EDC Speaks Out! — Op-eds
EDC members are active contributors to the public discussion of important policy issues. Here are examples of recent op-eds written by EDC members and friends.
Do you have something to contribute or want to find out how? Learn how it is possible to bring change to your community, express your opinion and join the dialogue for a better city. Contact Mark Skok at politicalaction@escondidodems.org.
(If you have submitted an op-ed, let us know by writing communications@escondidodems.org .)
Good reasons for Escondido not to audit itself
Jenifer Leiendecker in North County Times, April 2, 2012
In a laughable statement, City Manager Clay Phillips addressed allegations of illegal checkpoint profits by promising that Escondido will conduct an audit of itself. Despite tow contracts leaping from $85,000 a year to the current rate of $450,000 a year, it’s probably safe to say Escondido will find nothing wrong with its accounting practices and award itself a five-star rating.
You can fight City Hall and win… sort of
Carmen Miranda in La Prensa San Diego, March 30, 2012
A community coalition and neighborhood reaction stops plans to evict Los Charros from land in Escondido. The group seeks donations to build “their dream arena and help returning veterans.”
City Manager Phillips has forgotten a cardinal rule
Rick Moore in North County Times, March 28, 2012
Escondido City Manager Clay Phillips has embarrassed his bosses on the City Council several times in recent weeks. He failed to give them the latest information on the water facility proposal and he tried to make executive pay raises in secret. He needs to be reminded for whom he works.
Why libraries matter — a mom’sperspective
Noel Steiner in North County Times, February 6, 2012
My husband and I have found parenting to be wonderful, crazy, stressful and above all else time-consuming. The library has helped us preserve a bit of our own identity. With little time for anything other than raising children, I enjoy my own audiobooks when the kids are not in the car. With a one-hour commute, my husband checks out music CDs on a weekly basis.
If you are not a fan of families and children, then you are probably not a member of the Library Fan Special Interest Group. But to those who care about families and the libraries that serve them, our family thanks you for making parenting and raising children in this crazy world a little more manageable.
Voting by district would connect city and its voters
Margaret McCown Liles in North County Times, January 24, 2012
The framers set up Congressional districts to have approximately 30,000 constituents each. 225+ years later, most districts, including Escondido’s at-large Council elections are much more populous, making it impossible for citizens to know their representatives except through the mass media. City Council elections by district would help return the city to a more grassroots type of representation.
Shelter advocates, meet the Mayor
Jenifer Leiendecker in North County Times, January 21, 2012
The new group “Empowering the Homeless” got a surprisingly positive reaction from Escondido Mayor Sam Abed, who had previously made his negative feelings about homeless persons and a shelter for them, quite clear. They should not be fooled by “Escondido’s best salesman.”
The reason Latinos don’t vote in Escondido
Rick Moore in North County Times, January 9, 2012
The resident says, “The political system does not include people like me, does not respond to the needs of people like me, and in fact takes actions against people like me. Why would I bother to participate in a political system like that?”
Escondido needs better election system
Roy Garrett in North County Times, December 26, 2011
So many of us feel disenfranchised that there is a push to divide the city into districts so residents will be able to vote for or against someone local. However, district council selection, while a partial solution to the perceived or factual aloofness of the council majority, is not all it can or should be.
We need to proceed with a system where candidates run for mayor or a particular council seat, either district or citywide, in the June primary. If a candidate receives 50 percent of the vote plus one, there is no runoff. But if no one receives a majority, the top two candidates run in the November election, thus giving us a council and mayor elected by majority vote.
Clark hotel project rises from the dead
Margaret McCown Liles in North County Times, November 14, 2011
Alas, the hotel specter returns with a more modest proposal. Only $5 million (only?) will be required from the city. This latest reincarnation will be a Marriott Courtyard that will present its backsides to City Hall and its flank to Valley Parkway. But, not to worry, “it’s going to be a very upscale” Courtyard, according to Mayor Sam Abed.
Meanwhile, the Stone Brewing Co. is building a world-class hotel without any city contributions. What would happen if the city were to start all over and put out a new request for proposals?
Escondidans: Don’t forget about city charter proposal
Rick Moore in North County Times, November 4, 2011
Those supporting a change to charter-city status for Escondido are lying low at the moment, licking their wounds after being surprised that not a single speaker at a public forum on Sept. 28 was in favor of their proposal. The supporters’ strategy is to fly under the radar until they must take action to place the proposal on the ballot for June 2012.
Escondido deserves a more thoughtful council
Margaret McCown Liles in North County Times, October 5, 2011
Marie Waldron’s proposal to change Escondido from a general law city to a charter city should warrant considerable research and deliberation.
Comments made at the Sept. 28 public forum indicate that hasn’t happened.
Why charter city status for Escondido is costly and unnecessary
Rick Moore in North County Times, September 27, 2011 online and October 2, 2011 in print editions
Escondido Citizens CharterWatch questions the need for this change and protests the high cost of the change at a time when the city has a budget crisis. We believe the city is functioning just fine under general law status. We say “If it’s not broken, why fix it?”
Escondido’s diversity initiative mere window dressing
Mark Skok in North County Times, August 24, 2011
Adding a couple of events, building a Facebook page, and installing a kiosk do make for nice gestures. But these things will do little to enhance good will or encourage social and political involvement by under-represented groups in our community —- particularly Latinos.
Why? Because the city is taking a top-down approach. With this initiative, council members are essentially telling Escondido’s Latinos, “Look what we are doing for you.” And it really isn’t much.
Charter city process has numerous pitfalls
Jenifer Leiendecker in North County Times, June 21, 2011
Pushing a four page document through a costly election declaring Escondido to be a charter city might be convenient for our council members, but omitting issues that are commonly governed by a charter out of convenience displays extreme lack of leadership, irresponsible behavior and laziness.
Libraries: A core service taxpayers demand
Olga Diaz in The San Diego Union-Tribune, June 19, 2011
Budget constraints have led government officials to view libraries as financial burdens, often measuring them against the value of public safety, or implying that they drain funds from other “core” services. In my mind, librarians do not compete with police officers for scarce tax dollars – they are equals.
Legislature should pass SB810
Tracy Emblem in North County Times, June 5, 2011
The bill would create a ‘single payer’ system in California that would save billions of dollars, provide more stable prices and coverage, and relieve employers of relentless cost increases that prevent raises for workers.
Issa and other people’s money
Margaret McCown Liles in North County Times, May 25, 2011
Taxing the wealthy is not “akin to stealing… they act as though they earned their money in a vacuum. Nonsense.” An example is Rep. Darrell Issa, who built his fortune in a country benefiting from stability and government services made possible by taxation, who now votes to end Medicare and “prevent others from benefiting as much from his taxes as he has from Other People’s Money.”
Livable wages boost our economy
Tracy Emblem in North County Times, May 8, 2011
Council members supporting the city charter should rethink their agenda. Higher wages boost the economy, while deflating wages negatively impact the quality of life for us all. Escondido residents need good-paying jobs. That is the reason why local hiring policies, prevailing wages and project labor agreements make sense and should be used on publicly funded or subsidized construction projects.
How Big Oil had controlled the solar industry
Tracy Emblem in North County Times, April 17, 2011
For years, Big Oil controlled much of the photovoltaic technology patents, research and development while pushing oil on consumers and contending publicly that solar technology was not market ready and too expensive.
Consequently, the drilling continues today with tens of billions in tax breaks and a royalty waiver program established by Congress in 1995 for offshore drilling in deep waters.
During the same time, Big Oil joined the Global Climate Coalition, an industry effort to debunk the growing scientific evidence of global warming caused by too much oil consumption.
Big Oil has no incentive to replace fossil fuel; whether it is with inexpensive photovoltaic technology or clean algae bio-fuel, it would render Big Oil’s already-owned mineral rights worthless
California’s returning veterans will need help
Tracy Emblem in North County Times, April 3, 2011
In April, the theme of National County Government Month is “Serving Our Veterans, Armed Forces and their Families.” As a growing number of veterans return home, we must work together for solutions. Cutting veteran budgets now is not the answer.
San Diego County is home to one of the largest veteran populations returning from active wartime duty. Yet with budget cuts coming in the near future, it will be more difficult for returning veterans.
The state’s proposed budget cuts nearly $10 million in veteran services from the California Department of Veterans. Funding for County Veteran Service Offices is currently proposed to be reduced by $7.3 million dollars, while $2.3 million dollars is proposed to be slashed from California’s Operation Welcome Home.
America needs to reconsider its nuclear power risk
Tracy Emblem in North County Times, March 20, 2011
With the crisis of the nuclear reactors in Japan, our government leaders, charged with protecting the health and safety of our citizens, should carefully evaluate the risks of nuclear power plants.
No matter how the industry spins it, nuclear power is not safe and won’t be until the waste problem is solved. Thirty years later, we have not solved the dilemma of storing nuclear waste or the problem of what to do with the weapons-grade plutonium. It only takes about 18 pounds of plutonium to build a nuclear weapon.
Californians benefit from finding higher education
Tracy Emblem in North County Times, February 13, 2011
Tax-and-spend rhetoric leaves voters to ask why taxpayers should help fund someone else’s college education.
The answer is simple: California’s taxpayers benefit —- both directly and indirectly —- from publicly funded education, and our communities are strengthened from these institutions.
Tracy Emblem in North County Times, December 12, 2010
If we want our local, state and national economies to recover, we must have good-paying jobs, not minimum-wage jobs.
Let’s give the new legislation which provides tax breaks and job incentives for “small businesses” time to work before blindly accepting McConnell’s argument that allowing the Bush-era tax cuts to expire would hurt small businesses. We must start closing the deficit gap.
What happens in Escondido stays in Escondido
Outsourcing pharmaceuticals can be dangerous
Tracy Emblem in North County Times, November 14, 2010
San Diego County congressional representatives Brian Bilbray and Darrell Issa serve on the House oversight committee but have done nothing to stop the outsourcing of our nation’s drug supply or ensure it remains safe.
Most Americans would be shocked to learn that up to 40 percent of the drugs Americans take are now imported, and up to 80 percent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients in drugs are manufactured in foreign countries.
The politics of tax cuts
Tracy Emblem in North County Times, October 10, 2010
Let the people keep their say
Rick Moore in North County Times, October 8, 2010
Brian Bilbray Has Not Ended the Era of Backroom Deals
Tracy Emblem in FireDogLake.com, October 2, 2010
FORUM: No on the Big Oil initiative (Prop. 23)
Tracy Emblem in North County Times, September 24, 2010
FORUM: County fails to apply for local jobs money
Jason Everitt in North County Times, August 4, 2010 (Congratulations Jason!)
In a rushed vote that provided residents only six days to review documents, the Escondido City Council majority of Sam Abed, Dick Daniels, Marie Waldron and Lori Holt Pfeiler gave $10 million of taxpayer funds and millions in land and infrastructure to subsidize a private hotel development to be built adjacent to city hall.
The Escondido Chamber of Citizens continues to oppose this one-sided deal negotiated by certain members of the City Council who stated the opinion of the taxpaying residents on this issue doesn’t matter (North County Times, June 25).
Tracy Emblem on SDNN website, July 16, 2010 (Congratulations Tracy!)
Congressman Brian Bilbray recently sent out an unsolicited tri-fold color brochure promoting himself to the residents in California’s 50th congressional district. The mailer would have been a very expensive campaign piece, but was sent in the guise of a “public document” as “official business” prepared and paid for at taxpayer expense.
Time for learning, debate, leadership
Escondido needs to present ‘new face’
Richard Barron in North County Times, June 24, 2010 (Congratulations Richard!) A sample:
For the last 10 years, debate in Escondido has revolved around illegal immigration and police checkpoints.
Arguments have been put forward and bitter debate often has followed.
This has been supplemented by news releases, TV newscasts and, in some cases, even the national news channels putting Escondido in a very unfavorable light.
These subjects are certainly points for debate that might encourage state and federal actions in response, but the their continued focus has degraded our image and taken away from positive and unique attributes of our city.
Margaret Liles, June 23, 2010
In the unlikely event that the GOP takes over the House, Issa would be the Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He can’t wait. He’s eager to double his staff and start subpeonaing..
I’d like to have the kind of subpeona power that Issa dreams of to investigate Issa’s questionable past.
Rhetoric won’t solve illegal immigration woes
Congressman Brian Bilbray never misses an opportunity to air his illegal immigration rhetoric on local and national news. In May, after President Obama met with Mexican President Calderon, Bilbray declared: “When President Obama says ‘pathway to citizenship’ he really means amnesty for the 10 million to 20 million illegal immigrants within our borders.”
Bilbray is simply wrong. An earned pathway to citizenship as proposed by the comprehensive immigration reform bill (HR 4321) is not amnesty. An example of amnesty is the 1977 pardon of Vietnam draft evaders.
FORUM: Escondido council passes but fails
EDC President Paul McNamara in North County Times, June 4, 2010
This agenda item was removed by a procedural ploy initiated by Councilman Dick Daniels despite a packed meeting representing both sides who had come prepared to voice their opinions. Even Councilman Sam Abed, who is normally not in agreement with Diaz in this issue, believed it needed a hearing and supported leaving it on the agenda.
A sample:With all sense of history lost in sawdust and paint chips, Escondido has swung wildly between aggressive expansion and slow-growth policies, turning Grand Avenue into an afterthought.
Escondido is yet again at a crossroads. How do we rebound from the recession and build Escondido into a strong community that can withstand future challenges?
FORUM: Democrats seek checkpoint policy review
EDC President Paul McNamara in North County Times, May 4, 2010
Thank you for the informative article on the Escondido Democratic Club (EDC). We believe you captured the essence of the club, its purpose and its history. There are, however, two additional points I would like to make based on the unsubstantiated assumptions of Sam Abed in the article.
The first is the issue of check points. In a resource-constrained environment, we believe it is a legitimate question to ask whether or not check points provide the public safety benefit as promoted. A comparison of other North County cities that do not use check points suggest this policy should be reviewed. It is also a question of what type of community does one want to live in.
by Jenifer Leiendecker, North County Times, October 4, 2009
by Tracy Emblem, EDC member, and candidate for Democratic nomination for 50th CD, North County Times, September 30, 2009
Recently, and in order to ensure cleaner energy, the Legislature passed two bills that require California utilities produce 33 percent renewable energy by 2020, the highest standard in the nation. AB 14 and AB 64 expand existing law that calls for implementing 20 percent renewable energy in California by 2020.
The bills, although not perfect, set some real targets and deadlines.
Posted September 13, 2009
By Jennifer Leiendecker, published in North County TimesAs a consumer, I welcome health care reform. My husband and I have one of those “lucrative” health insurance plans bargained on our behalf by a union.
Compared with most, our insurance is top-notch, and we don’t see one penny deducted from his paycheck, no matter how many dependents are on the policy.
Because premiums have skyrocketed (most noticeably in the past 6 years), my husband’s union, year after year, is being forced to offer group plans with higher out-of-pocket costs and annual or lifetime maximum allowables. Not only are the plans costlier for us, but because premiums have risen without justification and are expensive for the employer, less money is negotiated into my husband’s pay increases.
Posted August 27, 2009Candidates Tracy Emblem and Francine Busby, both EDC members, have posted essays about Women’s Equality Day at the San Diego News Network website. Read their thoughts at the links below.Tracy Emblem: We’ve come a long way, baby?
Francine Busby: Celebrating Women’s Equality Day
Former EDC member’s Op-Ed Appears in Union-Tribune
Posted June 1, 2009Former EDC member John Ward has a commentary on Escondido published in the Sunday, May 31 “Dialog” section of The San Diego Union Tribune. His essay is titled “Building on Escondido’s (bad) national reputation.” Read it here.
EDC member’s Op-Ed Appears in Union-TribunePosted April 19, 2009EDC member Judy Slane has a commentary on social security published in the Sunday, April 19 “Dialog” section of The San Diego Union Tribune. Her essay is titled “Let’s not compromise Social Security.” Read it here.