Inland Empire Progressive

  I was listening to a Health Advocacy groups webinar and one of the staff said in Washington there is a lot of anti-California sentiment from the Congressional Republicans and the President. This made sense to me because every time I hear Jay Obernolte talk about California and the laws he passes concerning it why does he have glee in his voice. He was a proud sponsor of  HR 89  to block California's emission standards.  He was a proud co-sponsor of  HR 88  to block California's efforts to combat climate change. I thought conservatives were all for state's rights, but I guess that only applies when Republicans are in charge.  In 2026, we have to send a message to the California Republican delegation that either you stand with California, or you stand with President Trump. Defend California and its laws and institutions are find yourself on the outside looking in. 

Mac Taylor the influential legislative analyst has guarded optimism about Gov. Jerry Brown's budget. While biased toward the downside, California Democrats in the legislature would do well to heed his advice this time. He sees (and I concur) a lot of volatility due to outside forces (Washington DC and the fiscal cliff) and our tax code. If Dems want revenue, they should go bold on stabilizing our revenue base. I think that would be a smart move politically and might actually achieve some revenue enhancements with little political cost.

With both houses in the state legislature at a 2/3rd majority, my hope is that state Dems can get their priorities straight to govern California effectively and over the long term. State polling giving the legisature all time low approval ratings, this hold on power is tenuous at best. If the Dems can't effectively govern, then I wouldn't be surprised that this mandate will be short lived. Most of the prioritzation comes in balancing the state budget. Californian's deserve a state budget that is both stable and prioritized effectively. A balanced approach would be to cut underperforming policies while increasing revenue for most income brackets. Hopefully, Prop. 13 reforms will be included in the policy discussion. Another issue is our school system which performs inadequately for the needs of low income and minority students. Education equality is the next civil rights movement of our time. Our poor performing schools will not be able to...

I have respected Mr. Warner since I first met him at the Inland Valley Democratic Club. He is a solid pragmatic Progressive on the issues of the day. He will represent and defend the Inland Empire well. Compared to Asm. Mike Morrell, it should be a given to throw your support Mr. Warner. Mr. Morrell has been extreme in the legislature and unproductive. Mr. Morrell takes Hard Conservative stands in this increasingly moderate district. Finally, he has no political courage to stand up to the base of his party and do what needs to do to benefit families in the Inland Empire. Here are some good reasons to support Mr. Warner: Compromise In politics compromise is the political currency that gets things done. Mr. Warner can comprise to bring much needed funding ( for education, infrastructure, etc.) and jobs to the area in exchange for tough political votes. I point the Republican Sen. Bob Dutton example, that in exchange for his vote he b...

I despise ballot box budgeting, however since I will be personally affected (Cal State Student) if this prop fails I am compelled to vote for it. I was 49% in favor of not voting for it. The primary reason is becasue they cut funding for the Ralph M. Brown Act. I am afraid local governments will use the cut as an excuse to reduce transparency even though we live in the digital age and costs for posting agendas, budgets, etc. online are minimal. However, this gives them some political cover. The bulk of the reductions will be from schools, which would make sense on its face education make up the majority of the General Fund budget. But Prop. 30 still feels like a hostage negotiation that if doesn't pass we will cut funding to children and young adults. If Prop. 30 does pass, Democrats in the legislature need to seriously gather the intestinal fortitude necessary to bring about a stablized and ...

I’m a budget geek, but the learning process was become one was trial by fire. To make things a little easier to understand the byzantine process of budgeting, why not make learning fun by playing a game! I suggest the two websites of: The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget : crfb.org   This site has a budget simulator that games out the decisions you make to reduce the deficit to 60% by 2020. It is not easy, but very informative about how our tax dollars are spent on the federal level. Next 10: http://www.budgetchallenge.org/pages/home This site games out the budget decisions you make on the state level. It even has so budget games for certain cities. Both of these sites will elevate your knowledge on our budget on the federal, state, and local level. I will be posting my results on both budget games in subsequent posts.

  Read:   Gary Miller vs. Pete Aguilar: Super PACs Of Realtors, Credit Union Spend Big In California Primary Election Los Angeles and Orange County developers versus Nevada banks. These are two are the so called front runners in the race for the 31st Congressional District of California. No, no the politicians running, they are just surrogates. Proxies in a battle over one thing…houses. One thing we can be sure of, is that if one of these men is elected the local control is lost and the destiny of the Inland Empire will be handed over to outsiders.

  Vision, Integrity, and Leadership. I have worked with Renea Wickman since the early days of 2008. Back then a no-name novice with a funny name, Barack Obama, went on to become our 44th President. It wasn’t easy, but we did it. Since then Renea Wickman and I have worked hard to build a more Democratic Inland Empire and challenge the one party rule that has led to so much corruption here. We have succeeded in making Inland Empire Democrats know that they are not alone and that they have just as much power to shape our destiny as Republicans do. However, this time the stakes are higher. The Inland Empire is on the precipice of being over run by outside special interests from Orange County and Los Angeles developers by supporters of Gary Miller. At the same time, Nevada banking interests are looking to carve up the Inland Empire by supporters of Mayor Pete Aguilar. Vote for a true voice of Local Control on June 5th. Vote Renea Wickman.

If Pete Aguilar defended his superiors’ engagement in this type of banking activity, imagine what he will do for Wall Street… Loose standards and easy money. That’s the basic premise of what happened  at Arrowhead Credit Union. Larry Sharp, Mayor Pete Aguilar, and others might have used bank funds inappropriately for lobbying and election influence. The housing market was hot in the Inland Empire. But restrictions on how Credit Unions made loans prevented them from lending to non-members. This is why they needed the PAC, for influence. Pete Aguilar as the Vice President of Governmental Affairs at Arrowhead Credit Union, led that effort. However, in the end it did not end well. Arrowhead Credit Union was fined multiple times for faulty record keeping and extremely loose credit standards. This is why one small business owner left. Ineptitude by Arrowhead Credit Union led to the arrest prominent African-American Pastor T. Elliot of Mount Zion Baptist Church. Mr. Elliot sued, but ...

  The Democratic Central Committee is on the cusp of becoming very powerful in California politics. As the Inland Empire turns bluer, our votes count for something on the state and national level. It is important that we elect leaders with vision, leadership, and vitality. *In Ballot Order* Joseph Williams SanJuana Laurel Vincent D. Laster Valerie Lichman Erick Jimenez Elvira M. Harris

Listen: Election 2012: In Inland Empire, Economic Distress May Drive Voters: The California Report | The California Report *Correction: The 31st is where Rep. Gary Miller is running, not the 35th. From redistricting to Ontario Airport, the talk in political circles is about two words: Local Control. With so much talk about local control, how is it that we, the residents of the Inland Empire, are now in the process of becoming renters to Orange County and LA interests.  Right now foreclosed homes are being auctioned off to outside interests for the highest bet. These outside interests may be thinking that they are helping by providing employment. But what is the cost? Local residents have little to no say in shaping the future of the Inland Empire. The building industry is heavily backing Rep. Gary Miller in the 31st Congressional District race. I wonder if the loss of local control was the price that was paid.

  Pete Aguilar announced that he hired the Troup Consulting to help him with his election efforts. So as always I decided to do a little digging. The President of this consulting firm, Troup Coronado, worked for Senator Orrin Hatch. Sen. Hatch is one of the staunchest Conservatives in the Senate and opposes all the policies of Progressives and President Barack Obama. Mr. Coronado also was Sen. Hatch’s law clerk for awhile. The surprising thing about Mr. Coronado is that he was on the Board of Directors of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. This was the same institute that Rep. Joe Baca served as chairman. This institute promoted policies that loosened the restrictions (credit check and documentation) on housing for minorities.  Mr. Coronado also seems to be a log cabin Republican, but that is peripheral to this matter. This seems to be a case of keeping your friend’s close but your policy allies closer.

Everyone and their momma has a budget out these days. The President, Progressives, Republicans, and Conservatives have a budget for FY13. But what about the so called defenders of fiscal responsibility the Blue Dog Coalition? These folks proclaim to be the common sense/conservative/mainstream voice of the American people. As both candidates, Gloria Negrete Mcleod and Joe Baca,  for the 35th Congressional District are Blue Dogs. I ask where are their budgets? The residents of the 35th Congressional District and the American people deserve to know where these folks stand when it comes to policy. The next series of elections are not going to be like the elections of the past. We demand policy positions and expect results. It might good to say things, but you have to put your money where your mouth is.

Another article in a series revealing the true nature of Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar. Why did Pete Aguilar choose to run as a Democrat? Pete Aguilar has many questionable, unscrupulous, and disreputable relationships with corrupt Republicans that other Progressive Democrats and I find very unsettling. These are just a few of Pete’s Conservative Pals that I have recovered: Jerry Lewis Republican politics in the Inland Empire begins and ends with one man, Jerry Lewis. Mr. Lewis’s corruption is well known, but since he hails from a safe district that brings in the pork (earmarks), he was never seriously challenged. Pete Aguilar knew Jerry Lewis through Larry Sharp the former CEO of Arrowhead Credit Union. During the Lobbyist Copeland Lowery scandal, Redlands Councilman Mr. Aguilar defended the lobbyist by giving the rational that public officials have no relationships with other public officials.  How can they not? They sit on many boards and commissions together.  Mr. Lo...

What Conservatives don’t understand is a big role that immigration plays in the Mexican community. I have a large family and many cousins (my cousin Jose is pictured above).  As a third generation bi-racial Latino, I could only imagine what my great grandparents went through to get here. My Great Grandmother came here during the ‘50s when she was a little girl illegally and did not get her citizenship until the Reagan Amnesty of ‘86. She lived in East Los Angeles all her all until my Nana had dragged her from her little apartment on Soto St. when she was too old to walk. So when Conservatives attack “illegal” immigrants, I feel like they are attacking my family. In the Mexican community, we all know someone who is undocumented. They all come seeking a better life.

What do a political science professor from the University of Redlands,  and reporters from the Los Angeles Times, and Politico have in common? They all declare Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar as one of the top two in the June primary race even though there are approx. two months left to go. As far as I am concerned, from a grassroots level, Mr. Aguilar doesn’t have a lock on anything. This is because even though the race has been sleepy so far, organization plays a big part in close elections (and this race will be close). He has won some endorsements from local political players but these folks live outside the district. Outside of Redlands, who has heard of Mr. Aguilar? I may be at a moderate level of expertise when it comes to politics, but I know that politics is full of surprises. He has a 1 in 6 chance of winning, like the rest of the field.

In 2008, California more than any other state helped elect Barack Obama President of the United States. We canvassed in the harsh desert terrains of Nevada and Arizona. Also, we made over 3 million calls, the most out of every state! However, much to the chargrin of the California State Democratic Party, that victory did not translate into the much of the down ticket flipping of Republican seats because of the intense focus on getting Obama elected. Now, in 2010 the importance of activating these grassroots networks and applying that laser like focus to our own state cannot be ignored or marginalized. Organizing for America (OFA) should not be relied on to heavily contribute to victory in 2010. Every swinging Progressive in every county should be going all out making calls and knocking on doors to encourage the 1st time voters and persuade elusive independents to vote Democrat in November. Three is the magic number and we can do it, if we hit the streets hard and fast. The Inla...

Schwarzenegger's budget plan puts unions in the cross-hairs - latimes.com Posted using ShareThis