(While the issues within the State Capitol are important, we also need to work on rebuilding a sustainable economy for the future. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
According to Miguel Figueroa, the Executive Director of the Calexico New River Committee (the sponsors of AB 1079), "Despite decades of resolutions, studies and promises, our city has not received the sustained leadership and support from California that we need to solve this problem. We commend Assemblyman Perez for making New River clean-up a priority in his first term in office..."
Perez is doing what he said he'd do for the region no one has served up to now- clean up the New River, the biggest environmental and public health disaster in the 80th since the 1940s. Though Senator Ducheny made progress in 2005, it took Perez to get the full coalition together and the federal funds released.
The Desert Sun, true to form, tucks the credit for this "unprecedented attention" and the "reversal of years of neglect" into the second page:
The California-Mexico Border Relations Council in coming weeks will host a public hearing in Imperial County to get residents' feedback. The relatively new organization, made up of key state secretaries, is tasked with identifying major border issues.
Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez, a Coachella Democrat who secured the state funding and is organizing the coming visits, has authored a bill giving the border council authority to coordinate a restoration plan with locals and oversee the necessary environmental studies.
(btw, If this had been a Benoit or Nestande Republican success, we'd have seen their names in the first line, plus photo. No liberal media here.)
Yes, I'd like him to do all of this and be as far in front on the budget as Nancy Skinner. But reclaiming a healthful environment along the New River is transformative stuff, too. The people who live along the New River have an Assemblymember, finally.
Perez will face a well funded challenger in all likelihood. Can a Republican challenger can peel this constituency off with attacks on Manuel's support for the gay community and women's healthcare rights? Jeandron tried last year and failed. The New River is toxic to the touch, and dooms the whole region to poverty. If Perez can turn that around, he'll have done more than every Republican combined since the 1940s.
(This is our top Congressional challenge in 2010. If you have a few bucks to spare, consider making a donation. - promoted by David Dayen)
Last year, thanks to the grassroots, we came closer to beating Ken Calvert in California's 44th District than anyone thought possible.
With that near upset, people from across the country took note of this seat - especially the Republicans!
National Republicans have already begun raising money hand over fist from their big business, special interest contributors to keep Ken Calvert in office.
In fact, later today, Ken Calvert is set to receive $100,000 from the National Republican Congressional Committee as part of their "Patriot Program." They're doing everything they can to hold on to the seat!
According to the NRCC, these Patriots will be provided with the resources they need to build strong campaigns to help Republicans fight their way back to the Majority. We can't let this happen!
Last week, the Rothenberg Political Report http://rothenbergpoliticalrepo... came out and listed our race as having moved from last year's "Solid Republican" ranking to now "Leaning Republican".
With that new ranking, we've been told we're one of the three top races in the country to watch.
As encouraging as that is, I am also being told that I now need to immediately raise huge sums of money if I want to remain competitive.
I didn't get within 2% last cycle by raising millions of dollars and sending out flashy ads. Instead, I did it the old fashioned way. I walked the district and I actually talked to voters one-on-one. I was able to connect with thousands of families who have watched their jobs disappear and their homes lost to foreclosure - even though they always played by the rules. In 2008, I did what I do best: connect with voters one-on-one and discuss issues to explain exactly how I would be different than their current representative. At the heart of each issue (the economy, health care, the environment), we all share the same basic beliefs that we want our children to grow up in a safe, secure, thriving community and to do better than we did.
Unfortunately, I know that this race will be different and that strategy alone won't work in 2010 because the other side is so desperate to retain the seat.
The NRCC now realizes this seat is vulnerable and have made it clear they don't want to lose it. They've already set up a donation page for Calvert and Newt Gingrich is hosting a fundraiser tonight to help raise money for him.
Ok, so no one is exactly shocked to hear that today I've made it official but I wanted to come here to this blog to post it myself since the folks at Calitics have always been good to me.
I also wanted to post a little more about myself so that you understand why I'm running and why you should care about this race.
(The D-Trip is really taking an interest in CA-44. - promoted by David Dayen)
I'm excited to announce that my district is one of only six nationwide being targeted by the DCCC in a series of radio ads being rolled out next week.
The ads will target Republican members of Congress who opposed the middle class tax cut in President Obama's economic recovery act. These ads are the DCCC's way of taking the message of middle class tax cuts and economic recovery directly to the public in radio ads called "Tax Man" that will run in the lead up to April 15th (tax day).
My opponent Ken Calvert is one of the six Republicans being targeted for his vote against the middle class tax cut.
This is the DCCC's fourth phase of the "Putting Families First" campaign and we've been fortunate enough to be included in the other phases as well.
Representative Calvert is back in usual form - putting politics rather than families first. He released a newsletter this week touting the fact the he's once again defied the new administration.
Of particular interest was his slam against what he calls the "Mortgage Cram-Down Bill" (H.R. 1106), saying it would allow judges to "cram down" the principle amount on home mortgages.
Has Mr. Calvert somehow forgotten that the largest city in his district (Riverside) now has the fourth largest foreclosure rate in the country?
It turns out that Rep. Ken Calvert is at it again.
First, he voted against the Stimulus Bill. In his world of bizarre partisan purity, Calvert said that the Stimulus Bill spends too much. This argument would be more compelling if it were not coming from someone who voted to bailout banks and corporate CEOs to the tune of $700+ billion with no oversight just a few months ago, and who repeatedly voted to spend a budget-busting trillion dollars in Iraq.
After that last vote, he came back to the district for a series of town hall meetings where he spoke about the Stimulus Bill and the 9800 new jobs that would be created in the 44th and told the local paper, he'd do what he could to direct as much money as possible to the Inland Empire.
He followed that up by voting against the spending bill, complaining about the earmarks that had been added to it. But in today's Press Enterprise, it was reported that Mr. Calvert included 34 of his own earmarks totaling more than $42 million to it. When the Press Enterprise asked about adding those earmarks to the bill Representative Calvert said, "That doesn't obligate me to vote for the spending."
I think a more accurate statement to the press would be "In spite of all my efforts to prevent it from happening, there will be 10,000 new jobs and $42 million coming to this Congressional District."
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) posted a map today detailing the benefits for the Recovery Plan. The DCCC has made Congressman Calvert one of 12 GOP House members they are targeting in an e-mail, text, and telephone campaign calling these members out for voting against the stimulus package. As the DCCC states, "Congressman Ken Calvert's vote against President Obama's economic recovery package means that he tried to block a badly needed and shovel-ready project to repair streets in Riverside, California, creating 23 jobs alone."
To view the map, visit www.DCCC.org/Content/Recovery
Did Calvert and Co. get special treatment to 'further curry political favor'? With questions still swirling about Representative Ken Calvert's role in the purchase of public land, a $1.5 million lawsuit alleging the land sale may have been improper - or worse - continues to make its way through Riverside County Superior Court.
(Well, let's say hi to Mr. Hedrick once again. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
Today, the DCCC added Ken Calvert's name to its list of "House Republicans Hypocrisy Hall of Fame" for "celebrating the benefits of President Obama's economic recovery bill in their districts" even though Mr. Calvert voted against it.
(It's good to see the DCCC investing. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), today announced the DCCC is launching a "Putting Families First" ad and grassroots campaign in 28 targeted Republican districts throughout the country. Our district (the 44th) is one of those included.
Democratic legislative leaders are in Washington today arguing for increased stimulus money for California. I've been arguing that this is required for some time, and hopefully it will be done in such a way that a) it can be applied to the General Fund deficit (so far Arnold has not asked for budget relief in that way) and b) it can be used without up-front money that will be matched, because the cash crisis limits our ability to do that.
However, there is something else that the Obama Administration can do right away to help the bottom line of the state and its citizens, and that is deal with the crisis in the housing market here. It's no secret that California is one of the hardest-hit states by foreclosures; in Stanislaus County, for example, 9 percent of all houses and condos in the county have been foreclosed upon, a staggering figure. That's almost $4 billion dollars worth of foreclosures in Stanislaus alone. In larger counties like San Bernardino and Riverside, you can see how this foreclosure crisis affects new housing starts (there are a glut of cheaper foreclosed homes on the market) and thusly unemployment figures.
Only four years ago, Riverside and nearby San Bernardino, often called the Inland Empire, were California's economic powerhouse, accounting for more than a fifth of the state's new jobs. Today, unemployment reigns in the sprawling region east of Los Angeles. The 9.5 percent jobless rate in the two counties matches Detroit's as the highest of any major metropolitan area in the U.S.
Although there was a surge in construction employment in the U.S., and about a 50% increase in California (as a percent of total employment), construction employment doubled (as a percent of total employment) in the Inland Empire [...]
With the housing bust, the percent construction employment has declined sharply and the unemployment rate has risen to almost 10%. Is it any surprise that jobless rate in the Inland Empire matches Detroit's as the highest of any major metropolitan area in the U.S.?
Nobody is calling on the federal government to prop up a sick housing market that will not see a broad recovery for a while. But foreclosures have a disruptive effect on the greater economy. They hurt property values, they hurt banks, and they hurt employment. The crisis is only slated to grow if nothing is done, with homeowners of every income class affected. And so foreclosure aid would be a major boost to California, and it can be done both quickly and effectively. By pledging that $100 billion from the TARP program will go to limit foreclosures, Obama has already begun this effort. Ted Lieu thinks that the Obama Administration understands the nature of the problem. (over)
(Bill Hedrick is on the Calitics ActBlue Page. You can give there to all four of our candidates in tight races, Bill, Charlie Brown, Alyson Huber, and Hannah-Beth Jackson. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
The Hedrick campaign still needs help paying legal costs to make sure every vote is counted. Can you help? The ActBlue page is at www.actblue.com/page/hedrickballotfund.
The energy and determination of the Hedrick for Congress campaign remains high as the tally of the final votes in the 44th Congressional District race began last week. Signature verification and sorting of ballots are continuing this weekend, with the actual count beginning on Monday, November 11th and resuming after the holiday on Wednesday.
The Hedrick Campaign has enlisted over 100 volunteers to observe the process, working in shifts to cover every available hour at the Riverside County Registrar of Voters in Moreno Valley.
Volunteers last week remarked repeatedly that they were impressed with the professionalism and efficiency of the Registrar's staff. The campaign has found the Riverside County Registrar of Voters, Barbara Dunmore, to be completely forthcoming in answering all questions and clearly explaining the process ahead.
Xposted on mydesert.com, the online edition of the Desert Sun
Rally this afternoon in Palm Springs and tomorrow afternoon in Beaumont to protest the unconstitutional removal of 'fundamental right to marry' for gays and lesbians:
Beaumont City Councilmember Roger Berg was 'arrested' for assault on a woman during a No on Proposition 8 demonstration in Beaumont on Monday, November 3, 2008. In an interview on Tuesday, Betty McMillion, Riverside County Democratic Central Committee chair told BluePalmSpringsBoyz, that Berg had been placed under 'citizen's arrest' by the victim and that police reports had been filed against him. Additionally, a minor filmed and audioed the aggression and has turned copies over to Beaumont police and the District Attorney's office for further investigation.
During Election 2008, spontaneous rallies took place around Beaumont, a city in the San Gorgonio Pass region of Riverside County, midway between Palm Springs and Redlands. A handful of young adults and older teens would gather at major intersections and crowds would gather to protest Proposition 8. Monday was just such a demonstration.
(great ground report from the campaign of my favorite soon-to-be Assemblyman. - promoted by David Dayen)
Large majorities of Perez's ID'd voters have already voted. The majority of VBM and PAV are Democrats this time around. We've expanded the universe to make full use of our powerhouse squad of union brothers and sisters on the job today.
Jeandron dropped some particularly sleazy attack mailers yesterday, but California Medical Association mailed a fold out poster IE for Manuel that's just beautiful, as you can see above. As the man says, it's a movimiento, a social justice movement, not just a campaign.
I'm here in Coachella with CSEA. SEIU is also walking and poll watching, as is LIUNA, United Domestic Workers, CTA. The enthusiasm in Imperial County is unprecedented - that's where Manuel started his day. He's working his way from volunteer site to site from Calexico to Palm Springs today. He'll vote at Coachella City Hall at 3pm, and join Assembly Speaker Karen Bass at the Democratic HQ at 6pm for a rally, then on to Democratic Party at the Agua Caliente, then back to Coachella HQ to get the final numbers.
Two bands, and much food by then. Updates as I can.
California's Inland Empire newspaper, the Press Enterprise is reporting on a recent newsletter that was sent out by the Chaffey Community Republican Women Federated. In that newsletter, the Republican Women speculated about what life would be like under a Barack Obama presidency.
The October newsletter by the Chaffey Community Republican Women, Federated says if Obama is elected his image will appear on food stamps -- instead of dollar bills like other presidents. The statement is followed by an illustration of "Obama Bucks" -- a phony $10 bill featuring Obama's face on a donkey's body, labeled "United States Food Stamps."
The GOP newsletter, which was sent to about 200 members and associates of the group by e-mail and regular mail last week, is drawing harsh criticism from members of the political group, elected leaders, party officials and others as racist.
Republican Gary Jeandron's gone negative on Manuel Perez again, airing a radio/TV ad that accuses Manuel of being for higher taxes, higher fees, we can't afford Manuel Perez - primal scream, clutch the pearls, etc. The usual GOP disingenuous hysteria.
The Perez campaign has responded:
Now, it's not that Perez thinks that the Grover Norquist pledge is a good thing, he just notes that Jeandron is running on the usual GOP gimmick, while failing to meet the gimmick's standards.
UPDATE - I had this diary all wrong before, I referred to the wrong attack ad. Now it makes sense.
Our campaign manager, Ryan Sandoval, wanted to update folks on this blog as to where California's 44th Congressional District race currently stands, what sort of support we have in the district, what our chances of winning are, what we've been doing to ensure victory, and what our opponent has been up to.
We encourage you to watch the video and then make up your own mind as to whether you think our race is winnable. If you agree with us that this is a completely winnable race (given the right support), we ask that you help us out by donating to the campaign or signing up as a volunteer to help in spreading the word about Bill.
This has always been a grassroots campaign so we're doing what we've done all along - reaching out and asking that the grassroots activists out there step up and help the good guy win in November!
(Full disclosure: I'm an elected DSCC delegate, thanks to constructive nagging in 06 from the Calitics crew, and I'm an alternate to the RCDCC as soon as I'm properly sworn in. I'm on the board of Democrats of the Desert, a chartered CDP club, and of the ACLU Desert Chapter.
UPDATED: As of September 21st, Democratic volunteers registered 786 Democrats, 143 Republicans (well, it's the law), and 171 Other.
At Netroots Nation, NYBrian and hekebolos had a terrific panel on getting involved with your local Democratic Party. Most of us have plenty to say on that subject, and in my region the Riverside County Democratic Central Committee takes its share of criticism from the local clubs and activists. But this year, we have plenty to applaud, and I want to share the work that the RCDCC is doing to support our current candidates, and those coming up. The board has several new members, and the new chair is making everyone work, work, work.
Crossposted at dkos.
