A big thank you to those of you who were able to join us at the Ventura County Democratic Party Central Committee Inaugural Celebration Dinner on January 20th, 2009. The event took place at the My Florist Cafe and Wine Bar and drew activists, donors and elected officials from throughout the county to beautiful downtown Ventura for an evening of dancing, dining and fun. Thanks to some generous support from local small businesses, our silent auction introduced some of the wonderful things downtown has to offer while helping raise money at the same time. The event showed the community that the Democratic Party of Ventura County and its affiliated clubs offer residents and members an opportunity to come together and fight for change while putting a little bit of “party” back into the Democratic Party.

The event also provided an opportunity to honor the work of Sue Broidy and Helen Conley, who both worked so hard to turn register voters and turn overall registrations in the county blue. We now have more registered Democrats in Ventura County than we do Republicans–and while we lost on some local races and initiatives this cycle, we are committed to making electoral gains in the coming months and years.

The evening was a resounding success and we hope to put together other future events.

These are a handful of the people who made this evening happen. Pictured from left to right: Dante Atkins, KK Holland, Brian Leshon, Ron Suckle, David Atkins.

The Santa Barbara based Alliance for Sustainable and Equitable Regional Transportation (ASERT) convened a panel discussion at the Santa Barbara Central Public Library on Saturday January 24th, 2009. The event celebrated the Nov 2008 passage of Measure A, which funds county transportation projects through a dedicated sales tax, while anticipating future challenges and opportunities in light of both economic conditions and the funding priorities of the Obama administration.

As a resident of Ventura County, I found the discussion particularly relevant for two reasons:

1) Transportation issues are regional by nature and are not constrained by county lines.
2) Measure A passed by 80%, one of the largest margins since the implementation of the 2/3rds rule in the early 1990s, presenting a case study for similar campaigns.

Since Ventura County is currently the largest county in the State of California without a dedicated portion of its sales tax to fund transportation, the campaign to get measure A passed provides particularly relevant lessons. At a time when the state budget crisis is impacting the state monies many counties and cities rely on to fund local needs, a lack of dedicated funding for transportation issues can translate to a serious crisis. Not only are cities and counties that lack self-funding at the back of the line for state assistance, but they often lack the ability to fund even basic maintenance, let alone the types of infrastructure projects we need to move forward on issues of congestion, environmental health and economic development.

The wide-ranging discussion offered a wealth of information on current and future developments in transportation policy and practice in both Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. The panel included special guest former Massachusetts Governor and Presidential Candidate Michael Dukakis, who in addition to being a Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at Northeastern University and UCLA is also the past Vice-Chair of Amtrak. The Honorable Supervisor Salud Carbajal moderated the event and additional panelists included Michael Chiacos, Energy Program Senior Associate of the Community Environmental Council; Gregg Hart, Public Information and Government Affairs Coordinator of Santa Barbara County Association of Governments; and Peter De Hann Programming Director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission. While Congresswoman Lois Capps was unable to attend, her district representative Jonathan Saur was on hand to read a statement reaffirming her commitment to issues of sustainable transportation.

As much as the public supports alternative transportation and currently favors large scale infrastructure development, the reality is these projects are often but a sliver of the transportation funding pie. Add in the current economic crisis, and funding for these critical projects is essentially nonexistent. Two major funding issues stood out against the backdrop of the state budget crisis and the economic downturn: first, that money is generally only available for capital improvements (such as the purchase of buses or trains), but not their operating costs; and two, that the current economic stimulus plan funds only those projects that can be shovel ready within 120 days, which will primarily translate to basic road repair. When it comes to transportation funding, we really need the time and the money to both cover operating expenses and pursue the alternative transportation and energy solutions the public intended these monies to fund.

Further highlighting the extent to which alternative transportation is losing out in funding, Dukakis pointed out that in an average year the federal government spends $33 billion on highways, $16 billion on airlines, and a paltry $1.5 billion on rail. As he put it, there is no form of transportation that is currently unsubsidized. So despite the public demand for alternative transportation, votes don’t always translate to funding priorities. And the time delays inherent to these large scale projects mean we often turn to quicker but less substantial solutions.

Santa Barbara County alone consumes 250 million gallons of liquid fuels per year, despite its boasting the 3rd highest per capita ownership of hybrid vehicles in the nation. With the passage of Measure A, however, funds will be available for more programs and projects to address these issues. Even before the passage of the measure, Santa Barbara County saw the addition of a new Lompoc-Vandenberg Air Force Base-Santa Maria bus service, “The Breeze,” which reached its projected 3-year ridership levels after only 6 months.

There is some good news on Ventura County efforts to get transportation alternatives up and running as well. The Coastal Express has been the star of the bus system with a ridership increase of 17% per year, and a proposal to accommodate morning commuters with more convenient train schedules is currently being pursued. But Ventura County is currently facing a potential $4 million shortfall in transportation funds: the funding gap is threatening Metrolink service to LA as officials scramble to come up with the missing money. And who wants to be driving down the 101 with all that train traffic back on the highway? Or worse still, riding the rails with train control upgrades pushed off because the money just isn’t there? Clearly, the gap between transportation needs and available funds must be addressed.

Sorry you missed the panel? You’re in luck because ASERT will be hosting its first Ventura County event on Saturday, January 31st from 8:30am-12noon at the Ventura College Cafeteria (4667 Telegraph Rd, Ventura, CA). While it will focus more on taking action to improve public transportation, the public will have an opportunity to meet advocates and leaders in transportation, share their transportation needs and create a strategy to improve public transportation. For more information about ASERT or to RSVP for “Moving the Central Coast Forward”, contact Carmen Ramirez at carmen@coastalalliance.com / (805) 658-0810 X. 213

For Brief Local News Coverage:

Well, the stealth press release went out late Thursday night for Tony Strickland’s card table event, but that didn’t stop Democrats and Independents of Senate District 19 from showing up to ask Phony Tony some tough questions about the state budget crisis. And it’s a good thing we showed up, or this would have been one abysmal, lonely event for Senator Strickland, who stood around with aides and a lone camera man for the first half hour.

Strickland is one of several Republicans who have signed pledges not to raise taxes, and have stood in the way of any budget resolution that entails a tax increase. Plenty of voters turned out today to plead with him to put aside partisan politics and work toward building consensus to solve the tremendous problems facing California. Holding hard and fast to the anti-tax pledge strikes many as foolish in light of a $40 billion dollar budget shortfall, and more petty partisan theatrics as California hurtles toward the brink of bankruptcy.

Strickland was polite yet firm about his refusal to reassess an increase in the vehicle lisencing fee, and referenced past voter support for the 2/3rd majority rule as a free license to excuse the partisan behavior of a handful of Republican lawmakers hell-bent on lengthening the budget crisis and using it to force through an increasingly minority position. Strickland’s attempts to raise the flat tax as a possible reform only served to reveal the extent to which ideology, rather than common sense, is holding the state budget hostage. The idea of raising a significant, regressive sales tax to replace the state tax system did not strike Strickland as being at odds with the current economic climate in which consumers are already reducing purchases. And it’s doubtless safe to say that with the state about to run out of money in February, now is not the time to be chasing after what amount to hypothetical and whimsical fancies.

In fact, Strickland’s proposals for addressing the financial crisis facing the state boiled down to: rewriting California’s more progressive tax code with a flat tax system, and putting in place infrastructure projects. When I asked him point blank how he intended to pay for infrastructure problems with the state facing bankruptcy (and all the problems that has caused for state and municipal bonds) he used it as an opportunity to acknowledge the enormity of the problem, rather than offer a solution.

It’s amazing that in a year in which Obama was swept into office in a landslide and Americans are looking for ways to come together as a community to make tough sacrifices, politicians like Strickland would rather gut education and the social services more and more Californians are turning to as they lose their jobs, than raise taxes by even a few cents. Please, brother can you spare a dime? Because with an attitude like this, we’re going to need it.

We made new friends on trains, street corners, wherever and whenever. Is DC so great or was this moment just special?

Special thanks to new / old friends from the convention in Denver  - Sherry, Tania, Tim – the best reunion possible. New / new friends – Wally, Jennifer, Bob, Matt, Dick, Anne – until the next time we meet to change the world.

TODAY WAS MY BIRTHDAY. Thanks to all my friends everywhere for making it the best ever. Thank you for your text and voice messages. Congrats to all of the hardworking volunteers. We are the change we have been waiting for.

Until next time, Jay.

More Notes From The Inauguration of Barack Obama – Monday

We took group pictures on the Capital Steps in the morning.  Our group included Rep. Capps and about 30 folks from Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. 

This evening 50 friends and community organizers from Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties met for dinner at La Tomate in Dupont Circle.  Thanks to the management for a wonderful evening.  Everyone had a chance to introduce themselves and tell the group what brought them to the inauguration.   Most of us did take the opportunity to share our stories.  Each story was  heartfelt and special.  The  common thread was a chance for a new future and the excitement to be here to witness it.

To Jason Hodge, yes I am actually here in DC!

Happy Inauguration Day to all my friends, to the citizens  of our nation and the world.

You are the change we have been waiting for!  Enjoy!

Until next time, Jay.

More Notes from the Inauguration of Barack Obama – Sunday

Today I was one of a half million who witnessed the opening ceremonies for the inauguration of Barack Obama.  I planted myself in front of a big screen about 2/3 of a mile from the Lincoln Memorial – closer to the  Washington Monument – to listen and watch musical acts, readings by entertainers and speeches by Joe Biden and Barack Obama.   My attempts to join up with friends from Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties using cell phone was an utter failure.  I did meet up with Larry DuBois – my friend from grammer school days – and his wife Karen. We spent a few minutes together until they decided to get some food and never returned.  Did I mention there were half a million people there?  Newly met, close- by companions were from DC and Dallas.  I was surprised to hear that the DC resident was working on Inauguration day. 

The event was amazing.  Hope you caught it on HBO.  Garth Brooks was very strong with American Pie, Shout and We Shall Be Free.  Higher Ground with Stevie, Usher and Shakira was old school meets cool equals very cool.  Bruce rose to the moment with choir in support.  Last time I saw the Boss, he was opening for John Kerry in Miami the night before the election in 2004.  Barack was the real star, of course.  6^th time I have heard him live – always inspires.  Nowhere on the planet that I would have rather been.  At 38 degrees it felt like a heat wave after shivering on Saturday.

Evening was spent at the California Democratic Gala at the Air and Space Museum.  I met up with Belinda and Russell from Oak Park;  Sherry, Tim, Vicky and their friends from Santa Barbara; Mary Kay, Kathy and Ingrid and spouses from Thousand Oaks and Santa Monica; and Larry and Karen again.  Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Capps were among the elected California leaders with us.  Good music, food and drink.  Couldn’t get a cab back to my room but hitched with a local.  After some pub crawling and blogging I think I will sign off –  3AM – but who’s counting.  Until next time.

 Jay.

Kudos to Keith Olbermann and the team at Countdown for putting this together. What is most astonishing is that Keith was only able to cover half of the Administration’s malfeasances, and then only cursorily.

Truly the Worst. President. Ever.

Governor Vetoes Democrats’ Budget Solution and then Declares Emergency

Today Governor Schwartzenegger gave an abbreviated state of the state address, declaring that the state’s budget crisis is so severe that until a solution is found by the state legislature, no other issues or proposals are conceivable. The Governor’s speech continues his recent tradition of decrying the ‘ideology’ of state legislators and demands that both Republican and Democratic legislators give up something that is important to them in order to pass a budget.

The Governor’s speech conveniently left out the fact that legislative Democrats had sent him a budget proposal in December, on time, that included painful cuts and a solution to the current revenue shortfalls. The Governor vetoed the Democrats’ proposal, prolonging the crisis. His reasons? He wanted relaxation in environmental review of current highway projects (Schwartzenegger Angers Environmentalists), and privatization of certain state contracts— both demands not budget related. See Democratic Legislators’ reaction to the veto.

After the veto of the Democrats proposal (which he apparently agreed with beyond his pet policy recommendations) the Governor has attempted to impose furloughs on state employees, an effective 10% cut in salary, to solve the immediate cash flow crisis. Once again working people who serve the state are asked to bear the full burden of Republicans’ refusal to compromise.

The crisis is severe, no doubt. The State of California has no budget. The state’s economy is on the verge of complete collapse. According to Comptroller Chaing the state will actually run out of cash in March, and start issuing IOUs to creditors, including those to whom it owes tax refunds, as well as contractors, and many employees. Various infrastructure projects (roads, etc.) are being shut down costing the state hundreds of thousands of jobs. Something we can’t afford given that California unemployment is at a record high. Hospitals, college admissions and access to government offices are all at risk within weeks.

Budget negotiations are at a standstill. While the state legislative majority Democrats have reluctantly ceded to many Republican demands to slash needed services (particularly education), Republicans have not compromised. They have no incentive to. Certainly they are unwilling to allow a dime in increased taxes, especially on their wealthy, corporate pals.

Passing a budget that includes tax increases requires that the legislature receive a two-thirds majority vote, so some Republican votes are needed. Because of this leverage, and despite being in the minority, Republicans are able to simply allow the state’s economy to collapse by refusing to negotiate. They then blame the Democrats. Legislative Democrats have the majority, and the responsibility, to enact a budget. But they have limited power to do so despite that their numbers in the legislature reflect the will of the voters in the majority of districts in the state.

The budget deficit now stands at over $40 billion dollars. The problem can’t be solved by cuts alone. You could fire every single state worker, every single teacher, firefighter, police officer and nurse, close all the prisons, and still not close the gap. Additional taxation during this economic period will be difficult. But any increase experienced by the people will pale in comparison to the crushing costs of allowing the state to go bankrupt, and have our infrastructure fail.

Some tax increase must occur. The real question is who will shoulder the burden? Will it be the middle class or the super-rich, the state’s pockets of concentrated wealth? Governor Schwarzenegger proposes a 1.5% increase in sales tax, which falls to, and harms those who must spend a large portion of their income in order to survive. It also hurts the state’s retail economy.

The coverage of the California budget that is available on the Calitics blog is essential for progressives seeking relief from the “No New Taxes” hypocrisy. Another important resource is the California Budget Project.

Californians who sought, and found, increased hope in a national election that may result in sweeping change, should pay close attention to their state budget battle. The prospects for national change that will impact our day-to-day lives is a ways off. In the near future, it is largely dependent on preventing a complete collapse of our state.