News

Friday, August 18, 2017

OP-ED BY: TONI ATKINS and TODD GLORIA

Last month, we cut ribbons on Talmadge Gateway and Cypress Apartments — two affordable-housing projects that will provide a combined 122 new homes in San Diego for struggling seniors and people who have been chronically homeless. At Talmadge Gateway, we met Marvina and Michael — two local seniors who expressed profound relief to finally have roofs over their heads and the chance to lead a stable life after years of instability.

Projects like these are critical as housing has become increasingly unaffordable. Virtually every Californian can attest to the increased cost of living we have seen in recent years.

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Saturday, August 12, 2017

As excerpted from the Coronado Times:

Mayor Richard Bailey stood in front of rows of crosses planted in the grass outside the Coronado Library’s Winn Room. Each cross represented one of the 400 people who have committed suicide by leaping off the San Diego-Coronado bridge since it opened in 1969. The number per year has been rising and is expected to rise more. There have been 16 suicides this year already. There were 17 last year. The loss of life and related bridge closings have taken their toll.

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Tuesday, August 1, 2017

As excerpted from San Diego LGBT Weekly:

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – An ordinance by San Diego Councilmember Chris Ward (District Three) establishing Equal Pay standards for city contractors was approved Monday on a unanimous 9-0 vote. The Equal Pay Ordinance will build upon and strengthen the State Fair Pay Act by requiring that city contractors certify that they will provide equal pay to employees regardless of their gender or ethnicity. It establishes structures for more effective, proactive local enforcement, and better empowers employees to discuss pay without fear of retaliation.

“The message is simple: equal pay for equal work. Time and time again, San Diego has demonstrated that we are an inclusive city and that we value the hard work of our residents,” said Assemblymember Todd Gloria. “Today, we have an opportunity to reinforce that commitment, achieve pay equity, and ensure that economic opportunity is equally available regardless of gender or ethnicity. I urge the San Diego City Council to adopt this ordinance and for the Mayor to sign it into law.”

 

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Wednesday, June 28, 2017

As excerpted from Times of San Diego:

After negotiating an agreement with legislative leaders earlier this month, Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed a $125 billion state budget that he said maintains fiscal prudence in uncertain times.

“California is taking decisive action by enacting a balanced state budget,” said Brown. “This budget provides money to repair our roads and bridges, pay down debt, invest in schools, fund the earned income tax credit and provide Medi-Cal health care for millions of Californians.”

The budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 also saves the Middle Class Scholarship and imposes tighter oversight over the University of California’s central administration. The money for Medi-Cal came from divvying up $1 billion in tobacco tax revenues.

Assemblymember Todd Gloria, who represents much of San Diego, noted the budget was passed with bipartisan support and will benefit all Californians.

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Monday, June 19, 2017

As excerpted from the San Diego Union Tribune:

Rebekah Israel said she had waited years for the moment when she would receive her high school diploma while wearing an eagle feather, a power symbol that represents a rite of passage for her and other Native Americans. But then the moment was stolen from her, she said, as a woman from her school tried to snatch the feather from her mortarboard and scolded her for wearing it. “I felt really embarrassed, so I just cried right away,” she said about her graduation ceremony in June 2016. “I just grabbed the diploma really fast and rushed off the stage.”

It’s still difficult for the 19-year-old Santee resident to talk about the incident that happened a year ago at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park, where she was graduating with other students from the Charter School of San Diego.

“We went over there, and Rebekah was just torn apart,” said her mother, Kiana Maillet. “She told me that this woman looked at her feather and said, ‘You’re not allowed to wear that,’ and she reached for it. Nobody’s allowed to touch our feather. We’re supposed to protect them. She just broke down on stage in front of everyone.”

Similar incidents happen to Native Americans each year in California, but a bill with broad support by legislators could change that for the class of 2018. Israel lent her support by speaking about her experience before an Assembly subcommittee earlier this year.

“I told them I don’t want other students to feel upset when they’re walking and wearing their graduation cap,” she said. Israel was testifying in support of Assembly Bill 233, which already has passed the Assembly and just last week passed the Senate Education Committee. The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Todd Gloria, D-San Diego, is headed for the Senate Judiciary Committee next.

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Monday, June 19, 2017

As excerpted from Times of San Diego:

San Diego legislators from both sides of the aisle found common ground last week in voting to pass a $125 billion state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The budget provides more money for schools, expands a tax credit for low-wage workers, saves the Middle Class Scholarship, increases the state’s reserve fund and imposes tighter oversight over the University of California’s central administration.

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Monday, June 12, 2017

As excerpted from the San Diego Gay & Lesbian News

People marched then rallied against inequalities being the current administration.

Today the Equality March on Washington was also celebrated by over 116 cities around the country. Right here in San Diego, thousands took to the streets from curb to curb marching through downtown heading toward the city’s administration building.

Masses of people gathered at Sixth and Juniper downtown and after Saint Paul’s Episcopal gave a blessing they headed south toward Broadway and up PCH to rally at North Harbor Drive at the County Administration Building. The rally started at noon beginning with a moment of silence for the innocent victims of Pulse before speakers addressed the crowd. Those speakers included Senator Toni Atkins, Assemblymember Todd Gloria, and San Diego Councilmember Chris Ward.

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