Wednesday, March 30, 2011

UPDATE: CLCV Says Hahn's "Flip-Flop-Flip" on Oil Extraction Tax Factored In Bowen Endorsement

In an interview with the LA Weekly, California League of Conservations Voters SoCal director, David Algood, expanded on his organization's decision to back Debra Bowen over her rival Janice Hahn.
"Debra has a much longer record on the environment," said David Allgood, CLCV's Southern California director. "We know her to be a leader that doesn't knuckle under to pressure from special interests."

Allgood said the League had taken note of Hahn's flip-flop-flip on the L.A. oil severance tax. She proposed the tax last fall, before changing her mind and trying to keep it off the ballot. When it went on the ballot anyway, she then supported it. (It narrowly failed.)

"One of the things we considered was the ability of somebody to put their finger in the wind and change positions that quickly," Allgood said. "For her to have one position one day and the opposite position the next -- that was a big concern."
Back on March 4th, Venice For Change ran a story about Hahn's "flip-flop-flip", on Measure O, the ballot initiative to tax oil taken from within LA City limits she was for before she was against it before she was for it.

Responding to reports in this blog and also at Calitics, Janice Hahn apparently tried to rewrite history in regards to Measure O, the oil severance tax she opposed putting before voters for the March 8th special election.

The City Maven wesbsite  reported that Hahn  reversed her position again on Measure O, releasing a statement in support.

“I’ve always supported an oil extraction tax, and I continue to support it. In fact, during my recent campaign for lieutenant governor, I proposed a statewide oil extraction fee to help fund higher education,” Hahn said. “I support Measure O. I proposed Measure O. I will vote for Measure O. I hope Measure O passes.”

Quibbling with the past, Hahn went on to say that her no vote was out of an abundance of concern regarding voter turnout.

“I supported placing Measure O on a regular election ballot where turnout and participation is higher and it would have a greater likelihood of passing. I opposed placing it on the March ballot because turnout is substantially lower and less representative of the electorate as a whole,” Hahn said.

According to City Maven, a review of of the November 17th council meeting shows there was no mention of voter turnout in regards to the oil tax. At the time, Hahn was quoted as saying,

“I’ve reconsidered this and I have heard from various business groups who do feel like this might be the wrong climate to put this on the ballot. We know the oil companies are probably going to mount a massive campaign to defeat this and at the end of the day, the way we’ve structured it, really would only generate around $2 million to the city of Los Angeles. So, at this time, it is my recommendation that we don’t put this forward on the ballot.”

KCET reports that the measure is opposed by the California Independent Petroleum Association, , which has lobbied extensively to expand offshore drilling off the coast of California and in ANWAR, opposes Cap and Trade, and any limits to hydraulic fracturing (aka "fracking"), a controversial and dangerous means of natural gas extraction made famous by the HBO movie, "Gasland" 

According the KCET, CIPA has given more than $400,000 to California candidates from 2001 to 2010. Sixty-two percent of those candidates were Republicans.

Some of Measure O's opponents have gone on to endorse Janice Hahn in her bid to win the Congressional seat vacated by Jane Harman.

Measure O was narrowly defeated in the March 8 special election.

California League of Conservation Voters Endorses Debra Bowen For Congress

The California League of Conservation Voters, which describes itself as "the non-partisan political action arm of California's environmental movement", today  announced they were backing Debra Bowen in her bid to replace Jane Harman in CA-36.

Secretary Bowen has a long track record of expertise and leadership on the environment. During her fourteen years serving in both houses of the Legislature, Bowen authored bills to protect our coast and restrict offshore oil drilling. She also co-authored four landmark environmental laws including the first bills in California to ever address global warming, environmental justice, and create a renewable portfolio standard. She also aided Senator Alan Lowenthal with his critical legislation to clean-up pollution in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

At a time when Congress is not only lacking environmental leadership but when the majority has become downright hostile towards any attempt to protect open spaces, improve public health, and protect clean air and water, Bowen will be a needed breath of fresh air in Washington.

In fact, if protecting the environment alone was the only reason to send Secretary Bowen to Washington, it would be enough. But electing her to Congress would also add an incredibly important leader in the field of fair elections and open government. While her environmental work has been notable, Secretary Bowen’s single most important piece of legislation was arguably AB 1462, the landmark law that made all of California’s bill information available on the Internet. A voter can easily find out how his or her legislator voted on any piece of legislation because of this bill, so if you’re following any piece of legislation online as it works its way through the California Legislature at the Senate and Assembly websites, you have Debra Bowen to thank for it.

Secretary Bowen also has a record of holding corporations accountable. Bowen was chair of the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee during the height of the infamous Enron scandal. She was one of the lawmakers leading the charge against Kenneth Lay and Enron and investigating their manipulation of the energy market. Only too recently, Massey Energy and BP ignored safety violations that caused unparalleled environmental disasters and cost lives. We need a legislator who is smart, full of integrity, and has a track record of standing up against corrupt and powerful polluters and hold them accountable. We have such a leader in Debra Bowen.

The CLCV describes it's endorsement process as rigorous.

Candidates receive the League’s endorsement the old-fashioned way: They earn it. Before each election, we conduct field research to determine candidates’ environmental records. Then we send them questionnaires, testing their views on key issues. Finally, the candidates are interviewed by a panel of the League’s staff, board members and local environmentalists.

It's interesting to note that while LA City Councilwoman Janice Hahn - Bowen's main opponent in the race - lists the endorsements of "environmental leaders" on her campaign website, she has yet to earn the endorsement of any environmental organization. Her council district includes San Pedro and Wilmington, two communities in CA-36 which have struggled for decades with environmental justice issues brought on by petroleum and shipping industries.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

A Note From Your Blog Mistress

Earlier I posted an item about a Janice Hahn event here in Venice. The conclusion I drew from the evidence I had was wrong. I know this because you, my faithful readers (yes, all twelve of you), let me know this in no uncertain terms.

Which brings me to this point (warning: teachable moment coming up). A blog like this is only effective if it's accurate. My goal is that you can argue with my point of view, but you can't argue with the evidence I use to back up my point of view.

To that end, I encourage my readers to keep me honest. If I ever post something you don't think is accurate, and can back your opinion up with verifiable facts, I will correct the record.

I'm not so proud that I can't admit a mistake. That's why I'm leaving the original post up, with the correction, instead of wishing it into the cornfield. As far as I'm concerned it's a win-win for everybody.

200?

A tweet about the event from one of it's co-sponsors


A photo from the actual event.


A note from a reader: Hey Marta, (my husband) and I were there and there were probably around 200 people in attendance. The photo, obviously, shows a small portion of the home where Janice spoke - not showing the other side of the LR, the patios on either side which were packed. 

Fair enough. The record stands corrected.  I was not at the event. Clearly, the conclusion I drew from the evidence I had was wrong. I know this because you, my faithful readers (yes, all twelve of you), let me know this in no uncertain terms.

Which brings me to this point (warning: teachable moment coming up). A blog like this is only effective if it's accurate. My goal is that you can argue with my point of view, but you can't argue with the evidence I use to back up my point of view.

To that end, I encourage my readers to keep me honest. If I ever post something you don't think is accurate, and can back your opinion up with verifiable facts, I will correct the record.

I'm not so proud that I can't admit a mistake. That's why I'm leaving this post up, with the correction, instead of wishing it into the cornfield. As far as I'm concerned it's a win-win for everybody.

Monday, March 28, 2011

DFA's Howard Dean Personally Endorses Debra Bowen For Congress

Last week I reported that Democracy For America,  a progressive PAC with 7,000 members in CA36 and over a million nationwide, announced they were endorsing Debra Bowen for Congress.

Today we get an idea of what kind of support that endorsement translates into with this personal appeal from DFA's founder, Governor Howard Dean. Hoping to help boost Bowen's fundraising totals before the March 31st end-of-quarter reporting deadline, Dean asks his DFA membership to contribute to the campaign's Act Blue page.

Here's the letter in it's entirety:



I rarely endorse candidates in Congressional primaries. But Secretary of State Debra Bowen is a rare kind of leader, so when I heard that Debra was running for Congress, I pledged to do everything I could to help her.

I'm proud to endorse Debra Bowen — an intelligent, humble, and passionate public servant who has the courage to stand up to the special interests, and the record to back it up. We simply can't afford to let this opportunity to send a leader like Debra to Washington pass us by.

All of Debra's campaigns have truly been "people-powered" — and this time she needs even more grassroots action.

That's why I'm asking you, right now, to make a donation toward Debra's goal of 136 grassroots donations between now and March 31 — the first end-of-quarter reporting deadline. These fundraising reports will be scoured by the press, pundits, and her opponents to see if Debra's got the support she needs to win this election.

I know you've chipped in before, and I can't thank you enough for that — but making another contribution today will go so far toward ensuring that Debra's campaign has the momentum needed to win.

Click here to contribute $25 or more toward Debra's end-of-quarter fundraising goal!

Debra is the grassroots candidate in this race, and is a hero for working families, the environment, and better government. She won the John F. Kennedy "Profile in Courage Award" for her commitment to government transparency. And she will fight for jobs in ways that are pragmatic yet progressive, working from the bottom up to re-invest in our education system, protect our social safety nets, and trim our deficit while investing in our future.

Look, I've been part of a grassroots political campaign or two. I know what it's like to come from outside the political establishment, taking on the entrenched politicians and special interests with ideas and values that work for regular working folks. Debra's got a tough fight on her hands, but it's such an important one for us to win.

Grassroots activists like you and me are the ones who need to lift Debra up. Can you do that today, by making a donation toward Debra's campaign before Thursday's first critical deadline?

Make a contribution today — and help Debra reach her goal of 136 grassroots donations by March 31!

I am so proud to join the thousands of citizens and leaders who've endorsed Debra's campaign in the 36th Congressional District. We are all so lucky that we have the opportunity to elect a leader of such character and intellect.

Let's make sure we do everything we can to seize it.

Sincerely,

Gov. Howard Dean

P.S. It's hard to overstate the importance of the coming fundraising deadline. This is the first chance we have to make a major statement about Debra's powerful grassroots support, so contribute now — and let's make sure Debra's March 31 fundraising report is a strong one
!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Eighteen Candidates Meet Filing Deadline for CA-36 Congressional Race

Eighteen candidates - Six Republicans, five Democrats, one Libertarian, one Peace and Freedom and five candidates without party preference - met the deadline to file nominating papers for the May 17 special primary election ballot to replace Congresswoman Jane Harman, who resigned last month.

The candidates who filed nominating papers include the following:

DEMOCRATS
Daniel H. Adler. New media entrepreneur in Marina del Rey.
Debra Bowen. California Secretary of State.
Loraine Goodwin. Physician, teacher, arbitrator of Madera.
Janice Hahn. Los Angeles City Councilwoman.
Marcy Winograd. High school teacher and anti-war activist.

REPUBLICANS
Patrick "Kit" Bobko. Hermosa Beach City Councilman.
Stephen Eisele. Businessman and aerospace entrepreneur.
Mike Gin. Redondo Beach Mayor.
Craig Huey. Small business owner.
George Newberry. Real estate agent and retired military.
Mike Webb. Redondo Beach City Attorney.

LIBERTARIAN
Steve Collett. Certified public accountant.

PEACE and FREEDOM
Maria E. Montano. Public school teacher.

NO PARTY PREFERENCE
Matthew Roozee. Business executive, mathematician.
Michael T. Chamness. Non-profit consultant.
Katherine Pilot. Longshore office clerk.
Al Salehi. Entrepreneur.
James L. Thompson. Retired.

The list may change again if some of the candidates' nominating papers can't be verified.

The number of candidates pretty much guarantees no one candidate will succeed in winning the May 17th election outright. Under the new "top two" primary election rules, if no candidate receives 50%+1 of the votes, the top two voter-getters will advance to a July 12th election.

Friday, March 25, 2011

A Few Thoughts On Last Night's CA-36 Candidate Forum



If you missed last night's Courage Campaign candidate forum for the CA-36 congressional race with Debra Bowen, Janice Hahn, Marcy Winograd and Republican Mike Gin, you can listen by clicking on the blog radio icon below.



Listen to internet radio with CourageCampaign on Blog Talk Radio

I will leave it to greater minds than mine to pick this debate apart, but there were a couple of take-aways from it that I think are worth highlighting.

Debra Bowen:  She did a pretty good job of reminding voters that of the four, she's the only one with an actually legislative record. Wether it was AB32 - the landmark global warming law which big oil recently tried to gut with proposition 23 - or Sheila Kuehl's single-payer legislation that was twice vetoed by Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenneger, Bowen was the only one who actually had experience crafting, supporting and voting for legislation to deal with a lot of the issues that are still important to the district.

Janice Hahn: In her opening statement, Hahn highlighted her work as an LA City Councilmember, including this statement, "I've balanced my budget on the LA City Council." This sounded like a deliberate - if curious - choice of words, and it makes me wonder if she's sitting on internal polls that shows some vulnerability there. Just today the LA Times ran a story on the city's $400 million  budget shortfall, and a deal Mayor Villaraigosa reached with labor unions to cut the deficit by reducing wages and benefits.

Mike Gin: I have no idea why the openly gay mayor of Redondo Beach is still a Republican - he refuted nearly every position the GOP has taken in the last decade. I actually really liked the guy.

Marcy Winograd: Can someone please tell her Jane Harman isn't in the race?

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Democracy For America Endorses Debra Bowen For Congress


Howard Dean's Democracy For America, a PAC with over a million members nationwide, announced today they're endorsing Debra Bowen for Congress.

We asked DFA members where they stood in the upcoming special election for Congress and the answer couldn't have been more clear -- DFA members overwhelmingly support Debra Bowen.

Thousands of DFA members in the district voted in our member poll and 70 percent of DFA members said that we should endorse Debra. So today, I am honored to announce our endorsement of Debra Bowen for Congress.

Join the campaign today -- Volunteer to put Debra Bowen over the top in the May 17 special election.

You already know Debra Bowen. DFA members across California worked hard for a national endorsement when Debra ran for Secretary of State in 2006. Local DFA members said Debra was a strong progressive who would lead reform of California's voting system from top to bottom. Her goal was to turn California into a world leader in voter integrity and protection.

We heard you loud and clear and together we worked to make sure Debra won. And you were right, Debra has been an outstanding Secretary of State and she'll make an outstanding Congresswoman for California's 36th District.

Join DFA members across the district in supporting Debra Bowen for Congress -- Sign up to volunteer today.

Working together, we can put Debra over the top on Election Day and send a progressive leader to Congress.
In 2010, DFA endorsed Marcy Winograd in her bid against Jane Harman. This is the second independent progressive organization to make the switch. In February, Blue America announced they would be supporting Debra Bowen in the race instead of Winograd.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Courage Campaign To Hold First CA-36 Candidate Debate On Thursday, March 24.



The 700,000 member Courage Campaign will host the first candidate forum in the race to replace Former Rep. Jane Harman in California’s 36th Congressional District on Thursday, March 24th from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. PST.

Thursday’s forum will feature four of the leading contenders in the CA-36 Special Primary Election: Democrats Debra Bowen, Janice Hahn, and Marcy Winograd as well as Republican Mike Gin. Two other Republicans, Mike Webb and Kit Bobko, were invited but declined to participate.

The forum will be conducted by phone and streamed live over the internet at www.couragecampaign.org/CA36Forum. It will be moderated by Courage Campaign Chairman and Founder Rick Jacobs, with questions coming from Courage Campaign’s more than 4,000 members within CA-36.

Questions may also be submitted at www.couragecampaign.org/CA36Forum, or by tweeting questions using the hashtag #Courage36.

Each candidate will make a one minute opening statement, followed by questions which will cover a broad range of topics including Foreign Policy, the Economy and Jobs, the Environment and Civil Rights.

The program will end with each candidate making a closing statement up to 3 minutes in length.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Vice-Chair Of The Congressional Progressive Caucus, Judy Chu, Endorses Debra Bowen For Congress


(ed note - full disclosure, Venice For Change has endorsed Debra Bowen for Congress) 

At a gathering of over a hundred grassroots supporters, campaign staff, and elected officials from throughout the CA-36 district, California Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32) announced she was endorsing Debra Bowen for Congress.

I'm here today because we have a tremendous opportunity to elect Debra Bowen to the 36th congressional district. It's truly exciting for me. I've known her for a long time. I've known her as a state assembly member, I've known her as a state senator, I've known her as Secretary of State. I've known her as extremely intelligent, always outspoken, a true leader, someone with integrity in every seat that she's been in.

And that's why I'm so proud to say I was was the very first Congressperson to endorse Debra Bowen for Congress.

You know with Debra Bowen in this seat, you will have someone who will stand up to Wall Street. You know that she understands our coastline is a national treasure and she will do as much as she can to defend it. You know that she understands the value of education, and that we have to concentrate like a laser to make sure we get jobs in this district.

And you know as Republicans attack a woman's right to chose, Debra will be there to stand up for us.

The Bowen campaign released dozens of endorsements to the press yesterday. Besides Congresswoman Chu, State Assemblymembers Betsy Butler, Mark Leno, Gil Cedillo, Wes Chesboro, State Senators Alan Lowenthal and Fran Pavley, Hermosa Beach Mayor Howard Fishman,  as well as former Assemblymember Sheila Kuehl and former City Council watchdog Laura Chick also endorsed Bowen.

The campaign also lists scores of "citizen endorsements" from ordinary voters in CA-36. Anyone interested in adding their name to that list can go to this link. 

To see more photos from yesterday's event, go to this link. 

Friday, March 18, 2011

CA-36 Act Blue Fundraising Stats - Hahn Leads Bowen, Support For Winograd Collapses

As of this morning,  Janice Hahn is leading, with Debra Bowen a close second, and Marcy Winograd a distant third. Here's how this breaks down:




It's important to note that Act Blue accounts for only a portion of a candidate's fundraising efforts (I've heard estimates of anywhere from 10% to 30%), but as an indicator of fundraising progress I think it's probably pretty representative of where the candidates are in relation to one another.

There's a couple of things I take away from this. First, Hahn has half the donor base of Bowen, but their pockets are far deeper. In the last 24 hours alone, 2 donors were responsible for $7,500 in donations to Hahn's campaign.

Secondly, Winograd's campaign this cycle is far different than her campaign against Harman in 2010. In that campaign, she raised nearly $90,000 from 3,182 supporters.

Winograd and her supporters may have a heavy presence on the California Progressive Caucus listserves, Twitter, and the comment sections of blogs this election cycle, but their passion has yet to translate into real world results.

Meanwhile, up to 19 candidates have filed so far for the CA-36 race, including our first Tea Party candidate, Republican Craig Huey, who announced his candidacy at a dinner meeting of the the South Bay Open Carry movement.

The number of candidates pretty much guarantees no one candidate will succeed in winning the May 17th election outright. Under the new "top two" primary election rules, if no candidate receives 50%+1 of the votes, the top two voter-getters will advance to a July 12th election. If the Act Blue numbers are any indication, it's looking more and more likely that those candidates with be Debra Bowen and Janice Hahn.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Your Moment Of Zen



                                                                           Spring - Venice, CA

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Venice For Change Endorses Debra Bowen For Congress

This announcement probably doesn't come as a shock to anyone who's read the blog over the last few weeks.

In reality, however, I've found myself struggling ever since Jane Harman announced her resignation on February 7th. The next day, I received a call from Janice Hahn, asking me to endorse her. We had a very pleasant conversation, but in the end I told her I needed to wait to see who else would get in the race (Debra Bowen wouldn't announce for another week).

Before we hung up, I told her I'd be happy if either she or Bowen ended up replacing Harman in Congress.

At the time, I meant it. But over the last few weeks, as I've researched and written about both candidates, I no longer feel that way.



The choice between Debra Bowen and Janice Hahn, in fact, could not be more clear.

It's the choice between the transformational vs. the transactional, between having a partner in congress or having a broker, between having someone who is willing to stand up for what is right in spite of the consequences or having someone who will be buffeted by the competing wishes of special interests.

It is the difference between having as our advocate in Congress an experienced and nationally respected lawmaker who's already represented our district for 14 years or having a termed-out LA City Councilwoman looking for a place to land.

That's why today, without hesitation or reservation, I endorse Debra Bowen for Congress.


_____________________________________________

In the late 1980's, Debra Bowen began her life of public service as a community organizer (a label decades away from being fashionable) who volunteered for her local Neighborhood Watch and Heal the Bay, where she helped stencil stormwater run-off warnings on drains that fed into the Santa Monica Bay. Using her training as a business lawyer, Bowen became intensely involved in environmental and neighborhood issues posed by an explosion of development in her home town of Venice.

On behalf of the Venice Town Council, she sued to stop developers from building a $160-million regional shopping mall at the western tip of Culver City. She formed community and non-profit groups that dealt with everything from responsible growth and development to creating a shuttle bus program that would mitigate parking and traffic congestion along the beach.

In 1992 she survived a brutal campaign and won her first term to the CA State Assembly in what was then a Republican-leaning district. For the next 14 years she served in both the Assembly and the State Senate. From the very beginning, her time in the California State Legislature would look very different than that of her peers.

On her office door is a sign that says she accepts no gifts--and she has been known to send staff members running down the hall to return gifts as simple as a single flower. She sees lobbyists as an information resource, but is wary of them. "The scariest thing for freshmen," she said, "is figuring out whom you can rely on, whose analysis you can trust, because you can't do everything yourself.
Bowen would go on to author the first-in-the-world law that put legislative information online in 1993, giving everyone immediate online access to information about state lawmakers’ bills, voting records, and more. In 1995, Bowen was the first California legislator to voluntarily put her campaign finance reports online.  In 2001, she took a leadership role during the Enron-generated energy crisis that caused rolling blackouts across California. That same year she pushed through a state law that protected consumers by forcing banks to protect their customer's Social Security numbers.

During her tenure as Chairwoman of the Senate Energy, Utilities & Communications Committee and as Chairwoman of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, Bowen earned her reputation as one of California’s leading advocates for conservation and environmental protection, receiving a 100% rating from the California Sierra Club and California League of Conservation Voters.

On social issues, NARAL Pro Choice has given Bowen a 100% rating, as has Equality California. In 2008, before the passage of Proposition 8, Bowen even officiated at the wedding of several same-sex couples.


It was her work as California's Secretary of State, however, that brought Bowen to national prominence.

Only the sixth woman ever to hold Constitutional statewide office in California when she was elected in 2006, Bowen made headlines within days of being sworn in when she ordered a top to bottom review of California's voting machines.

"We are going to do a top to bottom review of every voting system in use anywhere in California," Bowen said in an interview. "Yes, I would consider decertifying machines that my predecessor approved. Unfortunately, we've spent a lot of money on equipment that's not ready for prime time. Any Fortune 500 company would have sent those machines back with a letter saying they just don't do what they're supposed to."

Eight months later, under intense pressure from both state officials who had already invested $450 million in electronic voting machines and the manufacturers who stood to profit from them, Bowen made good on her threat.

With only minutes to spare before a midnight deadline to determine whether the various electronic voting machines used by counties were reliable, California's bleary-eyed secretary of state concluded there was the potential for serious security breaches. She decertified the voting machines used in 39 counties, including Los Angeles County, whose InkaVote system could be reinstated in time for the February primary. She also imposed a slew of security protections for upcoming elections.

It was an astonishing and unprecedented act of political courage.

"She's one of the few people who, when they make a splashy decision like this, it's not about the headlines," Ned Wiggelsworth, a former policy advocate for Common Cause, which lobbies for campaign finance reform, said at the time. "It's about the issue."

In 2008, Bowen was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile In Courage Award for her work to protect voting integrity in California. On the organization's website, the award is described as a celebration of "individuals who choose principles over partisanship – who do what is right, rather than what is expedient."

That phrase, more than any other, encapsulates why I'm supporting Debra Bowen.

I want someone who puts principle above partisanship. I want someone who will do what is right, rather than what is expedient.

I want Debra Bowen to represent me in Congress.

Monday, March 14, 2011

And Now A Message From Your Blog Mistress

Dear readers,

Starting today commenters will no longer be able to post anonymously on this blog.

While I like a good pie fight as much as the next person, over the last week, supporters of one candidate in the CA-36 race have made anonymous posts on this site referring to political opponents as "bitches" "hacks" and "shills".

While I'm happy to have a variety of viewpoints represented on the site, I won't let it become a platform for misogyny and hate.

From here on out, if you want to post on this blog, you'll have to do so with your real name.

Namaste'

Marta Evry
Community Organizer

Saturday, March 12, 2011

BREAKING: After 10 Years On The LA City Council, Janice Hahn Discovers Santa Monica Has An Airport

                                                           photo credit - Alex Thompson

Ya gotta love elections.

LA Councilwoman Janice Hahn has an amassed an impressive collection of endorsements since she announced her candidacy to fill the CA-36 congressional seat vacated by Jane Harman. It's a list she's worked very hard to collect, and for good reason. An impressive and extensive list of endorsements convey inferred legitimacy to a candidate. They act as "validators" for the busy voter, who might not be paying very close attention to a politician's policies, but who sees the name of a trusted official or organization endorsing a candidate and thinks their policies and values must closely mirror their own.

As such, endorsements are valuable commodities, not to be given away lightly or for free. In fact, if played correctly, the endorsement can be more beneficial for the person making the endorsement than it is for the person receiving it.

Or, as one politician who's name sits high on the Hahn campaign's endorsement list told me, "Look kid, if Hahn loses, I still have to work with her. If she wins, I have a friend in congress."

Which brings me to Councilman Bill Rosendahl, one of Janice Hahn's first endorsements, and the press release he and Hahn put out on Thursday:

ROSENDAHL, HAHN MOVE TO ADDRESS CONCERNS AROUND SANTA MONICA AIRPORT

LOS ANGELES – Responding to concerns from residents in Venice, Mar Vista, and West L.A. regarding air pollution and safety, yesterday Councilman Bill Rosendahl and Councilwoman Janice Hahn moved to make it the official policy of the City of Los Angeles to pursue a change in the departure path at Santa Monica Airport (SMO), and to close down its six flight schools, their offices announced Thursday.

Rosendahl and Hahn presented the resolution to Council colleagues during the meeting this morning after local residents expressed concern. 
- snip -

"We can’t sit and wait anymore for the FAA to make this change," said Rosendahl, "we need to start lobbying Washington D.C. for a permanent solution to the suffocating jet emissions from Santa Monica Airport."

Councilwoman Hahn added, “I sat down last week in a West L.A. home and listened to residents talk about the toxic fumes that seep into their neighborhoods from SMO.I heard for myself the jet engines idling on the runway nearby.As a long-time advocate for clean air and a healthy environment, I want to do something now.”


Until last Thursday, Rosendahl was alone amongst his city council colleagues when it came to dealing with sound and air pollution issues coming from Santa Monica's airport.  In her 10 years on the LA City Council, Hahn showed little interest in the issue, but with the Congressional election and Rosendahl's endorsement, she's found religion.

Rosendahl should be commended on how well he's parlayed his endorsement.

In fact, I think this is fantastic. I want more of it, because there's a whole laundry list of stuff we need for our part of the district that's been been languishing for years inside the LA City Council bureaucracy.

How about a left turn lane and signal on Rose and Lincoln? Rosendahl's been promising us that one since 2005. How about repaving the Venice boardwalk? Extending the bike path into the Marina Peninsula? An off-leash dog park at Dockweiller Beach? Extra police officers to patrol during the high-traffic summer months?

The possibilities are endless. If I were Rosendahl, I'd be encouraging all my fellow council members to take the plunge,

Eric, Tom, Bernie, the water's great! Jump on into the CA36 race! All the cool kids are doing it!

Bill, we're counting on you. We sure do need that left turn signal on Rose.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Janice Hahn City Hall Allies Conduct Whisper Campaign, Claim Debra Bowen Is Against Marriage Equality

Oy. This is going to be a long election.



A couple of days ago rumors started circulating around the interwebs that CA36 Congressional candidate Debra Bowen was against marriage equality. Things came to a head on Monday when Chad Molnar, Councilman Bill Rosendahl's LAX-Community Liaison and one-time staffer to Congresswoman Jane Harman, posted this comment on Venice Patch.













Yesterday, Bowen's campaign released a statement to correct the record.

Bowen's campaign said Tuesday that information listed on Project Vote Smart's 2002 National Political Awareness Test is incorrect. Campaign spokesman Steve Barkan said her record and actions put her firmly in the camp of those in favor of same-sex marriage.

As a state senator, Bowen twice vote in favor of same-sex marriage: in 2004 on Assembly Joint Resolution 85, which opposed the federal marriage amendment, and in 2005 on Assembly Bill 849, which would allow same-sex couples to marry in California.

Bowen has even officiated some same-sex marriages, including the wedding of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Zeke Zeidler and his husband Jay Kohorn, Barkan said.

Montana-based Project Vote Smart sends its National Political Awareness Test – now known as the Political Courage Test – to candidates in state legislative, congressional, gubernatorial and presidential races, asking for their views on a variety of issues, including hot-button topics such as abortion and gun control.

In 2002, Bowen was running for re-election for a state Senate seat and filled out the survey. She was elected as Secretary of State in 2006, after being term limited out of the state Senate.

Project Vote Smart national director Kristen Vicedomini said her organization sends the surveys to candidates, who fill them out and return them. In some instances a campaign worker or representative can fill out the survey, but the candidate herself must sign off on it. Three different Project Vote Smart employees check the information before putting it online.

Barkan said he doesn’t know how it came to be that Bowen’s 2002 survey said she was against gay marriage.

“It could’ve been an error on the part of her. She didn’t have a campaign staff in 2002. … More likely it was an error by a volunteer,” Barkan said. “What’s more important is her record.”

Gay rights organization Equality California, which has put out a legislative scorecard every year since 2004, has given Bowen consistently high marks for voting in favor of gay-friendly legislation as a state senator. In 2004 and 2005 she had a 100 percent rating, and in 2006 she scored 93 percent.

"She voted for the marriage bill in California and has been a strong and vocal supporter of marriage equality," Equality California spokesman Vaishalee Raja wrote in an e-mail.

Vicedomini said Project Vote Smart allows candidates to update their answers if their positions have changed, but since Bowen's survey is from 2002, “it’s a little bit past the window to update that.”

Bowen also responded directly to the concerns on a local listserve.

This issue is very personal to me - I have long told people that I am an automatic aye on any civil rights issue, and if voters don't like that, they will have to find another rep. I have no room for compromise on this issue. I've talked to new members about finding their own such bottom line issues. This is one of my key no-room-for-negotiation bottom lines.

Apparently, none of this satisfied Mr. Molnar, who posted this comment on Venice Patch in response to the story.









Chad Molnar's boss, Councilman Bill Rosendahl, was one of Janice Hahn's first endorsements. According to Rosendahl's city website, Molnar is:

experienced in understanding and addressing constituent concerns with large transportation hubs, having previously served as Congresswoman Jane Harman's District Director and top advisor on issues surrounding the Port of Los Angeles. He is a political veteran, having managed several campaigns for Congress and the state legislature.



His biography would suggest he's worked closely with Janice Hahn, a council ally with Rosendahl's office on many controversial LAX issues. And, of course, Hahn's council district includes the Port of Los Angeles. 

Campaign records show Molnar donated $250 to Hahn's campaign in 2008.

Responding to inquiries at his office if he was the same Chad Molner who posted on Venice Patch, Molner had this to say.

Whatever happened to the first amendment, Marta? I respect your right to express yourself, and you should respect mine.

In 2002, Debra said she believed marriage should be between a man and a woman. That's all I've said. And that's all I will say.

I am gay, and I am proud. And I won't let you bully me into silence.

UPDATE


I contacted Cory Allen, the president of the Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club that Chad Molnar referenced in his original comment to Venice Patch. Mr Allen confirmed that Bowen wasn't present for the endorsement meeting, but disputed the characterization that Bowen "snubbed" Lambda.

Allen said officers from the club had attempted to contact Bowen through Facebook and the candidate's website, but was not able to get a hold of her in time for the meeting.

Although Long Beach Lambda ultimately endorsed Janice Hahn, Allen believes Debra Bowen is a strong supporter of equal rights.

"It's clear she's an ally for our community."

I also contact Bill Rosendahl, but he declined to comment for this story.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Horror! Best Selling Author Stephen King Blasts Republican Governors, "It's Larry, Curly, and Moe"



Appearing at an "Awake the State" rally in Sarasota, Florida, the bestselling horror author took on a real life horror show, Republican governors and their attack on union workers.


You know what, as a rich person, I pay 28% tax. What I want to ask you is, why is it I'm not paying 50? Why is it that anybody in my bracket is not paying 50? You know, the Republicans will tell you - from John Boehner to Mitch McConnell  to Rick Scott - "we can't do that"because if we tax guys like me, there won't be any jobs.

It's bull. It's total bull. Don't you think it would make a dent in the problems that Florida has if Rick Scott matched the amount he spent to get elected and stuck that right in the budget?

If you like your weekends (off), thank a union guy. If you like a 40 hour week, thank a union guy. If you like a day's honest pay for a day's honest work, thank a union guy."

Monday, March 7, 2011

A Third Republican Announces Run for CA36 Race To Replace Jane Harman

The Hermosa Beach Patch is reporting this morning that Kit Bobko, a Republican serving his second term on the Hermosa Beach City Council, will throw his hat in the ring to replace Jane Harman in CA36

Bobko, 41, now joins Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin and City Attorney Mike Webb as Republican candidates in the race to fill Harman’s seat.....

“I’m going to Washington to take on the establishment politicians who think we can borrow and spend our way to growth,” Bobko said in a statement Sunday.

Bobko, who has lived in Hermosa Beach for 11 years and serves as a litigation partner at a Los Angeles law firm, hopes to appeal to voters by touting a fiscal conservative message and promising to fight on taxpayers’ behalf.

“Folks don’t want more expensive government programs or more red tape, and they certainly don’t want more taxes,” Bobko said. “What people tell me is that they want the bureaucrats and politicians to get out of their way so they can grow their business, keep more of the money they earn, and save for their families.”

During Bobko’s terms on City Council, he has been outspoken about public pension reform and serves on the Business License Tax Review Committee. He is also proud that the city hasn’t faced a deficit during his tenure, he said.

Bobko's announcement is good news for the two Democratic frontrunners in the race, Debra Bowen and Janice Hahn. Since it's unlikely that any candidate will get the 50% +1 they'll need to win the first round of voting outright, a crowded Republican field will dilute vote totals for conservatives and help Bowen and Hahn emerge as the top-two vote-getters, allowing them to advance to the general election.

No election date has been set yet. Gov. Jerry Brown has until March 14 to announce the date of the special election will be held.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Bowen and Hahn Kick Off CA36 Campaigns At Separate Events In Torrance

Bowen greets a supporter

Debra Bowen and Janice Hahn collectively drew hundreds of activists and supporters to separate campaign kickoff celebrations this weekend at campaign headquarters within 4 miles of each other.

Staff from both campaigns claimed over a hundred supporters and activists came to the respective events.

Hahn's event was crowded into a small storefront in a stripmall off of PCH, and mostly populated with local activists from the San Pedro and Wilmington area (her home district on the LA City council) along with a healthy representation from LA City politicos. CA Assembly speaker John Perez, who's endorsed Hahn, gave the opening remarks. Hahn spoke for a few minutes as camera from NBC, ABC and FOX rolled, then spent the rest of the afternoon greeting supporters while a DJ played and pizza was consumed.

Hahn talks to activists


Four miles away, at Ted Lieu's old campaign headquarters, Assembly member Betsy Butler, who's district overlaps much of CA36, introduced Debra Bowen to the crowd. Activists from Venice, Mar Vista, El Segundo, the Beach Cities, Torrance, and San Pedro listened to Bowen's opening remarks. Bowen spent the rest of the morning fielding questions then talking to attendees as campaign staff busily signed up volunteers.


Bowen gives remarks to a diverse crowd of supporters


If Hahn's kickoff felt like a party and media event, Bowen's felt more like a homecoming for the candidate, as Bowen greeted many supporters as long lost friends. According to Bowen's campaign, the "official" campaign kickoff will happen sometime after the March 8th special election.

If there was any doubt that the race to replace Jane Harman really comes down to two candidates, I think events this weekend puts that debate to rest.


The Hahn event had a nifty DJ setup


Bowen's campaign staff signs up volutneers


Sign up sheet at Hahn headquarters for precinct walkers.
No takers yet.


To view more photos from this weekend, go to this link.



Friday, March 4, 2011

Rewriting History, Janice Hahn Now Says She Supports Ballot Initiative To Tax Big Oil

When it comes to Measure O, the ballot initiative to tax oil taken from within LA City limits, Janice Hahn was for it before she was against it before she was for it.

Responding to reports in this blog and also at Calitics, Janice Hahn is apparently trying to rewrite history in regards to Measure O, the oil severance tax she opposed putting before voters for the March 8th special election.

The City Maven wesbsite is reporting tonight that Hahn is once more reversing her position on Measure O, releasing a statement in support.

“I’ve always supported an oil extraction tax, and I continue to support it. In fact, during my recent campaign for lieutenant governor, I proposed a statewide oil extraction fee to help fund higher education,” Hahn said. “I support Measure O. I proposed Measure O. I will vote for Measure O. I hope Measure O passes.”

Quibbling with the past, Hahn went on to say that her no vote was out of an abundance of concern regarding voter turnout.

“I supported placing Measure O on a regular election ballot where turnout and participation is higher and it would have a greater likelihood of passing. I opposed placing it on the March ballot because turnout is substantially lower and less representative of the electorate as a whole,” Hahn said.

According to City Maven, a review of of the November 17th council meeting shows there was no mention of voter turnout in regards to the oil tax. At the time, Hahn was quoted as saying,

“I’ve reconsidered this and I have heard from various business groups who do feel like this might be the wrong climate to put this on the ballot. We know the oil companies are probably going to mount a massive campaign to defeat this and at the end of the day, the way we’ve structured it, really would only generate around $2 million to the city of Los Angeles. So, at this time, it is my recommendation that we don’t put this forward on the ballot.”

KCET reports that the measure is opposed by the California Independent Petroleum Association, , which has lobbied extensively to expand offshore drilling off the coast of California and in ANWAR, opposes Cap and Trade, and any limits to hydraulic fracturing (aka "fracking"), a controversial and dangerous means of natural gas extraction made famous by the HBO movie, "Gasland" 

According the KCET, CIPA has given more than $400,000 to California candidates from 2001 to 2010. Sixty-two percent of those candidates were Republicans.

Some of Measure O's opponents have gone on to endorse Janice Hahn in her bid to win the Congressional seat vacated by Jane Harman.

Janice Hahn Opposes LA Ballot Initiative To Tax Big Oil She Once Proposed

On March 8th, Angelenos will have the opportunity to vote on a variety of ballot initiatives, everything from a proposal to tax medical marijuana dispensaries to a hike in property taxes to fund public libraries.

One of the most popular initiatives - Measure O, a proposal to impose an oil severance tax for oil extracted within the city limits of Los Angeles - was introduced by LA Councilwoman (and current candidate in the CA36 Congressional race) Janice Hahn. The measure is projected to bring in about $4 million in revenues annually. Neighboring cities of Beverly Hills, Inglewood, Long Beach, and Seal Beach already impose a similar tax.

Measure O is endorsed by the California Courage Campaign, the LA Conservation Corps, the Sierra Club, and other environmental organizations.

Yet a year after Hahn first proposed the idea, she now stands as the only LA City council member in opposition to the measure.

Hahn's turnabout shines a rare spotlight inside the world of LA City politics, where powerful interest groups often create chaos with the legislative process.

From the LA Times:

Buffeted by the competing wishes of special interests, the mayor and various civic leaders, council members repeatedly changed their minds on the ballot proposals, hastily rewriting some while killing others outright......

A separate tax on oil production was proposed by Councilwoman Janice Hahn, whose harbor district has the most refineries. After representatives of those refineries complained, Hahn publicly rescinded her support on the day of the crucial vote.

Hahn's colleagues passed it anyway, delighted to find a new source of money for the city's cash-strapped budget.

KCET reports that the opposition is sponsored by the California Independent Petroleum Association, "a non-profit, non-partisan trade association representing approximately 450 independent crude oil and natural gas producers," according to its website. CIPA has lobbied extensively to expand offshore drilling off the coast of California and in ANWAR, opposes Cap and Trade, and any limits to hydraulic fracturing (aka "fracking"), a controversial and dangerous means of natural gas extraction made famous by the HBO movie, "Gasland" 

According the KCET, CIPA has given more than $400,000 to California candidates from 2001 to 2010. Sixty-two percent of those candidates were Republicans.

Some of Measure O's opponents have gone on to endorse Janice Hahn in her bid to win the Congressional seat vacated by Jane Harman.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Second Republican Candidate Enters Crowded Field For CA36 Race

From the LA Times:

Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin has become the second Republican elected official to join the already-crowded field to replace Rep. Jane Harman (D-Venice) in a yet-to-be-called special election.

Announcing his candidacy in a news release Tuesday, Gin said he has helped deliver a balanced budget -- and sometimes even a budget surplus -- every year since 1995, when he was first elected to the Redondo Beach City Council.

"I remain a tight-fisted fiscal administrator who believes in controlling spending and reducing our deficit in conjunction with creating good jobs in a new economy," said Gin, who is serving his second four-year term as elected mayor.

Governor Jerry Brown has not yet set the date for a special election to replace Harman. Besides Secretary of State Debra Bowen and Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn, Mike Webb, the Republican city attorney for Redondo Beach, also has announced he's running.

Gin, who is a gay and supports abortion rights, is widely seen as more moderate than Webb, who has courted Tea Party support for his candidacy.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Debra Bowen Campaign Open House March 5th



CA Secretary of State Debra Bowen will be holding an open house/campaign kick off for her "people powered" congressional race in Torrance this Saturday.

Saturday, March 5
10am-noon
1311 Sartori Avenue
Torrance, CA 90501


Come meet the candidate, nosh, and learn what you can do to be a part of her "people powered" campaign.

Please RSVP to info@debrabowen.com or call 323-212-6792.