7 during the winter season as a start to make an olive branch to the residents who surround the parcel. A regular sized wal-mart with a micro-market such as their Marketside concept or a Wal-Mart neighborhood market a few blocks a way would have more public support.
I think honestly there should be a referendum with people who live in a 1.5 mile radius in Ontario to decide if the project should be there. If not, Wal-Mart should be refunded the purchase of their land plus 15% and find a new business or residential complex that would be least offensive.
Tom Campbell Brought to you by Jihadi?
I read an earlier column last year about Tom Campbell that made me not pleased when hearing the unflattering details about the candidate for US Senate for California when he was running for governor. Debbie Schlussel explained that Tom Campbell is one of the biggest supporters of Islamic radicals in his years in congress and even in his post electoral career.
I could overlook these transgressions if he was running for governor because foreign policy is barely relevant except for dealing with Mexico. However Tom is running for US Senate and these issues have strong implications.
How would Tom deal with Hamas, Al Queda and other radical groups if he became elected? Sadly Tom would be more liberal than Boxer on this issue.
It becomes very frustrating deciding who would receive my vote for the Republican nomination for US Senate.
I could understand that Republicans want to be inclusive and reach out to different constituencies, but shouldn’t the politicos screen who their donors and staff members are before it blows up in the media?
I think its time for Mr.Campbell to get some education and realize that you can still be pro-Arab, but just make sure you don’t hire any shrills who are part of or advocate for CAIR, Al Queda or Hamas.
Even though President Bush used the ban the same sex marriage issue as a wedge issue in 2004 because of Karl Rove. I still voted for him because I knew President Bush would have kept America safe in a time of crisis. However if Tom is embarrassed to confront this issue, I will be happy to take my vote elsewhere even to the Libertarian Party if I have to, since I refuse to vote for Boxer. Even though Chuck DeVore will treat me like a second class American, at least I will be safe under Chuck DeVore’s watch.
Mending Proposition 215
Proposition 215 was anarchy in the state of California when it dealt with marijuana for medical purposes. Californians are a compassionate bunch, but it seems like we are taken in for a ride.
Cities are making it harder for new dispensaries to be established and making it harder for dispensaries to continue to be in business even though California law makes it legal for these businesses to be in business and the federal government is taking a restrained focus on this issue.
Problem is these businesses are operating in a grey area due to federal law, but they do serve an important purpose for many ill people suffering from cancer, aids and other ailments. People do not want these businesses near schools, residential districts and they should be spaced out from each other so there would not be cannibalizing from each other. The opponents of proposition 215 believe that crime and other negative externalities would happen if we are permissive about allowing dispensaries in our neighborhoods, but with more checks and balances this would reduce.
There is a problem where district attorneys and other opponents believe according to law you should not be allowed to sell pot, but when you have an establishment you need to cover your expenses. There should be a reasonable cost that the establishment could ask for each client and no more than that amount to make sure people are not exploiting or trying to offer the marijuana as a pure business operation.
Compassionate use of marijuana should not be given to people just because their stomachs are upset or just because someone has a headache. There should be a strict list of medical conditions that would be eligible for the drug to cut down on the fraud and abuse. If medication that people are taking is honestly cutting down a patient’s appetite, then they should legitimately have the drug so they can have the munchies.
I know NORML or the police unions would not be happy with my ideas, but there should be a middle ground in repairing Proposition 215.
Tactless Universities and Alumni
Face it the economy is in trouble and public universities are struggling hard. Alumni associations are trying their best to help support their schools with scholarships and supplemental funding.
My sister has over 20 thousand in school debt with a good amount of personal debt and she is still trying to find a decent job to pay off her debts from school and the alumni association is asking her for a 100.00 donation.
Just because someone graduates from a school means that they produced someone who is raking in the bank. There are case examples such as the part time retail worker with a BA in social sciences or a BA in art, the MA in education struggling to find a job as an educator due to the cut backs.
Maybe if the schools want to improve the donations from their alumni they need to offer better career guidance services even if the students do not actively seek it out. Maybe require a 1 unit course to be completed by the end of the student’s junior year to explore how will the student find a career that is related to their field of study.
I do not believe in being a miser even though I am not making much money. I carry my alumni’s association affinity debit card. At least I know a buck or two is given to the school and I am at least doing something.
Maybe if my sister’s school joined up with Bank of America for their debit cards, she could at least do her part despite the tough times many of us are facing right now.
I do not envy the students who get hired to do cold calls to boost the funding of the schools we have attended, but the administrators should figure out how to boost funds without having to harass the underemployed who are suffering just as bad.
Pugno’s Delusions
Recently Andy Pugno of the proponents of the recently passed Proposition 8 wrote an essay for FlashReport which had this statement.
"Really? So let me get this straight. If you lose a campaign because you can’t persuade the majority of people to rally behind you, then you have a constitutional right to nullify the votes of the majority."
Just because voters pass an initiative does not mean its right. Would the defense stand for Proposition 14 in 1964 legalizing housing discrimination? It was passed by the votes of the majority. Just because it’s passed by the majority does not mean the law is a good law.
So mob rule is the law of the day?
What about checks and balances?
The tyranny of the majority is not permitted to trample the rights of the minority.
Anyways, I thought a learned man such as Mr.Pugno would have read stuff like Federalist Number 10.
I thought it was the left wing who believed that they should teach the youth and people to be ignorant. When the traditionalists want to brainwash the people by thinking "How come the courts can overturn a law passed by California voters, it’s just not fair" That is why we have checks and balances just like how McCain Feingold got repealed. Or Proposition 14 (1964) repealed.
Liberty Fund sells loads of useful books that could teach the general public about politics, history and philosophy and it’s not the GLSEN Reading List! Liberty, Order, and Justice: An Introduction to the Constitutional Principles of American Government by James McClellan is a first start for our friends at ProtectMarriage, if I had the money I would send Andy Pugno and Frank Schubert a copy since they forgot about Federalist Number 10.
A Fresh Start For San Bernardino County Sheriff
Paul Schrader is running for County Sheriff which has an election in June. We need a new direction for our county and he seems to be it.
Help Keep the Inland Valley Accounted For
Cross posted to http://iepolitics.com
People of the Inland Valley you have a mission entrusted by the voters of California to help draw the district lines after the Census of 2010. All it takes is visiting the official Citizens Redistricting Commission website and finishing your application by February 12th of this year. There are some exclusions for membership on this panel such as if you donated an excessive amount of money, if you are an elected office holder or ran for office in the last ten years, if you are an immediate family member of a candidate or office holder that would exclude you as well. Also this panel wants voters who voted in the last 2 out of 3 general elections and you have needed to hold your partisan affiliation for the last 5 years.
After reading the excluded list and you find yourself eligible fill out the application and after the first stage is done auditors will be going through the applications to find 120 of the brightest minds to be considered for the next stage for consideration. 40 Republicans, 40 Democrats, 40 of neither major party these individuals will be interviewed and cut down in half for the final selection process. With the final selection process happening around the fall of this year the 4 legislative leaders in both houses will be eliminating 2 people of their choice, then the State Auditor will randomly select 3 Republicans, 3 Democrats and 2 Other Party members, then those eight will chose another 6 from the pool and we get our final redistricting commission which would start in the beginning of 2011.
Many interest groups are counting on their members to submit their applications so there would be fair representation. Right now it’s a 75/25 split between men and women and Riverside and San Bernardino Counties are underrepresented at the time. The redistricting of 2001 was horrible where communities of interest were neglected in the interest of gerrymandering for partisan advantage. Now we the people have the chance to make districts that are competitive like 1991’s remap while learning from the mistakes of 2001.
The official website is http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov
