Lutz for Congress 2010 Campaign
165 E. Main St., El Cajon, CA 92020
FEC# C00479477
Media Contact: Brennan Purtzer, Media Director
619-447-3246 / brennan@VoteRayLutz.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GASLAMP FUNDRAISER TO CAP WEEK OF ENDORSEMENTS FOR LUTZ CAMPAIGN
COUNCILWOMAN, CONGRESSMEN PAST AND PRESENT AGREE ON LUTZ
San Diego, Calif. (July 30, 2010) - "I really appreciate all this support from people who have seen my work," said Ray Lutz, a 52-year-old activist, engineer and educator running as a Democrat to replace freshman Congressman Duncan D. Hunter in East County's 52nd District. "Hunter follows in his father's footsteps, and represents the worst of Bush-era extremism. Join with me to return sanity to this seat."
Lutz is announcing endorsements from San Diego Congressman Bob Filner (CA-51) and former Congressman Jim Bates, who will be attending Lutz's fundraising event this Friday.
Endorsements have also arrived from San Diego Councilwoman Marti Emerald, who represents District 7 of San Diego City, and Community Advocate and County Supervisor Candidate Stephen Whitburn, also attending Friday's engagement.
Many other V.I.P.'s are expected at the event.
The fundraiser will take place today, July 30, 4-7pm, at the Tequila 100 Bar & Grill (756 5th Avenue) in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. The event is open to the public, with a suggested donation of $25 (though no one will be turned away).
PRESS RELEASE - July 27, 2010
CANDIDATE LUTZ CALLS CONGRESSMAN HUNTER OUT ON HIS ANTI-AMERICAN SANCTUARY CITIES "GAG-ORDER"
LUTZ SAYS IMMIGRATION POLICY TOO IMPORTANT TO BE USED AS PARTISAN ELECTION FOOTBALL
El Cajon, Calif. -
"Hunter wants to stop the debate, but he knows he can't pass his gag order -- he's just playing partisan politics to get in the news," said Ray Lutz, the Democratic challenger to California's 52nd Congressional Seat. "I say let the courts chew on Arizona's SB-1070 law and decide once and for all if it is unconstitutional. What's the harm in that?"
Lutz, 52, spoke in rebuttal to recent statements by Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, who this week introduced a bill into the U.S. House designed to block the department of justice from prosecuting its case against the State of Arizona for passing a law mandating all persons to carry immigration documents.
"Congressman Hunter's support of this Arizona-type of immigration control amounts to a type of Produce Tax," said Lutz. "If we had this kind of law affecting California's central valley, ag labor costs would shoot through the moon - and the cost for each family to put food on the table would increase considerably."
Lutz said Hunter's bill aims to force the DOJ to cut Criminal Alien Assistance funds (SCAAP) from counties, such as San Diego, where law enforcement doesn't demand immigration paperwork in every encounter with suspected immigrants. Last year, San Diego County received nearly $3 million in SCAAP funding for much-needed alien detention reimbursement, which could be in jeopardy if Hunter's bill ever became law. The bill is seen to have very little chance of passing, however, as only five items of Hunter-sponsored legislation have ever become law - most of which were ceremonial, nothing more.
In previous statements, Hunter's anti-immigrant stance has taken him beyond simply endorsing Arizona's unconstitutional law. In April, The Congressman received heavy criticism for saying he would favor deporting "natural born American citizens that are children of illegal immigrants," because the country couldn't "afford" to continue current practices.
"Disrepecting birthright citizenship flouts the 14th amendment to our constitution, and suggests we should revisit the civil liberties gained after the Civil War" said Lutz. "This guy is representing us and he can't even respect the bill of rights. Which right will he go after next?"
Ray Lutz for Congress is hosting a public fundraising party in the Gaslamp District this upcoming Friday, July 30, between 4-7pm at the Tequila 100 Bar & Grill.
Ray Lutz for Congress can be reached at: 619.447.3246
The San Diego Unified District Board of Education will be voting Tuesday (5 pm) evening to place a temporary parcel tax up for voter approval on the November ballot. While this move on the surface is a response to the "funding cliff" that public education systems state-wide are facing as Federal stimulus dollars expire next year, the reality is that much larger stakes are in play here.
ESCONDIDO, May 20, 2010 - The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Region 5 has endorsed Tracy Emblem for U.S. Congress in California's 50th as the Democratic Candidate to vote for in the June 8th primary.
UAW Region Five consists of active and retired members in 17 states in the Western and Southwestern United States and represents individuals such as manufacturing and aerospace employees, agricultural implement workers and academic student employees, readers and tutors at the nine teaching campuses in California.
"Putting Americans back to work should be the number one priority right now in Congress. If America is to have a future, now is the time to revitalize our manufacturing base with high tech green manufacturing jobs that benefit Americans. It starts immediately with policies that return our jobs to America and by retooling for a new economy together with a multi-industry strategy approach through partnership with private, public and labor segments."
The UAW is one of the largest and most diverse unions in North America, with members in virtually every sector of the economy. UAW-represented workplaces range from multinational corporations, small manufacturers and state and local governments to colleges and universities, hospitals and private non-profit organizations. The UAW has more than 390,000 active members and more than 600,000 retired members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
It has been actively involved in every civil rights legislative battle since the 1950s, including the campaigns to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Fair Housing Act, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988 and legislation to prohibit discrimination against women, the elderly and people with disabilities.
The UAW also has played a vital role in passing such landmark legislation as Medicare and Medicaid, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Employee Retirement Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. In Washington and state capitols, the UAW is fighting for better schools for kids, secure health care and pensions for retirees, clean air and water, tougher workplace health and safety standards, stronger worker's compensation and unemployment insurance laws and fairer taxes.
This endorsement brings the total labor support of Tracy's campaign to about 20 unions. Tracy is also the candidate endorsed by the Progressive Democrats of America.
Tracy Emblem is running for U.S. Congress in San Diego's 50th District against Francine Busby, a Cardiff School Board trustee with only one endorsement by labor (California Teachers Association), to unseat the incumbent Republican Brian Bilbray who has no endorsements by labor.
ESCONDIDO, May 12, 2010 - The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has endorsed Tracy Emblem for U.S. Congress in California's 50th Democratic primary race in North San Diego County.
AFGE represents a diverse workforce of government workers who are the vital threads of the fabric of American life. Government employees inspect the food we eat and the places we work, protect citizens from the illicit flow of drugs, maintain the safety of our nation's borders, care for our nation's veterans and keep the national defense systems prepared for any danger
"With the 50th District geographically between two military bases and San Diego County home to the second largest Veteran population in the nation, I am proud to have the support and endorsement of AFGE whose members work to care for, empower and assist our returning Veterans and protect and keep America strong," said Tracy Emblem on Wednesday.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union representing 600,000 federal and D.C. government workers nationwide and overseas. Workers in virtually all functions of government at every federal agency depend upon AFGE for legal representation, legislative advocacy, technical expertise and informational services.
AFGE believes that all unions should belong to the house of labor and has been nationally affiliated with the The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) since AFGE was founded in 1932. The AFL-CIO is a voluntary federation of 56 national and international labor unions. The AFL-CIO was created in 1955 by the merger of the AFL and the CIO.
This endorsement brings the total labor support of Tracy's campaign to about 20 unions. Tracy is also the candidate endorsed by the Progressive Democrats of America.
Tracy Emblem is running for U.S. Congress in San Diego's 50th District against Francine Busby, a Cardiff School Board trustee with only one endorsement by labor (California Teachers Association), to unseat the incumbent Republican Brian Bilbray who has no endorsements by labor.
Logan Jenkins, a San Diego Union-Tribune columnist based in North San Diego County, covered the tight Democratic Congressional primary in California's 50th District today. He profiled the two Democratic candidates in the race competing for a chance to unseat the Republican incumbent, Brian Bilbray: 1) Francine Busby, "the Harold Stassen of the 50th district, a three-time loser in head-to-head races against Republicans," and 2) Tracy Emblem, the fresh new upstart with extensive blue collar support from about 20 labor unions. He posited that the 50th District might change color from red to blue this year. Read more:
WASHINGTON D.C., May 07, 2010 - National peacekeeping group, Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS) gave progressive democrat, Tracy Emblem the thumbs up in her race for United States Congress in North San Diego County's 50th district with their official endorsement for her candidacy in the June 8th Democratic Primary.
CGS is a membership based 'big idea' group working to promote the International Criminal Court (ICC), reform the United Nations and encourage the United States to adopt a multinational foreign policy, which includes working together with other nations to abolish war, protect our rights and freedoms, and solve the problems facing humanity that no one nation can solve alone.
"I am proud to have the support and endorsement of the Citizens for Global Solutions and to work together to promote the end of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. We all have a responsibility to be part of the solution," said Tracy Emblem upon receiving the news.
CGS remains one of the leading U.S. based organizations focused on the ICC. Through the work of members, they have been able to roll back the anti-ICC policies adopted by Congress and the Bush administration. They are currently meeting with members of the Obama administration to build a truly positive U.S. relationship with the Court.
As a founding member of the Partnership for Effective Peacekeeping, CGS successfully lobbied Congress to appropriate an additional $524 million to help address critical shortfalls to funding U.N. peacekeeping missions. Overall, they were able to help reduce, by more than 20%, U.S. debt to the U.N. They will continue work to bring this to zero and to put blue helmets back onto U.S. troops.
Close to 90% of the 183 candidates endorsed by Global Solutions PAC in the 2008 election cycle won, including 5 new senators and 5 new representatives.
Tracy is running for U.S. Congress in San Diego's 50th District against Francine Busby, a Cardiff School Board trustee, to unseat the incumbent Republican Brian Bilbray.
With the June primaries fast approaching, we have three candidates facing challengers for the party's nominations. As we pursue our goal of a governing progressive majority, you'll be hearing from each of them. Our hope is that you will find an hour or two to help elect true progressive candidates like Tracy Emblem in California's 50th congressional district. -Tim Carpenter
Republican Brian Bilbray has stood as a living roadblock to every meaningful piece of legislation. He voted NO to Regulate Predatory Lending Practices while people are losing their homes due to foreclosure. He voted NO to Health Care Reform, even after his friends in Congress stripped the Public Option back to nothing less than another private insurance bailout. He voted NO to Ending the War and to bring our troops home. In fact, the only consistent YES vote he has cast is to participate in the Obstruction of Progress.
The RNC considers the 50th a vulnerable district. In 2008, President Obama won with over 14,000 votes. The district is 97.8 percent urban and is ready for change and progressive leadership in Congress.
I am running in a contested Democratic Primary against the party "blue dog" candidate who has already run and lost three times. I have the support of California's working families, the California Labor Federation, the California Nurses Association, National Air Traffic Controllers and almost 20 individual unions in the AFL-CIO. Labor supports me because they know it will take a progressive leader to deliver a victory. Your support will help to level the playing field against the party machine.
With only days until the primary, I need your help now more than ever to win this fight. Please volunteer to make calls to help us reach voters in this critical Southern California district. Together, we can work for true progress to make America stronger.
Yours truly,
Tracy Emblem
P.S. Your campaign contribution of $10, $25, $50 or whatever you can afford will help us reach voters in this critical time. Please visit www.TracyEmblemforCongress.com.
P.P.S. Join Tracy this Thursday on the "Inside the Party" call. Register here.
ESCONDIDO, CA April 23, 2010 - The California School Employees Association (CSEA) joins the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), the California Labor Federation (CLF) and nearly twenty diverse labor unions from building trades to health care specialists and service employees in their official endorsement of Tracy Emblem for United States Congress in California's 50th district.
CSEA represents nearly 230,000 classified employees in California public schools and community colleges.
These school support staff, known in California as “classified school employees,” perform a wide range of essential work, including security, food services, office and clerical work, school maintenance and operations, transportation, academic assistance and paraeducator services, library and media assistance, computer services and more.
"I am proud to have the support and endorsement of the working men and women who keep our schools and colleges open and running. California's Classified Employees work hard every day to ensure that our learning environments are safe, clean and ready for our students, young and old. It is essential that we have a quality, skilled workforce which is why I support rights for employees to organize, pool their resources and collectively bargain for benefits. Investing in our local communities will have lasting results for generations to come," said the jubilant Tracy Emblem.
These endorsement's bring the total labor support of Tracy's campaign to almost 20 unions. Tracy is also the candidate endorsed by the Progressive Democrats of America.
Tracy is running for U.S. Congress in San Diego's 50th District against Francine Busby, a Cardiff School Board trustee with only one endorsement by labor (California Teachers Association), to unseat the incumbent Republican Brian Bilbray who has no endorsements by labor.
Vote Now for Tracy Emblem the True Progressive Candidate
We all know in our hearts who the real progressive candidate is -- Tracy Emblem. The other 50th District candidate has lost the general election three times, and is now attempting to gain the DFA endorsement as a "progressive" candidate. She is not a Progressive Democrat who DFA should endorse. In fact, the DFA does not want Blue Dog or Corporate candidates to represent the party as stated in a recent email from DFA.
To our fellow democrats who are Busby supporters we say that your friendship and loyalty to her is admirable, but we all know friends don't win elections. It is the best qualified candidate who should move on to defeat Brian Bilbray. Let's all make it happen, and as our opponet says - "Let's rally the troops."
Why support Tracy Emblem as the Progressive Candidate? Progressive Democrats of America and Progressive Push - both national progressive organizations have endorsed Tracy.
Tracy has the support/endorsements of 16 labor unions who represent hundreds of working families in the 50th District.
This district can only be won by a strong opponent -- Tracy has been a civil rights attorney protecting and fighting for people's constitutional rights!
Please Click on the Link Below & Vote for Tracy Emblem
Lately, interviews concerning healthcare reform have been plastering the news with droning answers that seem to always slip into over-complicated political jargon. In an interview on Fox 5 San Diego, Francine Busby and Brian Bilbray weighed in on the effect of healthcare reform. The two candidates running for the seat in California's 50th district have competing views of what needs to be done to pass healthcare reform. Francine Busby, addressed the problem head on, and put forth a solution with a fresh display of knowhow and vision. Busby focused on what needs to be done to make healthcare reform relevant to families around the dining room table here in San Diego, rather than the compromising table in Washington. Busby is in support of passing this healthcare reform bill to help the 108,000 uninsured people in her district obtain health insurance. She is willing to do what it takes to make sure the issues relate to the American people and not the American bureaucracy.
Brian Bilbray's comments were all about POLITICS. When asked about the votes needed to pass the bill, Bilbray pinned the blame on the Democrats, their 40-vote majority and lack of bipartisan cooperation, but the moderator did not let him get very far. He claimed that the Democrats are not including the Republicans enough on negotiations, and are strictly going after their own votes. But in reality, when was the last time a President has put together a healthcare summit with both parties present for discussion? Never. President Obama's actions have exceeded any prior attempt at a bipartisan agreement on a bill. Then I still ask myself, why has there been no compromise? The answer that Bilbray poses is: politics.
The moderator further expressed her disgust with the Republican's political games when she said, "You guys are going to lose those votes anyways. You are going to lose at the polls, because people are sick of it Congressman. People are really fed up and tired of all the politics." This Fox Network moderator conveyed the distrust and disgust that the people of America truly have for this broken system of governance. The American people want healthcare reform. They want cheaper insurance premiums. They want a choice! Republicans are playing election games instead of doing their job, which the American people have to remind them of. Stop the political nonsense and pass a bill that will help Americans.
The Republicans, including Bilbray, are focused on the midterm elections in November rather than what is right for the country. Brian Bilbray simply refused to answer the question about how he was going to help the 46 million uninsured Americans. For Bilbray, denying healthcare reform is a political victory for the GOP. Bilbray tiptoed around the issues and reinforced the fact that Republicans are playing politics and using buzzwords in attempt to win elections. The moderator showed more exasperation with Bilbray by saying, "This is frustrating." Then she promptly ended the interview. I agree with her. The California 50th Congressional District deserves better than a question dodger. They deserve someone who will help healthcare reform pass and help them get what they need. The Republican's "No First," mentality has lasted too long. The only way things will change is if we fill our government with people that are dedicated to making things better for the American people. Francine Busby is one of these people. Please Congressman Bilbray, no more politics in this healthcare bill: just results.
Anyone who understands the fundamentals of campaigns knows that Tracy Emblem, despite her passion and earnest efforts, has no chance to win the democratic primary in the 50th congressional district. Emblem's spin on the strengths of her campaign misrepresents reality. Her minor endorsements and negative campaign strategy has not moved her closer to the only viable candidate for the Democratic nomination, Francine Busby.
Emblem has failed the key tests of any serious candidate. First, Tracy Emblem's scorched earth campaign against Busby is doing a disservice to her party. Second, her funds are not sufficient to compete against an incumbent candidate. With $8,000 in the bank and over $45,000 in debt, it is impossible to run a campaign and rally support. Francine Busby has raised almost $290,000 dollars in her race to unseat Bilbray and take back the 50th congressional district for Democrats. The money, support, and endorsements make it clear that Busby is the only viable candidate in this race.
Emblem's continued mudslinging is a losing strategy. This approach has created a false dichotomy between the right choice, Busby, and the empty choice, Emblem. Emblem's claim that Busby's support is overwhelmingly due to long time loyalties is petty and insulting to Busby's supporters and endorsers. If anything, this indicates that Emblem is in denial about her lack of appeal, and ability to build a broad base of support. Francine's broad name and face recognition are huge assets that any candidate needs to win. Tracy has no name recognition and no means to achieve it. Although Tracy claims that she is a candidate running for the issues, her only issue seems to be Francine. Having no money and little support, Tracy Emblem's campaign is over. The only choice left for Emblem is to graciously withdraw.
PDA is the second progressive organization to endorse Emblem this week. The Progressive Push PAC endorsed Emblem on Saturday. Luis A. Cuevas, the National Director, stated on Emblem's Facebook page that he was proud to endorse "the real progressive in California's 50th Congressional District race".
The Town Hall budget forum in San Diego High's Library drew over 100 concerned parents on Thursday Night. School Board interim Superintendent Bill Kowba and Board member Richard Barrera made a power point presentation that outlined the funding shortfalls faced by local educators with expected State contributions for the 2010 fiscal year.
The bottom line, as presented in this meeting, is that ALL of the cuts in programs that have been bandied about in the news media and various on-line discussions will not cover the expected deficit.
In the world of right wing talk radio hosts, San Diego's Rick Roberts has to keep ahead of the curve. His daily show on KFMB-AM Radio ranks behind competitor KOGO-AM (Chip Franklin) and his audience is pretty much limited to the teabagger fringes of the Republican rank and file. Need to know what topics will be covered on his show this week? Just surf over to any of the Fox News discussion boards and look for the most inflammatory material: that's what you'll be hearing on the show this week.
Basking in the glory of helping out his buddy Congressman Darrell Issa (and regular recipient of Big Pharma/Healthcare PAC $$) fill a couple of "Town Halls" this past week, Rick wants you to know about the next big thing on the horizon: a boycott of schools on September 8th.
(Keep the town hall reports coming... - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
Congresswoman Susan Davis spoke about health care at a town hall meeting this evening in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego. About 450 people showed up prior to the doors opening; the hall held maybe 300, lacked adequate ventilation and was supplied with a sound system that made it difficult to hear beyond the first few rows of seats. A couple of disruptors made it into the hall, but, for the most part, things ran smoothly inside.
The San Diego daily newspaper makes no bones about its position on labor unions and public employees. A casual reading of the Union Tribune will reveal an anti-union bias that harks back to the early days of the trade union movement.
This week the paper has been presenting a "special three part Watchdog Report" about city employees in San Diego. Never mind that the report's numbers are skewed by the fact that the reporters chose to use a Calendar year in stead of the City's fiscal year to make their comparisons. Or that city employees received pay in 2007 and 2008 resulting from labor disputes in previous years.
The point of the report is to reveal that city employees are overpaid, union-lovin' cancers that are sucking the taxpayers dry. To make that point, the paper ran the names and salary information for the City's entire payroll.
I've got a big announcement! A year and a half after San Diego lost its only liberal talk radio station, it's getting a shiny NEW liberal talk radio station on 1700 FM. Why is this such big news? Well, because it's not Air America or one of the usual Clear Channel affiliates. We are no longer depending on conservative companies to bring radio shows from liberal talkers to liberal listeners. We go on the air TOMORROW at 3pm with the Jon Elliott show.
But there's more that you should know. This new radio station - which will be an important part of the 2010 election for governor, the CA-50 race, and whatever ballot initiatives we're voting on - WILL NOT EXIST WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT. The original plan was to get the station off the ground with advertising. It was totally going to work... and then Bush went and broke the economy. So we're going with a hybrid model. As much advertising as we can get + $10/month from anyone willing to be a member. Members get podcasts and other benefits (invites to events & more). Sign up at http://www.jontalk.com
Last, this new station is not just San Diego news. We intend to use this model to start up liberal talk stations all over the country. But first we need to get this first station off the ground. It's a solid business plan, and I'm thrilled that my liberal radio will not be vulnerable to the whims of Clear Channel. Please consider becoming a member to support us.
Stop me if this sounds familiar. The City of San Diego's projected $54-60 million budget shortfall, closed via pay cuts and the magic budget fairy. So great I guess, but it turns out somebody forgot that there's a recession on, cause the shortfall is gonna be at least $70 million now:
Thanks to falling property taxes, lower-than-projected hotel taxes and the possibility of a state raid on city coffers, San Diego will face a budget gap for the upcoming year that is significantly larger than the $60 million shortfall that was the basis of Mayor Jerry Sanders' original budget proposal just last month. Before that budget was released, the mayor said late last year that the gap would be $54 million.
That magic budget fairy was nice the first time, but probably "oops, oh yeah" isn't going to fly much longer.
This latest downward revision is further evidence that city officials have been slow to accept the severity of this recession. "Maybe this will be our last round of, 'Oh sorry, we were off, let's update it,'" Councilman Carl DeMaio said of the city's revenue estimates.
(snip)
In recent weeks, the city has been shown to be off on estimates of major revenue sources, most recently property taxes. The city's initial budget proposal for the 2010 fiscal year included a 1 percent increase in property taxes, but the county assessor said last week that property tax revenues countywide are expected to fall by 2.5 percent, an unprecedented drop.
So basically, math is hard. So is understanding the function of city government. I wish we could vote to hire someone whose specific job is to understand these things and hire a staff devoted to exactly that. We could call that person "mayor" or something.
Meanwhile, the updated $70 million gap doesn't include the impact of the state raiding local property tax revenues. That'd only happen if the Props fail on Tuesday of course, so we shouldn't peg it as more than like...90% probable. No reason to plan for that- it's only as much as $36 million. At which point, waddya know? The deficit that Mayor Sanders originally said would be $54 million is up to at least $106 million. Now I'm not a mathematician by trade, but if the gap doubles, that's bad. Especially since there probably aren't bags of money laying around anymore.
Incidentally, forcing pay cuts into new labor contracts seems a lot less noble now that it's pretty clear that layoffs were inevitable and easy to project from the get-go.
Earlier this week, Jerry Sanders unveiled his budget proposal (full proposal here) for city council review and vote. The budget is, perhaps unsurprisingly, mostly a corruption of the notion of "fair" and revives the locally legendary magic budget fairy to close a $60 million gap. It's a mess all around, but budget cuts unnecessarily target retirees and low-income city employees in the name of "fairness" and far too many are willing to roll over because it's easier and deficits are scary.
$11 million in fees and $3.8 million from the Library Systems Improvement fund are, at first blush, relatively minor. But the rest of the $60 million will come from several eyebrow-raising locations. $17.8 million will come from a surprise rainy-day fund that nobody outside of the financial folks seemed to know about until recently (efficiency at its finest). As Councilmember Gloria noted, reflecting on a midyear budget vote to close 7 libraries and rec centers "I shudder to think what would have happened if the council consented to doing that only to find $17.8 million that is currently available." The City Attorney tried to defend nobody having any idea about this money by basically saying 'running a city is complicated'. It fell to City CFO Mary Lewis to defend the mayor's office:
"In prior budgets, we were looking at how do we right-size the city," Lewis said. "It was just a different policy discussion about the budget and balancing the budget."
I mean, I suppose running a city is complicated. But I mean, if it's your job...
The remaining $30 million would come from an across-the-board 6% paycut for all city employees from the mayor on down. You may be familiar with this concept under other names like flat tax, fair tax, increased sales tax, etc. Basically, a regressive financial hit cloaked in the guise of fair. Thing is, rent and utilities and food and gas and a thousand other things that people need in order to live don't change in price based on percentage. So as has been explained a thousand times before, without allowances for cost of living, these sorts of cuts hit hardest those who make the least. Which is a problem for its proponents..
