Have You Heard
Have you heard the latest ?
A 411 for Conservatives!
So what do you think? We welcome "Have You Heard" submissions. If you have read a news story or had an observation affecting our South Bay community, that our neighbors should know about please email it to Tom Bristow. Please put "Have You Heard" in the subject line.
We reserve the right to edit or deny any "Have You Heard" submissions.
So what do you think? We welcome "Have You Heard" submissions. If you have read a news story or had an observation affecting our South Bay community, that our neighbors should know about please email it to Tom Bristow. Please put "Have You Heard" in the subject line.
We reserve the right to edit or deny any "Have You Heard" submissions.
Elitist Ted Lieu Can Not be Bothered w/ Constituents
Posted Oct.8, 2013 by Arthur Christopher Schaper "@San_Pedro_CA @SandraDGoetz My private Twitter account is not regulated by the Constitution." - Dem. Ted Lieu I was very confused by this statement when I read this state from state senator Ted Lieu (D-Santa Monica/South Bay) on Twitter today. The state senator gives the impression that he does not have to listen to the concerns and complaints of his constituents. His tweeting with two voters in the region sparred a larger discussion, one which depicts a state senator unwilling to listen to the argument/explanation of another voter. Did Lieu mean that people cannot share what they believe on Twitter? Is the state senator suggesting that the government limits speech on Twitter? Or that his speech is not open for discussion on Twitter? This statement is confusing. I followed the Twitter thread which the state senator was sharing with other tweeters: @SandraDGoetz and also @San_Pedro_CA Senator Lieu shared the following: @San_Pedro_CA @SandraDGoetz False. This is my private account. The music group Berlin is awesome. Yet His Twitter Account lists his website as a California State Senator https://twitter.com/tedlieu The state senator is alarmed by the fact that Sandra Goetz has contacted the state senator by twitter thirteen times today. Frankly, because I get tweets and attacks and good and bad all the time, I can choose to ignore or receive it as I see fit. From Sen. Lieu @San_Pedro_CA When I go watch a movie, do you have a problem with that? What about when I talk about a movie on my private Twitter account? Sandra Goetz was sharing Tea Party Princples, yet the state senator has threatened to block her from sharing: Sandra Goetz @SandraDGoetz4h @tedlieu threatens to block me for asking questions about his attacks on the #Teaparty and others...I am his constituent Here's the full extent of the Twitter Conversation: 1. Sandra Goetz @SandraDGoetz7h @tedlieu bashes #TeaParty cant back up accusations. https://www.facebook.com/tedlieu/posts/524176867669757 … Ted Lieu@tedlieu @SandraDGoetz I post articles about Tea Party. Here is another one. http://www.pressandguide.com/articles/2013/08/27/opinion/doc521b7cf4b7e0a091439552.txt?viewmode=default … Stop sending me numerous tweets or I will block u Reply to @tedlieu @SandraDGoetz 1. Brian Gray@ArcticFlier774h @tedlieu @SandraDGoetz YEAH. Stop sending him tweets on Twitter!! [/sarcasm] 2. San Pedro, CA. @San_Pedro_CA3h @tedlieu @SandraDGoetz Sir, her taxes PAY for your twitter account. Block her. I dare you. 3. San Pedro, CA. @San_Pedro_CA2h @tedlieu @SandraDGoetz And while you're at it, you can inbpock me from your facebook for asking about illegal immigration. 4. Ted Lieu @tedlieu1h @San_Pedro_CA @SandraDGoetz Twitter is free, the same way u are using it. This is my private account. I can things like Browns are great. 5. San Pedro, CA. @San_Pedro_CA1h @tedlieu @SandraDGoetz Sir, you're acting as a state rep. A politician on this "account". anything you say or do is a legal activity. 6. Ted Lieu @tedlieu1h @San_Pedro_CA @SandraDGoetz Everything is recorded on the internet. But this is my private account. Go Dodgers! Gravity was a great movie! 7. San Pedro, CA @San_Pedro_CA1h @tedlieu @SandraDGoetz If you discuss politics or policy, if is an official account. Or must I remind you of our tour discussion yesterday? 8. San Pedro, CA. @San_Pedro_CA1h @tedlieu @SandraDGoetz I will not relent sir. I will hold you accountable just as I would if you were someone I voted for. 9. Ted Lieu @tedlieu50m @San_Pedro_CA @SandraDGoetz When a user posts 13 times today before 1 pm, that is too much. I will block her unless she's more reasonable. 10. San Pedro, CA. @San_Pedro_CA39m @tedlieu @SandraDGoetz 13 times? Sir, show me the US Constitution of the 12 post before noon limit. 11. Ted Lieu @tedlieu35m @San_Pedro_CA @SandraDGoetz My private Twitter account is not regulated by the Constitution. 12. Ted Lieu @tedlieu29m @San_Pedro_CA @SandraDGoetz False. This is my private account. The music group Berlin is awesome. 13. San Pedro, CA @San_Pedro_CA28m @tedlieu @SandraDGoetz Sir, again you are a servant to the People, you have no privacy. lest you didn't get the NSA Memo. 14. Sandra Goetz @SandraDGoetz26m @tedlieu @San_Pedro_CA only because it took me 3 tweets to explain Tea Party principles to you, otherwise, only would have been 10. 15. San Pedro, CA. @San_Pedro_CA24m @tedlieu @SandraDGoetz Nothing false about it sir. With all due respect. If my "private" account isn't "private", neither is yours. 16. San Pedro, CA. @San_Pedro_CA15m @tedlieu @SandraDGoetz oh and, yes, Berlin was a fantastic group. 17. Arthur C. Schaper @ArthurCSchaper12m @tedlieu @San_Pedro_CA @SandraDGoetz Excuse me, @tedlieu? Are you saying that one's freedom of speech can be abridged on Twitter? Explain! Senator Lieu is accountable to every constituent, and he uses his account to discuss political events which he attends, which he hosts, and he criticizes the TEA Party movement as the one and only cause for Government shut-down in Washington. Sen. Lieu's stance on the limits of the Constitution on speech, especially in regards to his Twitter account, is unacceptable. Please call his office, and make it plain to state senator Lieu: The First Amendment protects political discourse, whether on Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere else! Capitol Office - State Capitol, Room 4061 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4028 Fax: (916) 323-6056 District Office - 2512 Artesia Blvd., #320 Redondo Beach, CA 90278-3279 Phone: (310) 318-6994 Fax: (310) 318-6733 Follow the tweets by clicking here Arthur Christopher Schaper is a teacher-turned-writer on topics both timeless and timely; political, cultural, and eternal. A life-long Southern California resident, Arthur currently lives in Torrance. Send Arthur an email by clicking here or contact him by social media Twitter -- @ArthurCSchaper to connect with Arthur on Facebook click here aschaper1.blogspot.com The lights are just not on w/ extreme Muratsuchi
Posted Sept 22, 2013
by Arthur Christopher Schaper Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-South Bay) hosted a forum for the aerospace industry, whose diminished power availability stems from the detrimental taxes and regulations on California’s businesses. During the August 9th forum, business executives and leading aerospace entrepreneurs singled out a number of issues which Assemblyman Muratsuchi and his legislative colleagues need to address, if they want to better serve the resident of California. 1) The high cost of doing business in California is hurting industrial investors. From high employee costs to high energy prices, potential business entrepreneurs often seek other states for expansion. Governor Brown just raised the minimum wage, a move which small businesses throughout the state oppose. Assemblyman Muratsuchi’s AB 66 legislation may increase costs since new regulations and reporting requirements alone will increase the red tape instead of cut energy prices, further tying up energy production in the state. 2) Worker’s compensation premiums are higher in California, also discouraging future investment and employment. There is nothing wrong with expecting companies to provide and protect their employees from workplace accidents. Yet with the rising costs, the ample legislation is fit for a lawsuit feast, and the ongoing workers’ comp fraud, businesses look to others states for a fair opportunity to expand and profit. 3) California’s state debt continues to discourage investment. In spite of tax increases, in spite of promises for more frugal spending, Governor Brown’s promises of a balanced budget and an end to the wall of debt have gone unfulfilled. The tax revenues have decreased in the state of California since the passage of Prop 30. Even local schools still struggle to balance budgets. Local school officials do not know how much money they will receive this year, nor can count on stable and continuous funding. Raytheon has just moved one of its headquarters to Texas, and other businesses are moving to Orange County. A local law firm advertises services on how to leave their businesses! Not just power outages, but the business exodus should alarm Sacramento legislators. Regarding these power outages in the South Bay, why doesn’t Assemblyman Muratsuchi investigate the effects of taxes, spending, and regulations like Cap and Trade on California’s economy? European energy markets have already endured the havoc of that terrible carbon-trading scheme, and voters in the South Bay and throughout the state of California are wondering how much longer the taxpayers will endure paying for not only the energy bills, but also the upkeep for a statehouse dependent on union-hall lobbying and special interest entanglement. The South Bay power outages inflicted on residents, aerospace, and all businesses will end when voter outrage in the region re-surges and resists these outrageous policies. Residents elected what they believed to be a moderate legislator to represent a moderate role for government in the South Bay. Despite his lead on requiring reports of power outages, when will Muratsuchi resist California’s higher taxes and regulations, all of which are tying up businesses and forcing away potential investments, and South Bay job creation. Arthur Christopher Schaper is a teacher-turned-writer on topics both timeless and timely; political, cultural, and eternal. A life-long Southern California resident, Arthur currently lives in Torrance. Send Arthur an email by clicking here or contact him by social media Twitter -- @ArthurCSchaper to connect with Arthur on Facebook click here aschaper1.blogspot.com South Bay resident helps Central Valley GOP win seat
Posted Aug. 6, 2013
by Arthur Christopher Schaper Dorothy "Dottie" Martin, a native of San Diego and resident of Hawthorne California (Home of the Beach Boys), has been a frequent and faithful volunteer for the California Republican Party. A member of the Beach Cities Republicans (which includes the South Bay cities, Gardena, and the Harbor Gateway), Martin also attends the Lincoln Club, which meets in Torrance once a month. Ms. Martin recently shared about her contributions to the Republican state senate upset in the Central Valley. How did a lady whose town featured the Beach Boys and Gorgeous George get involved in the land of The Grapes of Wrath, featuring farmers, dustbowl migrants, and Arkies? During the June meeting of the Torrance Lincoln Club, newly installed California Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte visited to reinforce the gravity of the CA GOP predicament in Sacramento. Following the 2012 election, Republicans lost their power to stop Democratic overreach, and are now reduced to outside status with a Democratic super-majority. "Jerry Brown is the only conservative we can trust!" Martin paraphrased Brulte’s alarm. Imagine that: the GOP has to look to Governor Moonbeam for some sense of fiscal sanity in Sacramento. "The pressure is intense on the Democrats. They all march in goose-step in the capital", Dorothy shared with me. Even sensible Democrats are afraid to vote against their party. "The CTA (California Teachers Association), the environmentalists, and the public sector unions are in control." The most important race for Brulte, Dorothy recalled, was the 16th senate district race in Kern County, where Vidak almost beat Perez in the primary, then at the last minute slipped below a simple majority to 49%, thus forcing a runoff. "Anyone who can come, help us out. We need people who will walk precincts", Brulte concluded. Dorothy heeded the call with her friend. Without pay, but receiving a paid motel stay in the Central Valley, the lady from Hawthorne and a girlfriend braved triple-digit heat to get out the vote for Vidak. As far as she was aware, she and her friend were the only ones from outside the district who were walking precincts for the cherry farmer. Walking precincts on the last weekend of June in Vidak’s home town, Dorothy spoke with Republican voters as a part of Get Out the Vote. "Anything to counter the union thugs who drag voters to the polls", she added. "They [Republicans] thought that Vidak had already won the race!" She explained to them that Vidak’s 49% win was not enough to prevent a runoff, which goes to show the importance of informing Republicans to vote cannot be taken lightly. Despite the heavy registration advantage for Democrats, Martin was not totally surprised that Vidak won. "They are different Democrats [who live in the Central Valley]. JFK Democrats. Not left-wing nut cases." While progressive voters in the cities can live in fuzzy ideas and strange ideologies, farmers have budgets to balance, animals to feed, sales to make. "The EPA is killing us!" one dairy farmer told Martin while she was walking precincts. The tensions between the two regions have only worsened following water shortages made shorter because of draconian environmental policies. Currently, Valley farmers only get twenty percent of the water that they need from the Sacramento Delta. The Republicans who helped usher in the 16th district win affirmed their emphasis on local issues as part of their strategy, portraying Vidak as a salt of the earth farmer taking on Big Government. "The fact that Vidak was a cherry farmer was a big deal. He’s a well-known name in the Valley." Could the same spirit that elected Vidak work in the South Bay? "Yes, but it will be harder. We have Hollywood here. People live in their ivory towers. They have money. They do not live by the sweat of their brow." Still, the 66th Assembly District, which covers the South Bay from Palos Verdes to Gardena, contains only a three-to-five point advantage for Democrats, with Republicans and Independents splitting the registration almost evenly three ways. If a lady from Hawthorne was willing to take the heat, so to speak, to help a Republican farmer from Hanford win a state senate seat in a lopsided Democratic district, then the South Bay’s chances for a Republican renaissance are looking rosier than ever. Arthur Christopher Schaper is a teacher-turned-writer on topics both timeless and timely; political, cultural, and eternal. A life-long Southern California resident, Arthur currently lives in Torrance. Send Arthur an email by clicking here or contact him by social media Twitter -- @ArthurCSchaper to connect with Arthur on Facebook click here aschaper1.blogspot.com Hermosa Beach - a quaint seaside community or....
Posted Aug. 9, 2013
by Arthur Christopher Schaper Hermosa Beach is more famous than some people realize. For starters, Tonight Show Host Jay Leno plies his comedic craft at the Hermosa Beach Comedy and Magic Club every Sunday. He tries out all his jokes with a live audience (who pay a two drink minimum while listening, laughing, or groaning.) Horror novelist Stephen King's movie adaptation "1408" featured the Hermosa Beach post office in one scene. The city is also a booming battleground between public sector union leaders and city councilmembers, who are beholden to burdened taxpayers and generous pension obligations. Recently reinstalled mayor Patrick "Kit" Bobko took the pension fight public, and shared his story with LA Weekly. The public sector unions were not pleased, to say the least. Union leaders have issued a long string of rebuttals, many of which do not withstand serious scrutiny in the face of the more serious situation -- a city with entitlement obligations beyond its budget to balance, short or long term. City public works leaders contend that Hermosa Beach will lose staff to neighboring cities should the city council amend benefits or reduce salaries for new workers. City leaders even mailed out flyers campaigning against massive, much-needed reforms. Some interesting stats about Hermosa Beach should give city residents pause about union leaders' concerns versus the looming consequences posed by lavish salaries, pensions, and benefits offered to these same public sector leaders. The city website lists the folllowing stats: The City of Hermosa Beach is a 1.3 square mile, general law City with a population of 19,435. The City is located 22 miles from the Los Angeles Civic Center and 5 miles south of the Los Angeles International Airport, at the heart of the “South Bay” region. The community population is not even one fifth the size of near-by Torrance. The City has a budget of $35,000,000 and approximately 140 full time employees. Hermosa Beach is a full service City, with its own Police Department and Fire Department. Hermosa Beach: small city, great parties, lots of money living in and around the area. All well and good. 140 employees, though? Really? As mentioned above, Mayor Bobko went public about the pension reforms-public worker disagreements to LA Weekly, which reported the following: [Bobko] is troubled that union members of the Hermosa Beach Police Officers Association draw six-figure salaries in a laid-back, upper-middle-class, heavily white suburb that saw only a single murder in the past several years. He's disturbed that fire captains in the Hermosa Beach Firefighters Association, who deal with only a handful of structure fires citywide annually, rake in $240,000 a year. With very few fires, and not much gun-fire, voters in the city should get "fired-up" about the flagrant obligations burning away the city's once and future funding. Big money goes to city leaders, who do not oversee much. In a subtle attempt to stifle Bobko's protests, empty investigations into Bobko's legal address, along with an intimidating union presence at city council meetings (aside from the occasional catwalk) have turned this budget battle into a personal drama as well as a battleground microcosm of the bigger battles ahead in California and many states in the country. While the Beatles were singing "Lovely Rita, Meter Maid!", the taxpayers, and the civic activists throughout the Beach Cities, may start singing another tune if Hermosa Beach city leaders do not take down these entitlement obligations. The more egregious element of public worker pension problems centers on Hermosa's "elite" meter maid service. An employee checking the parking meters can earn up to $95,000 a year, while hard-pressed teachers of the Hermosa Beach City School District, who are taking on more students with fewer resources, take home $43,000 for their first year. After seventeen years, plus a Masters Degree and thirty semester units, an HBCSD teacher can earn $82,000: still less than a meter maid. Not so lovely. Perhaps Hermosa Beach should contract all its city service to Los Angeles County, and let that government fund future pension obligations. Bobko and colleagues had suggested that Hermosa Beach contract out the meter maids, but tears and drama about the trauma over the fate of the "family of employees", hushed that up that option. Desperate times may call for desperate measures. City leaders could recruit volunteer police and fire from retirement homes, since they could serve the city for a stipend without the excessive entitlement costs. If Hermosa Beach turns into a chartered city and breaks away from the state pension system, the city would have more freedom to negotiate pension liabilities. If city leaders explain effectively to residents the long-term consequences should the city refuse to act, then the leadership can float an voter initiative, just as San Jose and San Diego voters did, and enact pension reform through the ballot box. No matter what route Hermosa Beach takes, nothing could be more "un"-lovey than meter maids getting big payouts, while teachers do without, and taxpayers in the city scramble for a way out of the long-term debt burden. Everyone loves "Lovely Meter Maids", but they should not come with so unlovely a cost to Hermosa Beach taxpayers. This battle cannot rest on piece-meal reforms, but comprehensive structural changes which maintain law and order without bankrupting an entire city. Send Arthur an email by clicking here or contact him by social media Twitter -- @ArthurCSchaper to connect with Arthur on Facebook click here aschaper1.blogspot.com |
Prose about Freedom, Individual Liberty, and Citizenship
Updated Oct 9, 2013
by John May BCR member and writer John May shares a couple poems about the direction our nation is heading if we abandon the ideas that made America the most free country on Earth. Please read and reflect on John's insight. ECONOMIC ENGINES WORK THE WAY THEY WORK a speck of life nestled in fertile earth exposed to warmth and moisture will dominate a hillside plant man in that soil kept free of parasites and predators the fruit will come in an abundance yet unseen any other influence, governance, divergence impedes growth. Water, sunshine, and stay away POWER SEEKERS power seekers are a strange breed one bunch tries to protect freedom by preventing concentrations of power the other offers free stuff in return for power they are threatened when you decide for yourself unhappy when you keep what you make you might make choices different from theirs that scares them they don’t want you deciding they insist that they decide for you for all of us. LEADER? . . . WE DON’T NEED A LEADER we don’t need a leader to show the way we know the way we don’t want anybody telling us what we want we know what we want we want government off our back they want us to buy their idea of what fair is they want power to tell us what we may keep and what we must give they will decide what medicine we take what we may eat or drink or smoke certain opinions are to be shunned and they will determine which well, we are taking the country back power is already falling into our hands our power comes from their weakness: the ignorance of their followers the ignorant are led by false promises we poke a stick into their promises and let reality in erosion of ignorance is swelling our ranks and will end their arrogance the intelligent, informed need no leader we need only a forum in which to share and compare ideas we have seen personal freedom and responsibility shrink wherever they touch government power disparity in wealth distribution does not justify forced sharing self-caused poverty does not justify reward the lazy and incompetent deserve no favors out of respect for brotherhood, the truly incapable must be supported not by pretense of legal right, but honest charity American generosity is a resource to be relied on an expression of respect for our common humanity distribution by fiat is met with jealousy and resentment socialism frees us from personal responsibility for humanity and ourselves we are free not to give and free of guilt for not giving the government gives in our steed we lose our chance to develop as loving beings we drift into becoming dependents eventually poor ones a nation of poor dependents the time has come to pick up a flag and get into the streets John May spent the first half of his life in New York and the other half in California. He has worked in the finance industry for over 50 years as an analyst on Wall Street, pension fund manager, investment adviser and speechwriter. He began writing for fun and performing at open mics in Long Beach, California in 2007. Favorite topics for the poet, known locally as “Jack,” include romance, war, economics, politics, philosophy and comedy. Jack and wife Peggy have been married for over 50 years; they have two children, Jacqueline and John, who have a total of five more. Extreme Muratsuchi - Votes against South bay residents
Posted Sept 10, 2013
by Arthur Christopher Schaper Former Torrance school board member and current 66th District assemblyman Al Muratsuchi championed himself as the moderate alternative to his opponent in the 2012 election. In debate and in discussions, he affirmed: "I am not an ideologue." Throughout his excessively negative campaign, Muratsuchi rarely shared his own views yet spent time and advertising propagandizing the "extreme" position of his opponent, many of which had nothing to do with South Bay or California concerns. Now that Muratsuchi has been in office for nine months, what's the record of progressive Muratsuchi? Muratsuchi has voted 90% of the time with far left Democrats: ideological, to say the least. Below are some of the bills which the far left Muratsuchi has supported in Sacramento: AB 60 - Authorizes Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Progressive extremist Al Muratsuchi has voted to permit illegal immigrants to drive in the state of California. Ten states had toyed with this policy, and eight of them repealed the law. Instead of endorsing illegal immigration, with a flawed premise that illegal aliens will purchase car insurance, the state of California should lobby the federal government to reduce the welfare state, relax naturalization requirements, and restore common sense immigration policy for all legal immigrants. Muratsuchi's vote on this issue is hardly in line with South bay residents. The Hispanic governor of New Mexico, Republican Susana Martinez, has repeatedly fought to repeal licenses for illegal immigrants. Her arguments on this matter deserve more attention, which Muratsuchi failed to consider. AB 154 - Authorizes Certain Individuals to Perform Aspiration Abortion Procedures Muratsuchi has expanded the types of individuals who can perform abortions. This legislation follows the growing decline of available doctors who can practice medicine in the state of California, which is a direct result of regulations and fines associated with Obamacare. The South bay needs a legislator who will cut the red tape and approve free market reforms in health care. Why is Muratsuchi making it easier to get an abortion? What kind of message does that send to pro-life and pro-choice constituents in the South Bay? AB 1266 - Amends Sex-Segregated School Programs and Activities This law will permit transgender students to enter school bathrooms - extreme, and extremely disturbing. I have already written about the reaction that his daughter might have to such a policy. What about the children of South bay residents? Torrance residents have shared with me their deep concern with a legislator who would permit an individual of undecided gender to enter the bathroom of his [or her] choosing. The civil liabilities for such a law are incalculable. Why hasn't Muratsuchi advanced policies which would permit school choice, or vouchers, or strengthen the power of Torrance families to establish independent charter schools in their neighborhoods? AB 1401 - Authorizes Non-United States Citizens to Serve on Juries Jury duty is a solemn service, one which belongs to United States citizens. Why are Sacramento Democrats focused on expanding jury pools to non-citizens when they should be focusing their attention to truly urgent matters such as businesses leaving the state at an alarming rate, or making it easier for South bay school districts to get proper control over their funding? Contrary to his campaign pledges, his voting record demonstrates that Democrat Muratsuchi is too extreme, and outside the norm of South Bay voters' concerns. Arthur Christopher Schaper is a teacher-turned-writer on topics both timeless and timely; political, cultural, and eternal. A life-long Southern California resident, Arthur currently lives in Torrance. Send Arthur an email by clicking here or contact him by social media Twitter -- @ArthurCSchaper to connect with Arthur on Facebook click here aschaper1.blogspot.com LA City Attorney de-criminalizing 91 misdemeanors
Posted Aug. 9, 2013
by Arthur Christopher Schaper According to an July 25, 2013 internal memo from Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer to the LAPD released by the Associated Press, the LAPD is directing law enforcement to lay off arresting Angelenos for misdemeanors, instead directing police to issue infractions. Ninety-one misdemeanor offenses will be reduced, according to internal memos. These offenses include possessing or purchasing alcohol as a minor, drinking in public, gambling, defecating in public, trespassing and not having one's dog vaccinated for rabies. Harbor-area residents in the 66th Assembly District, which includes the Harbor Gateway, West Caron, and Harbor City, should be concerned about the sudden and subtle changes in police policy. Moreover, the diminution of criminal penalties can provide Republicans with an opportunity not only to press on the quality of life issues which affect all South Bay residents, but allow the Republican Party organizations to brandish their more libertarian credentials on crime, both prevention and control, in future elections. Republicans in the 66th district can expose a number of problems associated with state-sponsored micromanaging on one hand, yet at the same time hold Los Angeles and Sacramento lawmakers (predominantly Democratic) accountable for arbitrary budget cuts which neglect to enforce key quality of life issues. On the other hand, conservatives can reach out to libertarian elements as well as minorities alienated by excessive police force by championing a reduction in the over-criminalization of California's penal code. The LAPD's cost-cutting measures emerge in the wake of budget crises gripping Los Angeles, reductions which are hitting the South Bay with greater severity. Over the past few years, such misdemeanors were often reduced to infractions by the Los Angeles city or district attorneys to begin with, so instructing peace officers to back off on arrests and bookings will eliminate wasted time and money. Conservatives should be leading on these issues, and Republicans in the South Bay can play up their support for efficient crime prevention as well as more effective forms of retribution and rehabilitation. Instead of arresting a minor for alcohol use, a diversion program following an infraction would permit the youth (and his parents) to work on recovery from substance abuse. Drinking in public in and of itself -- should that even be a crime? Some libertarians have even argued for removing drunk-driving checkpoints. Instead of looking for drunk drivers, the police should focus only a stopping dangerous drivers, since they pose the greater, more manifest threat to the well-being of our communities. Other victimless crimes like gambling should not be subject to criminal penalty, anyway. To reduce certain misdemeanors to infractions will also spare younger voters. College Students are facing crippling cuts in their education, both at the community college level and in statewide universities. Some youth have already engaged in petty crimes, like loitering or breaking curfew. Instead of police officers' impugning their record with misdemeanors, Republicans can applaud the LAPD's decision to reduce such offenses, and thus keep them off a younger person's record. The blunt instrument of state force should never wield so many penalties in the first place, and Republicans can hammer this point, too. From Governor Jerry Brown's first two terms in Sacramento until the late 1990s, California voters, including South Bay residents, supported tough-on-crime legislation which instituted mandatory sentencing and enhanced criminal enhancements. The "Three Strikes" initiative culminated this drive for enforcement. Last year's Prop. Republicans can fault Democratic lawmakers for over-criminalizing and over-penalizing our state penal code, a policy move which can attract libertarians, limited government advocates in general, and even young voters When commenting on the impact of LAPD's new policy of reducing misdemeanors to infractions, Tom Bristow of the "Beach Cities Republicans" commented: "[W]here I think he [LA City Attorney Mike Feuer] is making a huge mistake by diminishing the "trespassing" penalty. We are dealing with personal property at that point, if a private citizen does not have control over what happens on their personal property, or who is allowed on it - that is the beginning of collectivism." Granted, police must enforce the sanctity of private property. Republicans in the South Bay should call out the Los Angeles Police Department for enacting their discretionary policies without input from the City Council or Neighborhood Councils in the Harbor region. On a related note, Republicans campaigning in the Harbor area can also assail Sacramento for closing courthouses, making it harder for residents to enforce their property rights and maintain law and order. In the original charter following consolidation, Los Angeles City Leaders promised San Pedro residents their own courthouse, so that for future litigation they would not have to travel the twenty-two miles to Downtown Los Angeles. The journey was hard enough then, made worse with the traffic congestion which bottles up Harbor Area residents further still. The San Pedro courthouse will be closed, nevertheless. South Bay residents should contact their legislators (Al Muratsuchi) on these issues. Crime prevention was a winning issue for Republicans in the 1970s. In 2014, following the mandated release of 10,000 prisoners from California prisons, plus the forced reduction of ninety-one misdemeanors in Los Angeles, South Bay Republicans can expose the present dangers to California residents because a tax-and-spend, regulate-frustrate, regressive-progressive Democratic government has crippled public safety. Send Arthur an email by clicking here or contact him by social media Twitter -- @ArthurCSchaper to connect with Arthur on Facebook click here aschaper1.blogspot.com Recently passed Prop 30 taxes probably go directly to public union 4.5% pay raises !!
Well, Well Well - during the the Proposition 30 debate last election season all the progressive groups and Gov. Jerry Brown tugged on voters heart stings by insisting all the money collected from Prop 30's tax increase would be used "...for the children"
Less than eight months after 12 million voters approved Proposition 30 by a 55 - 45 margin it was announced that 95,000 state union employees will receive a 4.5% pay increase. Hmmmm - now call me cynical but the SEIU union members were some of the biggest, most viocal supporters of Prop 30, and low & behold on June 11, 2013 it was announced... "In an email to members, Service Employees Union International Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker said the pay hike would be received by July 1, 2015," Read more for yourself at the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin article State Employees to receive Pay Hike San Diego Mayor Democrat Bob Filner sued for sexual harassment by former spokeswoman
San Diego's current Mayor Bob Filner has been sued by his former spokeswoman Irene McCormack Jackson for sexual harassment. In the suit Irene McCormack Jackson claims Mayor Filner made several sexually suggestive comments to her and told her he loved her and wanted to get married. The comments included: “I would do a better job if you kissed me,” “When are you going to get naked?” “Wouldn’t it be great if you took off your panties and worked without them on?” and “When are we going to get married? Wouldn’t it be great if we consummated the marriage?”
If we remember back to the the spring of 2012 when conservatives and Republicans were attempting to prevent hard earned tax payer money from being used for abortions - the progressive operatives came out of the wood work claiming conservatives were waging a "war on women". You remember, the usual suspects raced to the cameras - National Organization of Woman, Rachel Maddow, and the newly minted progressive darling Sandra Fluke - all whimpered & whined that somehow hard earned tax payer money not paying for abortions was a hindrance to womens' rights.... So if an elected official such a Democrat Mayor Bob Filner (and you have to look hard in local & national news stories for any mention that Bob Filner is a Democrat) asked a female member of his staff to "kiss him", "work without her underwear", "get naked" clearly all of the people that claim they support womens' rights would be out in full force calling for Filner's resignation, and coming to the support of Irene McCormack Jackson, surely they would..... The only sound you hear coming from the progressives about Democrat Bob Filner's behavior is that of crickets !! Are we seeing the beginnings of the "Paula Jones-ing" of Irene McCormack Jackson by the progressives.... Let's hope not. Read the full Union Tribune story for yourself at the link below San Diego Mayor Democrat Bob Filner sued for sexual harassment |
