California Globe

LA Schools Superintendent Asks City, State to Have Schools Become Vaccination Sites

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 04:42:08 GMT

On Monday, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Austin Beutner announced that he requested both state and local officials to immediately turn all schools in the district into COVID-19 vaccination sites.

In a letter to both California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly and Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer, Beutner noted that, as the second largest school district in the country, the LAUSD has significantly more challenges to vaccinate compared to other districts. And, with Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to reopen schools statewide beginning as soon as next month, LA would need to begin vaccinating soon, despite Beutner’s objections to the plan.

Beutner, now bogged down by reopening COVID-19 concerns and teachers who may not want to return to teaching in-class unless they have received the vaccine, showed the positives of moving up teachers in the vaccination schedule and having vaccinations done at school.

‘There’s a unique and important benefit to having Los Angeles Unified as a vaccination partner — doing so will help reopen schools as soon as possible, and in the safest way possible,” Beutner explained on Monday. “This will not only protect the health and safety of our essential employees but will provide enormous benefit to children and their families, leading to a faster reopening of schools and of the economy more broadly by enabling the working families we serve to go back to work.”

“Few organizations in the Los Angeles area have this deep and proven set of capabilities and few are as trusted by the community. Families trust schools to keep their children safe and that trust extends to the entire family. A trusted partner providing the vaccination at a trusted location will increase the chances of a successful and more speedy vaccination effort.”

Beutner also pointed out that, even if the offer was rejected, schools could still serve as vaccination sites for other qualified groups of people.

However, even if the vaccinations were moved up for educators, especially those in COVID-19 hotspot Los Angeles, which saw nearly 10,000 new COVID-19 cases on Monday countywide, there would still be significant wait times. California only received 3.2 million vaccine doses, with many already having gone out to healthcare workers, those over 65, and those in or working in nursing homes. Their move from Phase 1B would also likely have other groups in that phase, including essential workers and public safety workers, to demand to have them sooner as well.

But even with LA having freezers and vaccine storage units ready to go and school district nurses prepared to administer the vaccine, Los Angeles has focused on large, spatially distanced vaccine centers such as Dodger Stadium to vaccinate those currently allowed to get the vaccine rather than spread out into smaller sites.

The push for more vaccination sites in LA, criticism of Beutner’s request

In a second statement later on Monday, Beutner countered that the school approach was the best way moving forward.

“I’m not so sure that asking an elderly person to drive across town to sit in the car for three hours is necessarily the best way to serve the needs of that individual,” explained Beutner. “We’re ready to go. We have all of the capabilities and are probably one of the more trusted organizations in a family’s life. If the goal is ultimately to see as much of society vaccinated as possible, let us help.

Part of it is a little bit of a frustration with LA County, but a part of it is, ‘Let’s not let it go to waste.’ There are unused doses of the vaccine. Let’s get them in the shoulders of those that work in the schools as soon as we can. Why wouldn’t we?”

Many critics have pointed out flaws in the school plans, as well as possible ulterior motives on the school districts request.

“They want the vaccine early, and they’re trying to sell it as a public good to have COVID vaccinations be spread out,” said “Rosie,” a nurse at a large Southern Californian site who has been helping administer vaccines, to the Globe under condition of anonymity. “We only have so many doses though, and who knows how many we’ll be getting in the coming days. Right now, this is the best way.”

“I understand the offer and the need to vaccinate, but it seems like they’re trying to jump ahead in a line where there are so many people who need it. If there is a school start date and we get a large shipment of doses in that needs to be filtered out to smaller sites, then maybe it can work. High schools do have have larger parking lots and big open areas in the form of gymnasiums and things.”

“But we need to get healthcare workers and vulnerable people vaccinated first, and we need more vaccine doses. If the schools are ready, great. But we cannot push that button once we know for sure where we are at.”

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and other Los Angeles officials have noted that Dodger Stadium will serve as the vaccination hub for now while the state tries to procure more vaccines for distribution.

More news on advanced vaccine rollouts and additional vaccination centers are expected in the coming weeks.

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Off-Road Vehicle Regulation Bill Introduced Again in Senate

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 02:13:43 GMT

During the week, a competition motorcycle and ATV bill that would add numerous regulations to off-road and racing events on public land was introduced in the Senate following a similar bill failing to pass due to last year’s shortened, COVID-19 delayed legislative session.

Senate Bill 227, authored by Senator Brian Jones (R-Santee) would allow off-highway vehicle (OHV) competitions to continue in California after the Red Sticker program, which allows these competitions to legally operate, is due to end in the state this year. Specifically, SB 227 would create a new off-highway vehicle identification program under the California Department of Parks and Recreation that would continue legal off-road competitions and practice for the near future, as well as collect money from permits to fund environmental initiatives and law enforcement programs.

The bill is a virtual carbon-copy of last year’s Senate Bill 1024, also authored by Senator Jones. Much like SB 227, SB 1024 suggested that a Competition sticker replace the Red Sticker needed to legally off-road competitively. While some vehicles, such as motorcycles, would no longer need such identification, higher fees would be applied for DMV and California Highway Patrol costs. All competition motorcycles and ATVs would also need mandatory spark arresters, mufflers, or silencers to limit noise when on public lands to address one of the few issues continually brought up by off-road competitions.

While SB 1024 was passed by a bipartisan majority in both the Senate and the Assembly, the lateness of the vote last year due to a rush of urgent COVID-19 and economic bills made the vote occur on September 1st, making it too late to be official. Despite SB 1024 subsequently being scrapped in the inactive file during the fall and winter hiatus, the bipartisan support late last week for the new SB 227 has made Senator Jones optimistic that it will be passed this year.

“This measure is a result of extensive collaboration last year between OHV stakeholders and all the affected government agencies, including CARB and State Parks,” Senator Jones said in a press release late last week. “Off-Highway competitions are a treasured sport that play a key role in the economies of suburban and rural California, which is of great importance given the current economic downturn. SB 227 will allow OHV competitors to continue their long history in a prosperous sport with safe practices.”

SB 227 important for off-road enthusiasts, struggling small towns

While there is no opposition formed against the bill as of Monday, off-road enthusiasts told the Globe that SB 227 was vitally important for many, especially in rural areas.

“Without a new program to replace the Red Sticker in California you’re going to see a lot of businesses die,” explained Matt Hollander, an ATV racer and instructor in San Bernardino County. “First, it benefits us. We like doing this, and with COVID-19, it’s an outside activity that you can be social distanced in. Heck, many of us wore masks before anyway before COVID-19 out there.

“But it filters down too. The money we pay for permits, the Red Sticker, and everything goes to a lot of government programs. And since many of the meetups and races are in rural areas, we’re looking at bringing a lot of business to rural communities, many of which have been hit hard by COVID-19. So, gas, food, garage, parts, the list goes on. If you don’t renew this or start a new program, not only are you taking away something hundreds, thousands of people like doing in the state, but you’re cutting off a big tax stream and you’re hurting these local communities even more.

“Everyone wins if it’s passed. For small towns struggling right now, you can’t just make one bill and give them a lot of money and expect it all to be ok. You need to give them several streams of money to get by, and off-roading is one of those major streams.”

SB 227 is expected to be assigned to a committee in the coming weeks.

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San Diego School Superintendent Cindy Marten Named As Biden’s Next Deputy Education Secretary

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 23:39:53 GMT

San Diego United School District (SDUSD) Superintendent Cindy Marten was named by President-elect Joe Biden Monday, as the next United States Deputy Secretary of Education.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and UC San Diego-educated Marten has worked as an educator in some capacity in the San Diego-area since 1989. After beginning as a teacher and literacy specialist in nearby Poway, Marten steadily moved up. In the 90’s, she began a ten-year stint at Central Elementary in the SDUSD system where she began taking a hands on approach at the school, such as introducing a bi-literacy program and adding benefits such as daycare for teachers at the school.

These programs won her several stints as vice principal and principal at other schools in the SDUSD system until 2013. That year, she was chosen as the next Superintendent by a unanimous Board of Education vote. Since then she has run the district, even winning a few awards along the way such as the 2018 San Diego Business Journal Businesswoman of the Year award.

If approved by Congress in the coming months, Marten would serve in the Department of Education directly under incoming Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, who was recently elevated by Biden from his Connecticut Commissioner of Education position.

In a statement, Marten said that she was honored and would accept the nomination.

“I’m honored by the nomination,” said Marten on Monday. “Therefore, I will be leaving my post as your Superintendent, following confirmation by the United States Senate.

“I have already spoken with Secretary-designate Miguel Cardona, and I have never been more optimistic about the future of the American education system. I have also spoken with the San Diego Unified Board of Education to ensure a seamless transition. Everyone remains focused on providing our students with a full recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Marten proceeded to thank San Diego, students, parents, fellow educators, and other education employees and administrators for getting her to this point.

I am honored to serve alongside @teachcardona to restore our education system – putting teachers, students, and parents first. Work Hard. Be Kind. Dream Big. Let’s do this!

— Cindy Marten (@BeKindDreamBig) January 18, 2021

Criticism of Marten

However, Marten’s selection faced criticism on Monday, with many pointing out that, under her tenure, SDSDU has seen a growing number of schools making the states ‘worst performing school’ list, a rising number of failing students, and has had such a large number of failing minority students that they had to completely overhaul their grading process in a controversial decision that, among other things, will no longer penalize students for missing homework, quizzes, or tests.

“She’s been, I’ll say, controversial, since day one,” noted SDUSD teacher ‘Alice’, who only agreed to a Globe interview under anonymity. “You know she was just picked. There wasn’t even a public search or anything. Some knew of her, but that was about it.

“And she was ok. Not great, but just ok. For every time she stuck up for teachers or started a new beneficial program she also refused to expel dangerous students that put others at severe risk and didn’t fix problems at schools despite many lagging behind. Look up any recap of her tenure, because it’s always a ‘some good, more bad’ kind of situation. She also pushed for better results for minority students and non-English speakers learning English, which is noble and honestly a good thing, but her efforts really just moved them around too much. Why do you think that nearly one out of four minority students was failing or nearly failing under her watch? They had to install the new grading program to cover up her negligence. And they blamed the poor grades partially on racism.

“Many I know are glad that she’s out of San Diego but it’s sort of a catch 22 now that she is one of the top education leaders in the country now.”

Marten is expected to be nominated by the Senate in Washington soon.

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Gov. Newsom Names SOS Alex Padilla to Replace Kamala Harris as U.S. Senator from CA

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 21:04:44 GMT

As Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris prepares to be inaugurated Vice-President at Wednesday’s inauguration, she submitted her formal resignation to California Gov. Gavin Newsom from the United States Senate Monday. As Harris made her resignation formal, Gov. Newsom officially appointed Alex Padilla to California’s U.S. Senate seat.

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for California Globe)

Padilla also this morning resigned his position as California Secretary of State, making his Chief Deputy Secretary of State Acting Secretary of State.

Newsom has appointed Assemblywoman Shirley Weber’s as Padilla’s replacement, but it requires the Legislature to confirm her appointment.

Following Gov. Newsom’s December 22nd appointment of Alex Padilla to the U.S. Senate, State Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Granite Bay) warned that there are legal issues with Newsom’s appointment as the Constitution requires an election. Kiley went so far as obtaining a Legal Opinion from the Office of the Legislative Counsel confirming this is a Constitutional problem, and something he has also already shared with Governor Newsom.

As Kiley explained, the Legislative Counsel’s Office concluded in a 10-page written response:

That “the Seventeenth Amendment requires the Governor to issue a writ of election” to fill the vacancy that will be created by Senator Harris’ resignation.
That the Seventeenth Amendment requires that “the person elected in the vacancy election takes office before the end of the existing term.”

Kiley followed up with a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Charles Schumer, explaining the legal opinion by the State of California Office of the Legislative Counsel, and asking them to “consider whether the legal issues relating to the appointment raised by the Legislative Counsel Opinion require resolution before Mr. Padilla is seated.”

Despite the Legislative Counsel’s agreement with Kiley, by all appearances he is being ignored by the governor, and Senators McConnell and Schumer.

Assemblywoman Shirley N. Weber. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for California Globe)

Gov. Newsom’s press statement Monday said, “State law empowers the Governor to fill vacancies to the U.S. Senate and, subject to confirmation by the State Senate and Assembly, the Secretary of State. Governor Newsom announced his selection of Padilla and Dr. Weber in December.”

The Governor also formally submitted his nomination letter for Assemblywoman Shirley Weber to the State Senate President pro Tempore and Assembly Speaker to serve as California’s next Secretary of State.

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PAGA Reform Should Top Lawmakers’ New Year’s Resolutions

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 16:55:38 GMT

The COVID-19 vaccine has us hopeful for a return to “normal” in the New Year. Unfortunately, many of California’s small businesses may not be around to see it.

In addition to mandated shutdowns, Golden State employers are being financially crippled by frivolous lawsuits filed under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). PAGA is a unique California law that allows aggrieved employees to file suit against their employer for even a small or accidental violation of California’s more than 1,100-page labor law digest. These lawsuits, while lucrative for the state’s trial attorneys, often cost businesses thousands, if not millions, in settlement and legal fees.

Take Lars Viklund, for example. For years, Lars invested in his community by revitalizing small but historic hotels, including the Del Marcos Hotel in Palm Springs. The 17-room establishment even had its Class 1 historic site designation made official by the Palm Springs City Council in 2012. All of his properties are on the smaller side — typically between 10-18 rooms. But they each employ dozens of staff members who rely on the hotels for their livelihood.

Like many in the hospitality industry, Lars has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns. This financial strain has only been exacerbated by an expensive and drawn-out legal battle.

Two years ago, Lars was sued by two former employees who alleged that they never got their lunch breaks. The trial attorneys dragged the process out as long as possible, stringing Lars along while the legal fees piled up. To end the lawsuit, Lars offered to settle for $50,000, but the attorneys refused. Lars had already spent $200,000 fighting the lawsuit and been forced to lay off some of his employees in the process. When he knew he’d be facing an additional $200,000 in legal fees, Lars made the difficult decision to sell one of his hotels.

Sadly, Lars’ story is not unique. There are thousands of PAGA lawsuits filed each year that devastate small and medium size businesses in our state. Even during the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, trial lawyers showed little mercy for our front-line businesses. Over the last several months, PAGA suits have been filed against hospitals, nursing homes, and in-home care services. That’s not to mention the lawsuits filed against already hard-hit industries, including restaurants and hotels.

My organization, the California Business and Industrial Alliance (CABIA), urged Governor Newsom to toss a lifeline to businesses during this trying time by temporarily suspending PAGA. Unfortunately, the state ignored our request.

The reality is this law does little to help employees, and everything to help unscrupulous trial attorneys get rich quick. In a typical PAGA case, the attorneys receive 35 percent of the settlement. Both the mediator and the state receive two percent. Then, the remainder is split between the plaintiffs, who are often part of a class-action suit. When the money is divvied up, employees often walk away with little more than spare change while the attorneys rake in millions.

With a vaccine already making its way to front-line workers, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. But businesses need help making it through to the other side. Reforming this harmful law is one way our lawmakers can minimize the damage that has already been done, and help California’s businesses get back on their feet in 2021.

The post PAGA Reform Should Top Lawmakers’ New Year’s Resolutions appeared first on California Globe.

Green Camouflage Humvee Stolen from CA National Guard

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 15:22:42 GMT

How exactly does a California National Guard battalion not know when someone absconds with a green camouflage Humvee?

The FBI in Los Angeles announced on Twitter Sunday that the Humvee was stolen in Bell, California on Friday.

A green camouflage #Humvee was stolen from @CaArmyGuard in #Bell CA on Friday. Identifiers include Bumper# 40BSBHQ6; Admin# WV57TO-HQ06/M1165A1; Reg# NZ311R & Battalion 40TH BSB. Please call 3104776565 to claim a #reward up to 10K for info leading to the recovery #BOLO

### pic.twitter.com/BGDaAzauF2

— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) January 17, 2021

Military bloggers immediately weighed in on the theft saying because identifiers include Bumper# 40BSBHQ6, it is the battalion commander’s vehicle. “It’s likely that this wasn’t done by some rando off the street. Every soldier would know just by looking at the bumper number who that vehicle belongs to,” someone said in response on Twitter.

Perhaps even more concerning is with the unrest in the country, the theft of a military Humvee is likely not just some dumb thief out for a joy ride.

The Humvee is worth $120,000. The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward.

While it will be difficult to hide the Humvee, we hope the California National Guard doesn’t send out social workers to retrieve it from the thieves.

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Gov. Newsom’s Brother-in-Law Arrested on Alleged Domestic Violence Charges

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 17:18:11 GMT

Two recent alleged domestic abuse cases by people closely connected to Gov. Gavin Newsom rather quietly made the news.

Joshua Schiller, brother-in-law to Gov. Newsom, was arrested on Thursday for alleged domestic violence in Ross, Calif., according to a statement provided to Bloomberg Law by the Ross Police Department. Schiller, son of Boies Schiller co-founder Jonathan Schiller, and a partner in the law firm, was arrested and booked at the Marin County Jail, and the case was referred to the Marin County District Attorney’s Office.

Schiller’s wife is Melissa Siebel Schiller, sister of Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and sister-in-law of California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Schiller’s provided a statement to Bloomberg Law through their lawyer Douglas Horngard:

“This is a private matter between us,” the couple said. “We love and respect each other. We are partners and will move beyond this together.”

The California-based Horngard said he expects the charges against Schiller, first reported by The American Lawyer, to be dropped.

“This was a misunderstanding,” Horngard said. “There was no instance of domestic violence.”

Notably, “The victim had visible injuries that were minor in nature and did not require immediate medical treatment,” the statement said.

In December, while Californians were locked down under stay-at-home orders by Gov. Gavin Newsom, Nathan Ballard, advisor to Newsom, was charged with domestic violence for allegedly attempting to suffocate his four-year-old daughter and for pushing his wife into a glass door at the Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa Valley.

This only piles on to Newsom’s troubles after attending the birthday party for advisor Jason Kinney at the swanky French Laundry restaurant in November, while the state was in lockdown.

Ironically, Ballard wrote a preachy column in 2019 about “what it takes to be a rad dad,” for lifestyle website Better, before being charged with domestic violence for”‘trying to suffocate his daughter with a pillow and pushing his wife into a glass door,” the Daily Mail reported recently. Here’s what else the Daily Mail said:

Nathan Ballard, 51, faces two felony domestic violence charges in Napa
Last month, he allegedly attempted to suffocate his daughter, 4, with a pillow
He is also alleged to have pushed his wife, Mara, into a glass door
Mara told officers that Ballard had consumed ‘a large amount of alcohol’
An attorney for Mr Ballard called the charges ‘unsubstantiated allegations’
Last year, Nathan Ballard penned an essay about being a ‘role model dad’

Better added this disclaimer to Ballard’s article: On December 3, 2020, a report in Politico revealed that Nathan Ballard — who is mentioned in this article — was arrested on domestic violence charges. We were unaware of the allegations until this date.

The Globe has been told that Gov. Gavin Newsom also has a tempter, and throws things at staff when triggered, particularly ahead of his press conferences.

In Ballard’s column at Better, he wrote about the importance of being a good role model as a father. “[Children] are more likely to mimic your behavior than to blindly follow your rules,” he wrote. “I aim to be more like a trusted advisor to them instead. When they are grappling with a decision, I like to ask Socratic questions to help them reach a conclusion on their own.”

A comment on the Daily Mail article was particularly poignant: “Most abusers think they’re pretty amazing partners and parents. Complete disassociation from reality.”

Some psychologists say men who batter their wives often feel justified in their behavior and that society is unfairly persecuting them for their actions. “In my opinion, they (batterers) are not cold, but more likely seething with distressing emotions and out of control,” said Dr. Ola Barnett, a researcher at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. “They may well have a limited conscience.”

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Schwarzenegger’s Videos Should Offer Hope, Not Polarization

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 22:11:59 GMT

In his life so far, Arnold Schwarzenegger has logged an extraordinary, eclectic mix of accomplishments. Most notably, he is a former Governor of California, a movie star, and five time winner of the Mr. Universe title. If it weren’t for his status as an immigrant, which by law prohibits him from running, there’s a good chance that by now he could have been elected U.S. president.

Schwarzenegger’s greatest political strength, apart from being a likable, accomplished man, is that he is a political centrist. This has earned him the enmity, some of it deserved, of conservative populists, but that is the price of trying to be part of a moderate centrist coalition.

However, Arnold Schwarzenegger recently made a huge mistake.

On January 10, Schwarzenegger released a video entitled “My message to my fellow Americans and friends around the world.” In this seven minute video, Schwarzenegger discusses his upbringing in post-war Austria and explains how in that time and place, events leading up to World War II were fresh in everyone’s memories.

In particular, Schwarzenegger brings up one of the pivotal moments in the Nazi regime’s transition to absolute tyranny in Germany, the “Kristallnacht” which took place in November 1938. Although the Nazis had already been in power since 1933, the events on Kristallnacht (rough translation is “night of broken glass”) served notice to any Germans still wondering: They were no longer free. To Germany’s Jews, whose homes and businesses were specifically targeted, the message was much worse: You are enemies and we are coming for you.

Schwarzenegger goes on to claim that Kristallnacht was carried out “by the Nazi equivalent of the Proud Boys,” and that the mob that overran the U.S. Capitol on January 6 was America’s “Kristallnacht.” He accuses President Trump of provoking the mob, trying to engineer a coup, and calls for any politicians who have supported Trump to be “held accountable.” He concludes by reminding us how strong our democracy is, “like a tempered sword,” and how it is important to support president-elect Biden “in defense of our democracy and those who would threaten it.”

This video, despite Schwarzenegger’s likely good intentions, will only cause further polarization. It reinforces the same one-sided narrative that has for years infuriated at least half the nation. It is yet another salvo of a biased, offensive narrative that is one of the reasons Trump got elected, and one of the reasons why the movement he catalyzed is not going to go away.

Reminding people of the double standard applied by the media to events of the past year and in prior years has become almost insipid. We’ve heard this story over and over. But when someone with the stature and influence of Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to compare the events of January 6, 2020 to the Kristallnacht, and wants to compare the Proud Boys to the German Nazis of the 1930s, it’s time to go down double standard lane, yet again.

Schwarzenegger is invited to review the video files, readily available, showing formations of militant Antifa cadres marching through the streets of every city in America, chanting violent slogans, carrying clubs and shields, wearing helmets and body armor, all dressed in black. Schwarzenegger is invited to view video clips showing these dangerous militants beating the hell out of unarmed, outnumbered victims that dared to wear a MAGA hat or carry an American flag. Schwarzenegger is encouraged to review the pitched battles that have been fought by Antifa militants for months on end in cities across America. He should take note of the burning buildings and the broken glass.

These videos of Antifa in action are terrifying. They reveal a growing movement with tens of thousands of members that is well trained and well organized, and committed to sustained violence and intimidation against anyone that doesn’t support them. If anyone in the United States today should be compared to the black shirted fascist Nazis that terrorized Germany in the 1930s, it is Antifa.

A good source for Schwarzenegger to find these video segments would be the Twitter account of Andy Ngo, a journalist who has been a victim of Antifa violence. Ngo gets almost no press coverage and when he does, this gay, Asian, immigrant journalist is accused of having ties to “right wing extremists.” Not only is this accusation a flagrant lie, but even if it were true, Ngo’s videos aren’t doctored. The videos don’t lie. Antifa has served notice to local political candidates and politicians in cities all over the country: Don’t defy us.

As another exercise in contrary facts so obvious it feels insipid to bring them up, Schwarzenegger ought to review the plentiful examples of prominent Democrats and news commentators encouraging the leftist violence that gripped the nation throughout 2020. Pointing out double standards isn’t “deflection.” It’s justice.

Before Arnold Schwarzenegger makes another video, he might consider what’s really happening on the streets of America.

It is true that some Trump supporters have become militant, or have succumbed to the momentum of the mob. Nonetheless, if any mass demonstrations could accurately be described as “mostly peaceful” over the past year, it would be those held by Trump supporters, including the massive rally and march on January 6. A minute fraction of that massive crowd got out of hand. It is a self-serving lie, defying all observational data to claim that Trump’s supporters are usually the aggressors. Events over the past year contradict this claim.

Whenever Trump supporters held a rally or a march, or even whenever GOP candidates held a meeting or a convention, it was Antifa that would show up to provoke violence. After Trump supporters hold events, Antifa gangs stalk the streets, looking for stragglers to beat up. This pattern is well documented on videos posted online, but the news media either ignores it, or attempts to present the confrontations in a manner that makes the Trump supporters appear to be the instigators.

Ultimately, by going down this well worn path of one-sided condemnation, Schwarzenegger is enabling further violence. Everything the establishment is doing, from escalating online censorship to presenting outrageously slanted news and analysis, to conducting mass arrests, plays into the hands of extremist provocateurs. Where was the censorship, the news spotlight, or the mass arrests last year, during months of orchestrated violence and vandalism coming from the Left?

What escalates violence in any nation is when people lose hope. The nihilistic passion that drives Antifa cadres to call for the overthrow of the American government is because young Americans do not have the opportunities they had a generation ago. The irony here is deep. It is the marriage of big business and socialist government – also known as economic fascism – that has dried up opportunities and elevated the cost-of-living in America, with Schwarzenegger’s adopted state of California as ground zero for this disaster.

If he were willing to work as hard on his next video as he once worked on his biceps back in his body building days, Schwarzenegger could articulate a centrist vision that steers clear of blaming either wing of disaffected Americans for their anger and militancy, and instead offers hope.

That could be hope in the form of deregulating the housing market, standing up to the extreme environmentalists, reviving the timber industry to thin the forests and end catastrophic wildfires, spending more money on freeways to make room for all those electric cars, keeping Diablo Canyon open and commissioning another nuclear power plant in California, investing in water storage projects and desalination plants, breaking the power of the teachers’ union monopoly on public education, and restoring law and order to California’s cities while moving the homeless – fast – into supervised tent encampments instead of spending billions to build them free housing on the beach.

To the extent these solutions are controversial is thanks to the special interests that control California. If anyone understands the nature of these special interests, Schwarzenegger does. But he is operating out of their playbook, and just adding his voice to a one-sided divisive chorus, instead of doing the hard work of fighting for policies that offer hope.

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Why are Some California Doctors Refusing to Prescribe Certain Meds to COVID Patients

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 18:34:16 GMT

Since when and why do doctors refuse to prescribe known medications and remedies for COVID-19? Apparently in California, this occurs because it “is not the protocol doctors use around here.”

A friend reported that she and her husband are recovering from Covid. “My husband has COPD so he ended up hospitalized but is home now and doing better,” she said. However, and this is where it gets bad, “The doctors around here won’t treat anyone until they can’t breath, then they say ‘go to the hospital.'”

What doctor would refuse to treat a patient until the illness reaches a life-threatening emergency?

She continued: “We got meds online through the America’s Frontline Doctors, or I don’t think we would have done as well as we did.” She said they asked her husband’s two doctors for antibiotics and steroids. “Both said ‘no.’ It’s no wonder the hospitals are filling up,” she said.

Is this by design? Did California’s public health officials really issue a stand-down restriction on life-saving medications so COVID-19 would get worse in the state?

As we reported in “California’s Public Health Doctors Are Violating Hippocratic Oath, ‘First, Do No Harm,’” Public health doctors, while not in a medical practice, must still adhere to “Primum non nocere,” the Latin phrase that means “first, do no harm.” But they aren’t.

My friend said she has heard the same thing from others friends: “Doctors won’t ‘treat’ their patients. It’s like they’ve all been told to stand down or something,” she said. “When I asked one doc about getting Hydroxychloroquine he acted like I insulted him. Craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”

She said her daughter who lives in Texas, was exposed to friends who contracted COVID, and her Texas doctors immediately prescribed she and her husband a Z-Pak (Zithromax) and steroids. Both apparently recovered quickly.

When my friend and her husband asked her husband’s cardiologist – who knows her husband has COPD – why he would not prescribe the steroids and Z-pak and/or Hydroxychloroquine, he said “that is not the protocol doctors use around here.”

What exactly does that mean? What protocols? And who issued them – the Governor? Dr. Mark Ghaly, Gov. Newsom’s appointed Health and Human Services Secretary? County public health officials?

Is this malpractice?

America’s Frontline Doctors report the restriction on HCQ is severe in western democracies. “But during Covid-19, State Pharmacy Boards and State Governors have passed regulations that have restricted only hydroxychloroquine and only when being used for Covid-19! This dramatic departure from the way medicine has always been practiced is very alarming to people who are concerned about the doctor-patient relationship.”

“It has never happened that the government has restricted physicians from prescribing an FDA approved medication” they explain (emphasis theirs).

As California Globe has reported, American’s Front Line Doctors, which exist to counter the massive disinformation campaign regarding the pandemic, warn that U.S. Governors’ attempt to ban hydroxychloroquine is the real problem.

Dr. Simone Gold who is also a lawyer, exposed a “massive disinformation campaign” about coronavirus and treatment, and was rewarded with de-platforming by Facebook, Google and Youtube.

The doctors have a map on their website showing which states allow for hydroxychloroquine, and which make it difficult or impossible – note that California is “fairly difficult:”

States which allow for HCQ. (Photo: America’s Frontline Doctors)

America’s Frontline Doctors have more information on their website about COVID-19, COVID-19 Medication Availability, vaccine information, and access to physicians.

The post Why are Some California Doctors Refusing to Prescribe Certain Meds to COVID Patients appeared first on California Globe.

California State Capitol – the People’s House – Also Under Lockdown

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 01:15:47 GMT

The gallery in the California State Senate was closed to the public Friday disallowing the usual public review. The gallery is the seating area above the Senate chambers where visitors can sit and observe the Senate debate and vote on legislation.

California Senate Chambers, with galler above. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for California Globe)

The gallery is also where members of the Third House like to observe the Senate while it is in session. But Friday they were also locked out.

As a credentialed member of the California State Capitol Press Corp, this Globe editor has not attended a live, in person press conference for the Governor since February, nor has the Globe been allowed to ask the governor one question in 10 months, despite calling in to the press conferences.

California State Capitol fencing. (Photo: Katy Grimes for California Globe)

Driving past the Capitol Friday afternoon in downtown Sacramento was as disturbing as Capitol police closing the Senate gallery: the Capitol grounds are fenced off with galvanized steel chain link fencing.

As the Globe reported, Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday he will be activating up to 1,000 California National Guard troops to help protect the Capitol Building and ‘critical state infrastructure’ in preparation for planned armed protests next week during President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

This State Capitol is the People’s house. However, during 2020 it didn’t feel much like the people’s house with moms protesting the school and business closures getting arrested by Capitol police.

If there are a few rowdy members of the public in the Senate and Assembly galleries, then Capitol sergeants should address those few.

The word going around Capitol circles is that leaders in the Capitol like it this way. They like empty committee hearing rooms. They like empty Senate and Assembly galleries, and they really like not having to deal with members of the media – even the friendlies.

At what point will the media, the Third House and the public be allowed to re-engage with elected members of the California Legislature and Governor in the People’s House?

In 2018, Assemblyman Ken Cooley, Chairman Joint Committee on Rules, authored California Historic Capitol A Symbolic Building, Made Richer by its Symbols. This is what Assemblyman Cooley wrote about the “People’s House:”

“As California’s historic ‘People House,’ the West Wing is a a Symbol first, and a Building very much second. The faces and hushed tones of those who visit the Capitol makes this plain; the building and its rotunda stir awe and respect from its visitors. For visitors to Capitol Park and the West Wing, symbols abound inside and out because early Californians invested it with a rich story of our system of governance and its meaning for all who enter its precincts.”

“Astonishingly, the 1952 Annex is entirely and unimaginably devoid of these important symbols and their hope-giving narrative. To strengthen civic engagement, the Annex Project, by restoring this narrative and symbols throughout, can again import their rich understanding of our system of government, its heritage, and its promise.”

This is the State Capitol, which at this point, is unavailable to the people.

The post California State Capitol – the People’s House – Also Under Lockdown appeared first on California Globe.

California Giving Convicted Criminals COVID Vaccine for Several Weeks Ahead of Vulnerable Elderly

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 20:03:18 GMT

California has been vaccinating convicted criminals for several weeks. After claiming to prioritize the elderly and most vulnerable, state officials allowed young and healthy inmates to receive the COVID vaccine ahead of the elderly and sick.

Inmates’ attorneys have been pushing to rapidly vaccinate about 9,000 inmates who have underlying medical conditions and haven’t previously been infected, the Associated Press reported. These are the same attorneys who have been urging federal and state judges and the governor since March to let more inmates out of prison to create space to isolate the sick and protect those who are vulnerable.

Couple these irregularities with California’s dismal rate of distribution of the vaccine – one of the worst in the country with only about a quarter of available doses administered – while the most vulnerable are not only isolated away from family, they are dying.

Prisoners also Benefit from State Unemployment Fraud

Unemployment insurance fraud in the state appears to have topped $8 billion, according to a new study from the California Center for Jobs and the Economy – while hundreds of thousands of employees and families haven’t received unemployment benefits, or have been cut off by the EDD.

The Los Angeles Times reports that while the vaccines became available in the U.S. in mid-December, only 3% of California facilities in the program had been scheduled for their first visit from a vaccination team as of Sunday. “It wasn’t until Monday that state health officials, who set the priorities for the vaccine program, authorized the pharmacies to start vaccinating at assisted living facilities, according to a statement sent to The Times by CVS.”

This is a stunning revelation as the majority of COVID-19 deaths across the country are the elderly. In California, the Department of Public Health reports that 75% of the COVID deaths are in people 65 and order, as this chart shows.

CA COVID-19 dashboard. (Photo: CDPH.ca.gov)

As the Globe reported this week, California health officials announced Wednesday that all California residents age 65 and older would be next in line to receive the vaccine following the first phase given to health care workers – but not scheduled to begin until sometime in late January.

Large vaccination sites are also currently being built up in stadiums, fairgrounds, and even theme parks in large population counties.

But many over the age of 65 are in nursing homes, and not only can’t leave the nursing facility, but cannot be exposed to large crowds.

There are many stories of Californians jumping in the front of the line to get a COVID vaccination, including non-medical employees of health care companies. The Globe learned of two individuals who represent health care companies when lobbying the Legislature, who boasted about receiving the vaccine on social media.

California’s behemoth incompetent bureaucracy managed to provide convicted criminals the COVID vaccine before the most vulnerable citizens in our state, and sent upwards of $8 billion of fraudulent unemployment benefits to convicts and out of state fraudsters, while small business owners and employees have been in a forced shut-down by Gov. Gavin Newsom for the last 10 months.

You just can’t make this stuff up.

The post California Giving Convicted Criminals COVID Vaccine for Several Weeks Ahead of Vulnerable Elderly appeared first on California Globe.

California Supreme Court Rules Dynamex Decision Is Retroactive

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 15:02:07 GMT

On January 14, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that its landmark Dynamex decision instituting the “ABC Test” for worker classification is retroactive. The high court wrote, “In concluding that the standard set forth in Dynamex applies retroactively — that is, to all cases not yet final as of the date our decision in Dynamex became final — we rely primarily on the fact that Dynamex addressed an issue of first impression. It did not change a settled rule on which the parties below had relied.”

The Court rendered its decision in response to a certified question of state law by the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Vasquez v. Jan-Pro Franchising International. The Supreme Court essentially determined that it was not unfair or unjust in making the decision applying to pending cases when the decision was issued, and that retroactivity is the general rule, so its decision is consistent with that general rule.

Some would disagree with that determination as both businesses and contractors had, in fact, relied upon nearly three decades of Supreme Court precedent found in the Borello factors. The Borello factors were established in the 1989 case of S.G. Borello & Sons v. Superior Court, which was a workers’ compensation case. Dynamex, on the other hand, dealt with interpreting the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders.

The Court said that it was addressing this issue for Wage Order purposes for the first time and therefore the general retroactivity rule should apply. “Particularly because we had not previously issued a definitive ruling on the issue addressed in Dynamex, we see no reason to depart from the general rule that judicial decisions are given retroactive effect.”

In addition, the Court said businesses were on notice that the Court would likely adopt an ABC Test. “Indeed, twice in the last decade, we signaled that the test for determining whether a worker should be classified as an employee or independent contractor in the wage order context remained an open question.” While this is an accurate characterization, the Borello test was the only formal guidance available to businesses and contractors.

More importantly, state agencies charged with enforcing the law have relied upon the Borello factors for the past three decades. However, the Court did not view it this way. “In resolving that issue, our decision in Dynamex did not overrule any prior California Supreme Court decision or disapprove any prior California Court of Appeal decision. Thus, the well-established general principle affirming the retroactive application of judicial decisions interpreting legislative measures supports the retroactive application of Dynamex.” Again, an accurate statement, but what other decision guided state agencies, businesses and individuals other than the Borello case?

The Supreme Court did not accept the business’ reliance argument. “By ‘expressly declin[ing] to decide the issue, thereby reserving our ultimate judgment on the question for some later date,’ we ‘highlighted the fact that this question remained to be decided by this court.’ Thus, defendant’s reasonable reliance argument is unconvincing.”

Here, again, the reliance is not on the court’s reluctance to provide clear guidance. The reliance is on the enforcement agencies of the state – Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (i.e., the Labor Commissioner) and Department of Industrial Relations – and their use of the Borello factors. That is why businesses were up in arms at the release of the Dynamex decision because they were faced with an entirely new, stringent worker classification test that had changed the past 30 years of law.

The post California Supreme Court Rules Dynamex Decision Is Retroactive appeared first on California Globe.

CA Supreme Court Undermines Independent Worker Test Ruling it Retroactive

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 10:25:17 GMT

On Thursday the California Supreme Court ruled that the “ABC” test for finding independent contractors and workers under the AB 5 law is now to be considered retroactive.

Under AB 5, the ABC test, first clarified in the 2018 Dynamex ruling, workers must answer yes to being “free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the work’s performance,” must do work that is not usual in the business, and must have an independently established job that is being done under the work being done for the business. If a worker doesn’t fall under all three, they are to be considered an employee and not an independent contractor, opening them to full benefits and pay as an employee of the company.

The ABC test was brought under fire in 2020, with AB 5 itself being considerably weakened by having many initial businesses being covered under the new law being exempt. The biggest blow to AB 5 came in November when Proposition 22 was passed by voters of California and subsequently made all rideshare companies exempt from the law.

Since then, many groups have been trying to overturn Prop 22 in court. However, despite the worker classification itself being the major issue, the controversy over the ABC test continued on in the state Supreme Court.

Thursday’s case brought to the state Supreme Court by workers of Jan-Pro Franchising International against the company, was ultimately decided to be in the workers favor. Despite the weakening of AB 5 and the passage of Prop 22, workers can now continue to sue companies from being wronged by the ABC all the way back to cases in 2018, with companies remaining liable for any violations made since then.

“In light of the general rule of retroactivity of judicial decisions and the fundamental importance of the protections afforded by the state’s wage orders, we find no compelling justification for denying workers included in such lawsuits the benefit of the standard set forth in
Dynamex,” explained Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye.

Law experts noted the importance of the passage on Thursday.

“This is pretty big, and it is probably making companies like Lyft and DoorDash nervous tonight,” former business attorney Mel Greenburg told the Globe. “What happened was that the test is now retroactive, meaning that any cases where prior rulings or exemptions were given, like Prop 22, it is all clear for them. So if a company unfairly put down an employee as a contractor instead of an employee, say, in April 2019, against what the ABC test said to do, they are liable. So, say for rideshare companies, nothing now protects them for lawsuits if such a thing happened between the time the ABC test was made legal to when Prop 22 came into effect. It’s a big window.”

It is unknown as of Thursday if the case will be appealed to a higher court.

The post CA Supreme Court Undermines Independent Worker Test Ruling it Retroactive appeared first on California Globe.

Gov. Newsom Announces National Guard Activation for Protests Next Week

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 02:07:25 GMT

Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday he will be activating up to 1,000 California National Guard troops to help protect the Capitol Building and ‘critical state infrastructure’ in preparation for planned armed protests next week during President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

In addition to National guard troops, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers will be on scene, as well as other law enforcement. A temporary security perimeter will also be placed around the Capitol Building as an added security measure.

The Governor made the decision following news that armed rallies by Trump supporters are planned in all 50 states, with supporters gathering to protest the inauguration of President-elect Biden. Also influencing his decision for increased security was the unwillingness to have a storming of the capitol building by protesters similar to the the storming of the Capitol Building last week.

“We’re taking important steps here in California in light of what we saw at our nation’s Capitol just last week,” Newsom announced in a video address posted on social media.

“Our state operations center is actively working with federal and local law enforcement partners across the spectrum in assessing threats, sharing intelligence, and sharing information. We will respond to any potential violent civil unrest leading up to or during the inaugural if required. We’re treating this very seriously and deploying significant resources to protect public safety, critical infrastructure, and First Amendment rights. But let me be clear. There will be no tolerance for violence.”

“That’s why, today, along with the CHP and Office of Emergency Services, I’ve activated the California National Guard to support the CHP to enhance security with an initial deployment of 1,000 guard members to protect critical state infrastructure in and around the State Capitol. Also today we’re setting up a temporary security perimeter around the Capitol.”

“California will take every necessary measure to protect public safety and protect our Democratic principles and to ensure that those disgraceful actions are not repeated here.”

In light of events in our nation’s capital last week, CA is taking important steps to protect public safety at the State Capitol & across the state.

We're actively working with federal, state & local law enforcement to ensure those disgraceful actions are not repeated here. pic.twitter.com/592uureuLA

— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) January 14, 2021

Added security in Sacramento

However, protesters planning to attend have said that violence and breaking past barricades is the last thing they want.

“Sure, we are angry about everything that happened,” said “Dave,” a Fresno resident who is planning to go to Sacramento to protest. “But everyone is saying the day will go down like what happened in DC last week. And that’s not true. We’re not extremists or white nationalists or anything like that. We’re citizens, admittedly Trump supporters, who are very unsure on how the votes were tallied for president. Of course we’re mad that Trump seemingly lost, but there’s a lot of questions over vote counting and missing votes that haven’t been addressed.”

“And that’s why we’ll be there. We feel like the election was stolen, and there’s no real discourse now but to do it publicly. BLM protestors did that last summer when they felt like there was no other option than to get angry and protest, and we’re in that situation now. What else can we do?”

“And, this is important, we’re not trying for an “armed insurrection” or are going to try and break in. We just want our voices heard. Especially in California. I don’t think they needed all the extra security, but after what happened in D.C. and those people breaking in, I can see why.”

“There’s a lot of supporters out there who won’t articulate this as politely, but we’ll be out there because we think that Biden stole this election. You know, Gore supporters protested too in 2001. We’re just doing the same. We’re telling the world, in D.C. and all 50 states, that we don’t think this is right.”

Protests are expected to peak on Tuesday next week in Washington, Sacramento, and other state capitols during Biden’s inauguration.

The post Gov. Newsom Announces National Guard Activation for Protests Next Week appeared first on California Globe.

SF City Administrator Naomi Kelly Resigns Over Bribery Allegations

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 22:48:30 GMT

Earlier this week, San Francisco City Administrator handed in her resignation over continued fraud and bribery allegations.

The allegations date back to 2016 when General Manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SF PUC) Harlan Kelly, who is Naomi’s husband, got entangled in an FBI investigation over accepting bribes and being in a corrupt partnership with San Francisco construction executive and permit expediter Walter Wong.

According to an FBI complaint, Wong had provided Harlan and the Kelly family several paid international trips, including a vacation to China, meals, jewelry, and personal car services. These were all arranged mainly through the online chat service WeChat. The conversations were not removed, allowing the FBI to later discover such incriminating messages as Harlan Kelly saying to Wong “Thank you for the best family vacation ever! A little something for everyone!”

Former SF PUC General Manager Harlan Kelly (Photo: Youtube)

The FBI complaint, as well as Wong in a guilty plea, noted that these were all given in exchange for Kelly’s help in getting Wong’s son the city streetlight conversion project contract, as well as other dealings of Wong’s.

Despite Harlan Kelly maintaining his innocence, he was arrested during a December 1, 2020 FBI raid on his house and charged with one count of honest services wire fraud. He resigned later that day.

“I am not guilty of these charges,” said Harlan Kelly in December. “I have devoted my entire career to public service. As many of my colleagues at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission are aware, I had intended to retire in the next 18 months. Unfortunately, I need to leave my position now in order to defend myself, my legacy and my family.”

Since Harlan’s Kelly arrest, Naomi Kelly had been under growing scrutiny, with many alleging that she was involved beyond going on those trips given by Wong. She had taken a six-week leave of absence the day after her husband was charged and resigned.

Naomi Kelly resigns

Naomi Kelly, who worked for San Francisco since the 1990’s and had been City Administrator since 2012 after being appointed by former Mayor Ed Lee, ended her leave of absence this week. Kelly still found herself under a cloud, with both her husband’s charge and continued scrutiny around her becoming too much to bear. This all led to her handing in her resignation on Tuesday, an action that wasn’t reported until the next day.

“I must step aside to focus on my family and to allow City Administrator’s Office to function without distraction,” said Kelly after handing in her resignation. “As a dedicated public servant, I am deeply saddened to tender my resignation in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis for which the City Administrator’s Office has a vital role. However, I know, that this is the right decision for San Francisco, for my family, and especially for my two children who have been devastated by these allegations.”

In her letter to Mayor London Breed, Kelly also continued to deny the allegations against her and her husband, saying that the FBI case was “based on the false statements of an admitted liar,” referring to Wong.

Legal experts have said that the evidence in the case against Harlan Kelly is substantial.

“This is all so early, and Harlan Kelly is still an innocent man until he is tried by the court. But there is much evidence against him, most notably, those chat messages thanking a man for vacations,” Bay Area criminal lawyer Doug Hirsch told the Globe.

“With his wife it’s all up in the air, and you can’t even speculate on it because the FBI hasn’t charged her on anything. The resignation was most likely in response to the growing scrutiny on her and her husband, and it seemed to have been timed to be effective the day before her husband goes to court over all this. And, in the end, it’s probably a good thing. A public official being this close to another official who did this, and even, unwillingly, benefitting from at least one of the bribes looks bad.

“City Administrator is an important job in San Francisco. They are in charge of 25 departments and is the most important non-elected position in the city. If there is more to this, it would look even worse if she was in office. If there isn’t, it’s still suspicious in the eyes of many why she is still there. Involved or not, it was the right move.

“In any case, the city breathes a little easier now with her out as the court date comes up. And this whole incident also just put the kibosh on any plans to name a building or erect a statue or plaque of them.”

Naomi Kelly’s resignation will be effective February 1st, with no new administrator yet to be named by Mayor Breed. Harland Kelly is due in court on February 2nd.

The post SF City Administrator Naomi Kelly Resigns Over Bribery Allegations appeared first on California Globe.

Bizarre CADEM Party Press Conference: RecallGavin2020 is ‘Coup’ and ‘Treasoness’

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 20:09:38 GMT

“California is heading off an economic cliff and Governor Gavin Newsom is driving the car,” Rescue California says. “Unaffordable housing. Record homelessness. Rising crime. Failing schools. Independent contractors thrown out of work. Exploding pension debt. And now, a locked down population while the prisons are emptied. Hold Gavin Newsom accountable. Gavin Newsom must go,” RecallGavin2020 says.

It appears California Democrats are also headed for that cliff after a press conference Tuesday where they called the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom a “coup” attempt and “treason” extremists, radicals, white nationalists and armed insurrectionists.

California Democratic Party chairman Rusty Hicks elucidated: “This recall effort, which really ought to be called the California coup, is led by right wing conspiracy theorists, white nationalists, anti-vaxxers and groups who encourage violence on our democratic institutions,’’ he said.

“Anti-vaxxers?” Really? Those oh-so-dangerous home-schooling moms?

Psychologists inform us that when someone resorts to name calling, it usually speaks to feelings of inferiority and a feeling of inadequacy, and use name calling when they need to make themselves feel more powerful.

With the campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom surpassing 1 million signatures, and gaining substantial funding, it is said Newsom’s closest advisors are rightly concerned.

And so is the California Democratic Party. However, the CADEMs exposed just how vulnerable, and desperate they are this week in the bizarre press conference.

Joining Rusty Hicks were other elected Democrats who used similar rhetoric: Fresno City Councilman Nelson Esparza called the recall effort “treasonous.” Former Assemblyman and current San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria Fresno City Councilman Nelson Esparza said he appreciated “the opportunity to draw a straight line from the horrible events of last week in Washington D.C. to the current events here in California,” CalMatters reported.

Randy Economy. (Photo: Facebook)

Randy Economy, Senior Advisor with the recall campaign, said the CADEMS embarrassed themselves with this bizarre press conference. “We are seeing that the CADEM Party does not know how to deal with crises, or how to deal with the people,” he said. “Our Petition is not about the Republican Party, but about changing this governor, and making him accountable to somebody.”

“For CADEMs to hold that bizarre press conference – Rusty Hicks needs to resign. He’s an embarrassment to California Democrats,” Economy said.

Economy ought to know well. He was on the Democratic Party Central Committee in Los Angeles during California’s last recall election in 2003 of then-Gov. Gray Davis. “I remember it like yesterday,” Economy said. “Gray Davis giving that tearful ‘I can’t believe this is happening’ speech, after the recall election…” Economy said Davis and the Democrats did not pay attention to the people then, and they are not paying to them now.

“They really showed their true colors,” he added.

What Gray Davis did back in 1999-2003 was unforgivable, and what Gov. Newsom is doing to Californians today is also unforgivable. Gov. Gray Davis was recalled over leadership issues, high taxation, and inaction over a struggling California economy and rolling energy blackouts, in a state awash in ultra-cheap natural gas.

Gov. Newsom, also blamed for rolling energy blackouts, is now being appropriately blamed for shutting down the entire state of 40 million residents, forcing the closure of millions of small businesses, and killing the state’s economy, all while blaming the coronavirus.

Economy said he’s getting calls all day long from Democrats saying “enough is enough.” They want to sign the recall petition.

And that is because “the Party has been radicalized by Rusty Hicks and Eric Bauman before him for two generations,” Economy explained. “Even Nancy Pelosi wasn’t this radicalized when she was California Democratic Party Chairwoman, nor was Art Torres.”

“This current regime is schizophrenic.”

“You can’t go over the people,” he said. “Isn’t that what this is all about… knowing that the rank and file guy who owns his business is hurting?”

Economy said he’s getting calls from small business owners throughout the state supporting the recall.

“This thing is going to go down,” Economy said. “And I just want to thank Rusty Hicks and the California Democratic Party.”

The post Bizarre CADEM Party Press Conference: RecallGavin2020 is ‘Coup’ and ‘Treasoness’ appeared first on California Globe.

CA Republican Rep. David Valadeo Votes With Speaker Pelosi to Impeach President Trump

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:14:15 GMT

Two newly elected California Republican members of Congress have sided with House Democrats to impeach and censure President Donald Trump.

Rep. David Valadeo (R-CA) voted with Speaker Nancy Pelosi to impeach President Trump Wednesday.

Rep. Young Kim and five other members of the House introduced a resolution to censure President Donald Trump claiming Trump tried to prevent the certification of the 2020 elections and allegedly incite rioters last week.

Congresswoman Young Kim accepting her Congressional victory on November 13, 2020 (Photo: Twitter)

Valadeo lost his Congressional seat in the 2018 ballot harvesting slaughter to TJ Cox.

In 2018, Kim was the Republican Party candidate in the 39th congressional district, and was defeated by Democrat Gil Cisneros, also in the ballot harvesting slaughter of seven congressional seats.

Here is what Valadeo said in a Facebook post about his vote to impeach:

President Trump was, without question, a driving force in the catastrophic events that took place on January 6 by encouraging masses of rioters to incite violence on elected officials, staff members, and our representative democracy as a whole.

Speaker Pelosi has thrown precedent and process out the window by turning what should be a thorough investigation into a rushed political stunt. I wish, more than anything, that we had more time to hold hearings to ensure due process.

Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi did not afford us that option.

Based on the facts before me, I have to go with my gut and vote my conscience. I voted to impeach President Trump. His inciting rhetoric was un-American, abhorrent, and absolutely an impeachable offense. It’s time to put country over politics.

There are 5,400 comments on Valadeo’s Facebook post by “friends” critical of his vote and subsequent excuse for it. Several of the comments sum up constituents’ reactions:

“Heard you on Trevor Carey’s show. Your explanation for voting for impeachment was total BS. The impeachment charge had nothing to do with what Trump was saying for the last 2 months. It accused him of inciting what happened January 6. It is a false charge, yet you voted for it. People like you are the reason democrats get away with trashing our country & constitution.”

“I moved into your district from McCarthy‘s right before the election and made an extra effort to make sure that I was registered. I voted for you. As a fellow farmer, I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in your vote to impeach. Did Pelosi make you an offer you couldn’t refuse? I defended you when others called you a RINO. Now, you need to either be recalled or face a true Republican primary candidate.”

“Courage would have been standing up to Pelosi. Remember, you REPRESENT your constituents, and you should have voted accordingly. You will not be re-elected in 2 years….AGAIN.”

On Twitter, Valadeo was no more popular:

President Trump was, without question, a driving force in the catastrophic events that took place on January 6 by encouraging masses of rioters to incite violence on elected officials, staff members, and our representative democracy as a whole.

— Rep. David Valadao (@RepDavidValadao) January 13, 2021

pic.twitter.com/skT7bDBuNh

— Roxanne Hoge (@RoxanneForAD46) January 14, 2021

I hope you sit next to @RepMaxineWaters during the process. She’ll teach you what incitement of violence really looks like. Of course you know that already though but it doesn’t fit the narrative!

— Matt Richter (@MattRichter35) January 14, 2021

and:

“Big mistake David! As someone who phone banked for you and donated to your campaign, I’m terribly disappointed in you. You lost my family’s support today.”

Here is what Kim says about censuring President Trump, as Breitbart reported:

“The violence that our nation witnessed on Wednesday was abhorrent and resulted in an assault on law enforcement, lives lost and many more put in danger. These rioters must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The president also misled many Americans to believe that the outcome of the election could change on January 6th, when that simply was not true, and must held accountable for his role. I believe censuring the president after his actions helps hold him accountable and could garner wide bipartisan support, allowing the House to remain united during some of our nation’s darkest days. I’m proud to join Rep. Fitzpatrick and others in introducing this resolution today.”

She added, “Like many of my colleagues, I came to Washington promising to bridge the divide. I hope both parties can acknowledge our role in perpetuating division and come together to support this effort and move forward for our constituents and the nation.”

Commenters weren’t happy with the censure either:

“In ‘Julius Caesar’ it was the Senators, and we already had that happen last week. With this many backstabbers, the line would have been ‘Et cetera?'”

“Let’s include the rhetoric of their peers in this motion as well as bring up the dozens of demm objections to the EC votes in 2001, 2005, and ,2017. Yet the weak mindz of the GOP still act like we are wrong to dispute the results.”

Kim also received criticism on Twitter:

The violence we saw last week was disgusting. Our law enforcement was attacked, lives were lost and more were put in danger. These rioters must be held accountable. Words have consequences and I believe the president should also be held accountable.

— Young Kim (@RepYoungKim) January 13, 2021

However, I believe impeaching the president now will fail to hold him accountable or allow us to move forward once President-elect Biden is sworn in. This process will only create more fissures in our country as we emerge from some of our darkest days. https://t.co/NK1EdO5xoN pic.twitter.com/IJIlb6oGva

— Young Kim (@RepYoungKim) January 13, 2021

“Thanks, Young. No need to seek my vote when you run in 2022, you won’t get it.”

Still wrapping my head around this from @RepYoungKim:

"I believe the president should also be held accountable.

I believe impeaching the president now will fail to hold him accountable"

Still wrapping my head around @RepYoungKim saying:

Vote her a** out in 2022!

— sarah k (@wordpower2018) January 13, 2021

“One term congresswoman. Cool!”

The post CA Republican Rep. David Valadeo Votes With Speaker Pelosi to Impeach President Trump appeared first on California Globe.

Gov. Newsom Proposes Statewide Unemployed Artist Funding

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 05:21:41 GMT

Earlier this week, the California Arts Council portion of Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2021-2022 budget proposal was released, detailing a plan to create a $15 million artistry program that would start a COVID-19 outreach and safety encouragement campaign.

According to the budget, the California Creative Corps would “fuel positivity, regain public trust and inspire safe and healthy behavior across California’s diverse populations through a media, outreach, and engagement campaign.”

While the proposal does not go into many specifics, including how people would be hired, where the money would exactly go to, and how it would be utilized, it was noted that all state funding to the Corps would only match all other donations going into the program up to the full $15 million amount. Many other details would likely be the same as the program it is based off of: the San Francisco Creative Corps.

Begun in November of last year, the San Francisco Creative Corps is a pilot program that hired unemployed artists in the city and had them go out across the city to encourage mask wearing, PPE usage, safe social distancing, and other COVID-19 health and safety guidelines in unique ways. Created in conjunction with Mayor London Breed’s office, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and the San Francisco Parks Alliance, the city funded the Corps of 60 unemployed artists and 30 visual artists with $250,000 for a period of two months.

“Many artists and performers are out of work due to COVID and are looking for ways to pay their bills and make a living while also pursuing their artistic interests,” stated Mayor Breed in November at the start of the program. “This new program supports artists financially while also reminding community members to stay safe this holiday season. San Francisco’s artists and cultural organizations are what make our city such a vibrant place, and we need to do all we can to support them. The Creative Corps is an innovate approach to help our artists during this difficult time, and will bring some joy and fun to public spaces throughout the City.”

While the program had mixed reactions with organizers hoping that it would be extended past January 3rd, the Corps ultimately was not extended further into January.

However, key people behind the San Francisco Creative Corps have said that the program goes beyond paying artists, with some supporters comparing it to helping build up the arts similar to the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression and similar public arts programs in California during the 1970’s and 1990’s.

“We’re not here asking for handouts; we are here saying, ‘Use us in service.’ In this case, the crisis is public health. There are always going to be crises,” explained executive director of Californians for the Arts Julie Baker in a statement. “If this becomes permanent, the California Creative Corps can then help combat homelessness, the opioid crisis, climate change and wildfires. We can use the creativity of artists to heal and help communicate.”

California Creative Corps detractors

Detractors of the proposed program have pointed out that while the program would hire from a large pool of unemployed individuals, that funding to promote COVID-19 safety and other issues in the future could be better spent through health departments or other government organizations more closely related to the topic at hand.

“It’s $15 million,” said Los Angeles-based community funding advocate Dustin Kolb to the Globe. “Compared to the $227 billion of the budget, you know, it’s not much. But out of that pie, LA would get at least $3 million, easy. You know what $3 million could do in poorer areas of the city? You can buy good masks, you could pay for health officials to address school children remotely, you could do so much.”

“Art is one thing. If you pay for cool-looking masks, or masks with cartoons or something kids would want to wear and be easily encouraged to wear, that would go so much farther than hiring a bunch of people on stilts. You could even cycle that money through California-based companies for PPE to help local businesses and industries. Art is good for culture, for memorializing things, and other things that benefit the public. But right now, we need to continue to encourage people to be safe, and art may not work right if just done willy-nilly like it was in San Francisco. If it did work right, then why didn’t San Francisco continue the program?”

A decision on the California Creative Corps pilot program is expected by late June, though due to being related to COVID-19 funding, it may be decided on earlier for budget funding.

The post Gov. Newsom Proposes Statewide Unemployed Artist Funding appeared first on California Globe.

LA School District Board Votes That District Can Sue State Over Gov. Newsom’s Reopening Plan

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 02:09:14 GMT

On Tuesday, the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) voted unanimously to sue California if the state decides to continue on with Governor Gavin Newsom’s reopening plan.

Announced in late December, Governor Newsom currently calls for a $2 billion plan to be put into action. The plan would open up kindergarten through second grade classrooms as soon as early February, with all other grades 3-12 having in-classroom instruction by early Spring.

However, school superintendents from some of the largest school districts have opposed the plan, noting that poorer areas and larger districts with higher than average COVID-19 rates would likely not be ready. Many districts have also recently put out press releases saying that a slow vaccine rollout, in addition to COVID rates continuing to climb in many counties, would keep people in danger until at least mid-2021.

The LAUSD board agreed. With the state now possibly forcing the schools districts hand due to more incentives by the state to open back up despite great public health risk, the board voted 7-0 to give the district the right to sue the state at any time.

“The Board of Education authorized litigation against the state of California, state entities and public officials related to the California Safe Schools for All framework,” said LAUSD board executive officer Jefferson Crain on Tuesday following the closed session vote.

A follow up statement by the LAUSD clarified that the vote was not meant as an immediate declaration to sue and that they hoped to avoid court.

“We hope to avoid the need to seek legal action,” said the LAUSD on Wednesday.

Issues with remote learning, other LAUSD problems

Advocates for in-school classes returning have noted that remote learning has been largely ineffective, with studies and surveys finding that it didn’t work last spring semester when it was instituted. Advocates also point out that Governor Newsom is not forcing schools to reopen, especially in harder hit areas, and only wants the $2 billion program as an incentive to bring all schools that are ready back to in-class learning.

“It’s a disaster,” Bakersfield teacher Tiffany O’Malley told the Globe. “A lot isn’t sticking, and it’s impossible to control smart phone usage, internet issues, and other factors. They need to be back in the classroom, because that’s simply the best place to teach. Kids also need to socialize, especially now after almost a year of isolation.”

However, districts like Los Angeles are countering that reopening sooner could only increase the spread of COVID-19, and that Governor Newsom’s incentives would only apply to schools ready to open, which are often in wealthier districts or in more rural counties.

“Safe Schools for All – there’s a contradiction of terms,” Los Angeles coach and teacher William Barkley said in an interview with the Globe. Our hospitals are barely operating now with so many cases, new COVID hotspots are spreading this like wildfire, and our kids have learned a new normal. So now they want us to either risk illness and death to reopen schools and get needed funding, or skip out on the funding and remain closed but also stay healthy. There’s no good option here. I want what’s best for children, but what is it? Bring them back to normal schooling or keep them and their families safe from COVID?”

In a non-partisan study, the Legislative Analyst’s Office found that Governor Newsom’s timeline is “likely unfeasible” due to current COVID-19 rates across the state and every district have a mix of hard hit by COVID-19 areas and areas that have been mainly infection free.

Complicating matters is additional possible litigation approved on Tuesday over getting back money over paying for meals for students during the pandemic out of pocket, a service that is usually funded in part by the state.

“Yeah, it’s not just getting kids back to school,” added Barkley. “We also want money back for feeding them remotely too. Free school lunches are still in there by law, because for some kids, this is their only meal of the day. And if they stayed home, well, I don’t like to think about it.

“We’re literally asking for money for keeping kids alive when the state dropped the ball.”

As of Wednesday, the Governor nor the state has responded to the possible LAUSD litigation. In-person classes in some schools in grades K-2 are still scheduled to reopen as early as February 16th.

The post LA School District Board Votes That District Can Sue State Over Gov. Newsom’s Reopening Plan appeared first on California Globe.

AB 71 Amended to add Tax Increases to Fund ‘Bring California Home Act’

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 23:53:00 GMT

Assembly Bill 71 was amended on January 12 to replace its intent language with dozens of pages of substantive amendments, including several major tax increase proposals. This article only examines the tax provisions of AB 71. The bill is jointly authored by Assembly Members Luz Rivas, Richard Bloom, David Chiu, and Buffy Wicks. AB 71 will require a 2/3 vote for passage in both houses of the Legislature.

Including Global Income

AB 71, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, would include a taxpayer’s global low-taxed income in their gross income for purposes of the Personal Income Tax Law, in modified conformity with federal law. Section One of the bill would add Section 17087.7 to the Revenue and Taxation Code.

Section 17087.7 would be added to provide that, after 1/1/22, Section 951A of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to Global intangible low-taxed income, as enacted by the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–97), would apply with specified exceptions dealing with taxpayers that are not C corporations. A taxpayer who is affected by this new section may submit a petition to the Franchise Tax Board for alternative apportionment. It would exempt any regulatory actions taken by the FTB from the state’s APA process.

Increasing Tax Rates

AB 71, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, and with respect to taxpayers with taxable income under the Corporation Tax Law greater than $5 million for the taxable year, would increase the tax rates from 8.84% to 9.6% (for corporations) or 10.84% to 11.6% (for financial institutions), unless the $800 minimum franchise tax is greater. Section Two of the bill would amend Section 23151 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

Section 23151(f)(2) would be amended to apply the current corporate tax rate of 8.84% through December 31, 2021. Section 23151(g)(1) would be added to provide that, after 1/1/22, the tax measured by net income would be computed in the following manner:

If the taxpayer has taxable income greater than five million dollars for the taxable year, 9.6 percent.
If the taxpayer has taxable income less than or equal to five million dollars for the taxable year, 8.84 percent.
Note that financial institutions are taxed at 2% above the corporate rate.

Limiting Water’s-Edge Election

AB 71 would require that a taxpayer that makes a water’s-edge election take into account 50% of the global low-taxed income and 40% of the repatriation income of its affiliated corporations. The bill would allow a taxpayer, for calendar year 2022 only, the opportunity to revoke a water’s-edge election. The bill would prohibit the total of all business credits, with certain exceptions, from reducing the additional tax liability added by this bill’s provisions by more than $5 million. Section Three of the bill would add Section 25110.1 to the Revenue and Taxation Code.

Section 25110.1 would be added to require a taxpayer that makes a water’s-edge election to take into account 50 percent of the global intangible low-taxed income, but not the apportionment factors, of its affiliated corporations. In addition, a taxpayer that makes a water’s-edge election must take into account 40 percent of the repatriation income, but not the apportionment factors, of its affiliated corporations. Also, any taxpayer that includes repatriation income may choose to apportion 14 percent of that income to California or use the apportionment factor otherwise calculated for the combined group for that taxable year. Any taxpayer that includes repatriated income would be entitled to a credit for any taxes already paid on the repatriated income.

In addition, the total of all business credits otherwise allowable cannot reduce the additional tax liability added by AB 71 by more than $5 million. It would exempt any regulatory actions taken by the FTB from the state’s APA process. It would define “affiliated corporation” to be a member of a commonly controlled group; “business credit” to be all credits, except for 10 specified ones used by personal income taxpayers; “global intangible low-taxed income” to be the IRC Section 951A definition; and, “repatriation income” to be the IRC Section 965(a) definition.

Proponents’ Statements

According to the bill’s author, “AB 71 will generate $2.4 billion annually by closing corporate tax loopholes and restoring historic corporate tax rates to their 1980s level on corporations with $5 million or more in profits. This ongoing funding source gives local governments desperately needed resources to implement programs and action plans that combat homelessness, while ensuring transparency and strong accountability that holds local governments accountable to ensure every dollar is used effectively.”

AB 71 is sponsored by the Bring California Home Coalition including Mayors Eric Garcetti, Libby Schaaf, and Darrell Steinberg; Housing California, Corporation of Supportive Housing, All Home, Brilliant Corners, Episcopal Community Services – San Francisco, HOPICS, John Burton Advocates for Youth, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California, Steinberg Institute, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, etc.

Opponents’ Statements

In response, the California Taxpayers Association said: “Californians and their employers are struggling to survive the pandemic, and the last thing they need is a multibillion-dollar tax increase that will lead to more job losses and higher costs for consumers. The Legislature should focus on helping people get back to work, and the best way government can help right now is by solving the problems that plague the unemployment insurance system, not passing tax hikes that add obstacles to economic recovery.

“The proponents of this tax increase say AB 71 would not impact business decisions to leave California. That couldn’t be further from the truth. While Oracle, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, and Tesla made headlines with their decisions to leave, the untold story is how many other businesses also moved departments and functions out of this state because of California’s high cost of doing business, which AB 71 would only make worse.”

AB 71 is expected to have its first policy committee in late February or early March.

The post AB 71 Amended to add Tax Increases to Fund ‘Bring California Home Act’ appeared first on California Globe.