I was recently surprised to learn that termed out 37th District Assemblywoman Audra Strickland would be challenging two-term County Supervisor Linda Parks. Now first off, I don't think I really need to emphasize the fact that both Stricklands are career politicians and frequently office shop every season, because most locals already know that. What is problematic about this latest campaign is that Strickland moved to the 2nd Supervisor's District to challenge Parks, Strickland previously lived in Moorpark with is located in the 4th District represented by Supervisor Peter Foy. Strickland was convinced to run by the Republican Central Committee for Ventura, which includes her husband and mother-in-law. The fact that Parks endorsed former Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson over Tony Strickland in the 2008 State Senate race is likely fueling this move. Strickland came right out the gate with partisan rhetoric that has no place in a non-partisan race.
Linda Parks has a track record of effectiveness and independence, Audra Strickland has been highly partisan in her Assembly tenure and has accomplished very little. Personal vendettas and pettiness do nothing to help the current situation our state is in, bringing that sort of gridlock down to lower levels of government will further exacerbate the situation. This time, let's say no to the Strickland's office shopping.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Untitled
This is my first post and I couldn't think of a good title. Many times I can write a composition and the hardest part is deciding on a title. Enough about that and onto what this blog is about. This blog is about California politics and my views on them. I want to start off by talking about the economic crisis and poverty.
California has been hit hard by the global economic crisis and the state budget deficit has required cuts to key programs. Unemployment is at 12% and even more are underemployed. This crisis had many causes, but my take on the situation is the closure of discount retailers heavily contributed to California's problems. K Mart closed up shop in many places in California and Mervyns ceased to exist all together. Here in my city of Thousand Oaks, those were great losses, as the city has a growing lower to middle income population, including many seniors. Many people with tight budgets relied on this merchants because of affordable prices, but now their options are more limited. California is a very working class state and when the buying power of the working classes is reduced, the economy tanks even more. I wasn't a big proponent of the bailouts, but I do think that merchants that serve every day people should have been considered for receiving funds. Not only did they provide affordability, they also provided jobs.
As someone who knows what it is like to struggle to put food on the table, I am writing from a very personal prospective. I spent early years of my life living in a motel and then spent a few more in a tiny studio in dilapidated, tough neighborhood. There wasn't even an indoor bathroom and when it rained, the studio would flood. I'm not telling that as a pity story, I'm telling it because I want to make it clear I know about the subject I'm speaking on. Even when this crisis is over, we need to look at our economic process and see how we can make it work for all citizens. In good economic times, there are still those out there who can't find work or can't make ends me, forcing them into extreme poverty. We the people need to reach out to our communities and work toward solutions. Some of us don't have a lot, but many of us have expertise and knowledge we can share that is useful to those who have even less. The reason our elected official don't hear us most of the time is because community spirit is at an all-time low and the only time the politicians talk to us is every 2 or 4 or 6 years, and that is something that must change. My bigger point is, we can't look to politicians to have all the answers, many of them lie with us and we need to step up to the plate and start finding them.
Shadrach
California has been hit hard by the global economic crisis and the state budget deficit has required cuts to key programs. Unemployment is at 12% and even more are underemployed. This crisis had many causes, but my take on the situation is the closure of discount retailers heavily contributed to California's problems. K Mart closed up shop in many places in California and Mervyns ceased to exist all together. Here in my city of Thousand Oaks, those were great losses, as the city has a growing lower to middle income population, including many seniors. Many people with tight budgets relied on this merchants because of affordable prices, but now their options are more limited. California is a very working class state and when the buying power of the working classes is reduced, the economy tanks even more. I wasn't a big proponent of the bailouts, but I do think that merchants that serve every day people should have been considered for receiving funds. Not only did they provide affordability, they also provided jobs.
As someone who knows what it is like to struggle to put food on the table, I am writing from a very personal prospective. I spent early years of my life living in a motel and then spent a few more in a tiny studio in dilapidated, tough neighborhood. There wasn't even an indoor bathroom and when it rained, the studio would flood. I'm not telling that as a pity story, I'm telling it because I want to make it clear I know about the subject I'm speaking on. Even when this crisis is over, we need to look at our economic process and see how we can make it work for all citizens. In good economic times, there are still those out there who can't find work or can't make ends me, forcing them into extreme poverty. We the people need to reach out to our communities and work toward solutions. Some of us don't have a lot, but many of us have expertise and knowledge we can share that is useful to those who have even less. The reason our elected official don't hear us most of the time is because community spirit is at an all-time low and the only time the politicians talk to us is every 2 or 4 or 6 years, and that is something that must change. My bigger point is, we can't look to politicians to have all the answers, many of them lie with us and we need to step up to the plate and start finding them.
Shadrach
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