April 13, 2011 (San Diego)—Assemblymembers Marty Block (D-AD78) and Nathan Fletcher (R-AD 75) were honored with Legislator of the Year awards from Crime Victims United of California during an annual march on the State Capitol last week. The event draws victims from all over the state to join together and remind legislators that they will not be forgotten.

Pimping and other exploitative crimes are now second biggest revenue source for gangs in San Diego County

April 8, 2011 (San Diego) – To help law enforcement tackle the growing problem of gang-related criminal sexual exploitation and human trafficking, Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) today was joined by San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore to support AB 918. 

The bill, authored by Block and sponsored by San Diego County, would give law enforcement better tools to combat criminal street gangs that commit the crimes of pimping, pandering or human trafficking--the second biggest income source for local gangs.

April 8, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – By a 4-1 vote, the Lemon Grove City Council ordered staff to come up with a plan to shut down its Parks & Recreation Department, outsource programs for children and adults to the YMCA, but find a means to keep other functions of the department.

Those functions include leasing recreation buildings to community groups and operating city events, such as the holiday bonfire and concerts in the park. Staff will present its report to Council on May 3rd.

By Miriam Raftery

April 4, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – Faced with a budget gap, Lemon Grove City Council will consider four proposals at Tuesday's meeting for slashing costs in recreational services:

1) outsource youth programs to the Boys and Girls Club of East County;

2) Outsource both youth and adult services to the East County Family YMCA;

3) Combine contracting with one of those organizations to run some programs, while having a new Recreation Services Department handle others;

4) Completely eliminate the City’s Recreation Services Department—a move that could also end City-sponsored community events such as Concerts in the Park, Movie Night, and the annual holiday Bonfire.

March 31, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – In recognition of her leadership on animal protection issues and for receiving a perfect score on the 2010 Humane Scorecard, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) was named a Humane Champion. It is the highest award given by the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund.

The organizations also singled out Davis’s bill that would designate National Link Awareness Month to raise awareness about the link between domestic violence and cruelty to animals.

March 30, 2011 (Sacramento)--Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) announced today that the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, which he chairs, has approved his bill to improve the campus climates for LGBT students at public colleges and universities. AB 620 would require the California State University and California Community Colleges, and request the University of California, to adopt policies on harassment, intimidation and bullying in their student codes of conduct.

March 29, 2011 (San Diego)--Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) and Education Secretary Arne Duncan made a call for education reform, framing the issue in a national security context. The push for reform was at a recent press conference following a tour of an early childhood facility at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

March 23, 2011 (Carmichael, California)– For the third time in five years, Californians Aware (CalAware) has tested state agencies’ responses to very basic requests for public records. Analysis of the results found no measureable improvement overall-with agencies overall averaging a C+--and many flunking requirements of California’s open government laws.

“What, if anything, will Governor Brown do to make further improvements?” asks Emily Francke, executive director of CalAware.

March 11, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – The Senate has passed S.388, a bill coauthored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Bob Casey (D-PA). The bill would prohibit Congress or the President from getting paid in case of a federal shutdown by the federal government.

“I am hopeful that this bill will help convince our colleagues to work together to prevent a government shutdown, and I urge the House of Representatives to quickly pass it and send it to the President,” said Senator Boxer.

March 8, 2011 (Sacramento)-- Assemblymember Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove) announced today that his legislation to provide a tax exemption benefit to widows or widowers of disabled veterans has cleared the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee by a unanimous vote.

“AB 188 would correct an error that currently prevents surviving spouses of disabled veterans who move to assisted living facilities for health reasons from qualifying for a property tax exemption afforded to their spouse,” said Block, who represents the 78th Assembly District.

Conservatives say eliminating most collective bargaining rights needed to contain costs; opponents accuse Governor of union-busting motives

By Miriam Raftery
March 3, 2011 (San Diego) – A crowd of 1,000 demonstrators turned out in downtown San Diego Saturday as part of a nationwide movement in support of Wisconsin public workers.  Wisconsin’s Governor Scott Walker seeks to eliminate nearly all collective bargaining rights for state workers including teachers, police, firefighters, janitors, highway workers and others. The state’s Republican-controlled House passed the proposal--and Senate Democrats promptly fled the state to prevent passage.  Today, the Governor ordered their arrest.

A crowd of over 100,000 braved a snowstorm in Madison, Wisconsin following the house vote, occupying the capitol building overnight. Now recall campaigns have been announced against eight GOP Senators in Wisconsin who back the bill.
 

Much misinformation has been spread in the media and on Internet blogs. What would the Governor’s proposal do—and is it necessary? Could California be next to face a similar proposal? ECM has researched the issues and obtained views from all sides of the aisle.

Burning questions focus on suspected arson at business owned by Issa

By Jeremy Los

February 19, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – San Diego’s Congressional delegation is speaking out on spending and budget-cutting priorities –with widely divergent views. While Republicans have slammed President Barack Obama’s proposed budget, Democrats are blasting the rival Republican House appropriations bill.

As with any omnibus proposal, the devil is in the details. Issues at stake include funds for local border projects,  birth control access, water supplies for Southern California, job training, and more.  Here’s what our five local House representatives and both California U.S. Senators have to say about the spending proposals that Congress is weighing.

Commutation Transparency Legislationl Sponsored by San Diego County District Attorney

February 17, 2011 (San Diego)--Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) today joined with San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher (AD-75) to announce legislation that would provide notification to victims and their families when the Governor considers an application for commutation of a sentence.

In December, outgoing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger provoked outrage locally when he commuted the sentence of Esteban Nunez, son of a former Assembly Speaker. Nunez pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the near-fatal stabbing of Louis Don Santos, 22, near San Diego State University.

SAN DIEGO – Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) introduced legislation today that protects tenant rights by allowing them to display political signs in the windows of their rented apartments or homes.