NO on Prop 14

Marin Independent Journal. As a long-time Marin County Republican, I highly disagree with Sashi McEntee's "yes" vote on Prop 14. advocating Open Primaries (Marin Voice 3/30/10). It destroys party affiliation, and will most definitely NOT result in higher voter turnout. If anything, it will insure LOWER voter turnout, as I, and many other Republicans and 3rd party voters, will simply not vote for one of two top Democrat vote-getters, since the Democrat Party never represents my views, nor do they have to, given the lop-sided registration numbers. Republicans may be outnumbered 3 to 1 in Marin County, but I still want the right to vote for my designated Party candidate. The Declined-to-State people can show a backbone, and choose a party affiliation. Sashi's statement that, "We've seen the damage a highly partisan legislature can do in Sacramento" is laughable, since the CA legislature is overwhelmingly Democrat, and we've seen the damage done arising from that scenario. I doubt that Sashi speaks for the Central Committee and for many Republicans here in Marin. I'm voting NO on Prop 14.

Drilling Project Plug Pulled. No $100m for CA.

From CFRW Capitol Update Fri 5/7/10.

On Monday Governor Schwarzenegger decided to terminate the scheduled Santa Barbara off-shore drilling project because of the recent oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico.  Although the Governor has been fighting for the Tranquillon Ridge Project for 2 years, he said in a statement on Monday that he doesn’t want to take the risk of a massive oil spill off our coast. The drilling project, from an existing oil platform, would have brought the state approximately $100 million dollars a year. Regarding this loss of potential revenue, the Governor stated, “I’d rather just figure out how to make up for that $100 million”.

Dana Walsh update

Nancy Pelosi speaking at Commonwealth Club April 6, 12noon, location: Mark Hopkins Hotel, Nob Hill.

No Bay Area Tea Party protest planned so far. http://tickets.commonwealthclub.org/

GOP hopefuls cast Pelosi as fundraising bait:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/27/MNIK1CLJ9Q.DTL

Dana's website: http://www.danawalshforcongress.com/

See Dana's additional website: http://www.johndennisexposed.com/

What happens if I don't buy health insurance?

 

Under the health care overhaul passed Sunday, most individuals would be required to buy a minimum health insurance policy -- just as most drivers today are required to have car insurance. This policy won't kick in until 2014, however. After then, if you don't buy insurance, you would have to pay a penalty on your annual income taxes. The reconciliation bill in the Senate would start with a flat penalty of $695 per member of your household each year. The maximum penalty would be 2.5 percent of your household income. (That's $1,300 for a family making $52,029 a year, the median household income   in 2008.) The penalty would rise with the cost of living in future years.

-- Ryan Teague Beckwith, Congress.org

 

Kerry Mazzoni challenging Susan Adams (District 3) for Marin Supervisor job

Former Marin Assemblywoman Kerry Mazzoni on Monday jumped into the race for San Rafael's seat on the Board of Supervisors, saying she will challenge Supervisor Susan Adams.

Mazzoni, who took out papers for the post, said she will file for election by Friday's deadline in order to oust Adams and "offer a different perspective" on county affairs, including the Marin Energy Authority.

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_14635939

My note: Mazzoni (D) was the incumbent Assemblywoman when Russ Weiner (R) ran for the CA Assembly way back in 1998...Gee, I may vote for her as Adams is my district supervisor (San Rafael) who is championing the MEA.

Did you know...

that SF is the only city that now pays for a social worker in the public library for the benefit of the homeless?

 

in London, a  social worker is required to hand-carry money (over the weekend) to a welfare recipient's house if they need cash, because the welfare office isn't open?

 

 

OPTING OUT of MEA is required

See www.commonsensemarin.com.  Also, www.GreenMarin.org.

 

I attended the very crowded energy meeting yesterday am in San Rafael - an overflow crowd!  Outrageous that the Marin Energy Authority is spending $1.5m of our tax money to startup.  The worst part - you have to OPT OUT of MEA providing energy to your house.  I just did this at www.pge.com.  IMPORTANT:  you need your Electric Service # - not your account # - to OPT OUT.  The service number is listed on your PG&E bill.  You need to OPT OUT online, or by calling 1-866-743-0335.

 

I definitely do not want MEA providing my energy.  I am pleased with PG&E - very reliable.  Marin does not need an alternative energy company that will cost a lot more, just so some Marinites can feel good. The cost will be much more under MEA, and the taxpayers will be on the hook. 

 

This creation of the MEA and allocation of our tax money was never put to a vote!  Charles McGlashan, a Marin County Supervisor, is the Chairman of MEA - talk about a conflict of interest!!  A Marin Grand Jury said this scheme was folly and recommended "the Marin Clean Energy program be abandoned."  Lots of cities, including Berkeley, have chosen not to go with an alternative energy authority, because of legal and financial risks to taxpayers.

 

The Marin County Treasurer-Tax Collector Michael Smith wrote in the IJ Marin Voice 2/21/10, "...ill-conceived...no public vote of approval...grand jury has recommended abandoning MCE...we as ratepayers will be in MCE unless we decide to opt out..."  http://www.marinij.com/ci_14443813

 

Larkspur, Novato, Corte Madera, and Ross have all opted out of MEA.  For some reason, San Rafael has not.  Truly outrageous!

Viola Howey, RIP

Viola was a wonderful mother-in-law. She lived to be 101! We will miss her terribly.

RESULT of "ONE PARTY" COMPASSION

RESULT of "ONE PARTY" COMPASSION Mike DeNunzio Unemployment in San Francisco nears ten percent; yet City Supervisors refuse to schedule a hearing on tax incentives to stimulate jobs, but they will discuss a ban on feeding ducks in city parks. These people did not “seize power;” they were elected by voters of the ONE PARTY that has controlled public policy in San Francisco since 1964. Members of this ONE PARTY exalt “San Francisco values,” and congratulate their compassion for the needy-(incessantly) In January the progressive “SF WEEKLY” published a 4,700 word indictment of what their personal liberal guilt has done to the City and suggested they take personal responsibility for what they have done: "San Francisco is...arguably the worst-run big city in America. I never heard anyone say: If only [our city] could be run like San Francisco. Other liberal (cities) wouldn't put up with the dysfunction in San Francisco; says urbanologist, Joel Kotkin." (SF WEEKLY, Jan. 14, 2010, Benjamin Wachs, Joe Eskenaz.) In San Francisco the voters of this ONE PARTY have readily "put up" with serial mismanagement, deficits, debt, and repeatedly elected candidates who support policies that border on criminality: Sanctuary policies that led to murder; social policies that foster homeless, and crime, and failed transit policies. Fiscal policies with a $6.6 billion budget, 27,801 employee-- 8,000 paid $100,000 plus benefits. The voters of this ONE PARTY are solely responsible for a staggering $4 billion unfunded liability for retirement benefits that deprives services for needy children, the aged and disabled. Einstein said: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting different results." In San Francisco the voters of this ONE PARTY continues to prove Einstein is right -liberalism is a mental disorder.

SF worst run city in America

To SF Weekly authors: Your excellent, excellent article applies to Washington, DC, as well. Our "leaders" there are as corrupt as SF "leaders." You certainly have a bead on SF, and I applaud you.

"It's time to face facts: San Francisco is spectacularly mismanaged and arguably the worst-run big city in America. This year's city budget is an astonishing $6.6 billion — more than twice the budget for the entire state of Idaho — for roughly 800,000 residents. Yet despite that stratospheric amount, San Francisco can't point to progress on many of the social issues it spends liberally to tackle — and no one is made to answer when the city comes up short."

Do not miss this article! http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-12-16/news/the-worst-run-big-city-in-the-u-s/