Toni Atkins faces potential conflicts of interest in run for Governor
Good Morning, I’m Lawrence K. Jackson….it’s WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13TH>>>>
Why a San Diego candidate for Governor is facing a potential conflict of interest More on that next. But first... the headlines….####### CHULAVISTAMAYOR
CHULA VISTA’S MAYOR IS SEEKING AN AGREEMENT WITH CALTRANS TO CLEAR ENCAMPMENTS ALONG THE FREEWAYS IN HIS CITY.
IT WOULD ALLOW CITY CREWS TO ACCESS THE STATE-OWNED LAND.
JOHN MCCANN SAYS THE CITY WILL OFFER SHELTER AND SERVICES BUT CLEARING ENCAMPMENTS IS A NECESSITY.
CVHOMELESS 2A (0:16)
“if we don't have enough beds within the city of Chula Vista, we will work with our nonprofit partners to find them beds. But it's unacceptable for them to create a homeless encampment that is unsanitary. And that creates criminal activity in the city of Chula Vista.”
HE HOPES TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE WITHIN SIX MONTHS.
THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO RECENTLY LAUNCHED A PILOT PROGRAM WITH CALTRANS TO CLEAR ENCAMPMENTS ON FREEWAY EMBANKMENTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
####### SDG&E NEW CHARGE
SDG&E CUSTOMERS WILL SEE A NEW LINE ITEM ON THEIR BILL STARTING OCTOBER FIRST
THE UTILITY COMPANY IS INTRODUCING A BASE SERVICES CHARGE OF 24 DOLLARS PER MONTH, UNLESS YOU MEET QUALIFICATIONS FOR A REDUCED RATE
THE CHANGE IS REQUIRED BY A STATE LAW THAT WAS APPROVED IN 2022.
THE LAW DIRECTED UTILITY COMPANIES TO CHANGE THE WAY CUSTOMERS ARE BILLED FOR THE COST OF PROVIDING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTRICITY
S-D-G-&E SAYS THIS CHARGE IS NOT NEW BUT IS A MONTHLY REALLOCATION OF EXISTING COSTS
NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING THE CHANGE STARTED GOING OUT THIS MONTH
######## New Silverback SD Safari
I’M A LITTLE SAD ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS NEWS AS I JUST VISITED THE SAN DIEGO SAFARI PARK THIS PAST WEEKEND!
THERE’S A NEW SILVERBACK GORILLA IN TOWN THAT JUST JOINED THE TROUPE AT THE SAFARI PARK
PAUL DONN IS THE FIRST SILVERBACK THAT THE TROUPE HAS HAD SINCE THEIR LAST, WINSTON PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR
A FEMALE GORILLA NAMED JESSICA WHOSE BEEN LIVING WITH PAUL SINCE FOR YEARS WILL ALSO BE JOINING HIM AS WELL
LONG LIVE THE DON!
From KPBS, you’re listening to San Diego News Now.Stay with me for more of the local news you need.
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########## >> ATKINS1
TONI ATKINS HAS REPRESENTED SAN DIEGO IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR YEARS AND IS NOW RUNNING TO BE CALIFORNIA’S NEXT GOVERNOR. BUT, SHE FACES POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST RELATED TO HER SPOUSE’S BUSINESS DEALINGS. CAL-MATTERS’ ALEXEI KOSEFF (ALEXY CO-SEFF) HAS THE DETAILS…
ATKINS 1 (capr) (0:46) "...interest of Californians."
Former state Senate leader Toni Atkins earns hundreds of thousands of dollars annually through her spouse’s consulting firm…because California’s community property law gives couples equal ownership of assets in their marriage.
Nearly half of the firm’s major clients also lobby the state government to influence policy.
That means…if Atkins is elected governor next year…she could be signing bills or making budget decisions that affect the clients’ bottom lines — and by extension, her own.
That would violate California’s conflict of interest rules, which disqualify public officials from participating in government decisions that would foreseeably have an impact on their personal finances.
Atkins has not pledged to take steps to insulate herself from her spouse’s business. A spokesperson said that, as governor, she would make decisions in the best interest of Californians.
TAG: ALEXEI KOSEFF (ALEXY CO-SEFF) COVERS POLITICS FOR OUR PARTNER, CAL-MATTERS.
########## ICERALLY
EL CAJON’S CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS WERE PACKED YESTERDAY WITH PEOPLE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST A CITY RESOLUTION SAYING ITS POLICE WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH IMMIGRATION AGENTS.
EL CAJON MAYOR BILL WELLS SAYS OPPONENTS OF THE RESOLUTION HAVE BEEN COMING TO COUNCIL MEETINGS SINCE IT WAS PASSED IN FEBRUARY.
ICERALLY 2A :24 All that we were doing is saying that we believe that the Constitution said that… the supremacy clause said that that federal law supersedes state law, and that we were in opposition to SB 54, mostly because California seems to be picking and choosing laws that it wants to follow and writing legislation for laws that doesn't want to follow. We – I just don't think it works that way.
S-B 54 IS A STATE LAW THAT FORBIDS CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM WORKING WITH ICE.
OPPONENTS OF THE EL CAJON RESOLUTION SAY IT’S CAUSING FEAR WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY.
########## >> MICROTRANSIT
THERE’S A NEW WAY FOR RESIDENTS IN SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO TO GET TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, THE GROCERY STORE OR EVEN VISIT FRIENDS AND FAMILY. HEALTH REPORTER HEIDI DE MARCO SAYS LEADERS BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN TRANSPORTATION.
MICROTRANSIT 1 trt: 1:03 SOQ
At Market Creek Plaza, local leaders rolled out a new way for residents of Chollas (choy-yas) View, Emerald Hills, and Mount Hope to get around.
SOT: I am very excited to be here today to announce the official launch of Southeastern Connect.
The electric, on-demand ride-share service cars and shuttles can be booked through an app or by phone. And it’ll be free through November.
California State Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson says it’s designed for residents who struggle with transportation gaps.
DR. AKILAH WEBER PIERSON
CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR
These people may be without access to personal cars, are older adults or individuals with disabilities.
Transportation barriers cause millions of Americans to miss medical appointments each year.
DR. AKILAH WEBER PIERSON
This option also helps fill those gaps, getting people to their health care appointments.
Leaders hope breaking those barriers will mean cleaner air, better access to health care, and more opportunity close to home.
Heidi de Marco, KPBS News.
########## >> AGAPE
JIMMY CARTER SAID A PERSON SHOULD HAVE A GOAL OF “COMPLETE AGAPE,” OR SELF-SACRIFICIAL LOVE. BUT HE SAID THE MOST THAT CAN BE EXPECTED FROM A SOCIETY WAS “SIMPLE JUSTICE.” REPORTER AMITA SHARMA SAYS WHILE INDIVIDUAL EXAMPLES OF AGAPE ARE AROUND, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DEFICIENT.
AGAPE 1 (AS) TRT 1:40 __________
When masked, armed ICE agents raided a San Diego restaurant in May, people gathered around and yelled at them as they detained workers. Agape When members of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego noticed people going hungry during the pandemic, they opened a food pantry. Today, they feed more than 500 families each Saturday. Agape. Justine Sullivan is first minister of the church.
[00:18:15.16 “....Agape is the lived expression of love. Love for the world, love I would extend it to all living beings and the planet herself, but love for each other.”
Sullivan says she sees people’s kindness and real love for one another every day. But as a society, Sullivan believes the United States is losing agape. She cites deportations, extreme inequality and the shutdown of most USAID programs, which is predicted to cost millions of lives worldwide. She says all of this changes us and our character.
[00:37:43.25] “ I see it every day in the way that people speak to one another. It's so coarse. And that's why I think turning on one another is so dangerous. It's not just unpleasant. I think it actually does harm. Because what we're doing is we're letting the hate come in because we've been given permission.”
To recover agape, Sullivan says all of us need to jettison tribalism, and love and care for one another based on our shared humanity alone. It’s the basis for justice and democracy. Amita Sharma, KPBS News.
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That’s it for the podcast today. As always you can find more San Diego news online at KPBS dot org. I’m Lawrence K. Jackson. Thanks for listening and subscribing. Have a great day!
