Congressman Bilbray our Children deserve Healthcare!

Click here to open rally notice: [Link]

California’s children need your help.

The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) re-authorization bill was vetoed by President George W. Bush after it was passed by Congress. SCHIP provides health insurance for millions of low-income children and helps fund the Healthy Families program. Without SCHIP, our children many not get the healthcare they need.

SCHIP can still be saved…with your help. SEIU Local 221 and our allies are holding a rally outside the office of San Diego-area Congressman Brian Bilbray, who voted against the SCHIP bill. Congress needs a two-third majority vote to override the President’s veto. Congressman Bilbray’s vote will be essential to overriding the President’s veto and saving SCHIP.

Come show Congressman Bilbray that funding for our children’s healthcare is worth saving!

When: Tuesday, October 16th, 2007

Time: 12:00 p.m.

Where: Office of Congressman Brian Bilbray

462 Stevens Avenue, Suite 107

Solana Beach, CA 92075

For more information about this event, please contact Carlos Marquez (Government & Community Relations Representative) at (858) 560-0151 x 244

SEIU Local 221

4004 Kearny Mesa Road

San Diego, CA 92111

http://www.seiu.org/

Worst still to come…

Someone, I work with sent me this graph from Mathew Padilla’s Mortgage Insider blog in the OC Register. He quotes a BofA Analyst: that the mortgage correction just “tip of the iceberg” Unfortunately, most of the people who are going to be impacted by this are already struggling to make it.

Warning: Water Carrier Alert!

Over at VOSD today, John Nienstedt from Competitive Edge Research is doing his best job to carry the water for the downtown establishment while hosting Cafe San Diego. He has proposed four simple solutions to end what he calls Short-Timer Syndrome. His suggestions are as follows:

1. Get rid of term limits
2. Raise campaign contribution limits
3. Increase the mayor’s veto power
4. Return to citywide runoff elections for council members (This one is my favorite!)

Why is it that among some in the downtown establishment they think that just over the hill there is civic paradise awaiting us, if only we returned to citywide elections for council members?
Now, I’m not saying that council members elected by district are not without their problems. Too often NIMBYism is wrapped in disguise of individual district concerns. But here is a reality check for the all proponents of citywide elections. During the era of citywide elected council members, we got Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, Mira Mesa, and North City West, just to name a few areas sprawl development without any serious forethought regarding infrastructure and services. Going back to citywide election for council mebers won’t solve the city’s problems. It is leadership that will solve the city’s problems, something this mayor is seriously lacking.

Sick of Republicans? Cancel your UT subscription.

A friend of mine just called and gave me a great idea. If there ever was a doubt that the editorial board of the Union Tribune and the Republican Party were in bed together, this week’s orchestrated attack on Aguirre should make it clear. Those of us who have been around long enough, have seen it played over in every election. The editorial endorsements read word for word like a Republican hit piece: the Democratic candidate is in the pocket of big labor and the Republican candidate would bring “reform” and business acumen to the office. Well, if you are fed up with the UT’s right-wing, pro-developer, anti-working people, anti-environment slant, cancel your subscription. Since their circulation numbers have fallen dramatically in the last few years, every canceled subscription can actually hurt them. To make it easier, here is the contact information for subscription services:

General Inquiries & Customer Service Phone: (619) 299-3131 or (800) 244-6397
Email: subscriber.services@uniontrib.com

Also posted at Calitics.