tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-122687272011-12-06T22:16:04.291-08:00A blog about the city of Los Angeles, the Green Party, and green politics in L.A.michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.comBlogger1971100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-10211652778760672172009-03-16T19:06:00.000-07:002009-03-16T19:16:48.867-07:00

If you are legally obligated to pay someone a bonus, even if the company basically goes bankrupt, is it really a bonus?

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-36801092929877227462009-03-07T16:21:00.000-08:002009-03-07T16:24:04.088-08:00

No, I didn't lose my job. But walking down Montana Ave. this morning, every block seemed to have one or two empty store fronts.

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-25246883260986297282009-03-01T11:29:00.000-08:002009-03-01T12:48:32.406-08:00

You may have heard that President Obama's budget proposal includes a $630 billion "down payment on health care reform." What does that mean? As far as I can tell, the $630 billion is just a placeholder for potential spending as part of health care reform, the shape of which is unclear right now. This could be smart. When Congress debates different health care proposals, cost might be less of an

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-61489090514604700902009-02-17T17:42:00.001-08:002009-02-17T19:17:32.703-08:00

Writing in The New Yorker in January, Atul Gawande makes a case for a pragmatic approach to health care reform. The thesis of his article, "Getting There From Here", is that reform of the health care system must build on what already exists, because so many people depend on the current system. A single-payer system, in particular, would be too much of a break from the current system either to win

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1957337090172421522009-02-16T11:04:00.000-08:002009-02-16T14:34:32.833-08:00

Healthy San Francisco is the name of the innovative program San Francisco developed to provide affordable health care for uninsured residents. Healthy San Fransisco is not complete health care insurance. It instead provides a baseline of care. One of the solutions that San Fransisco came up with to limit costs is to only cover health care within city limits. Participants are given a "medical home

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-74381026131228825132009-02-16T10:21:00.000-08:002009-02-16T10:40:36.226-08:00

Some ideas are just no-brainers. The idea of an independent agency to study the comparative effectiveness of different treatments is one of them. It will improve health care by promoting more effective treatments, and it will lower costs by reducing the use of expensive but relatively ineffective treatments.So it is great news that the stimulus bill "will, for the first time, provide substantial

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-39801815993466627792009-02-16T10:13:00.000-08:002009-02-16T10:21:40.510-08:00

At the LA Greens meeting this week, we'll be tackling the issue of health care. There is reason to be hopeful that a national universal health care plans is within reach, and I think the Greens should be part of that conversation.I'm going to post some notes from the research I've been doing for that meeting on this blog. First, here is the blurb I wrote for the LA Greens event:LA Greens Health

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-55513660954539746702008-08-30T22:51:00.000-07:002008-08-30T22:58:28.387-07:00

Linda Piera-Avila, a longtime member of the Los Angeles Greens, is running for City Council in Santa Monica. I am doing her website for her using Apple's iWeb program. The first four pages are up now at www.linda-piera-avila.org.

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-72923847885194377492008-01-14T20:35:00.000-08:002008-01-14T20:36:53.542-08:00

Video segments from the Green Party presidential debate are now up on YouTube. The candidates' opening statements are shown above.

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-38256610844870120682008-01-13T23:16:00.000-08:002008-01-13T23:33:00.413-08:00

The Green Party presidential debate was earlier today. I wasn't there, and I'm looking forward to seeing the video, which isn't available yet. Above is a photo that was posted online. The story excerpted below, from the San Fransisco Chronicle, says that Nader came late and did not participate in the debate, but addressed the crowd separately. He still has not formally entered the race, although

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-77954277791833272652008-01-11T09:20:00.000-08:002008-01-11T09:39:57.974-08:00

Within all the analysis of the primaries, there is one fact that is rarely mentioned. Clinton didn't win in New Hampshire--she got more votes, but the same number of delegates as Obama. See Slate's explanation of why both candidates got 9 delegates. Iowa is pretty much the same, with Obama only receiving a couple more delegates than Clinton. And Edwards is still in the race.I don't understand how

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-55634748740414609942008-01-01T23:26:00.000-08:002008-01-01T23:52:21.781-08:00

With all the attention on the Iowa Caucuses -- the first "voting" in the 2008 presidential election -- I was curious to see what Greens in Iowa are up to. Just coincidentally, today is the first day that Iowans are able to register on government forms as members of the Iowa Green Party. As can be seen on the Being Green in Iowa blog, there is some resistance within Iowa itself to the very idea of

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-12892786907649678272008-01-01T23:05:00.000-08:002008-01-01T23:08:13.018-08:00

There is a Green Party presidential debate planned for Sunday, January 13 at 2pm in San Francisco (with video to be made available soon afterwards on the web). Jared Ball, Cynthia McKinney, Ralph Nader, and Kent Mesplay are expected to attend. Cindy Sheehan is one of the moderators.

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-35660405217720610492008-01-01T22:11:00.000-08:002008-01-01T23:04:19.917-08:00

With the presidential primaries officially starting this week, and the California primary on February 5, many people still do not know who is running for the Green Party nomination.Here are the names that will be on the Green Party ballot in California:Jared BallElaine Brown*Jesse JohnsonCynthia McKinneyKent MesplayRalph NaderKat SwiftI'll post more about these candidates in the coming weeks.*

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-38494861274279955732007-12-31T16:30:00.001-08:002007-12-31T16:30:22.704-08:00

I'm thinking about bringing this blog back. No promises though. I am a busy and easily distracted person.But I'd like to bring it back for a couple reasons. First, 2008 is a presidential election year, so there should be some exciting Green Party news and gossip worth discussing. Secondly, I'm pretty discouraged about the state of the Green Party right now, and I need to decide if it is still a

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-85479414731304784912007-08-18T01:01:00.000-07:002007-08-18T01:11:31.349-07:00

How do you spin the conviction of Jose Padilla this week? Perhaps the President was justified in declaring Padilla an enemy combatant and waiving Habeas Corpus? Or was he not justified in ignoring the Constitution, because our legal system is strong enough to convict Padilla?After reading the article below, it seems to me that the answer is that both the legal system and the President's

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-60124657286920666672007-06-04T15:30:00.001-07:002007-06-04T15:30:14.930-07:00

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-57338589236875694792007-04-04T23:22:00.001-07:002007-04-04T23:24:38.861-07:00

I went to see the documentary Air Guitar Nation this evening, and it was the most inspiring movie I've seen in quite a while. I thought it would be no more than a lame joke, but what I found was a movement to turn possibly the most natural, participatory, fun and democratic activity into a non-commercial, pro-peace happening. As the organizers of the International Air Guitar Championships (which

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-36051497608833299212007-03-11T19:07:00.000-07:002007-03-11T19:09:59.644-07:00

I didn't vote on Tuesday. But I wasn't the only one. Only about seven percent of registered voters participated, mostly by mail. This despite school board races where millions of dollars were raised (and prehttp://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifsumably spent). What happens when nobody votes? As City Beat put it, "the apathy-tainted results still stand".Also in City Beat this week, a cover story

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-90933215536866733702007-03-11T17:54:00.000-07:002007-03-11T18:10:48.951-07:00

I couldn't resist posting the picture above, from the front page of the LA Times. Doesn't it look like President Bush has pounced on an unsuspecting prey? Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva doesn't look very comfortable. Bush got an unfriendly welcome in Brazil, so I wonder if this an attempt to make him more popular by tying him to Lula. Or more likely, this is an attempt to make Lula

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-45501528049009953202007-03-08T00:16:00.000-08:002007-03-08T01:28:59.299-08:00

[First off, to correct a common misconception, the retreat was not a decision-making event. There was strategy discussion, but no strategic decisions. Secondly, this post goes into a lot of detail about internal Green Party debates. Sorry if it bores you.]Part of the discussion in Sonoma focused on national Green Party dynamics, and how California fits into that. One of the things that makes me

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-73524179939884309102007-03-01T01:04:00.000-08:002007-03-01T01:16:20.449-08:00

Dahlia Lithwick has a great article in Slate this week on the hearing to determine if Jose Padilla is mentally fit to stand trial. Here are a few paragraphs from the piece:That's why it's worth keeping an eye on the proceedings this week in Miami as federal Judge Marcia Cooke tries to determine whether the alleged "dirty bomber"—scratch that—alleged "apartment bomber"—um, scratch that—alleged

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-55344933926157051962007-02-28T23:12:00.000-08:002007-02-28T23:51:35.176-08:00

Earlier this week, Ga. Green Elaine Brown announced that she is running for president in the Green Party primary. From the national Green Party's newsletter:Former Black Panther Party leader, noted author, community and prison justice activist Elaine Brown announced this week that she intends to seek the Green Party¹s nomination for a presidential bid in 2008. "The 2006 elections signified a mass

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-75557504084493897762007-02-27T22:57:00.000-08:002007-02-28T00:13:31.575-08:00

[Sorry it has taken a while to get this up. I would have posted from Sonoma, but we were in a no-wifi zone (below).]The Green Party of California has had a lot of issues since the 2000 election including accusations of spoiling, infighting in Los Angeles and on the state coordinating committee, fundraising problems, and a bitter split over the 2004 presidential nomination. At this GPCA strategy

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-63492817367278093042007-02-23T14:58:00.000-08:002007-02-23T15:01:44.172-08:00

For the GPCA retreat. So check back in a little while for updates.

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-59790705820227192802007-02-21T00:05:00.000-08:002007-02-21T00:23:12.897-08:00

A federal appeals court agreed to strip allegedly foreign prisoners of their right to challenge their detention at Guantanamo Bay:A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld a new law stripping federal judges of authority to review [alleged] foreign prisoners’ challenges to their detention at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba...That law, the Military Commissions Act of 2006, was signed by President Bush

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-73545102811717500462007-02-15T07:54:00.000-08:002007-02-15T08:12:17.410-08:00

This seems like an idea that was inevitable, but props to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for announcing the LA WiFi Initiative earlier this week. It will take a couple years to scope and build out the network, but then every kid with a wii will be able to participate in the national debate.Congrats to Villaraigosa also for hanging out with Paris Hilton at a Grammy party, giving LA Observed the excuse

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-32616335357278643622007-02-14T17:08:00.000-08:002007-02-14T17:08:44.897-08:00

The LA Times discusses the feud between two black activists trying to claim the title of Black Community Leader:Long Beach was the latest stage for [Najee] Ali and [Eddie] Jones, who seem to turn up whenever issues of race or violence converge with reporters and television cameras.When racial fights rocked Los Angeles schools, when a Mexican postage stamp was deemed insulting to blacks, when a

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-19410118243702508782007-02-13T22:33:00.000-08:002007-02-14T00:15:41.437-08:00

Am I the only one who thinks Richard Branson's offer of $25 million dollars for an invention that would remove carbon from the atmosphere is a joke? (Apparently not: the folks at CarFreeUSA have a suggestion [above])It's not that climate change isn't a serious problem. It's just that a technology that can "overcome what could be the biggest challenge faced by humankind" will be worth a lot more

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-87034113042821934572007-02-10T19:06:00.000-08:002007-02-10T16:12:41.520-08:00

World Changing LA: Prevent a massive CARonary: Critical MassWorldChanginLA covers the Santa Monica Critical Mass ride (which I was planning on doing, but... next time, for sure)LAist: using google map mashups to improve your hoodThis is a fun idea I'd like to try for my West LA neighborhood. I just wish wayfaring had a better search function.Daniel Hernandez: Dying at Trader Joe'sLA Times: LA's

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-22528401483215983862007-02-07T08:59:00.000-08:002007-02-07T09:55:25.677-08:00

Last night in my neck of Los Angeles (that'd be Venice) there was a community meeting to discuss the planned installation of a homeless service center on the corner of Flower and Lincoln.Hell waz a poppin'.The neighborhood NIMBYs who've sprouted up in opposition to this service center (in the form of a blog called Living in Venice, and some affiliated organization calling itself Save Our

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-47114089111272482752007-02-06T23:34:00.000-08:002007-02-09T20:48:04.241-08:00

Ralph Nader (above) is going to be on the Daily Show tomorrow, presumably as part of the publicity tour for the film about him, An Unreasonable Man. He'll also be at the Nuart just blocks from my house for the opening this Friday.But this is the Daily Show. Everybody knows what it means when a politician goes on the Daily Show. So...will he announce that he is running for President again?Former

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-77208436958168317792007-02-06T10:52:00.000-08:002007-02-06T11:15:05.143-08:00

I just came across this image today...(click to see larger image)...and it gave me a boner.Hat tip to Ken Weiner, who unearthed it from a September, '06 posting at Metroblogging L.A. The map, itself, was created by L.A. transit activist, Damien Goodmon. If you wanna join Damien in making this dream a reality, why not hook yourself up with The Transit Coalition? They meet the last Tuesday night

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-13597855094906577922007-02-04T08:13:00.000-08:002007-02-04T08:55:44.597-08:00

LA Green Denise Munro Robb (the comedian and former City Council candidate) has been organizing in her Miracle Mile neighborhood on the basic issue of public safety. Because parking is so limited on the apartment-filled blocks, residents are often forced to park several blocks away. (I have the same problem where I live, in West LA; if I get home after 9 o'clock, most people seem to be settled in

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-84021459564810849502007-02-02T09:19:00.000-08:002007-02-02T10:13:51.081-08:00

By now the papers and the blogosphere are well alight over the Living Wage compromise, so there's no point rehashing the fine points now. There's also been no shortage of credit-taking for this victory, so why not follow suit and hand some to a generally-overlooked faction in this fight: the community leaders, clergy, and progressive organizations (including, yes, the L.A. Greens) who have been

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-79195130155842253492007-01-31T09:48:00.000-08:002007-01-31T09:59:19.927-08:00

A settlement has been reached, giving the workers practically everything they've asked for, while giving the hotel owners a few face-saving concessions. There will be no referrendum in May.Looks like the Chamber knew they were gonna get rolled and raised the white flag while there was still time. Good on 'em.Now, if you wanna see something fun, go to Mayor Sam's place place and check out L.A'.s

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-33129765542748337062007-01-31T05:36:00.000-08:002007-01-31T05:45:34.043-08:00

So today is D-Day... the day we'll finally find out if the Living Wage hits the ballot, or if a deal gets struck. But labor and progressives have been preparing as though the election were a certainty, and here's what those preparations have looked like:Last Thursday, LAANE (the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy) held its community strategizing session, to prepare for the (possible) May

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-5480060792961449942007-01-31T00:29:00.000-08:002007-01-31T00:57:23.564-08:00

Roger Gray is a leading proponent in Southern California for the notion that the Green Party should build within the local government structures. Over at his blog, One SoCal Green, Roger has written a two-part guide to "the unwritten rules" of getting appointed to local commissions that would be useful to Greens or anyone else who wants to become "a recognized community activist or stakeholder."

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-33948606671758567402007-01-30T04:56:00.000-08:002007-01-30T04:57:03.706-08:00

...hey look, it's me! Counting homeless people in L.A. County!You can read all about it in the Santa Monica Lookout, here.And it seems our recent first-person write-up on the LA Homeless Count has touched off some continuing chit-chat around the L.A. blogosphere. Hey, we're just happy to be participating in the conversation. Who knows? Maybe something good may even come of it. So if you're

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-19769881907076615972007-01-29T20:17:00.000-08:002007-01-29T20:27:36.129-08:00

A recent poll (like, veeeery recent) has been conducted of likely voters in L.A. on the question of the LAX-area hotel workers' living wage. If it *does* go on the ballot, would it pass?Turns out, yes. In a landslide. "A new poll just released by Working Californians shows that by a 74% to 23% margin, Los Angeles likely voters support the living wage ordinance passed by the City Council. If

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-83580803102239956752007-01-29T13:29:00.000-08:002007-01-29T13:49:23.591-08:00

The City Council now has 2 short days to decide whether or not to call a special election over the LAX-area hotel workers' living wage measure. Evidently negotiations continue between the hotels and the workers, while the City Council is left holding its breath.Exactly what is there to negotiate? The buzz I had heard was that the Chamber of Commerce wants a promise from the labor community of

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-29294406976042200862007-01-29T08:14:00.000-08:002007-01-29T08:31:06.674-08:00

The New York Times has a follow-up to its earlier story on gang violence in Los Angeles.With a reporter and photographer allowed to accompany him for several hours of his nearly 12-hour shift, Officer Robbins offered a primer on the 204th Street gang.He knows its history, how it broke long ago from Tortilla Flats, now a bitter rival.He knows its numbers: more than 100 members, with about 30

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-39618424206478618462007-01-27T22:39:00.000-08:002007-01-27T22:51:16.580-08:00

Several thousand Angelenos braved bad weather today to protest the war in Iraq. From the LA Times story:In L.A., many in the crowd of several thousand people carried signs that said "Impeach Bush" as they prepared to march."The Democrats, like the Republicans, voted for this war because they, like the Republicans, believe that the oil in Iraq belongs to us," Jim Lafferty, director of the National

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-91615269305094033432007-01-26T10:14:00.000-08:002007-01-26T11:09:16.543-08:00

The fine gents at Martini Republic link to our note on the LA Homeless Count and, well, they wanna hear some poop:Guy—let us know, what do your bosses say? What are your instructions? How certain are you of the legitimacy of the count? Here’s our recent post on the homeless count, with links to all kinds of previous items.To answer the question quite frankly, I'm *not* certain of the legitimacy

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-39237134260822027602007-01-25T10:29:00.000-08:002007-01-25T10:36:08.234-08:00

What'd you do on Tuesday night? I spent my night, between 8pm and 2am, counting homeless people in L.A. County, alongside several hundred of my closest friends.Why does L.A. County have to count its homeless population? Well, partly because LAHSA wants to know where in LA County the homeless are located so as to serve them better. But mostly 'cause George W. Bush's HUD says we have to. See,

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-90281042611714788442007-01-23T22:15:00.000-08:002007-01-23T23:29:58.965-08:00

I got home barely in time to hear the President defend his war strategy ("I ask you to give it a chance to work."--what was that line about "won't get fooled again"?) and thank Dikembe Mutombo (above) for his charitable works.I found the full State of the Union text, and here are some thoughts.First of all, it's hard to take the President seriously when he starts out with bromides about "being

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-32499323570127379002007-01-22T22:47:00.000-08:002007-01-22T23:56:56.720-08:00

The spotlight has been on L.A.'s gang problem this month, with the release of The Advancement Project's City-Council sponsored report on the problem. (You can download the full report at their website.)According to another recent report on gangs, from the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the two U.S. cities with the biggest gang problems are Los

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-17573570040930507562007-01-22T07:07:00.000-08:002007-01-22T07:56:52.234-08:00

It's been great fun watching Steve Lopez tear L.A.'s transit czar, Jaime de la Vega, a new one over de la Vega's personal vehicle choice: a Hummer. Yesterday's column was the best one yet. Sure, this fracas is one of appearance rather than substance. And okay, it's unfair to scapegoat this one guy's vehicle choice as though he, singlehandedly, were clogging up the Sepulveda pass on a daily

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-56929885583539173572007-01-19T17:31:00.000-08:002007-01-21T07:02:00.486-08:00

In a city with such a strong progressive presence in the halls of power, and with such a verdant immigrants’ rights movement, why does L.A. have no progressive movement to extend the vote to non-citizen immigrants?New York City used to allow non-citizens the right to vote in school board elections (until citizen-elected school boards were disbanded in 2002). Chicago still allows all community

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-5683354680632576812007-01-19T13:08:00.000-08:002007-01-19T13:45:40.342-08:00

No doubt by now you’ve heard all about the Living Wage law that the city passed for the 12 large hotels on Century Blvd., and the fact that the hotels (backed by the LA Chamber of Commerce) have gathered enough signatures to force the Living Wage law onto the ballot as a citywide referendum in the hopes of killing it. (For a primer, you can read more here.)But hidden in the story (as alluded to

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-91305150030114607252007-01-19T10:49:00.000-08:002007-01-19T13:43:57.243-08:00

My name is Patrick Meighan, and Michael is graciously sharing his corner of the LA blogosphere with me. (Thanks, Michael)In my last few months reading LA’s political blogs, I’ve found plenty of reactionary conservative boards, I’ve found center left comment hubs, I’ve found a truly great single-issue blog written by someone who happens to be a progressive, and I’ve found some LA-based

Patrick Meighannoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-87875828236597907272007-01-18T19:47:00.000-08:002007-01-18T20:27:38.774-08:00

Helping me keep my resolution to update this blog more often will be its newest writer, Patrick Meighan. Patrick will bring his humor, and a more tabloid sensibility, to this site, with a focus on Los Angeles politics, particularly social justice issues.I'll let him say the rest.

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-64048028994106273942007-01-17T22:27:00.000-08:002007-01-18T00:11:54.749-08:00

The bounce is back...After my post-election sabbatical, I am going to be posting regularly again to this site. My goal is for Vibes Watch to be updated at least five times per week. And there is another announcement coming very soon.To get us started, here are some upcoming events:Jan. 18 - Fundraiser for Killradio.org at The Echo, 1822 W. Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park. Starts at 8:30PM. $5.

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-5563504741998294812006-11-10T22:12:00.000-08:002006-11-10T22:36:18.147-08:00

[This was cross-posted at the Los Angeles Greens website. See all U.S. Green election results here.]Fifty-nine Greens were on the ballot in California on Tuesday, and 18 of them were victorious. Perhaps the largest victory was in Richmond, CA, where Gayle McLaughlin was elected Mayor. According to the GPCA press release, "McLaughlin, who first ran for public office in 2004 when she won a Richmond

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-21384913114565103222006-10-20T00:49:00.000-07:002006-10-20T00:58:08.857-07:00

The LA Greens proposition recommendations are now up at losangelesgreens.org.Also at the meeting Wednesday, the LA Greens made a substantial endorsement to Congressional candidate Byron De Lear and state Assembly candidate Peter Thottam to place an ad in the LA Weekly. Look out for it in one of the pre-election issues.Lastly, there was an interesting post on Mayor Sam's Sister City -- a blog

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-5701277602997269852006-09-30T00:03:00.000-07:002006-09-30T00:50:13.903-07:00

We truly are living in orwellian/koestlerian/kafkaesque times ("The only people who will be tried will be people who have committed a crime"). The U.S. Congress has just passed legal authority for show trials of any non-U.S. citizen accused of aiding terrorists. The Congress has likewise passed legislation allowing any other non-U.S. citizen to be held indefinately without a trial. Torture is not

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-62534209532940581992006-09-26T22:55:00.000-07:002006-09-26T23:00:44.543-07:00

I'm totally addicted to the Electoral Vote Predictor. (Oh, and go A's!)

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-20520396294676909722006-09-12T21:59:00.000-07:002006-09-12T22:02:07.579-07:00

This is a ten-minute spot put out by the campaign. Also, check out Byron De Lear's re-designed campaign website.

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-34702249575942440872006-09-06T19:59:00.000-07:002006-09-06T20:33:05.106-07:00

At Erin's request:A book that changed my lifeThe Scapegoat Generation: America's War on Adolescents by Mike A Males - you didn't think I was born with this righteous indignation, did you?A book I’ve read more than onceCrime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky - a book about an idealist and a failureA book I’d take with me if I were stuck on a desert islandThe Short Stories by Ernest Hemingway -

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-51958963837233905882006-08-21T23:22:00.000-07:002006-08-21T23:24:43.485-07:00

Check out Calif. Secretary of State candidate Forrest Hill's tv ad.

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-40953782365206344372006-08-18T23:50:00.000-07:002006-08-19T01:27:33.278-07:00

I added a few links on the right hand side, including Sludgie, which is a blog about environmental news by a guy named Frank who Erin and I met on Thursday at Green Drinks.Tomorrow is the big LA Greens party in Culver City (3-8pm, $5 cover).Sunday we're planning on heading over to the ArcLight to see a couple of documentaries: Black Gold, which is about coffee, not oil; and An Unreasonable Man,

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1155797052020736402006-08-16T23:04:00.000-07:002006-08-16T23:44:12.093-07:00

I know I've complained before about the Transit Television Network-run televisions on the MTA buses--they are really quite annoying--but riding on the bus last week I saw something that I just have to tell you. Within a forty-minute ride, I saw two fake news stories for hormone replacement therapy. Each one was edited and narrated like a news story, and neither mentioned a specific product or

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1155532312113926202006-08-13T22:11:00.000-07:002006-08-13T22:34:48.250-07:00

At the County Council meeting today, Peter Camejo discussed his strategy for participating in the League of Women Voters-sponsored gubernatorial debate. Camejo was widely praised for his performance in the recall election debates, and access to televised debates is crucial for a third-party campaign.Here are the inclusion criteria the League of Women Voters have adopted for their debate in the

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1153984839431496382006-07-27T00:20:00.000-07:002006-07-27T18:28:24.083-07:00

With the Green Party of the United States having its national meeting this weekend (in Tucson, AZ), it may be a good time to (re)consider the 2004 convention fight between David Cobb (above) and Ralph Nader.As I noted earlier, I've started reading Independent Politics: The Green Party Strategy Debate, a reader edited by Howie Hawkins. Hawkins, a New York Green, was strongly in the Nader camp, and

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1153811373455130892006-07-24T23:55:00.000-07:002006-07-25T00:09:33.470-07:00

Yesterday was the first meeting of the new County Council of the Green Party of Los Angeles County. It was a long, hot, and at times frustrating day. The first half of the day was planned as a retreat. The second half was the actual meeting. The retreat portion went well, although many people decided to skip that portion, so it was not as useful as it might have been. When the meeting started, a

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1153381217551558962006-07-19T23:15:00.000-07:002006-07-20T00:41:05.493-07:00

Forrest Hill (above), the Green Party candidate for CA Secretary of State, visited the LA Greens meeting this evening and gave a rousing speech that touched on a lot of electoral reform issues, including public financing, electronic voting machines, same-day voter registration, and Instant Runoff Voting. (The speech was recorded, so I'll try to get a link to the audio soon.)One interesting point

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1152166339120628552006-07-05T23:05:00.000-07:002006-08-13T22:35:35.010-07:00

The organizer of this fundraiser for Green Party gubernatorial Senate candidate Todd Chretien has asked me to pass on this information.Todd Chretien and Friends in Los AngelesAugust 5, 2006Skyline Terrace930 Figueroa TerraceLos Angeles, CA 90012Call Alfonso Acosta at 619.379.2667 (or email independent@cyclonecattle.com) for time and other information.Which reminds me, the Los Angeles Greens are

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1152157515702312442006-07-05T20:21:00.000-07:002006-07-06T00:25:58.633-07:00

An image of election day in Mexico, from the LA TimesNow that the lead in the Mexican election has gone to Obrador, the Los Angeles Times should apologize for the editorial earlier this week that called Obrador "undemocratic" and a "demagogue" for declining to rapidly concede the election. Obrador insisted the count was incorrect and declared himself the true winner. Calderon, his conservative

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1151681001027212522006-06-30T08:15:00.000-07:002006-06-30T08:23:21.053-07:00

I've been watching the story of Vernon's corrupt city officials since it was first reported in the LA Times early this year. The LA Times has apparently chosen it as one of its pet causes, which is good, because a city that has not had an election since 1980 is disturbing. Here is a bit from the latest story on Vernon from the Times:Vernon, an industrial town of only 91 residents, has refused to

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1150355803605249552006-06-15T00:07:00.000-07:002006-06-15T00:16:43.636-07:00

Green Congressional candidate Bill Paparian's campaign sent out a press release on Wednesday that begins:Bob McCloskey, the Democratic candidate who challenged incumbent Congressman Adam Schiff in the June 6 Primary, announced today that he has endorsed Bill Paparian for the same congressional seat in November.McCloskey, running against Schiff's support for the war and the Patriot Act, got 17.4%

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1150354252001805682006-06-14T23:28:00.000-07:002006-06-14T23:55:37.240-07:00

LA disappearing: Twitchell's Ed Ruscha Monument (above), South Central FarmAfter publicly stating he would sell the South Central Farm for $16 million (an $11 million profit in three years after a sweet-heart backroom deal with the city), developer Ralph Horowitz rejected the money, and finally evicted the farm's supporters and bulldozed the community garden.LA Times: The 14-year effort to

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1149749165848366342006-06-07T23:10:00.000-07:002006-06-07T23:46:05.886-07:00

A number of Greens have reported problems at the polls yesterday.Our experience was somewhat troubling as well. Erin and I were told our precinct had been combined with another, so we had to go farther from our home to vote. When we got there, I signed in, and was asked, "Are you a Democrat, or Republican?" I responded, "Green". The poll worker said, "huh?" and I had to repeat myself: "Green

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1149671527924747622006-06-07T01:26:00.000-07:002006-06-07T23:51:06.340-07:00

Erin and I went to the Bill Paparian election-night party in Pasadena. Ed Begley, Jr., the actor and environmentalist--and a high school classmate of Paparian--introduced the candidate. Paparian, a defense attorney and former mayor of Pasadena, spoke about his experience in the Marines, and how his counsel of a fellow soldier led him to go into the law and public service. He also argued

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1148542200795139342006-05-25T00:18:00.000-07:002006-05-25T00:34:24.553-07:00

From Mike Feinstein, 5/24 @ 2:50pm: I just came back from the farmwe had a press conference there this morning at 11am (singer Ben Harper, actresses Darryl Hannah and Laura Dern, NRDC director Joel Reynolds and Green Party members Linda Piera-Avila, Byron DeLear and myself, followed by Joan Baez, Julia Butterfly Hill [above] and John Quigley speaking from up above us in the giant walnut tree on

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1148541287463104932006-05-24T23:52:00.000-07:002006-05-25T00:14:47.520-07:00

This past weekend, Erin and I went to our local Starbucks on Larchmont. I tried the Starbucks Challenge for the first time. That is, I ordered a cup of "your fair trade coffee". I'd been waiting to do it for some time, partly because I haven't had an occasion to go to a Starbucks, and partly because I was worried that the experience would be embarrassing. What if they said no, and I had to argue

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1147327272357177742006-05-10T22:51:00.000-07:002006-05-10T23:01:12.370-07:00

Fair Trade Los Angeles, of which Erin and I are steering committee members, is launching a campaign to rate supermarkets in Los Angeles on their fair trade options. In a couple months, we'll have the results on the Fair Trade LA website. Our local Pavilions fared very poorly.Download the Fair Trade Los Angeles supermarket scorecard (pdf), print it out, and grade your local market(s). Send in the

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1145122468145609742006-04-15T10:19:00.000-07:002006-04-15T10:37:39.680-07:00

Saint Kermit: This is a podcast out of Massachusetts that is "dedicated to (green) issues, (green) politics and (Green) Monsters." The last is a reference to the Boston Red Sox, which they discuss at the end of every episode (don't let this scare you away).In episode 4, they in interviewed former Green Party vice presidential candidate Pat LaMarche, who is currently running for governor in Maine.

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1144482038400086142006-04-08T00:05:00.000-07:002006-04-08T00:40:38.416-07:00

Today's papers report that Lewis Libby says the President authorized the disclosure of parts of the CIA's classified National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq's Continuing Programs for Weapons of Mass Destruction (whew) to Judith Miller and other reporters. The release occured less than a week after Joseph Wilson's op-ed in the New York Times discredited the President's State of the Union claim that

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1144217546488719022006-04-04T23:05:00.000-07:002006-04-04T23:12:26.533-07:00

That's the topic at the next Los Angeles Greens meeting. Plus probably a bit about fair trade, the south central farmers, and more.Image found at HowStuffWorks.com.

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1144129234639163042006-04-03T22:27:00.000-07:002006-04-03T23:02:56.736-07:00

These articles are a few days old and have already been discussed on some Green email lists, but I thought they deserved a mention here, especially considering the discussion below regarding Byron De Lear's problem with the registrar. (He ended up paying the difference because they wouldn't allow him the chance to gather more signatures).[SF Chronicle]More than 25 percent of the new registration

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1143613717601116742006-03-28T22:02:00.000-08:002006-03-28T22:34:47.810-08:00

With the filing deadlines passed, three Green candidates made their pitch for endorsements at the Green Party of Los Angeles County (GPLAC) meeting this weekend. All three were endorsed. I've written about Byron De Lear (U.S. Congress, 28th district) and Peter Thottam (CA Assembly, 53rd district) before.The meeting was my first chance to hear Bill Paparian (above), a former mayor of Pasadena

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1142998208458887472006-03-21T19:19:00.000-08:002006-03-28T22:36:12.596-08:00

The people at the LA County Registrar of Voters are nice and helpful, as far as I could tell in my brief contact with them, but the system is not set up to be helpful. There is only one place in the county to turn in petitions and signatures in lieu of a signing fee, and it is in Norwalk. You have to go to Norwalk to get the paperwork, then back to Norwalk to turn it in, and back again if

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1142834817824169832006-03-19T21:59:00.000-08:002006-03-19T22:06:57.836-08:00

I found this video on Google's video site. It is a rap interpretation of the Green Party's 10 Key Values. Check it out: 10 Green CommandmentsHere is the description on Google: Adaptation of the 10 Key Green Values of the Green Party of the United States. Written and performed by The Dough, edited and produced by DJ JonnieBlue, and mocked and derided by tha Izza.

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1142815889452877062006-03-19T16:39:00.000-08:002006-03-19T19:27:35.310-08:00

The New York Times has a report today about Camp Nama, "the secret headquarters of a shadowy military unit known as Task Force 6-26. Located at Baghdad International Airport, the camp was the first stop for many insurgents on their way to the Abu Ghraib prison a few miles away."Placards posted by soldiers at the detention area advised, "NO BLOOD, NO FOUL." The slogan, as one Defense Department

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1142738522511709792006-03-18T19:09:00.000-08:002006-03-18T19:22:49.190-08:00

The Greens had a very good showing at the anti-war march today in Hollywood. The march and rally commemorates the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq three (!) years ago. Sarah Knopp, Green Party candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction in California and part of the Million Votes for Peace slate, joined Greens from Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach and elsewhere in the

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1142318304404838192006-03-13T22:22:00.000-08:002006-03-13T22:59:33.890-08:00

Thanks to everyone who signed my petition! I will be on the ballot in June to run for the Green Party County Council. Actually, since there are more seats than candidates in my district, I don't think my name will be on the ballot. I just automatically win. Yay! That's me on the left in the picture above, with Jason Neville and Nativo Lopez, two other Greens who were turning in their nomination

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1142115825483237742006-03-11T14:02:00.000-08:002006-03-11T14:26:52.156-08:00

I am not against eminent domain in all cases. Sometimes it is necessary for a government to force a property owner to sell so the government can build a worthwile public project. But I was alarmed by the Supreme Court decision last year to allow governments to take property for private commercial use. Already, Los Angeles is using the Supreme Court precedent to take local businesses and give the

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1142060802507679572006-03-10T22:59:00.000-08:002006-03-10T23:29:39.560-08:00

The Green Party of California (GPCA) on Thursday put out a press release in support of the urban farmers who are being threatened with eviction from the South Central Farm:"We support the farmers' resistance to eviction, to relocation, to environmental racism," said Linda Piera-Avila, secretary of the Los Angeles Greens."In the shadow of downtown's skyscrapers, in an economically disadvantaged

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1141887481096079322006-03-08T22:22:00.000-08:002006-03-11T18:00:08.680-08:00

Erin and I represented the Green Party at the kick-off event for Fair Trade LA on Sunday at USC, and we both signed up to join the steering committee. It was great to see a few big "G" Greens there, as well as greenlagirl, who snapped our picture. Among the organizers of the event were Transfair, Oxfam and Catholic Relief Services.It is not clear exactly what Fair Trade LA will do, other than

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1141197118627941422006-02-28T22:40:00.000-08:002006-03-08T22:59:24.993-08:00

Wow. There are now 34 Green Party County Council candidates in Los Angeles County. (See list below.)While checking out the list, I noticed that Barbara Becnel (above) had also pulled papers, to run as a Democrat for governor. Becnel, a death penalty opponent, is widely known for her friendship with, and advocacy for, Stanley "Tookie" Williams. The photo above is from the Feb 18 forum at Bethel

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1140985585818923512006-02-26T12:26:00.000-08:002006-02-28T23:12:39.410-08:00

I've been a member of the Green Party since I first registered to vote, and a volunteer for the party since before then. Except for when I studied abroad, and a year when I lived in DC and had a journalism internship for the Hill newspaper, I have been involved with the Greens that whole time, in Santa Monica, Berkeley, and Los Angeles.I was a delegate from California at the nominating convention

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1140418522531787512006-02-19T22:06:00.000-08:002006-02-28T19:59:40.316-08:00

At the Green Party of Los Angeles County's County Council meeting this evening, two new council members were appointed. Roger Gray and Tracy Larkins (she's on the left in the photo here).Also, qualification for the County Council ballot is in full swing. Here is a list of people who have pulled papers so far for the County Council. My name should be on that list after Wednesday.If you live in the

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1140388243604451242006-02-19T13:53:00.000-08:002006-02-19T14:30:43.626-08:00

The LA Times opinion section today references a study from last year by the Public Policy Institute of California on independent (Decline to State) voters. Another study, on likely voters, found that 58 percent of unregistered Californians are Latino, 69 percent make less than $40,000 per year, 53 percent are 18-34 years-old, 66 percent rent, and 66 percent are immigrants. Thirty-two percent of

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1140298404022854452006-02-18T12:54:00.000-08:002006-02-19T13:53:45.406-08:00

Here are a few disconnected notes to catch us up on what's been going on with the Green Party:* The Green Party of LA County website has been spruced up a lot, and we finally sent out an email announcement to registered Greens in LA County. The next County Council meeting is tomorrow.* Today we are going to a forum with several Green Party candidates, including Peter Camejo (governor) and Todd

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1137959945904939832006-01-22T11:36:00.000-08:002006-01-22T11:59:05.926-08:00

Convicted killer Lewis Welshofer Jr.Interrogator Convicted in Iraqi's DeathFT. CARSON, Colo. — A military jury late Saturday convicted an Army interrogator of negligent homicide in the death of an Iraqi general who had been stuffed face-first into a sleeping bag.After seven hours of deliberations, the six-officer panel found Chief Warrant Officer Lewis E. Welshofer Jr. guilty of the charge, which

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1137139574490669172006-01-13T00:03:00.000-08:002006-01-13T00:25:22.270-08:00

I read about this story first on News for Greens: a Swiss magazine is reporting that the Swiss intelligence service intercepted a fax from Egypt's Foreign Minisry to its London embassy that mentions the existence of U.S. terror prisons in Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Kosovo and Macedonia.Swiss Investigate Leak to Paper on C.I.A. Prisons in Eastern EuropeChristoph Grenacher, the newspaper's editor

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1136964816116436892006-01-10T22:59:00.000-08:002006-01-10T23:36:03.356-08:00

There may be some momentum building in California for a couple of good progressive initiatives. Most recently, a proposal for a two-year moratorium on California's death penalty won approval from a panel of Assembly members:The moratorium bill — AB 1121 by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood) — would halt executions until the end of 2007, when the bipartisan California Commission on the

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1136881424116632812006-01-09T23:33:00.000-08:002006-02-20T09:55:13.013-08:00

At the Green Party of Los Angeles County's meeting on Sunday, two new candidates decided to run for Assembly in Los Angeles:53rd Assembly district: Peter Thottam (above), an anti-war activist with ANSWER54th Assembly district: Rachel Bruhnke, a longtime Green who has spent a lot of time in Cuba working on environmental issues.The list of Green Party candidates in California includes three

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1136791983084946042006-01-08T22:37:00.000-08:002006-01-08T23:35:19.926-08:00

Jose Padilla, U.S. citizen, whom the president arbitrarily stripped of his constitutional rights, was finally in court this week. Magistrate Judge Barry Garber "explained Padilla's rights as a criminal defendant, asking him: Do you understand me so far?".

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12268727.post-1135414019085730772005-12-24T00:20:00.000-08:002005-12-24T00:54:16.796-08:00

I am happy that the torture story has stayed in the news, especially since Secretary of State Rice's recent visit to Europe, where she gave a non-denial denial that secret prisons exist and that the U.S. kidnaps people and has them tortured. It seems like every day now there is a new story about the U.S. spying on Americans without warrants; or torturing detainees; or lying about it.Here are a

michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812806517835177897noreply@blogger.com0