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Where Were You?

May 16, 2008 @ 08:05 am by Charles Hartley

"In the hallway at KPBS, talking to our editor Nicole Lozare." 

Twenty, 30, 40 years from now -- that's how I'll answer the question about how I heard yesterday's news about the California Supreme Court's decision in In Re Marriage Cases.  Alma, Trina and I had just finished an appearance on These Days with Tom Fudge at 10 a.m. I knew the decision from the court was due at 10:00, and turned on my Blackberry as soon as we left the studio to check the news.

As we were talking I looked down and saw the alert from the New York Times: The ban had been overturned.

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Posted In: California | 1 Comment
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An Indecent Proposal

March 26, 2008 @ 04:03 pm by Trina Boice

Despite the colorful pictures hanging on the walls, there is a bleak feeling in the front office of my son's elementary school these days. Teachers and staff, including the principal, received the dreaded pink slip two weeks ago. There is a feeling of uncertainty and frustration in the air. Easy smiles and laughter have been replaced by worried looks, anger and criticism. Approximately 188 Carlsbad Unified School District employees recently received their termination notice for the 2008-2009 school year due to our California budget crisis.

Governor Schwarzenegger has asked that Proposition 98 be suspended in order to cut $4.8 billion in education funding. If passed, class-size reduction could be eliminated in first through third grades and in the freshman year in math and English. Other proposed cuts include music, science, social science, art, theater, second language, librarians, nurses, and even full-time principals.

Voters passed Proposition 98 in 1988, which was supposed to prevent our government from cutting education during economically weak times and provide a minimum protection for education funding. In 2004, however, the legislature passed a suspension of Prop 98 for the first time by a 2/3 vote. This is what they're proposing to do again this year to solve the state deficit of over $15 billion.

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Posted In: California | 1 Comment
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Taking Pot Shots at the Governator

March 14, 2008 @ 07:03 am by Steven Garrett

My wife was laid off in December, right before Christmas. 

She has been looking for work for three months now. She just now found a possible lead. So, imagine her anger when she sees Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in TV commercials on encouraging people to move to California to work.

Right now, California is ranked fifth in the country as one of the WORST states to find work in.

And yet our governor wants to bring MORE people into the state -  thus taking what few jobs there are away from those already living here!

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Posted In: Local, California, Other | 1 Comment
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Silly Little Laws

March 12, 2008 @ 11:03 am by Charles Hartley

Much has been written during this election season about a return to the "rule of law." The context differs, but the reference usually refers to the prisoners held at Guantanamo or the warrantless wiretapping programs that have become public during the current president's administration. 

But what about all the silly little laws that still float around on the books? I'm assuming for purposes here they're silly and little, because our leaders routinely break them without recrimination.

New York's Governor Spitzer was widely reported Monday to have been taped obtaining the services of a prostitute while in office. He follows Senator Vitter, R-La., in that particular public (but uncharged) transgression.

Senator Obama and Governor Schwarzenegger have both publicly admitted to marijuana use in their past.

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Posted In: Other | 6 Comments
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