This is the city: Los Angeles, California. I work here. I'm an ex-mayor. Los Angeles is a magnet for people from all over the world. Some of them run for public office. Inevitably some of them stray from the golden rule and rule for those that have the gold. That's when I go to work. My name is Yorty. I'm a dead pol.
The Russell Pearce Pinata says, "Please don't poke me".
Recall elections are not just for Wisconsin, as a bi-partisan group of activists have just submitted over 18,000 signatures to recall Arizona State Senate president Russell Pearce. Pearce, you'll recall, was the sponsor of SB1070 the "Show me Your Papers Law". Sen. Pearce, a close associate of numerous white supremacist and neo-nazi groups, is often held up as the man responsible for almost single-handedly (with some help from Gov. Jan Brewer) destroying Arizona's reputation as well as most of its tourist industry.
Speaking of immigration reform, California's version of The Dream Act has passed the state assembly on a landslide 46-25 vote. It's on to the Senate, and if successful there, Gov. Brown is expected to promptly sign it into law. Los Angeles Assemblyman Gil Cedillo has been introducing the bill every year since 1995 only to have it die on the desk of Gov. Arnold "Amante Caliente " Schwarzenegger. Read more »
"While the state-based legislation does not confer any immigration benefits, the proposed law would grant qualifying undocumented college students access to institutional financial aid from the University of California, California State University, and Community Colleges. It is a small step that the state can take while we wait for the country to emerge from the dark ages and get on with immigration reform".-change.org
A stunning figure; 1 million homes in the U.S. were repossessed by banks in 2010. Brace yourself, even more are expected to be foreclosed on in 2011. 1 in every 17 households in Arizona had a foreclosure filing in 2010. 1 in every 18 for the Sunshine State.
"Foreclosures are expected to remain elevated through the year as homeowners contend with stubbornly high unemployment, tougher credit standards for refinancing and falling home values. Sharga said he expects prices to dip another 5 percent nationally before finally bottoming out. The decline will push more borrowers underwater on their mortgages. Already, about one in five homeowners with a mortgage owe more than their home is worth." -Fox News
And finally, some ducks in Tujunga need your help;
Once again, the army corps of engineers is cleaning the Haines Canyon Debris Basin. There are currently 9 domestic (flightless) ducks in need of a rescue, hopefully before coyote predation strikes. We need as many volunteers as possible as the area is vast.
If you can help, please be at the basin 11:00 am, Sunday, January 16th. The address is 10529 Haines Canyon Avenue, Tujunga, CA 91042. If you have questions, please contact me @ moonstruckduck@aol.com.
Also, we are interested in finding a good home for these ducks,. Ducks are great treasures for a yard. Please let me know if you can help in this way as well.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Carol Chrysong
Executive Director
The Lucky Duck Rescue & Sanctuary
Even though Democrats currently control all three branches of the Federal Government somehow it's the Republicans' fault the DREAM Act didn't pass. Next up Democrats will be blaming Republicans for the demise of the dinosaurs, the Spanish Inquisition and the cancellation of the 1978 NBC television show "Supertrain."
The DREAM Act, and the hope it promised, dies in Senate
Thousands of children who were brought here to the US by their parents years ago will now continue to live in the shadows of society. They cannot obtain a driver's license, work legally, and will continue to face major barriers to higher education and permanent residency. Shame on the GOP (with the help of 5 Dems) for establishing a permanent and tragic sub-class of kids and young adults who only want to live, learn, and work in the only home most of them have ever known. DREAM Act supporters are devastated to say the least.
Generous pensions given for years to public employees by politicians bought and paid for by their unions are at the heart of the fiscal problems local cities and states are having now. For quite some time this issue flew under the radar but taxpayers are getting aware of the near fleecing of public treasuries as we have seen locally in the City of Bell. Many states are getting tough on these pensions but as noted by the Daily News the City of LA has only taken token steps. If the Mayor wants to solve the problem, he will have to grow some major cojones.
