Seeing Through the Smoke: The San Diego Fires

I just received an email from a fellow activist to be forward on to those that care about this issues and so I decided to make it my post for today. Below you will find an interesting video of a talk given by historian Mike Davis last week on the San Diego Fires.

Watch Mike Davis speak on how the right is spinning the tragedy as a triumph of Republican values. You can view the talk here.

Celebrated historian Mike Davis is the author of In Praise of Barbarians, Planet of Slums, Ecology of Fear, and many other influential books. In this provocative talk, he shows that as soon as the San Diego fires started, right-wing politicians began to apply spin.

The real tragedy of the fires occurred on Otay Mountain, east of San Diego where six immigrants were found dead and eleven more were horribly burned. When San Diego’s mainstream media finally got to this story, they argued that it shows how American taxpayers are being forced to provide free health care to “illegal aliens.”

Black Face is perfectly acceptable at DHS

In another stunning example of President Bush’s qualified appointees in government at work. The Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security, Julie Myers has apologized for condoning and lauding an offensive Halloween costume during a contest held last week at the DHS. Secretary Myers was part of a three-judge panel that awarded ‘”most original costume” to a Homeland Security Department employee who dressed in prison stripes, dreadlocks and dark makeup for a Halloween gathering at the agency.’[Link]

Myers who oversees Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement division, only real qualification for the job was that she is the niece to former JCS Chairman General Richard Myers and is married to a top aide to DHS Secretary Chertoff.

Tuesday – Quick Hits

Continued fallout from Labor Day beach riot, City Council passes 1-year Alcohol Ban on all city beaches. UT VOSD

Trying to profit from the wildfires disaster, the D.A. nabs 8 unlicensed contractors in fraud investigation. UT

General Jack Ripper be on alert, the county moves closer to fluoridating water. UT

As Bush’s failed war in Iraq continues, Veterans group seeks holiday donations. UT

Local Paper comes out against crazy Darrel Issa scheme to steal votes. NCTimes

11 city schools honored for improved test scores. VOSD

Wilkes Found Guilty

Brent Wilkes was found guilty today on 13 counts of bribing former Congressman and current Federal corrections inmate Randy “Duke” Cunningham.[Link] The three week trail brought to light $4000 Las Vegas dinners, $6000 per night Hawaiian vacations and two prostitutes who testified that they were paid to have sex with Cunningham.[Link] Wilkes is the first contractor to be prosecuted in the Cunningham affair.

Monday – Quick Hits

Chargers gunning for two sites in CV for future stadium. UT

Thomas Jefferson law school plans move to East Village by 2010. UT

Evacuation numbers overhype by media. What a suprise! VOSD

Wal-Mart pulls the plug on Supercenter in Garden Grove. LATimes

My favorite! “America’s Sheriff” to be arrained on corruption charges today. NCTimes

Tonight – Candidate Forum 78th Assembly District

South Bay Forum in co-Sponsorship with: The Chicano Democratic Association and The Mexican American Business & Political Association

Date: Monday, November 5, 2007, 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
Location: Bell Junior High School 620 Briarwood Rd. San Diego, CA 92139 [Map]

(Rep) John McCann, Chula Vista City Councilman, has been invited and we are hopeful that he will confirm his participation shortly. Confirmed participants are (Dem) Auday Arabo, president of the Neighborhood Market Association, (Dem) Marty Block, president of the San Diego Community College Board of Trustees, and (Dem) Arlie Ricasa, president of the Sweetwater Union High School District School Board.

The forum format will begin with a 2-minute introductory statement from each candidate. Candidates will be asked questions from a panel of invited journalists and editors representing regional and local media. Invited news outlets include: the Star News, La Prensa, The San Diego Union Tribune, The San Diego Voice and View Point, and The Filipino Press.

In addition, members of the audience will be invited to submit questions to the South Bay Forum moderator. Forum Issues: K-12 Student Achievement, College Access and Success, Jobs and Economic Growth, Access to quality Healthcare, Public Safety including Disaster Management, Housing and Mortgage Industry, Fair Taxes, Environmental Protection, Transportation and Highway Infrastructure and enhancing the quality of life for our region’s residents.

For information contact SBF President Jose Preciado at admin@southbayforum.com or at (619) 922-2209 or visit our website at : www.southbayforum.com

Friday – Quick Hits

Having a Rightwing Editorial page is bad for circulation. UT’s daily readership numbers drop 8.5%. VOSD

Don’t speak English, I guess you don’t matter and you’re on your own! Majority of emergency calls made were in English. UT

What a surprise, outsourcing of city services not living up to campaign hype. VOSD

Long overdue, City Council to take up Alcohol Beach Ban on Monday. VOSD UT

KPBS News Director Michael Marcotte leaving after 12-year on the job. SDRadio

Local economy’s future not looking so good. USD index of leading economic indicators drop for the 17th month out of the last 18 months. VOSD

Effort to recall to MiraCosta College trustees over Palm tree flap is dead. NCTimes

Kickoff to Victory

You’re Invited to Our “Kickoff to Victory”

San Diego Democrats are gathering on November 4 to give thanks for everything we have, to support our neighbors in need, and to launch our campaign to win in 2008.

Meet fellow Democrats and some of our local candidates at this event — one year to the day from the General Election. You’ll hear from Chair Jess Durfee and special guests about the Party’s efforts over the next year to turn San Diego County blue.

In addition, we’ll be collecting nonperishable food items and toiletries for those affected by this week’s wildfires and others in need during the holidays. Please join us:

Sunday, November 4 ~ 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.
At Chuey’s Restaurant & Cantina, 1901 Main St., San Diego (92113)
Requested Contribution: $15 ~ Mexican Buffet Provided

This moment, like the year ahead of us, holds challenges as well as opportunities. We hope to see you soon as we all look forward to 2008. You can RSVP to (858) 277-3367 or rsvp@sddemocrats.org.

Too Many Dots, Too Easy to Connect

Fox6 just did a story on the proposed budget cuts in Chula Vista. The tax “advocate” they chose to interview was none other than Carl DeMaio. Carl’s contribution was limited, as he spoke mostly about Chula Vista’s new city hall and the lack of budget cuts there.

I’d like to know how Carl is an expert in Chula Vista’s budget, and why he was chosen to be interviewed. He is no longer the head of the Performance Institute. He’s a City Council candidate in San Diego, not Chula Vista. If Fox was looking for someone who wants to “reform” government in San Diego County, I would think they could have found plenty of more qualified/appropriate people to interview.

I hate to be a conspiracy theorist, but this does seem kind of odd, especially coming from the local Fox affiliate.

First Sweat Shops, Now Plagarism?

Like it was an employee starting an organizing drive, neighborhood-ruining conglomerate Wal-Mart recently dropped its famous ad slogan “Always Low Prices, Always.”

For the first time in 19 years Wal-Mart slaves…errr employees, will wear vests and be featured in commercials without the famous saying. The slogan has been replaced with the much more positive sounding “Save Money, Live Better.”

While the saying does give the impression that Wal-Mart actually improves people’s lives (::scoff, scoff::), it is strangely similar to the famous union slogan “Live Better, Work Union.” Wal-Mart should probably start paying royalties to the AFL-CIO, or at least allow their employees to be treated with dignity.