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Articles by Doug Porter

Doug Porter was an Ocean Beach hippie back in the day and was active in the alternative press in San Diego, contributing to the OB Liberator, the print version of the OB Rag, the San Diego Door, and the San Diego Street Journal. He also has contributed blogs to the Huffington Post and Daily Kos. He cares about education, rock-n-roll, good food and local politics!

Doug has written 368 articles for the OB Rag!

A Real Scandal: Activists in San Diego and Around the World to Protest Monsanto May 25th

May 16, 2013 by Doug Porter

Balboa Park March & Rally, Mission Bay Overpass Light Brigade Events Expected to Draw Thousands

By Doug Porter/ San Diego Free Press

While the oldstream media is obsessing on the current crop of Washington’s politi-dramas, an international protest movement is gathering steam. Activists in on six continents, in 36 countries, and in 47 U.S. states — totaling events in over 250 cities — are coordinating demonstrations to occur simultaneously at 11am Pacific time on Saturday May 25th under the general theme “March Against Monsanto”.

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City Council District 4 Election: Who Do I Vote For? Vote Against the Bad Guys.

March 25, 2013 by Doug Porter

Part Three of a Three Part Series on the City Council Special Election

Part One: Setting the Scene – Dirty Tricks Fly

Part Two: Meet the Candidates

So what we know so far is that there are nine candidates vying for the historically “Black’ City Council seat vacated by Tony Young. Change has citydistrict4come to the district; although they still hold political supremacy by virtue of their community institutions, African-Americans are now a minority.

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Meet the Candidates: The District 4 City Council Special Election

March 18, 2013 by Doug Porter

This ‘meaningless’ election could change the face of San Diego politics and community development for years to come.

Part One in this series on District 4 (here) presented (an all-too-small) slice of the history of the area with a general overview of the present-day political situation. We also broke the story about the GOP-type dirty tricks campaign going on in District 4.

Here's a copy of the faux "City" mailing that's going out attacking Myrtle Cole.
Here’s a copy of the faux “City” mailing that’s going out attacking Myrtle Cole.

There are nine, count ‘em, nine candidates running for the City Council seat vacated by Tony Young at the end of 2012. A candidate must get more than 50% of the vote to win, and by all accounts that isn’t going to happen on March 26th. So there’ll be a run-off. The trick here will be picking the top two candidates.

Given that this ‘special election’ isn’t going to be ‘special’ enough to drive much of a voter turnout, any candidate could end up in the running. (We’ll tell you our predictions and predications in Part 3 of this series.)

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Dirty Tricks Fly in San Diego’s District 4 City Council Special Election

March 17, 2013 by Doug Porter

Part One of a three part series: Setting the Scene

There’s a special election coming up in San Diego on March 26th to pick a City Council person to represent the residents of District 4. Ho-Hum. Expect low voter turnout. Nobody cares, right?

Somebody cares. Somebody cares enough to send out smear mailers from a shadowy group trying to discredit progressive candidate Myrtle Cole. It’s getting nasty out there.
smear mailer

Voters in the 4th District are getting mail from a group called ‘San Diego County Voters for Progress and Reform’. Last they were heard of was last fall when they funneled $25,000 from California Real Estate Independent Expenditure Committee of Los Angeles in support of the failed city council candidacy of Republican Ray Ellis.

The mailers have the City of San Diego official seal at the top of the page and on the front of envelope. In bold type with a bright red background they say “Urgent City Message to Residents… Open Immediately”.

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International Women’s Day Events in San Diego

March 8, 2013 by Doug Porter

100203historyLast Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives followed the Senate in re-authorizing the Violence Against Women Act with bi-partisan support. The timing was particularly appropriate: Friday, March 8th is International Women’s Day. The overall theme this year is “The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum,” while the United Nations theme for the day is “A promise is a promise: Time to end violence against women.”

 

San Diego State

On Friday, March 8th, San Diego State University’s Women’s Studies department Femininist Research Colloquia series will host Kum Kum Bhavani, an author and Sociology Professor from UC Santa Barabara, whose research interests lie within development, feminist and cultural studies.

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Fake Video About San Diego ACORN Yields $100,000 Settlement; Wingnuts Continue Their Defamation of Group

March 8, 2013 by Doug Porter

okeefeYou’d think the right wingers would give it a rest. But the myth of the evil-doers at ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) continues to live.

Four separate investigations by various state and city Attorneys General and the GAO released in 2009/2010 cleared ACORN of any illegal activities. Law enforcement officials found its employees had not engaged in criminal activities and that the organization had managed its federal funding appropriately. Videos purporting to show illegal activities were found to have been deceptively and selectively edited to present the workers in the worst possible light.

So it’s with some small satisfaction that former members of that group were in a celebratory mood yesterday after court documents were released revealing that James O’Keefe, the conservative activist whose hidden-camera stings were at the center of the controversy, agreed to pay $100,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a former employee of ACORN.

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Hey San Diego: Have a (Great) Beer While You’re Waiting for the Marijuana Dispensary to Open

January 31, 2013 by Doug Porter
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Our fair city finally got national recognition for what it does well yesterday when a writer who actually drinks beer put San Diego at the top of a “Non Fiction” list of the best beer towns in America. And our new mayor got schooled yesterday in what it really takes to be a game changer when it comes to medical marijuana.

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Looking Back to When San Diego Said ‘No’ to Honoring Martin Luther King

January 22, 2013 by Doug Porter
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The year was 1986, and San Diego, like much of the nation, was swept up in a national discussion about a new holiday commemorating MLK’s contribution to US history. Legislation (signed three years earlier) making Dr. King’s birthday a national holiday was going into effect, and many cities around the country were honoring the slain civil rights leader by naming streets and buildings after him.

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Time to Count the Homeless; Volunteers Needed

January 4, 2013 by Doug Porter

Approximately 10,000 individuals, families, and unaccompanied children experience homelessness annually in San Diego County. Here’s one way that YOU can help. In the early morning hours of January 25, 2013, roughly 700 volunteers will participate in WeAllCount locally. This event, led by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, enables local agencies to better understand [...]

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We Can Do Better Than Singing Kumbaya and Waiting for America to ‘Come Together’

December 18, 2012 by Doug Porter

From San Diego Free Press – Dec. 17, 2012

Enough of all this talk. We live in the ‘World’s Greatest Country’ and ‘America’s Finest City’ and the best we as citizens can do is, according to our local daily newspaper’s editorial board:

(#1) ** …resist the temptation to see what took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., as an indictment of America.

What took place in Connecticut is an indictment of weak willed politicians, afraid to stand up to a gun lobby. Our country would be even greater and our city would be even finer without them. If the NRA wants to make gun control an issue, fine.

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Gay Student Group Denied Charter at Point Loma Nazarene University

December 13, 2012 by Doug Porter
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Senior Sean Lewis wanted to start a discussion group focusing on gay themes at Point Loma Nazarene University. He told Channel10Newsthat he was motivated to take this step because he and other openly gay students often felt unwelcome on campus, telling reporter Michael Chen, “I’ve gotten messages on Facebook … warning me that I’m going to hell”.

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Michigan Showdown Over Union Rights

December 12, 2012 by Doug Porter

Michigan’s “Right to Work” Struggle: It Ain’t Over ‘Till It’s Over

Editor: Since this post by Doug Porter was written, the Michigan governor signed the legislation, upping the ante in this historic fight against his own people.

There’s a major showdown over so-called right-to-work laws in Michigan. Thousands of union supporters gathered outside the State Capitol building as a lame-duck Republican dominated legislature voted for that State to join the ranks of 23 other states with similar legislation.

For those of you who might think this hubbub is about protecting an individual’s right not to join a union, think again. It’s against Federal law to make union membership mandatory.

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Mayor Filner Cites FDR on Anti-Poverty Pledge: “I agree with you, now make me do it.”

December 5, 2012 by Doug Porter
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Challenged by a local activist at the District 4 inaugural party on Monday night to make fighting poverty a priority in his administration, newly elected Mayor Bob Filner responded by quoting President Franklin Roosevelt’s rejoinder to activists in the early days of the New Deal: “I agree with you, now make me do it.”

And that’s exactly what the Center for Policy Initiatives (CPI) is doing. They’ve launched a letter writing campaign seeking to gather 500 letters by December 14th urging the Mayor to make poverty a priority in San Diego.

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Why Building the Carlsbad Desalination Plant is a Good Thing for San Diego

December 5, 2012 by Doug Porter

The San Diego County Water Authority gave the nod Friday, November 30, to a thirty year water purchase deal that will clear the way for a privately constructed desalination plant to operate in the north county.

Frankly, I don’t see this as a controversial decision. I’ve read the arguments pro and con. I think the desal plant is a good idea. Let me explain why.

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Grover Norquist, Pink Unicorns and a Ray of Hope

November 29, 2012 by Doug Porter

As (largely untrue) reports fly through the blogosphere and interwebs about reports of movement between the Congressional political blocs on various aspects of the impending ‘fiscal cliff’ crisis, the man at the center of it all, Grover Norquist is certainly having his moments in the spotlight.

Steve Inskeep of NPR gave Norquist air time this morning to prattle on about how it really isn’t true that Republicans are lining up to jump ship and break their pledges not to raise taxes. He likened talk of accepting tax increases in exchange for spending cuts by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina to believing in a pink unicorn.

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Anti-Nuke Events Proliferate as the Holiday Season Arrives

November 29, 2012 by Doug Porter
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It may be the season for shopping for consumers. It may be a time to recharge for political campaigners. But for the anti-nuclear activists in the region it’s time to intensify their efforts. Inside are a half dozen programs, protests and events compiled by the Peace Resource Center for the coming days. Remember to make your holiday season about more than a trip to the mall.

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San Diego Congressmen Get Campaign Contributions for Domestic Drone Support

November 28, 2012 by Doug Porter

Chances are you’ve never heard of the “drone caucus” in the US House of Representatives, officially known as the House Unmanned Systems Caucus. Yet they are considered among the most powerful groups on the Hill. And participating in the caucus is a sure way for Congressmen to enrich their campaign coffers.

A story in the San Francisco Chronicle says that members of the group have attracted nearly $8 million in drone-related contributions over the past eight years. Local Reps Darrell Issa and Duncan Hunter have each received more than $200,000 from drone firms. General Atomics, maker of the ever popular Predator drone, was among the top three all-time campaign contributors to California Congressmen Brian Bilbray.

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Quit Crying Over Your Damn Twinkies; Hostess Brands Employees Got ‘Bained’

November 19, 2012 by Doug Porter
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The mass media is once again missing the real story when it comes to their reporting on the bankruptcy of Hostess Brands, makers of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Ho Hos.

Today we’re seeing mass media stories (I refuse to link to this crap) about consumers flooding into outlet stores around the country buying up all the last of these sugar/fat bombs. Why there’s even mention of Twinkies being auctioned on EBay…. of Ho Ho’s collectables.

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Black Friday Protest Plans Draw Response from Wal-Mart

November 19, 2012 by Doug Porter
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Sporadic protests and walkouts at Wal-Mart locations around the country last week have prompted the mega-retailer to complain to the National Labor Relations Board. A letter, sent by the company to the United Foodservice and Commercial Workers, accuses the union of provoking “disruptions” in its business, spreading “misinformation” and creating an “uncomfortable environment and undue stress on Wal-Mart’s customers.”

Wal-Mart (along with Target and Sears) is planning to open its stores at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. Employees, …

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Foreclosure Notification Ordinance Passes City Council on Party Line Vote

November 16, 2012 by Doug Porter

Editor: This is an edited version of Doug Porter’s column “The Starting Line” at San Diego Free Press, published Wednesday, Nov. 14th.

After more than a year of organizing and agitating, including protests at local bank branches, activists have succeeded in winning City Council approval of an ordinance requiring registration of foreclosed homes in San Diego.

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A Progressive’s Guide to 2012 California Ballot Propositions

November 2, 2012 by Doug Porter

We’ve Changed Our Minds about Prop 35, but NOT about Sex Trafficking

Over the past six weeks or so we’ve had lots to say about the various propositions that voters will be looking at for the fall elections. Rather than make you look up each article (and in some cases there have been multiple articles) I’ve put together a handy cheat sheet.

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DeMaio Campaign Tactic Backfires, US Attorney Laura Duffy Under Investigation as Calls for Her Resignation Mount

October 26, 2012 by Doug Porter

It all started with “a staff member” from Carl DeMaio’s mayoral campaign leaking an email from U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy, who was unhappy with Congressman Bob Filner for lashing out in response to attacks by the City Councilman, who had just re-stated his oft disproved claims about Filner’s pension.

This ‘leak’ was to be yet another salvo in a last ditch campaign to portray Filner as too unreasonable and hostile to be Mayor of San Diego. Instead, it’s blown up in his face. Questions about whether Duffy was in violation of the Hatch Act, which restricts the activities of government employees in partisan political campaigns, are now at the forefront of the controversy.

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San Diego Zoo Expansion Plan: Make 61% of Balboa Park’s Parking Paid

October 17, 2012 by Doug Porter

Now that (it appears) plans for construction of a paid parking garage adjacent to the Plaza de Panama are moving forward, the San Diego Zoo has dusted off an eight year old project involving construction of a fee based 4800 space underground garage and will eliminating the free 2500 space surface lot currently in use.

Construction of these two facilities will result in a net total of 9,146 spaces, 5597 of which will cost $5 per four hours of use by automobiles.

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Bain Owned Plant Removed US Flag as American Workers Forced to Train Chinese Replacements

October 16, 2012 by Doug Porter
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Editor: The following is from Doug Porter’s column at San Diego Free Press, The Starting Line, published Oct. 15th.

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney loves to berate the Chinese on the campaign trail. He portrays himself as the candidate that will stop Beijing from “cheating” that will stem the flow of jobs being exported to Asia from the United States. Yet an Illinois company that he has large investments in is forcing soon to be laid off workers to train their Chinese replacements even as Romney continues to claim that his programs will revive the economy and create jobs.

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Walmart Walkout Widens to 12 States, Black Friday Walkout Threatened

October 11, 2012 by Doug Porter

San Diego Labor Leader Lorena Gonzalez Banned from all Walmarts

Editor: The following is a compilation from Doug Porter’s two most recent Starting Line columns at the San Diego Free Press about Walmart and Lorena Gonzalez, San Diego’s labor leader.

Walkouts at the worlds’ larger retailer spread to at least twenty eight stores in twelve states yesterday, with unprecedented protests against company treatment of employees and working conditions expected to continue today at the annual Walmart investor meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas.

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Want to Make San Diego More Bike Friendly? Lose the Helmets!

October 4, 2012 by Doug Porter

There’s been a lot of discussion in San Diego lately about making the city more bike friendly. Mayor Sanders held a media event not long ago touting a public “bike sharing’ program, a low cost rental system that could encompass downtown, the beach areas and midtown by next spring. Three bike ‘corrals” that allow riders to safely park their bicycle in crowded urban neighborhoods have been opened recently.

And it would appear that the people in charge of the area’s roads are starting to take a more serious look at making the streets more user friendly to riders.

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