The last two weeks SD Rostra published Part One and Part Two of a presentation by Citizens for Quality Education made during the April 22 Poway Unified School District Board meeting on the implementation of Common Core State Standards in schools.

Below is Part Three of that four-part presentation.

The concerns expressed by the group are of impact to all schools, not only those in the Poway area.

Guest Commentary

by Mary Baker, Jeannie Foulkrod and Steve Sarviel, Citizens for Quality Education

Common Core State Standards for Education

Last week SD Rostra published Part One of a recent presentation by Citizens for Quality Education made during the April 22 Poway Unified School District Board meeting on the implementation of Common Core State Standards in schools.

Below is Part Two of that four-part presentation.

The concerns expressed by the group are of impact to all schools, not only those in the Poway area.

Guest Commentary

by Mary Baker, Jeannie Foulkrod and Steve Sarviel, Citizens for Quality Education

Common Core State Standards for Education

by Councilmember Scott Sherman

As a lifelong resident of San Diego’s 7th District, and now as the District’s elected representative, I am always looking for ways to improve our residents’ quality of life.  Through my years as a San Diegan, I have strived to find different ways to connect with our community. I have found that community events are one of the key components to realizing the full economic and cultural potential of our region. 

These events not only increase cohesion within our neighborhoods, but also can be regarded as educational opportunities for our working families. For this reason, I wanted to highlight a homeowner outreach event that will be hosted by Bank of America from May 7-9, 2013.  If Bank of America services your mortgage, then this might be the perfect opportunity for you. 

Citizens for Quality Education recently made a presentation during the April 22 Poway Unified School District Board meeting on the implementation of Common Core State Standards in schools (see Pomerado News article).

The concerns expressed by the group are of impact to all schools, not only those in the Poway area.  So SD Rostra readers can better understand the issues associated with these standards, the citizens group has provided the text of its school board presentation.

This is the first part of the presentation, which will be published here as a series.

Guest Commentary

Guest Commentary
by Chris Cate

Over the past year and a half, the San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) has been gathering and analyzing data from 16 cities in the county to determine what taxpayers across the region are spending for “specialty pays.” Specialty pays, or special compensation, are add-ons in addition to base pay that cities report to the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) for the purpose of calculating employee pensions.

From San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith…

In a KUSI interview yesterday morning, Mayor Bob Filner crossed the line, alleging that members of the City Council and I had been “bought off” by hoteliers in the TMD matter. This is a very serious allegation of criminal conduct, and it is baseless and defamatory.

KUSI also carried a segment at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. yesterday which reiterated the Mayor’s accusations and included my response, which you can see here.

Accusations such as this against the City Council and the City Attorney should have no place in a civilized, public-policy discussion. I will have more to say about it in the future.

Guest Commentary
by Tom Del Beccaro

Government matters incomprehensively more today than our Founders could have ever imagined. Now central to our lives, federal, state and local governments account for 33% of our yearly spending – where once Thomas Jefferson complained of spending that accounted for less than 2% of our economy. In greatly expanding the size and scope of government, we divide ourselves in countless ways; fighting another for $5 trillion in spoils under the illusion that we’re dividing the money of others.

Mark Cafferty, CEO of San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, sent a letter this morning to EDC board members about the local impacts of sequestration and what’s next…

Board members, investors and partners:

As you are aware, the law of sequestration will likely take effect today. The result – essentially a 10 percent across-the-board cut of all federal programs, projects and activities – will bring a dense rolling wave of financial implications for our region.

Guest Commentary
by Randy Berholtz

There are a few important matters that both  sides of the political aisle have not discussed involving the illegal alien amnesty issue:

Visa Lottery for Law-Abiding Aliens:  Like the 1986 amnesty, there needs to be a make-up lottery for citizens of those European and other countries that abided by our immigration laws.  The Immigration Act amendments of the 1960s were designed to replace racial and ethnic categories with country-specific categories, but Mexico, China and the Central American countries among others have overwhelmingly tilted our immigration to these immigration law-breaking countries in violation of the Act’s intended purpose.

Linked here is a story by Ken Stone of the Rancho Bernardo Patch, regarding a presentation on gun rights by Michael Schwartz at Monday’s Republican Party of San Diego monthly meeting. Below is Schwartz’ response.

Ken,

I can’t thank you enough for covering my talk at the San Diego County Republican Party Central Committee! San Diegans need to know the extremism being proposed in Sacramento that will have unreasonable consequences to current and future firearm ownership.

I do have a number of concerns with your article.

Guest Submission

Greetings -

My name is Bruce Williams and I have spent my life committed to improving our beautiful city. That’s why I am running for San Diego City Council District 4 in the March 26 Special Election.

I was born and raised in Council District 4. After graduating college and completing a fellowship in Washington DC and another in Sacramento, I returned because of my life-long commitment to make District 4 more vibrant, business-friendly, and safe. I have devoted the majority of my adult life to advocating for my community and making it, and our city, better places for our children.

Guest Commentary
by Michael Schwartz

What has to be understood about guns is it doesn’t matter what polls say or what crime statistics show.  If it did matter and it was up to the public, we wouldn’t need an amendment in place to protect gun rights.

The Second Amendment guarantees civilians their right to own and carry guns used by the military.  That is the meaning and that is the purpose.

“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” – Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, 1791

“More disturbing, however, was the mayor’s shocking lack of basic knowledge about how his office functions alongside other civic organizations.”

From Michael Rosen at San Diego News Room…

Filner’s Follies: Ignorance, More Than Disrespect
Written by Michael M. Rosen
Friday, 11 January 2013

Well that was interesting.

Newly-installed San Diego Mayor Bob Filner capped off an exciting week with a policy decision that essentially conceded his ignorance and wrong-headedness, in that order. Indeed, if this last week showed anything, it’s that San Diegans have far more to fear from Filner’s lack of competence than his lack of respect; we should worry more about what Filner doesn’t know than what he does do. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Guest Commentary
by Aaron J. Byzak, MBA, FACHE

Color me skeptical.  I’m a bit of a non-believer when it comes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Since the beginning, I’ve lacked the faith required to accept the notion that the federal government—the same people who brought you the managerial efficiency of the United States Postal Service—have the understanding required to effectively reshape the American healthcare system.  I’m not alone.  A recent USA Today poll shows that 4 in 10 Americans still believe that the ACA will make things worse, compared to only 3 in 10 believing it will make the system better.

Guest Commentary
by Leland Ping

The 2012 election marks the fifth presidential election in which I’ve participated.  Of these five, I’ve been on the winning side twice and on the losing side three times.  After this election, I have found myself more concerned about the future of the Republican Party of which I am a strong supporter than in any other election.  With that said, I share the following thoughts.  In doing so, I am not so presumptuous to think that my comments will be viewed by countless party members and operatives.  At the same time, there are a number of people whom I have met over my 24 years of studying politics who routinely ask what my thoughts are on issues and candidates.  With that said, I provide the following comments in a sincere desire to participate in a productive conversation that will move our party into the future.

Guest Commentary
by Eric Andersen

On Monday night we elect our new Republican Party Central Committee officers.   It’s time.  It’s  time for change and the New Republican Party.   It’s time to grow and strengthen our party around a grander theme.   It’s time to unite around the time tested principles that created the most prosperous and free society in 5,000 years of human history.  It is time to get back to our roots and stand on that which can deliver what each of us desire — Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. It’s time for the bold colors of  constitutionally limited government and free markets.   It’s time to return to the narrative that just five months ago energized youth, Hispanics, social moderates, decline-to-states and Independents.  It’s time to return to a message with a track record.

Guest Commentary
by Mike Slater

We all know almost everyone in Sacramento is full of it. So why does San Diego have to put up with the stench?

When friends come to visit, the first three days are all mapped out; Coronado, Balboa, Petco, the Zoo, Soledad, you know the routine. Before we take in the sights, we always fuel up with the greatest menu item in the entire city: the Coast Toast at Brockton Villa in La Jolla.

Every friend of mine is amazed and jealous that this is home. Everything is perfect. Except for the La Jolla Cove. It stinks. Literally, it reeks. It’s noxious.

Guest Commentary
by Maureen Guffanti

Don’t let California billionaire Charles Munger, Jr. buy the 76^th state assembly district seat.

Munger likes moderate, or RINO, Republicans, not conservatives. Conservative Sherry Hodges has extraordinary grass roots support, but will billionaire Munger succeed in buying the 76^th state assembly district seat for moderate Rocky Chavez?

What did Munger donate?  And who is Charles Munger? Here are the facts:

1. Munger’s group, Spirit of Democracy California, donated over $500,000 to Rocky Chavez’ campaign, according to the U-T story Nov 2, which also states, “His sister, Molly Munger, is the chief financier of Proposition 38 that seeks to raise income taxes on most to pay for public schools and other programs.” For the U-T story

From the Jim Miller for Judge campaign…

Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying,

“A people who trade their freedom for security deserve neither.”

Jim’s opponent has run on only one position; as a deputy DA he will keep us “safe” as a judge.  He brings 29 years of viewing everyone before him as a criminal. What a small window to view our community.

by Derrick W Roach

California Independent Voter Project (IVP) is a non-profit organization that purports to educate citizens and energize decline-to-state voters to participate in public dialogue and elections.  The problem is that IVP is the parent organization of a web of subsidiary organizations with officers and directors anything but independent.

IVP and its related entities, Independent Voter Network (IVN) and Independent Voter Contact (IVC) Media LLC, are rife with officers and directors who are former legislators, staffers and lobbyists.  Public records show that former State Senator Steve Peace is an officer of IVP, as are David Takashima and Daniel Howle, both having worked for Peace as chiefs of staff.

Guest Commentary
by Tom Del Beccaro

Does campaign history repeat itself?  While political consultants, scientists and pundits would like us to believe in the complexity of the process, some simple truths remain.  When it comes to American voters, they want two things from their Presidential candidate: 1) they want to like the candidate for whom they vote, and 2) they like candidates that offer tax reductions.

A while back, a wise man questioned a political system, democracy, which would lead people to vote for the most “handsome” of candidates.  Will Durant also tells us that Plato was worried that the “crowd” would become vulnerable to “flattery.”  So old is the concern that voters become caught up in beauty contests rather than the best policies.

Guest Commentary
by Jim Babwe

As important as the law is in our society, it’s also important to apply common sense to enforcement. There’s a tacit understanding among most of us that it’s possible to get a speeding ticket for driving 36 miles per hour on a road where the speed limit is 35, but it’s not likely. Technically, it’s against the law to operate a football pool which tempts us to pitch in a couple of bucks and draw some numbers which we hope will match the final score of the Holiday Bowl, for example. Authorities do their best to be diligent about enforcing laws that are intended to deter and/or punish those who would inflict serious harm to others or cause significant damage to property.

In response to a Friday Rostra opinion piece by Southern Exposure, the following was submitted as a guest column.

by Bernardo Vasquez

Please allow me to set the record straight for you and clear up the baseless inferences you make in your story.

I have been on the Sweetwater Union High School District bond oversight committee since April 2009. I became chair in April of 2011, and my term ended in June 2012. During this time period, many scandals rocked the school district. Superintendent Jesus Gandara was replaced by Ed Brand, two current trustees were indicted due to Prop O related activities, and Prop O Program Manager SGI was fired by the district.