Inland Empire Progressive

 Source: Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy   During the candidate forum, Mr. Morrell told a Texas tale. This tale was how Texas was an economic miracle. Gov. Rick Perry sends a crafted Walnut box with the governors seal to every California CEO. Inside the box is a cell phone with one number: a direct line to the Mr. Perry himself! The CEO calls Mr. Perry up, and Mr. Perry tries to persuade the CEO to move his business to Texas: The land of no taxes and little regulation.  It's a mantra amongst conservatives to decry the business climate in California. This incessant bedwetting points to their deminished political power in the state. High taxes, excessive regulation, and an anti-business climate are to blame, they say.  However, as many economists have pointed out: California has been creating jobs at rapid clip, keeping pace or even exceeding those states ...

This forum sponsored by the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce shows that Russ Warner has what it takes to represent the Inland Empire in the 40th Assembly District. This debate was mostly about economic growth, climate, and ideas. Mr. Warner spoke on reducing our dependence on Los Angeles county, by hammering home the theme of local control. He said Ontario can create upwards of 9,000 jobs if Los Angeles County would release its iron grip from the Inland Empire. In addition, he said a County Chamber of Commerce should be created so that city chambers can reduce the economic poaching the most certainly occurs between cities and focus on fostering regional growth. Also, he spoke on maintaining a balance economic growth and environmental protection. I would use Rialto as an example here. How much government money has been spent to clean up the percholrate left there? We can have economic growth and environmental protection, they are not mutually exclusive. Finally, he spok...

Rep. Gary Miller fears the National Rifle Association more than he does the minorities in the 31st Congressional District. The black and brown community is adamantly against holding Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. They are also against gun violence, which has surged since Rep. Gary Miller has started running for Congress in the Inland Empire.  I think some gun running is going on right here in my city of San Bernardino. What with 26 deaths so far? Why don’t we hold you in contempt? But I think the American public hold Congress in contempt these days with polling down in the dumps. What ever happened to jobs, jobs, jobs? Wasn’t that the Conservative mantra of 2010? How about Fast and Furiously reducing unemployment? This witch hunt amounts to nothing more than election year politics.

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.

  Rep. Joe Baca has tried to extend his empire by pushing his sons and corrupt allies to run for office. The voters have wisely and sometimes soundly rejected the nepotism that Joe Baca has tried to foist upon Inland Empire residents. His commitment to build a grassroots legacy is non existent. The only commitments  he attempts to make to Progressives is during election year. These hollow proclamations to sponsor policies that get Progressives excited have now fallen on deaf ears. Progressives have had enough! It is time to demand results. This Blue Dog has no principles on which to stand and deserves to be challenged in every election that he runs in. One day he will be defeated.  Mr. Baca has won election after election with more than 60% of the vote, why not try to build upon that and expand influence into more challenging areas of the Inland Empire. It is because his corazon is not with the grassroots, it is focus on the elite. All Mr. Baca is concerned about 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...

When I heard that the San Bernardino Fire Dept. wanted to become an elected position, I was very angry. So angry in fact that I went to the website of the SBFD and emailed whomever was at the other end. The SBFD budget makes up around 24% of General Fund revenues and only 8% live in the city. While not as much as the Police Dept., it’s still pretty substantial. Our reputation in San Bernardino is not the greatest in the county or in the nation for that matter. Maintaining local control of our city finances is of utmost concern to me to ensure that everyone at City Hall has a stake in ensuring that our city thrives. Some employee in City Hall make more than $100,000 a year. That is more than the median income of the city. When outsiders are the ones that are in those income positions, not only do City of Bell type incidents occur, the incentives to improve the conditions of the city are not there.   Here is my blurb: Subject: Elected Fire Chief Email Comments: I am con...

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.

The African American Community has long been a solid and formidable voting bloc in the Inland Empire. They will definitely be turning out for the 2012 election season to help re-elect President Barack Obama and a Democratic Congress. Renea Wickman has earned the endorsement of two African-American city leaders from San Bernardino in the race for the 31st Congressional District. City of San Bernardino Endorsement Press Release

The 31st CD race is shaping up to be an act of Dem on Dem violence. Dr. Rita Ramirez-Dean, Pete Aguilar, and Renea Wickman are competing for this seat. Rita Ramirez-Dean spoke first. She talking about Education (her strong suit), Jobs, Veterans, and defending Social Security. Pete Aguilar went after the Do Nothing Congress and fixing a broken Washington D.C. He also went after Republicans Miller and Hutton. Mr. Aguilar stressed his work as mayor: standing up to the Redlands Tea Party and maintain a balanced budget. Renea Wickman spoke about creating jobs by eliminating oil and insurance company subsidies and reinvesting those saving to Green Jobs, High Speed Rail, and Internet access. On Foreign Policy she wanted to build a global middle class. She also would not raise the retirement age on Social Security. This fight was essentially between Renea Wickman and Pete Aguilar. There were 2 No Endorsements, both from the Redlands Area Democratic Club. Pete Aguilar received 46% of the ba...

The biannual Democratic pre-endorsement caucus, which is held in Claremont because of its centrality to L.A., I.E., and O.C. areas was held today. I arrived at the caucus 30 minutes late, but I didn’t miss that much. So here are the events as they transpired and some opinions on them. AD 47 Joe Baca Jr. VS. Cheryl Brown I missed the first half of this race between Joe Baca Jr. and Cheryl Brown when both gave their speeches to the delegation. The Latino Delegation in this AD broke heavily in favor Baca Jr., but Ms. Brown did well for herself. The result was 57% to 42% in favor of Joe Baca Jr. The final vote count was 29 to 21 with provisional ballots included. This is going to the California Democratic convention because no one got 70% of the vote, but Mr. Baca Jr. received above 50%. AD 52 Norma Torres Norma Torres received the endorsement of the Democratic Party. No one contested her race. Ms. Torres spoke on engagement with the community, her work on housing, and welcomed Fonta...

Jim Messina Electoral Map Strategy Fundraising Pitch One of the takeaways I got from this video was how many paths their were to getting to 270 which he said was about 40+. I was amazed by how many state can be put into play this election cycle. With a potentially long Republican primary, the Obama election team feels it needs to start early to redevelop networks of volunteers and staff needed to begin operations in states that will be put into play this election cycle. I see California playing a big role in trying to bring Nevada and Arizona into the Democratic fold on the ground. In addition, California will be calling critical states in the general election. The Inland Empire played a role in helping the ground game efforts of Obama for America (OFA). I have no doubt this will happen again in 2012.

San Bernardino Budget Lodge As we, the citizens of San Bernardino, attempt to rebuild our reputational status as an All-American City, this news comes as a painful body blow to that effort. During the November 2011 San Bernardino election cycle, the Police Union distributed a flyer to 3rd Ward residents about Sex Offender packing at a motel at the edge of the city. Why the Police Union waited until election season to release details about this is unknown. But this goes to show that council members in their respective wards must keep a vigilant eye about what goes inside them.

Excited about the upcoming elections this year. With less than 60 days to go I am fired up and ready to work hard and win!