Our Turn: Fix the Highway 1 commute hassle

Jim Wagner and Mark Stechbart
(The Hawaiian Shirt Twins.)

How many times have we all been stuck in the Highway 1 traffic jam that extends to Linda Mar beach or up past the golf course? Miss a plane flight, a business appointment or are your kids late for school? We all have lost a lot of time stuck on Rt. 1.

That's going to change after years of talk. CalTrans and the City of Pacifica are moving forward on fixing the Rt. 1 traffic jam that exists between Fassler Avenue and Vallemar.

Fixing this bottleneck will save everyone in Linda Mar, Pedro Point and Rockaway 10-15 minutes each day, 78 hours a year. Almost two full weeks.

Could you use those two weeks you waste sitting on Highway 1 doing something else? We think a Rt. 1 solution makes good sense.

The major cause of the traffic delay are cars turning off Rt. 1 into Vallemar and turning off Fassler onto Highway 1. That stops the north-south traffic flow.

These unacceptable delays block emergency vehicles and increases the commute hassle factor.

The solution is common sense: widen the road appropriately and double the turning lanes, particularly into Vallemar, so twice the number of cars can turn per signal.

We must remember, we are the traffic! Every single one of us in a single occupant car is the traffic. Add to this mix Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Montara, Moss Beach and the expected increase when the tunnel is finished in two years.

The funding is set up to pay for this because Pacifica voters increased the sales tax we all pay 1/2 cent in 2004. 
You might remember the Nov. 2004 Measure A one-half cent sales tax campaign.

Then-Mayor Jim Vreeland was featured on the campaign mailer as well as 100 percent of the Council (Vreeland, Lancelle, Digre, DeJarnatt, Hinton) endorsing infrastructure improvements that included highway improvements.

In Pacifica, Measure A passed overwhelmingly 11,767 vs. 3,831 (75 percent majority) indicating the voters really expect progress to be made.

The rest of the funding comes from gas taxes (which we all pay for) and federal dollars.

The Pacifica School District (elementary district) passed a resolution supporting a Rt. 1 fix.

If Pacifica does not use this money, it will be given to some other town. Pacifica voters' expectations of traffic improvements will be ignored.

Some opponents to fixing Rt. 1 have decided we should all ride buses. Or change the start time for Vallemar and Cabrillo schools. Or make parents pay for school buses for those schools. We think that is unfair and unreasonable.

We have the Measure A money. We all pay the 1/2 cent sales tax add-on. We use it, or we lose it. The traffic is coming anyway. We're not going to stop the completion of the tunnels.

The same cooperative problem solving that enabled the Devil's Slide tunnels to be built can be applied to Rt. 1.

Fixing Rt. 1 will offer us the same traffic and safety improvements as did the tunnel. As a community we cannot allow any more delay to a reasonable Rt. 1 solution.

This not the time to throw up our hands. We must reach an agreement because the entire southern part of Pacifica plus South Coast residents are counting on us.

Without a Rt. 1 solution, we all will remain stuck in traffic, creating pollution, delays and missed appointments. Emergency vehicles will remain delayed. Nerves frazzled. A bad situation all around.

Do you want to save those 78 hours currently spent sitting in traffic? Reduce the hassle factor? Support the Rt 1 traffic solution today.

Posted by Steve Sinai

Classy Dems

Fox News Shocked Van Jones Called Republicans "Assholes" -- In February (Video)

Jason Linkins

jason@huffingtonpost.com | HuffPost Reporting

Oooh, boy! I know what Glenn Beck is going to be talking about on his Fox News Comedy Cavalcade today! The Hill reports that a video of White House green jobs adviser Van Jones is rocketing around the internet today, in which Jones, appearing at a lecture at the Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative, refers to Republicans -- and himself -- as "assholes."

The incident occurred last February, before Jones joined the administration and at a time when the battle to get the stimulus package passed was ongoing. A questioner asked Jones why it was that the Republicans were so successful at getting measures passed in the Senate without supermajorities, while the Democrats were hamstrung with 58 votes of their own. Jones short answer: "Well...they're assholes." The larger point being: sometimes it takes an asshole to get things done.

Read more (including video)...

Submitted by Lois Rogan

Classy Conservatives

Tea party protesters hurl racial insults at Georgia Rep. John Lewis


By William Douglas

McClatchy Newspapers

Demonstrators outside the U.S. Capitol, angry over the proposed health-care reform bill, shouted "nigger" Saturday at U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia congressman and civil rights icon who was nearly beaten to death during an Alabama march in the 1960s.

The protesters also shouted obscenities at other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, lawmakers said.

Capitol Police escorted the members of Congress into the Capitol after the confrontation. At least one demonstrator was reported arrested.

"They were shouting, sort of harassing," Lewis said. "But, it's OK, I've faced this before. It reminded me of the '60s. It was a lot of downright hate and anger and people being downright mean."

Lewis said he was leaving the Cannon office building across from the Capitol when protesters shouted "Kill the bill, kill the bill," Lewis said.

"I said 'I'm for the bill, I support the bill, I'm voting for the bill,' " Lewis said.

A colleague who was accompanying Lewis said people in the crowd responded by saying "Kill the bill, then the n-word."

"It surprised me that people are so mean and we can't engage in a civil dialogue and debate," Lewis said.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., said he was a few yards behind Lewis and distinctly heard "nigger."

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/20/1826455/tea-party-protesters-hurl-racial.html#ixzz0ilmxhgV8

Posted by Steve Sinai

Dog Park update

By Bev Kingsbury

Many are asking, "What is happening with the dog park?" Rest assured that the process is alive and well and progressing, albeit slowly. P.O.O.C.H. has been busy. They have raised several thousand dollars toward the construction of the park, have officially been recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and are finalizing plans for their next big fundraiser, The 2nd Annual Dog Daze of Pacifica. This year, the event is co-sponsored by Pacifica Parks, Beaches & Recreation. Save the date, Saturday, May 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Frontierland Park.

For more information, please contact PacificaPooch@yahoo.com, or go to P.O.O.C.H.'s web site at www.PacificaPooch.com. The schedule of events will be posted; watch for more information.

Original Pacifica Tribune Story

Highway 1 closing for Devil's Slide work

Michael Cabanatuan Saturday, March 20, 2010

Highway 1 will close Wednesday for emergency work at Devil's Slide, which is living up to its name with several recent rockslides.

Caltrans will close the highway between Linda Mar Boulevard in Pacifica and the former Chart House restaurant near Gray Whale Cove between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. so that workers can stabilize the hillside in the area where the new Devil's Slide bridges have been built just north of where tunnels are being excavated.

While the highway - the only direct link between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay - is closed, Caltrans crews will also pick up litter, trim vegetation, clear drains and make other minor repairs, said spokesman Bob Haus.

Drivers heading north are advised to take Highway 92 east, Interstate 280 north, Highway 35 north, then turn left on Sharp Park Road. Drivers headed south from Pacifica are advised to go north to Sharp Park Road, turn east, take Highway 35 south to I-280 south, and Highway 92 west.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/20/BALC1CI82O.DTL#ixzz0ikCIKv91

Culled out

Public input period for federal fishery strategy has ended

By Robert Montgomery
ESPNOutdoors.com

The Obama administration has ended public input for a federal strategy that could prohibit U.S. citizens from fishing some of the nation's oceans, coastal areas, Great Lakes, and even inland waters.

This announcement comes at the time when the situation supposedly still is "fluid" and the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force still hasn't issued its final report on zoning uses of these waters.

Fishing industry insiders, who have negotiated for months with officials at the Council on Environmental Quality and bureaucrats on the task force, had grown concerned that the public input would not be taken into account.

"When the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) completed their successful campaign to convince the Ontario government to end one of the best scientifically managed big-game hunts in North America (spring bear), the results of their agenda had severe economic impacts on small family businesses and the tourism economy of communities across northern and central Ontario," said Phil Morlock, director of environmental affairs for Shimano.

Read more...

Submitted by Kathleen Rogan

 

Coast Guard searched waters near Pacifica Pier for missing swimmer

Search called off, swimmer presumed dead

KGO video report

PACIFICA, CA (KGO) -- A swimmer is presumed dead after disappearing in the waters off the Pacifica Pier on Thursday and the U.S. Coast Guard said his companions took off and waited hours before contacting authorities.

Two men and a woman were on the beach around 2:30 p.m. One of the men went into the water and started struggling in the waves.

His companions left, but witnesses saw what happened and called police.

"We saw this guy getting into the water and in about two to three waves, he just got knocked down really bad and we could see that something was going to happen because he was basically not getting out of there," said witness Mihail Matikov.

The woman finally called the coast guard 3.5 hours later and identified the victim.
Crews searched some 45-square miles of water using a helicopter and a boat, but they have now suspended the search.

The Coast Guard isn't releasing the victim's name until his family is notified.

(Copyright ©2010 KGO-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

Posted by Steve Sinai

3rd District Supervisorial Candidate's Forum to Replace US Congressmember Speier's Forced Cancellation of Speech to Pacifica Democrats on Saturday March 20, 2010

Hello everyone,

Well, Jackie Speier's Washington D.C. office and I were in contact twice daily for the past week, hoping against hope that we could carry out the Congressmember's planned presentation to the Pacifica Democrats, Coastside Democrats, and the Daly City/Colma Democratic Club, but, unfortunately, it wasn't to be...for today Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, announced that the highly controversial Healthcare Reform Bill will be voted on this Sunday night, March 21st, which canceled all travel for the Congressional members this coming weekend.

So, my friends, we are now moving to "Plan B"...We are hosting a Candidate's Forum for the 3rd District Supervisorial Candidates. We have two of the three Supervisorial candidates presenting to us at our morning breakfast meeting this Saturday: April Vargas and Michael Stogner, both Democrats. The remaining third Supervisorial District candidate, Don Horsley, will present to us in April.

The response to our invitation to join us for Congressmember Speier's presentation was overwhelming...And since, so very, very many of you have already RSVP'd for the Speier presentation, I must now ask that once again (for the Chef's sake), and, in view of the change of program, that you either email or call me to let me know as soon as possible if, indeed, you will be still be joining us to listen to the 3rd District Candidates Forum and participate in a "Q and A" with our 3rd District Supervisorial candidates this Saturday morning, March 20th, or not...

I am currently in the process of re-scheduling Jackie's presentation to the Democratic Club groups and will let you know shortly of the new date, but meanwhile, we would immensely enjoy the pleasure of your company this Saturday morning in the Sharp Park Golf Course's Banquet Room (Francisco and Sharp Park Blvds) in Pacifica to view and participate in our Candidates Forum.

Come listen to the candidates and let them listen to you about what you want in your next San Mateo County Supervisor!

Doors open at 9:00 a.m. Seating is between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Meeting will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. Your choices remain the same for meals: Full Breakfast $12; Continental Breakfast $6; Coffee only $3...

Again, please contact me with either your "regrets" or your "re-confirmed RSVP", so that we may give an accurate headcount to the Chef.

Barbara Arietta
President
Pacifica Democrats
415-246-0775
email: barietta@hotmail.com

Kathleen's Links

Google executives called YouTube a 'pirate' site -

By Mike Swift

mswift@mercurynews.com

Google executives referred to YouTube as a 'rogue enabler of content theft,' whose 'business model is completely sustained by pirated content' before going ahead with the 2006 purchase of the video site, according to documents unsealed today in Viacom's $1 billion copyright lawsuit against Google.
 View Full Story

Facebook surpasses Google in weekly traffic -

By Sue McAllister

smcallister@mercurynews.com

For the first time last week, Facebook traffic passed Google's, although the margin was thin. View Full Story

"Is it time to sell google stock?"

In the belly of the mountain at Devils Slide -

By Julia Scott

jscott@bayareanewsgroup.com

Every day, workers at Devils Slide get 5 feet of rock closer to conquering the longest, most-ambitious tunnel project in modern California highway history. They detonate dangerous explosives, mine rock, lay rebar, spray concrete '” over and over again, in rotating shifts 24 hours a day.
 View Full Story

"I wonder if they are offering field trips."

Letters to the Editor: March 17, 2010 -

Pacifica Tribune

Letters to the Editor: March 17, 2010 View Full Story

"I think Joan Weidman just nailed the problem with our education system. She said, "Education is more than teaching reading, writing, math, science and history from books in a classroom. The most powerful learning happens when academics become relevant to the real world. On March 4, the lesson for the day was democracy.'As a mother I prefer schools teaching our children just reading writing, math, science, REAL History, not Howard Zinn History . I will do the rest. Thank You. Now ,get to teaching what is relevant Weidman or you're out.'"

California State University wants remedial course completion prior to freshman year -

By Lisa M. Krieger

lkrieger@mercurynews.com

In an effort to better prepare students for college-level work, the California State University approved a controversial policy on Wednesday that requires academically needy students to take remedial coursework before they start their freshman year. The new 'Early Start' policy, which will start in 2012, demands that students who fail Math and English proficiency tests take CSU-sponsored courses at high school, online or in summer school. View Full Story

"Here is something nice. No one will be left behind.  (clap clap clap)"


Submitted by Kathleen Rogan

Chamber hosting 'Meet and Greet' with Recology of the Coast - March 18, 5-7 PM

The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring a "meet and greet" with the community's new refuse removal service, Recology of the Coast, this Thursday, March 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Nick's Restaurant, Rockaway Beach. This no-host event will allow businesses to ask how the new company will meet their recycling and trash removal needs now and in the future. Recology of the Coast is a subsidiary of Recology, Inc., and has been organized and doing business under the current legal structure since 1988.

Recology, Inc. is a pioneer in the recycling industry, with a recycling history that began in the 1920s, and now is one of the largest recyclers in Northern California. Recology was one of the first companies in Northern California to implement curbside recycling in the 1970s and household hazardous waste collection for residential customers.

Recology employs a workforce of approximately 2,100. About 1,500 employees are under union contract.

Submitted by Kathleen Rogan

Consequences of kissing in public in Dubai

Off to jail for one month. We probably don't have to worry about that on this blog.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/18/dubai.expats/index.html?hpt=C1

A British couple faces up to a month in jail for kissing in public in the Persian Gulf emirate of Dubai, where economic success brings foreign workers whose behaviors test traditional values.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Dogs and the development of human society

New finding puts origins of dogs in Middle East
Genetic research tracks back 15,000 years to the Middle East.

From the article...Dog domestication and human settlement occurred at the same time, some 15,000 years ago, raising the possibility that dogs may have had a complex impact on the structure of human society. Dogs could have been the sentries that let hunter gatherers settle without fear of surprise attack. They may also have been the first major item of inherited wealth, preceding cattle, and so could have laid the foundations for the gradations of wealth and social hierarchy that differentiated settled groups from the egalitarianism of their hunter-gatherer predecessors. Notions of inheritance and ownership, Dr. Driscoll said, may have been prompted by the first dogs to permeate human society, laying an unexpected track from wolf to wealth. More... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/science/18dogs.html?pagewanted=2&ref=science

Posted by Kathy Meeh

New protections set for Twain's jumping frog

1.6 million acres set aside in California for the red-legged frog

By TRACIE CONE (AP) 

FRESNO, Calif. — Mark Twain celebrated them, hungry gold prospectors ate them, and rural landowners cursed the name of the California red-legged frog.

Now, the jumping frog, whose dwindling numbers empowered anti-sprawl advocates while thwarting farmers, ranchers and developers across California, is getting an established habitat to protect its recovery.

Maybe.

Biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hope their third attempt at rules protecting the threatened and iconic amphibian will stick when they are published Wednesday in the Federal Register.

One previous attempt was overturned by a lawsuit, another by malfeasance.

"It's not common to do this three times, but this is an icon species for California," spokesman Al Donner said.

The California red-legged frog got its first break on the road to fame in 1867, when Twain published "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" in newspapers and a collection of short stories.

Even then, prospectors and city dwellers were hunting the frogs by the millions for their meaty legs.

Fast forward to 1996, when much of the famous jumper's range had been paved and plowed under, leaving suitable habitat in just 28 of 58 California counties and landing the frog on the federal threatened species list.

Finding a protective balance since then has been a biological tightrope act. Its potential presence has been used by environmental advocates to rein in everything from pesticide spraying to golf course development at Pebble Beach. San Francisco Bay Area housing tracts have also been halted.

Read more...

Posted by Steve Sinai

Peace of Pacifica

Jeremy Schnitker, Sf.BlockShopper.com

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Tim Chon admits now he had a few preconceived notions about Pacifica before he moved there. And they were false.

For starters, when he and his wife would venture down Pacific Coast Highway to the community 15 miles south of San Francisco to go surfing, they saw a fraction of the town and assumed that was all there was to it.

"For the longest time, we just thought of Pacifica as the area by the junction of Highway 1, Interstate 280 and Highway 35," he said. "But after living here, we realized it's more like three different coastal communities stitched together vertically down the coast."

In August, Chon and his family bought a home on the southern end of town, in a neighborhood called Linda Mar. Soon thereafter, another of his notions was debunked: that Pacifica is forever mired in the clouds.

"We were under the impression that this place always had fog," he said. "While we still get some down where we live, it's usually just in the late afternoons, and by the evening it burns off again."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/14/REBD1CE09I.DTL#ixzz0iQd5VSq0

Posted by Steve Sinai

Public Comment Period for State Route 1 Project Extended

  San Mateo County Transportation Authority website

Based on input received from the public, the comment period for the proposed State Route 1/Calera Parkway Project is being extended indefinitely while the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, the City of Pacifica and the California Department of Transportation schedule and hold additional public outreach on the project. The original deadline for comments was Friday, March 19. The dates of the additional outreach will be announced in the near future.
The purpose of the project is to reduce congestion on the segment of State Route 1/Calera Parkway in the City of Pacifica. The segment extends approximately 2,300 feet north of Reina De Mar Avenue to approximately 1,500 feet south of Fassler and Rockaway Beach avenues.
View the preliminary draft project documents here:

• Conceptual Highway 1 Sections – Base (PDF, 73KB)
• Conceptual Highway 1 Sections – Landscape (PDF, 104KB)
• Conceptual Plan – Landscape (PDF, 5.82MB)
• Conceptual Plan – Exhibit (PDF, 5.81MB)

For more information please contact the Transportation Authority at 650-508-6283 or smcta_feedback@smcta.com
3/16/2010 - crd
Media Contact: Christine Dunn, 650-508-6238 

Posted by Steve Sinai 

Hearing set for DUI legislation as St. Patrick’s Day approaches

AB 1601 would authorize judges to repeal licenses for drivers who receive 3 or more DUIs

Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, announced that his DUI legislation, Assembly Bill 1601, will receive its first hearing in the Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, March 23.  Prior to the hearing, Hill will host a press conference where he will be joined by witnesses who have lost family members to DUI drivers. 

“St. Patrick’s Day is a time for celebration but it’s also important to celebrate responsibly,” said Hill.  “I commend the CHP and law enforcement officials for hosting DUI checkpoints throughout the state to ensure public safety.”

AB 1601 makes two revisions to state law making it more difficult for repeat drunk drivers to get their license back. 

Ø      Repeals the arbitrary 10-year look back period state law requires the DMV to use on repeat DUI offenders.

Ø      Authorizes judges to repeal licenses for drivers who receive 3 or more DUIs.

Current law only tracks the last ten years of a driver’s record.  After ten years the driver’s record is erased and any new DUIs are treated like their first, even if they’ve had prior DUI convictions.  Under current law, DUI drivers have to hurt or kill someone for their license to be revoked.

“This legislation will make it more difficult for repeat DUI offenders to get their license back,” said Assemblymember Hill.  “Lawmakers need to protect innocent bystanders from individuals with multiple DUI convictions who are likely to re-offend.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that one-third of the annual 1.5 million DUI arrests are repeat offenders. 

The statewide statistics on repeat DUI offenders are staggering – according to 2008 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration there are over 310,000 people in California with three or more DUI convictions.

In 2008, over 1,000 people were killed by drunk drivers in California and another 28,000 were injured. 

What:              AB 1601 press conference followed by committee hearing

When:             9:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Where:            State Capitol, Room 317, Sacramento, CA 95814

Contact:          Nate Solov  916-768-1378 cell

Nate Solov

Office of Assemblymember Jerry Hill

916-319-2019 (P)

916-319-2119 (F)

http://www.assembly.ca.gov/hill

Posted by Steve Sinai

Buying green permits being mean

By Amber Hildebrandt, CBC News

Kermit the Frog may have got it only half right when he said "it ain't easy being green." A new study suggests that when you're green, it ain't easy being nice, either.

The study, conducted by two University of Toronto professors, found that consumers who bought environmentally friendly products were less likely to be altruistic and more likely to cheat and steal.

"Purchasing green products may produce the counterintuitive effect of licensing asocial and unethical behaviours by establishing moral credentials," the study found. "Thus, green products do not necessarily make us better people."

Titled Do Green Products Make Us Better People?, the study by Nina Mazar and Chen-Bo Zhong is set to be published in the next issue of the Psychological Science journal.

Mazar, a self-described green consumer, says she was surprised that buying green products appeared to sanction bad behaviours. "It went beyond just how nice people were to others," she told CBC News.

The professors found that participants who bought green products in the study were also more likely to lie and steal money.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/03/16/green-study-toronto.html#ixzz0iO88XMIJ

Update: Vegan Terrorist Attack

Posted by Steve Sinai

Pacifica's THE THRASHERS play Whisky a Go Go

Nine year-old rockers THE THRASHERS have been friends since their pre-school days in the small town of Pacifica, California. Upon first look, one would assume these boys are no different than any other fourth graders… until they hit the stage. Masterminded by twin brothers Nick and Chris Rigling, the band can throw out original riffs comparable to any modern day headlining rock band.

The band, which consists of Nick (bass) and Chris Rigling (drums), Geddy Franco (lead guitar), Charley Rutledge (rhythm guitar), and Brandon Lurie (keys), has begun making waves in the Bay Area and has already sold out Broadway Studios, garnering more sales of merchandise and EPs than most acts triple their age.

THE THRASHERS will be the Whisky A Go Go's youngest performers to take stage on March 20 at 7:00 p.m.

"Nine", THE THRASHERS' independent debut release, in association with San Francisco Records, is available now via all major online retailers.

For more information, visit TheThrashersRock.com.

Posted by Steve "The Thrashers Fanboy" Sinai

For the love of the Irish...Happy St. Patrick's Day 2010!

Irish culture and customs http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/
Music Celebration http://www.st-patricks-day.com/
Parade in Shanghai video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMk7j1C4Q-U

How old is old?

Three Irishmen, Paddy, Sean and Seamus, were stumbling home from the pub late one night and found themselves on the road that led past the old graveyard.

“Come have a look over here,” says Paddy, “It's Michael O' Grady's grave, God bless his soul. He lived to the ripe old age of 87.”

“That's nothing,” says Sean, “here's one named Patrick O' Toole. It says here that he was 95 when he died.”

Just then, Seamus yells out, “Good God, here's a fella that got to be 145!”

“What was his name?” asks Paddy.

Seamus stumbles around a bit, awkwardly lights a match to see what else is written on the stone marker and exclaims: “Miles, from Dublin.”

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Stephen Frank's California Political News and Views

Frank Discussion Not Lecture For Conservatives www.capoliticalnews.com

Democrats Want Foreigners Counted as if They Were Here Legally March 16, 2010, 11:11 AM Democrats love criminals. So much so, they want to count foreigners, who sneak into our country, steal our tax dollars and violate numerous laws. "Cedillo emphatically described the critical nature of everyone in California being counted in order for the state to fully realize  the benefits of the census, in a safe, secure way that doesn’t place them in peril. Cedillo continued saying that this is the first administration since Nixon to simultaneously count people in the census and enforce the immigration laws, making it a conflict and putting undocumented workers in peril of deportation for participating in the census." Democrat Senator Cedillo wants law breakers to be comfortable. he does not want them to worry about being caught or sent back. Gil Cedillo is a conspirator in the violation of our laws.  That should disqualify him from holding office--but to Democrats, promoting criminals is a badge of honor. Makes you proud of the Democrat Party, huh? Read More... "Confidential" License Plates: Loophole About to End? March 16, 2010, 11:08 AM Did you know that folks with "confidential“ license plates also get "get out of jail free treatment--they are not ticketed for driving violations. "How public employee unions are raiding treasuries, controlling our lives and bankrupting the nation (which you can buy here) that are more infuriating than the one about how one out of every 22 cars in California have special license plates that basically exempt their owners from traffic tickets. When an officer pulls over someone with one of these plates, the addresses are in a special database that alerts the officer that the driver is a government worker, or fellow police officer, or a family member of someone in law enforcement or government work, Plunder! author and all-around good chum Steven Greenhut wrote. The result is a de facto pass on many, if not most traffic laws by the drivers. Like the old Soviet Union , some people are more equal than others.  Time for this to end--in fact, did you know this even existed?  Government is theft--this is another example.  Honest citizens must obey the law--those who are "friends” of government get special treatment. Read More... CalStrs Needs TAX $$$ to Pay Retirees March 16, 2010, 11:05 AM The retirement fund for California teachers is $43 billion in debt.  In fact, it must now go to the Legislature for money to keep its payments going to retirees. "CalSTRS' $130-billion investment portfolio lost more than a quarter of its value in the recent recession. The projected shortfall at the state's second-largest public pension fund ballooned to $43 billion by last June. "There's no doubt about it -- we need to come up with a new financial plan," Ehnes said. The 97-year-old pension plan must ask the state Legislature, the governor and taxpayers for billions of dollars. Getting that money -- even with an expected massive lobbying campaign and a bruising political battle -- is no sure thing." Under the State Constitution the Legislature MUST give CalStrs the money.  Wonder where it will come from? Teachers are forced to give their pension money to government--we are all in trouble. Read More... State unable to gauge effectiveness of prison rehab March 16, 2010, 11:03 AM The purpose of prison is punishment. If rehabilitation occurs that is a plus. "The report also sheds light on another perennial problem in the state prison system: The CDCR has no department-wide system to assess the effectiveness of educational and other rehabilitation programs and thus no data on whether specific programs in California can actually cut recidivism. A September 2009 report by the state auditor made a similar point: while Corrections' budget for its academic and vocational programs totaled more than $208 million in fiscal year 2008-09, it confirmed that its system for accessing, processing, and tracking inmate educational data is extremely inadequate, and therefore it is unable to determine the success of its programs in reducing the chance that inmates will return to prison once they are released. Actually, this is a make work project, for the workers, not the prisoners--but also to make society feel good about sending criminals to prison. My guess is if you totally ended "rehabilitation" there would be no change in the recidivism rate. Time for the punishment of the criminals to resume and the punishment of the taxpayer to end. Read More... 'Ayatollah' Willie Brown wants a more moderate Legislature March 16, 2010, 11:00 AM The taxing columnist from the LA Times, George Skelton, calls Willie Brown a moderate for calling for "reform" in Sacramento . Wow, this San Francisco dictator is now a moderate.  What “moderate" reforms does he want? "The package includes many goodies long sought by Republicans: allowing one-time windfall revenue to be spent only for a one-time purpose. Establishing performance standards for state programs. Requiring a two-thirds majority vote for any fee that replaces a tax. Forcing a legislator who proposes spending more than $25 million to identify the funding source. Barring the state from raiding local property taxes or redevelopment funds. But Republican leaders balked at two provisions essential to Democrats. One would lower the Legislature's vote hurdle for budget passage from two-thirds to a simple majority, as it is in 47 states. The other provision would allow voters to approve a local sales tax increase with a majority vote." So, to Skelton higher taxes and making it easier for the State to go into debt is "reform". No, it is theft.  It is what is wrong with Sacramento --tax and spend and not caring about the results. To the Times, Brown and Skelton higher taxes and out of control spending made easier is "reform"  Do they think we are that stupid? "Who'd have ever thought? Willie Brown, product of a liberal San Francisco political machine, evolving into a moderate reformer." Oh,I now underdstand--this column is satire, a joke. Read More... Teachers Prepare For Pink Slips March 16, 2010, 10:57 AM Statewide, over 21,000 teachers received notices they MIGHT be terminated.  We do not know how many should be terminated for incompetence. Actually, every year thousands of teachers receive these notices,yet very few are actually terminated. Instead, this is a dance.  The "professional" educators scream the sky is falling.  Then they demand a parcel tax, a bond,more tax money.In Cupertino, the parents are trying to "raise "$3 million from the parents--educators are going door to door, with"parents" begging for $375 per child as a "donation" to the district to keep their teachers. These are sick people.  Maybe if teachers did not have to pay bribes to work, the costs would be lower. Maybe if the District did not steal the teachers pay and give it to a union (acting as a banker for a corrupt organization) the District would have more money.Maybe if bad teachers can be fired--without spending $500,000 per termination, the District would have money. Time for real parents, not those controlled emotionally by the District to take back public education from the special interests. What do you think? Read More... Great News!!! Elias: Slim chance for amnesty this year March 16, 2010, 10:55 AM Isn't this great.  Criminals will not be given amnesty this year.  On the other hand, government is refusing to stop the criminal activity, arrest or deport the criminals.  At least, criminal action will not be the cause of being given citizenship--this year. "If Democrats who once appeared united on health-care reform can't even pass a truncated version of that, there's not much chance they will produce immigration amnesty. There's nothing approaching unity on immigration reform because politicians well know that no matter how many requirements and fines they might impose on illegal immigrants seeking permanent legal status, there is opposition back home. Why would Democrats keep talking about amnesty and tough border and employment enforcement when they know it won't pass? Chances are it's because they've been promising reform (amnesty) to Latino voters so long and have reaped so many votes in the process any verbal backing off risks alienating this important voter bloc. Some call it pandering, but Democrats lack the votes to prevent a Senate filibuster on any immigration reform plan that involves amnesty, even with a different name." The bottom line: while Democrats support and promote criminals, they are afraid to openly vote to make criminal activity a criteria for citizenship. What we need to do is take the temptation away from them.  How?  By defeating them and taking away their Congressional voting rights. Read More... City Tries to Steal Traffic Fine $$ From State March 16, 2010, 10:52 AM This is great!!!  The city of Ontario has figured a way to steal money from a crook---the State of California . "Some cities have figured out a way to circumvent existing state law to divert traffic fines from state coffers into their own. Ontario should get its share of the action, suggested Councilman Alan Wapner. "We used to get a percentage of fines assessed, and now we are getting zero," Wapner said. "We are the ones writing the tickets, and we are not getting any revenue." Other cities have added the state's vehicle code to their municipal codes, Wapner explained. Police officers in those cities are able to write the traffic tickets as a violation of cities' municipal codes. "This way 100 percent of the fine comes back to the city," he said." For years the State has stolen traffic fine money--go through a Stop Sign and the State takes the money. This is a good sign--local responsibility.  The State is so far in deficit and debt, it needs every dime--even if it means bankrupting cities and counties. Maybe the State need financial counseling and adult leadership? Read More... Enviros Stop Wasteful "Green" Energy Transmission Line March 16, 2010, 10:50 AM We need energy.  We need to stop being dependent on Middle East oil.  Even BO says we need to create alternative energy sources. Yet, when we do, the Progressives work hard to kill the project. "The DWP submitted a right-of-way grant application to the U.S. Forest Service in 2007 for the project, designed to bring electricity generated by solar, geothermal, wind and nuclear power to Los Angeles from the southeastern California deserts and Arizona . Environmental and community groups were outraged by the DWP's plans to route high-voltage lines and 16-story towers through the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve north of Palm Springs, Pioneertown near Yucca Valley, Pipes Canyon Wilderness Preserve and a corner of the San Bernardino National Forest before linking with existing DWP power lines in Hesperia. Home to bighorn sheep and chuckwallas, the preserves are internationally recognized birding hot spots embroidered with trails and streams that run under canopies of willow and cottonwood trees." The Progressives can always find antecedent to create new energy sources.  This is just another example. Until we get the courage to tell them that people are more important than their "sensitivities" we will have high energy costs, continue to buy oil from others and have alack of alternative energy. Shame on us for allowing radicals to harm our families and kill our jobs. Read More... Tea Party Brings Energy, Change and Tumult to GOP March 15, 2010, 09:28 PM The start of 2009 saw the Republican Party in a state of self pity. We had lost the White House to a friend of crooks, terrorists and radicals.  The Democrats had overwhelming numbers in the House and Senate.  The GOP in-house Democrat, Arlen Specter, finally outed himself as a Democrat. Then around April 15, 2009 Democrats, Republicans, Independents and those who totally dropped out of the political system roared like lions--and the Tea Party movement was started.  By summer, no Democrat was self from the truth at their Town Hall meetings. The tide turned. Reminds me of 1979-80.  Rev. Falwell had the Moral Majority--and that was supposed to destroy the Republican Party. Instead, it helped elect Reagan as President and turned the Senate Republican. Then in 1988 Pat Robertson ran for President.  The fringe media, like the Times and Post declared the GOP dead.  Instead, the Robertson effort helped elect Bush as President. Progressives love to tell the Republican to steer clear of those who are not rich, work hard and support the Constitution. This is the true value of the Tea Party to the GOP:  "The Republicans for the last two decades have been a party whose litmus tests have been cultural issues, especially abortion. The tea partiers have helped to change their focus to issues of government overreach and spending. That may be a helpful pivot, given the emergence of a Millennial generation uncomfortable with crusading cultural conservatism. It's not clear whether the tea partiers' influence on Republicans will last as long as the antiwar cohort's imprint on Democrats. But their concern -- the fact that government spending is on a trajectory to increase far beyond revenues -- seems likely to persist. In which case a spontaneous movement that no one predicted and that no one person led could end up, again, reshaping one of our great political parties." Read More... --- If you enjoy my newsletter, please help my readership grow by passing it around. If some one sent this to you, and you would like your own subscription, you can sign up on my web page at www.capoliticalnews.com Note: No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced. Submitted by Kathleen Rogan -- I like Willie Brown, always have.

Years after homeowners default, debt collectors may still come after them

By Jim Wasserman
jwasserman@sacbee.com


Homeowners defaulting on mortgages today may be surprised to learn years from now that they still owe thousands of dollars – and a collection agency is coming after them to get it.

That's because lenders have been quietly selling second mortgages and home equity lines left unpaid after foreclosures and short sales. The buyers: collection agencies, which in California have up to four years to make a claim.

If they win court judgments, these collectors could have years to pursue borrowers with repayment plans, and even garnish their wages, said Scott CoBen, a Sacramento bankruptcy attorney.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/03/14/2605629/years-after-homeowners-default.html#ixzz0iHkOjd17

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Kathleen's Hot Links

John Stossel - On the Road to Serfdom

NWO

Freedom? Where'd it go?

Is it really about education or is it  about keeping the Unions rich with tax payers money?

Why would  the Defend Ca Public Education Organization, who organized the National Day of Education March 3 and 4th,  have sponsors with communist and socialist beliefs? Don't hate me for asking questions. Who really is organizing? I would not let my child have anything to do with this. Parents should be outraged.

Submitted by Kathleen Rogan

Important News Concerning Your Reservation at Congressmember Speier's March 20th Presentation to the Pacifica Democrats

Good afternoon,

If you haven't RSVP'd to attend Jackie's breakfast presentation next Saturday, March 20th, this is to advise that we are rapidly "selling out" and, if you wish to attend, please let me know asap... I am also asking that all those who have RSVP'd to show up at 9:00 a.m. when the doors open, so that we can get you seated in your assigned seat (necessary for this event) as quickly as possible. After those with RSVPS are seated we shall see what, if any, seats are available for walkins, but the way RSVPs are coming in, there will most likely be no seats for those that haven't RSVP'd and there will be more than likely no standing room. We want to make this as comfortable as possible for all concerned.

Kevin, the Chef at the Sharp Park Golf Course Restaurant, has asked for a headcount of who is ordering what. Please let me know by return email if you shall be ordering a full breakfast ($12); Continental breakfast ($6); or Coffee only($3).

Thank you, in advance, for your quick reply to this request.

Barbara Arietta
President
Pacifica Democrats
415-246-0775
email: barietta@hotmail.com

Know yourself - broad religious-philosophical quizzes

Perhaps there is nothing more interesting for most of us than knowing ourselves. Enjoy the discovery!

Non-theism quiz. What is your broad religious non-theistic philosophy and belief system? This one is a bit heady. http://www.selectsmart.com/nontheism/

Religious quiz. What type of religion is most compatible with your belief structure? This on is easier. http://selectsmart.com/RELIGION/

22 questions with 3 choice variations each from high to low priority. Time about 15 total for both, email results to yourself if you like.

Have a really bad attitude about the rationality of religious belief and related philosophy? Try x-rated George Carlin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Washington Post - Oceana student doesn't like being political tool

I haven't found a response yet to my offer to Oceana High School in California to explain why it scheduled a daylong protest and discussion of school budget cuts, instead of using that time for English, math, science and social studies. I have however received this letter from an Oceana High student, which speaks for itself:

Dear Mr. Mathews,

My name is Megan, and I am a student at Oceana High School in Pacifica. Our school recently participated in the statewide Day of Action, where students of all ages protested budget cuts, or should I say, were practically forced to protest budget cuts.

"What do you mean, your teacher didn't make you go?" Were the first words out of a friend of mine's mouth when she got back from the beach where the students had been demonstrating. I admit, I was confused. Why would a teacher make one of their students attend this, knowing that it was a political action? I held my tongue though, and said nothing, because I didn't want the other kids to start talking.

Read more...

Posted by Steve Sinai