News

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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Thursday, June 8, 2017

As excerpted from KGTV 10 News:

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A new law intended to protect people from buying fake autographs might be doing more harm than good.

The law was passed last year thanks, in large part, to the efforts of actor Mark Hamill. Over the decades since "Star Wars" became a blockbuster hit, memorabilia from the movie has become a big business. Hamill was disturbed by how many fans were duped into purchasing fake autographs, whether through online sites like eBay, or professional dealers. He helped the legislature to pass a new law which significantly increases the penalties for selling fake memorabilia and requires a detailed certificate of authenticity to accompany autographs. But the law is now coming under fire for unintended consequences.

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Saturday, May 13, 2017
As excerpted from KGTV 10 News:

Imperial Beach still reeling from sewage spill

IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. (KGTV) - The 200-million-gallons of sewage that spilled in Mexico in February continues to contaminate water in the South Bay.

Friday, Assemblyman Todd Gloria took a sewage tour along the Tijuana River to find a solution. 

Residents in the South Bay still aren't happy. "I can't even enjoy my own beach," said Ginger Sacco. "That's not fair. Not at all." Beaches have been closed for months after that big sewage spill earlier this year. Ginger Sacco sent us this video of what appears to be purple water flowing in from the border. She says it came from a border patrol agent.

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Tuesday, May 9, 2017
As excerpted from CityLab:
 

California Democrats are uniting against a common enemy who they believe is making residents miserable and imperiling the state’s future. The target: NIMBYs across the state who continually shoot down new housing projects, and the localities that bend to their will.

There are more than 100 bills before the California Legislature that address the state’s housing crisis, and a large share of them would crack down on communities that don’t do their part by facilitating the construction of new homes.

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Saturday, April 29, 2017

As excerpted from CBS 8 San Diego:

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - An estimated crowd of about 4,000 to 5,000 demonstrators including elected officials, students, faith leaders, and members of more than 50 local organizations gathered downtown Saturday for the People's Climate March San Diego, part of a nationwide effort that coincided with President Donald Trump's 100th day in the White House.
 

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