Month: February 2012

Activists from around San Diego County demonstrated on Friday, February 3rd, against both Democrat Susan Davis and Republican Duncan Hunter for their support of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 – the bill signed into law by President Obama on the last day of 2011.

The Act allows the government to arrest and indefinitely detain American citizens without charges or trials. Demonstrators staged simultaneous protests outside the offices of Davis and Hunter, both San Diego County legislators in the House of Representatives, who voted for the original bill.

On Adams Avenue, where Davis has her San Diego office, nearly 40 people rallied, waved signs – calling on Davis to either “repeal the NDAA or resign!” And in the El Cajon industrial park where Hunter has his office, another two dozen demonstrators called on Hunter to resign or get rid of the NDAA.

Several members of one of San Diego County tea party factions joined progressives at Hunter’s office site. This reflects the fact that both sides of the political spectrum oppose the NDAA.

It’s time, folks.

We can no longer get by with our awkward avoidance of the ongoing nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan. Not only should we be discussing the Pacific waters and gyres bringing (or not bringing) contaminated debris & particles from the March 11th earthquake/tsunami last year, we should consider our proximity to San Onofre, just 48 miles from OB.

By Emilie Astolat

Talking about sex isn’t as easy as it seems, even in a laid-back town like San Diego. I mean, I’m a grown, almost-married woman who engages in the act quite frequently, and yet I still feel awkward as I sit in front of this computer screen typing, despite the cloak of anonymity.

That says something about the American culture, doesn’t it? It’s no secret that people have sex. Right now in San Diego, for example, there are countless people doing the deed. But, shhh! Sex should be kept behind closed doors at all times!

It really shouldn’t though.

Join us at the Sat. Feb. 4 – Occupy San Diego County Summit

Workshops at Centro Cultural de la Raza, Park Blvd, Balboa Park

Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 –

(10:30a- 7:00 pm) Occupy SD County SUMMIT at Centro Cultural de la Raza.

• Teach-ins,

• Work-Shops

Come and experience some of San Diego’s history: The Lemon Grove Incident – San Diego’s own desegregation case from 1930. Filmmaker Paul Espinosa’s award-winning film about the historical case, one of the earliest school desegregation experiences in U.S. history.

The film will be shown on Feb. 3rd, at the Centro Cultural De La Raza, at 2125 Park Blvd in Balboa Park – at 7pm. There will be a discussion with Espinosa after the screening.

By Eric W. Dolan / The Raw Story / February 1, 2012

Five Republican lawmakers from Washington state have introduced legislation that condemns the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012 for controversial measures regarding the detainment of terrorism suspects, according to the Tenth Amendment Center.

The $662 billion defense spending bill contained a controversial section that required terrorism suspects to be detained by the military without trial, regardless of where they were captured.

By Brittany Joy Cooper / Taste of Country / Jan. 29, 2012

Occupy this AlbumAs previously reported, Willie Nelson is rallying behind the Occupy Wall Street protests. While many country artists have kept mum about their thoughts on the movement, Nelson posted a video in October of him and his wife reciting a poem they wrote in favor of Occupy.

Now, he’s joining forces with other famous musicians who share his stance on the topic by contributing to the album ‘Occupy This Album: A Compilation of Music By, For and Inspired by the Occupy Wall Street Movement and the 99%.’ The album is expected to release in the spring.

Why This Is Important

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has announced that it will withdraw from partnerships with Planned Parenthood affiliates in response to pressure from anti-abortion activists.

This means Planned Parenthood will no longer receive grants that are vital to its operation, thereby jeopardizing its ability to provide services like birth control, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and cancer screenings.

According to a report by NPR, Planned Parenthood centers performed more than 4 million breast exams over the past five years – including nearly 170,000 as a result of Komen grants.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is an organization that improves and saves the lives of women. So is Planned Parenthood. It is absolutely vital that they continue to work together.

Please tell Susan G. Komen for the Cure to stop caving under conservative pressures and to continue to protect the health of women everywhere.

How the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation put their corporation-friendly image before women’s actual health concerns.

By Amanda Marcotte / AlterNet / Feb. 1, 2012

It’s probably the fastest-spreading story in Internet history about the relationship between two non-profits. Late Tuesday afternoon, Planned Parenthood and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure announced that Komen would be withdrawing grants given to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings. Despite Komen’s lame attempts to claim otherwise, it was widely understood that this was about Komen aligning itself with the anti-choice movement, despite the anti-choice movement’s long history of opposing not just safe and legal abortion, but also access to contraception and even the prevention of cervical cancer through the use of the HPV vaccine.

The Daily Transcipt * is reporting that a 4-unit apartment on Del Monte Avenue in south Ocean Beach has sold for $857,500 – cash.

The apartment complex located at 5010-5014 Del Monte Ave is actually a group of smaller cottages – most joined together, one block from Sunset Cliffs and the ocean. They consist of a two-bedroom, one-bath unit, and three one-bedroom units. It is a one-story, three building complex built in 1951 on a 5319 square foot lot.

On January 18, 2012, Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) sued Caltrans in the County of Sacramento where the state agency is headquartered. The suit alleges that Caltrans failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) when it decided to sell its District Office in Old Town San Diego, despite acknowledged significant impacts. The environmental impact report (EIR) prepared by Caltrans failed to analyze even one alternative to public sale, such as transfer to State Parks or restrictive covenants that protect its historic status and use.

The Caltrans District 11 Office Complex meets criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources. There is wise public interest in transferring the site to California State Parks to add its 2.5 acres to the 13-acre Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

“Every EIR is required to contain a range of reasonable alternatives to a proposed project. Caltrans admits that its proposed sale of its historic District Office in Old Town would have significant environmental impacts, and yet its EIR fails to include analysis of even one alternative, much less a range,” stated SOHO Executive Director Bruce Coons.

Thousands Strike State-Wide (see more below)

By Lauren Steussy / NBC San Diego / January 31, 2012

Workers at Kaiser Permanente are lining up in front of facilities across California to bring awareness to contract disputes with Kaiser’s mental health and optical employees.

Statewide, 4,000 National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) employees will strike for 24-hours Tuesday. It is expected to be one of the biggest strikes in Kaiser’s history, since two other unions will also walk out. The disputes center around proposed cuts to retirement and health care benefits.