Governor’s State Budget – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Diane HarkeyBoard of Equalization Member Diane Harkey Leave a Comment

This op-ed originally appeared in the Flashreport As budgets go in California there is much to be liked about the Governor’s May revise. First, it balances and does again reduce the accumulated structural deficit (internal and external borrowed monies used to plug holes since 1999) projected to fall from a height of $35 billion to $26 billion. The budget establishes …

What a Week: Some Fun and Some Video

Thor's AssistantRostra Administrator (Thor's Assistant) 1 Comment

Jay Leno: Do you know that this week marks the 40th anniversary of the Watergate hearings? For those of you too young to remember, back then the Administration had an enemies list. They were spying on reporters. They used the IRS to harass groups they didn’t like. Thank God those days are gone forever. David Letterman: People always say this …

UCSD College Republicans Host National RNC Committeeman Shawn Steel, May 20, 2013

Brian BradyBrian Brady Leave a Comment

Shawn Steel will be speaking to the UCSD College Republicans this Monday night, at 6PM, in the Thurgood Marshall Room at the Price Center West on the UCSD campus.  Shawn is a former CRP Chairman and is currently the National Committeeman, from the California Republican Party, to the Republican National Committee. You may recall that I encouraged  conservatives to contact …

Common Core State Standards in Education: Part Three — Data will be collected and shared about students

Guest ColumnGuest Column 5 Comments

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 …

Benghazi attack hearings significance missed by CNN, MSNBC

Bob SiegelBob Siegel Leave a Comment

Originally published by Communities @ Washington Times SAN DIEGO, May 10, 2013 — Unlike CNN and MSNBC, Fox News offered extensive live coverage of Wednesday’s  House Oversight Committee hearings. Three courageous whistleblowers gave testimony that contradicted previous reports from the White House and State Department about exactly what happened in last September’s Benghazi attack killing Ambassador Chris Stevens and three …

Affluent Californians Still Contemplating Relocating to Avoid Prop. 30 Tax Increases

Vince VasquezVince Vasquez 6 Comments

One quarter of those surveyed considering moving out of state A quarter of the residents in California’s most affluent communities are considering relocating out of state in response to the increase in state income taxes, according to a report released today by the National University System Institute for Policy Research (NUSIPR).  A scientific poll (n=401) conducted by Competitive Edge Research …

Boston bombings, Tea Party, the media, and hypocrisy

Bob SiegelBob Siegel Leave a Comment

Originally published by Communities @ Washington Times SAN DIEGO, May 4, 2013 — It’s been several weeks since Boston’s Patriot Day nightmare. We have long since learned that the Tsarnaev brothers who set off two bombs were influenced by Jihadist teachings from the Internet and from extremists who sometimes spoke at a Cambridge mosque. Although we do not yet know …

Co-Ed Bathroom Bill Passes State Assembly

Thor's AssistantPress Releases / Media Advisories 4 Comments

From Capitol Resource Institute… Assembly Bill 1266 passed out of the Assembly floor on a party-line vote this morning. AB 1266 forces all California schools to allow students to participate in sex-segregated school programs, activities, and facilities consistent with his or her gender identity. “This bill allows children of any gender to participate on any sports team, and enter into …

Common Core State Standards in Education: Part Two

Guest ColumnGuest Column 6 Comments

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 …

CA-52 Poll goes International

Aynd RandAynd Rand Leave a Comment

I have a number of google alerts for news articles on local officials and candidates.  This piece from a major UK newspaper interested me because it discusses Carl DeMaio and how his possible candidacy touches on larger national issues for 2014.

Plescia for Supervisor, Please.

SunshineSunshine 12 Comments

With term limits and aging careers set to impact the current Board of Supervisors over the next four to six years, the partisan makeup of the Board will almost certainly change. Based on voter registration statistics and other demographic treads, the Board is set to change to a long term 3-2 Democrat majority. But that’s only if we don’t take …

May 7-9 Homeowner Event to Help Families Plan for the Future

Guest ColumnGuest Column Leave a Comment

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 …

Fletcher goes right to work for his latest party

Greg LarkinGreg Larkin 8 Comments

Email from a failed mayoral candidate… From: Nathan Fletcher Date: May 4, 2013, 12:22:31 PM Subject: BREAKING BREAKING: Tea Party Favorite Carl DeMaio Eyeing Run for CA-52 Recent news out of Washington D.C. is that Tea Party extremists are recruiting one of their own — failed San Diego mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio — to run against my friend Scott Peters. There is no …

An Open Letter To Fletcher for Mayor Supporters

Brian BradyBrian Brady 55 Comments

Nathan Fletcher is a member of the Democratic Party.  This doesn’t surprise me.  I knew when he made the choice to throw the “independent” Hail Mary pass that, if he wanted a political future, he would have to (a) move to another state and try to woo Republican voters there or (b) join with the Democrats.  Getting elected in a …

Common Core State Standards in Education: Impeding students’ ability to succeed?

Guest ColumnGuest Column 9 Comments

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 …

GOP Poll shows DeMaio in a “very strong position” against Peters

Thor's AssistantRostra Administrator (Thor's Assistant) 39 Comments

According to survey results just released, former San Diego City Councilman and 2012 mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio “stands in a very strong position among voters in the (52nd) district as a potential candidate for Congress, both in terms of a primary and a general election.” The report goes on to note that DeMaio “currently leads Democrat incumbent Scott Peters on …

Taxpayers Association Announces Golden Fleece Award Finalists

Thor's AssistantPress Releases / Media Advisories Leave a Comment

Award “winners” to be revealed at Goldens Awards Dinner May 9 SAN DIEGO – April 30, 2013: The San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) today announced the finalists for its annual Golden Fleece Awards categories including the Metro and Regional Fleeces. This year’s fleece nominees include the San Diego Unified School District for “Gold Plated iPads” and the City of …