California Senate Bill 417 would require law enforcement officials to cooperate with federal immigration officials by detaining an individual on the basis of an immigration hold, with certain limitations, when that person has been convicted of a serious or violent felony. It makes sense. We will hear that it will break up families. Maybe so, but have we forgotten about …
State Senate bill on “clean air, clean energy, and climate” not good for California
When the government knocks at your door and says, “We’re here to help,” it’s rarely true. Like so many bills, California Senate Bill 350 has good intentions. It wants to “improve public health by setting new standards for California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, reducing petroleum use, and increasing energy efficiency in existing buildings.” The bill also promises to “Create jobs, grow …
A step back from politics — Don’t be mad, I’m just the messenger
My son has an internship with our State Senator, Joel Anderson. One day he was given a task to call the various church leaders throughout the district to see if they would lend their names to one of Anderson’s projects. My son called a Catholic church and, not being Catholic, wasn’t familiar with some of the the abbreviated titles on …
Poway’s Mayor race: Vaus or Higginson?
Poway’s Mayor race — Councilman Steve Vaus or current Mayor Don Higginson? This year’s election started out bland several months ago with only incumbent Higginson announcing he would run. Things became a bit more interesting when rumors started to circulate that Councilmember Jim Cunningham, a Democrat, would challenge the Republican mayor. That would have been an interesting race, with two …
Is more storage the key to our water problems? What’s your solution?
Dan Walters, in December: More storage may be California’s most important water issue Today’s UT San Diego: BROWN IMPLORES SOCAL TO SAVE MORE WATER AS CRISIS ESCALATES Water is a complicated issue. Instead of throwing money at the problem, real, long term solutions have to be developed and actually followed. For example, we all like food of course, but agricultural …
How to control government salaries
Regarding the recent Steve Greenhut article, Does Bell Toll for Excessive Public Pay… Part of the problem is that many politicians, no matter how conservative they might claim to be, tend to forget how the money for salaries is generated. Another problem, the politicians believe they must pay top dollar to keep talent. Although that mindset must stop, no agency …
Big win for Maderas (Sunroad) Golf Course in Poway
From Pomerado News… Poway City Council members wrapped up a four-hour public hearing Tuesday night by voting 3-2 to permit the Maderas Golf Club to resume using its water wells. Councilmen Steve Vaus and Dave Grosch voted against the motion, saying they were not convinced of proponents’ claims that turning the well pumps back on would not impact water levels …
Sad thoughts on the “Fiscal Cliff” deal
Happy New Year to my fellow Rostrafarians!!! I bring my sad thoughts on this pending “Fiscal Cliff” deal. To all of us, do we really realize this is the result of our own actions? I’m not talking about those we elected, but what we expect from government and our own personal actions. First of all, we like consumer debt. What …
It is time for real voter reform to ensure honest elections
I, along with what I hope is many others, want honest elections. The appearance of fraud and corruption in our voting process make us appear like just a second rate country. Is it just a “pipedream” to want and to demand reform in the voting process? Why do we as a society, as Americans, allow such deception to occur? We …
The spike in fuel and my letter to Governor Brown
Like most of you, I am disgusted with the latest spike in fuel prices (okay, I understand that some of you more green-minded readers probably relish the spike in fuel costs). Each time there is a fire, mechanical closure or whatever at any of the refineries in California, I scream and shoot off an email to our elected officials in …
I urge a “Yes” vote on Proposition 31
The New York Post recently noted the exact problem with California’s state budget — the rate of growth is higher than rate of inflation, for some years (1991 to 2009) even double the rate of inflation. Since our elected officials in Sacramento have shown they can’t balance a budget and need some guidance, Proposition 31 gives it to them. Among …
Why I urge a “no” vote on Propositions 30 and 38
Are you tired of the failure on the part of our representatives in Sacramento to create a real balanced budget without the usual “smoke and mirror” approach, or using overly optimistic revenue projections that are never reached (or even end up close)? Are you tired of the “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today” approach? Are you sick …
Handicapping the Poway City Council race
There are two spots available in the November election for Poway City Council. One seat is currently held by Jim Cunningham and the other is open due to Councilmember Merrilee Boyack’s decision to not seek reelection. Cunnigham has shown himself as a capable member of the Council. I believe he will win reelection easily. That leaves Boyack’s seat, with three …
Randy Newman sings the race card for the left
It is very sad the left has decided the only way to win this presidential election is to play the race card. I’ve mentioned this in a previous post. But what got me going today is the new Randy Newman song, “I’m Dreaming”– where he sings of voting for a “white” president. I hope this song insults everyone on all …
Are they ignorant racists or do they want us to believe their lie?
Critics smear GOP star Mia Love as an ‘Aunt Tom’… http://times247.com/articles/critics-smear-gop-star-aunt-tom-on-wikipedia When I see such ignorant comments as in the article linked above I get angry, but then as I start to calm down it dawns on me that those on the left making the comments are the real bigots … or they are trying to influence voters with another …
It’s time to restore Hetch Hetchy
A recent article in “California Watch” got me thinking once again about the worthwhile struggle to restore Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite by removing O’Shaughnessy Dam. What saddens me the most is the lack of support from environmentalists to remove this dam. Could it be that the home of the Sierra Club and the bastion of liberalism in California (if …
How many other government agencies have “hidden” surpluses?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/07/parks-director-says-in-resignation-letter-she-is-appalled-by-hoarding-of-money.html Sacramento doesn’t have the leadership to solve the deficit without a tax increase. Gov. Jerry Brown wants to raise taxes without showing any way to make sure past mistakes aren’t repeated. I love the comment that California State Senator Noreen Evans (D) made in reference to the State Parks hidden surplus: “If one department can hoard $54 million for …
Not only does the Legislature need to “Man up,” so does Governor Brown
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-jerry-brown-20120414,0,7914862.story Is Governor Brown for real? He signed a budget that was based on overly optimistic revenue projections that everyone knew would not be met. If he was a leader, he would NOT have signed the current budget last summer. If he really cared for California, he would have said “NO” and forced the legislature to work out a realistic …
“I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today”
Alyssia Finley, quoted in the OC Register… “The fate of California Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative depends on whether voters buy his sales pitch that the new revenues will benefit schools. They won’t… About half of all new revenues will actually go to teachers’ pensions.” Of course the issue here is the pensions. They need to be funded, but why …
Salaries for College Coaches and Presidents
See these articles: 10 of the highest paid basketball coaches CSU raises pay for presidents, plans to cut enrollment Universities will state that they need to pay such huge salaries to bring in talent. Personally, I don’t care what the private colleges pay their presidents and coaches, but I do when it is a government operated school. College presidents’ salaries …
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