Shutdown Showdown - Sen Ted Cruz On Defunding Obamacare - Hannity - 9-23...

So. Calif. Fires are Out of Control

Here are some photos Courtesy of YAHOO!
A thousand firefighters battled a growing wildfire in the inland mountains of Southern California early Thursday, trying to save small communities where some home have been lost and an estimated 1,500 residents were forced to flee. (AP)











Access the entire album HERE

PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT!? Process has STARTED!

His Attorney General is disregarding the rule of LAW!

Major NorCal Marijuana Trafficker Receives Nearly 18-Year Prison Sentence « CBS Sacramento

Major NorCal Marijuana Trafficker Receives Nearly 18-Year Prison Sentence « CBS Sacramento

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – A man considered one of the largest marijuana traffickers in Northern California has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison Monday, U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner announced.

U.S. District Judge William Shubb sentenced 44-year-old Uriel Ochoa-Espindola to 17.5 years in prison for growing tens of thousands of marijuana plants in three different counties in California with his partners and shipping the product across the country with the help of commercial trucks, according to court documents.

“This was his operation,” Judge Shubb noted, holding Espindola responsible for the weapons his partners and workers used to run their operation.

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This Is Port City: Stockton's Mayor suffers from Amnesia due to her H...

This Is Port City: Stockton's Mayor suffers from Amnesia due to her H...: Does Ann Johnston have something to hide? She can work how many hours aside from her Mayor's duty? The correct answer is 0, because Stoc...

truth be told: FULL UNEDITED Ron Paul Speech @ We Are the Future ...

truth be told: FULL UNEDITED Ron Paul Speech @ We Are the Future ...: Rand and Ron Paul Speeches @ We Are the Future Rally - Tamp Sun Dome - Aug 26 2012

Stockton Town Hall to unite civilians, city officials in search for solutions

Stockton Town Hall to unite civilians, city officials in search for solutions
Submitted by Linda Park, Community Web Producer

STOCKTON, CA - Disheartening topics about Stockton run as regular headlines on the morning and evening news. It is therefore a common belief that there are limited solutions to the city's problems. Many Stockton residents have questions they want answered and are seeking solutions to the challenges facing their city.

On Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m. in Long Theatre at University of the Pacific, ABC News 10 Sacramento will host "Stockton in Crisis, Searching for Solutions," a free town hall forum open to the public.

The town hall will present a six-party panel featuring, mayor Ann Johnston, district attorney James Willett, Deputy Chief of Police Rick Salsedo, Eberhardt School of Business professor and director of University of the Pacific's Business Forecasting Center Jeff Michaels, as well as Pastor Glenn R. Shields, community representative and religious advocate. These individuals will comment on the issues facing the city of Stockton, and provide feedback to questions posed by the audience.

"This is News 10's commitment to Stockton," explains Gina Villarreal, segment producer with News 10. "The goal of the town hall is to provide an open dialogue with city officials and key community constituents in order to offer solutions to Stockton."

"Higher education institutions have a responsibility to their students and community to provide forums of discussion," said Ted Leland, University of the Pacific vice president of external relations. "This type of event allows the University to join the dialogue and establish a neutral setting for a constructive conversation about the city's weaknesses."

News 10 will be integrating audience and online questions throughout the Town Hall, allowing community members an opportunity to have their comments and concerns addressed directly by Town Hall participants.

Reporters Tim Daly, Cristina Mendonsa, and Dale Schornack will broadcast live from the forum, and Leigh Paynter will be monitoring a live webcast of the event, fielding questions and comments from online viewers.

For those interested in attending the event in person, please request a ticket on news10.net, or call 916-441-2345 (Limit 4 RSVP's per person).

News10/KXTV

Vinnie Paz - End of Days (feat. Block McCloud) [Official Music Video]

CA Dreamin' Daily: Need Junk Removed from your Property?

CA Dreamin' Daily: Need Junk Removed from your Property?: We will pick up all of your garage/yard/moving sale left over to donate to families in need. We are looking for clothing in all sizes, ...

Police and protesters clash in Anaheim as City Council meets

Anaheim police and protesters were clashing Tuesday evening outside City Hall as bottles were thrown and police chased people on the streets and sidewalks.

A chaotic scene was unfolding as officers clad in riot gear made one arrest, according to Sgt. Bob Dunn of the Anaheim Police Department.

Sirens wailed as officers formed a skirmish line and police from Tustin and other jurisdictions poured into the city. The City Council was meeting in the wake of two deadly police shootings.

Joel Mathew Acevedo was shot and killed after he fired at an officer Sunday night. A day earlier, Manuel Angel Diaz was killed after running from police on Anaheim's east side.

Earlier Tuesday, protesters stormed up Anaheim City Hall steps and surrounded the council chambers to speak out about recent accusations of police brutality, the fourth day of such demonstrations.

More than 100 people came to protest, clutching signs that read, "Jail killer cops," and "No justice, no peace."

Ron Paul supporters sue GOP, claiming intimidation

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER | Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul have filed a lawsuit against the Republican National Committee and nearly every state party claiming they improperly helped Mitt Romney during the primaries while using intimidation and threats of violence to thwart them.

Paul's campaign says the Texas congressman doesn't support the lawsuit. An RNC official called it frivolous.
The lawsuit asks a federal court in California to clarify whether delegates attending the national convention in August can vote for any candidate they choose, even if they were won by Romney. Most state parties require delegates to vote for the candidate who won them in primaries or caucuses.(NOT TRUE)

The lawsuit was filed June 11 by more than 100 people who say they are delegates, though some aren't on lists released by state parties.

City Retiree's Plan to sue Stockton

A group of Stockton retirees is seeking a restraining order against the bankrupt city's efforts to cut their health benefits, part of the city's "pendency plan" aimed at keeping it solvent while it seeks protections from creditors.

The city informed retirees by letter they must pay their premiums by July 30 or "medical coverage will be canceled retroactive to July 1."

Promises of lifelong health benefits have been blamed in part for Stockton's failure, which was also brought on by the housing bust, unemployment and borrowing for downtown development that did not bring expected results.

PHOTOS: California cities in bankruptcy

Dwane Milnes, who was Stockton's city manager from 1991 to 2001, has been widely criticized for giving retirees full retirement healthcare in return for agreements from unions not to seek raises. The unfunded liability for those benefits is $417 million.

Milnes now represents the retirees in bankruptcy-related negotiations.

"It is not unfair to make changes in the retirement plan," Milnes said. "The world changes and when the world changes you have to adapt. But the question is, how do you change it in a way that is respectful of those most in need?"

Plaintiff Alfred Seibel, 58, a retired parks worker, said he can't afford the premiums and can't afford to lose coverage.
With the city's cuts, Seibel's health insurance costs would be $1,126.66 per month, or about 51% of his net income.

"I am already taking generic meds for cholesterol and triglycerides against my doctor's advice, I can't afford the $70 co-pay. My wife cries all the time. She don't understand how when they promise you all this stuff, then they [can] just take it away," he said in court documents.

A retired parks caretaker who worked for the city for 31 years, Seibel also suffers from a work-related herniated disc and enlarged lymph nodes that doctors say are from chemicals he used on the job.

The suit seeks class-action status covering all retirees, but Milnes said he and other managers with higher incomes would be willing to give up their benefits.

"The ones we're talking about are the ones who worked for us for years. For crying out loud, we know them, we know their families. We know about their breast cancer, their husband's diabetes," he said.

The budget the Stockton City Council adopted slashed contributions to current employee and retiree health benefits and eliminated benefits for employees with fewer than 10 years of city service. It eliminates city-funded medical benefits for retirees by July 2013.

There are about 2,400 city retirees, about 1,000 of whom receive health benefits. Two-thirds of the city retirees do not meet poverty requirements for California's low-income healthcare program but cannot afford private insurance, Milnes said. Those who are over 65 can get Medicare, but they must pay for medications and doctor's office visits.

Stockton Vice Mayor Kathy Miller said the lawsuit was not unexpected.

"All I can say is that there is a group of retirees who think it's more important for the taxpayers to pay 100% of their retirement than to keep police officers on the street," she said. "They know the situation. They know 80% of our discretionary income is for public safety. There is no way we can close the budget gap without these cuts. But they think they should come first."

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San Bernardino bankruptcy: Other California cities could be next

— Diana Marcum

CA: Pushing welfare recipients to work

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown wants to shift the safety net protecting California's most vulnerable residents pressured by a $16 billion budget deficit, the governor is proposing a major overhaul of the state's welfare-to-work program with the strategy of slashing people's benefits to motivate them to get jobs faster.

The move, if approved by the state Legislature as part of the 2012-13 budget package, would save $880 million, but beyond the savings, analysts say it represents a shift in the philosophy of how the Golden State helps its neediest residents.

"It's a reversal of the state's historic commitment to these families and children," said Scott Graves, senior policy analyst with the California Budget Project. "It's a very significant change."

California is the national leader in welfare recipients. About 3.8 percent of state residents were on welfare in 2010, the highest percentage in the country. In fact, California houses about a third of the nation's welfare recipients, while only housing one-eighth of the national population.

Most of the recipients, however, are children — more than three-quarters of the 1.5 million in the welfare-to-work program CalWORKs, which stands for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids. The rest are mostly single mothers who must work or participate in job training and related activities to receive cash assistance.

The state has traditionally held a relatively generous attitude toward welfare. For instance, CalWORKs gives cash grants to children even when their parents are ineligible for benefits for various reasons, such as being illegal immigrants, receiving disability, or failing to abide by the program's rules. Only three other states — Indiana, Oregon and Arizona — have such an expansive policy.

California also allows parents to receive job services and cash grants for up to four years. Before last year, the limit was 60 months.

The policies have made the program an expensive budget line — the state spends $2.9 billion on CalWORKs and related programs — and an easy target for lawmakers looking for costs to trim with little political fallout. In years past, lawmakers have proposed doing away with benefits to children with ineligible parents and even slashing the whole CalWORKs program.

The state's budget woes have given renewed impetus to whittle away at CalWORKs. Last year, the maximum five-year benefit period shrunk to four years and monthly grants were diminished 8 percent. A family of three currently receives $638 a month, less than the rate in 1988.

For the next fiscal year, the governor is proposing more sweeping cutbacks, including a 27 percent cut in cash assistance to children with ineligible parents and further slashing the time limit for full benefits from four years to two years.

Other rule changes would restrict benefits to mothers of younger children and families earning poverty-level wages and increase sanctions on those who violate program terms.

"We felt the program was losing its focus of welfare-to-work," said Todd Bland, deputy director the state Department of Social Services' welfare-to-work division. "The reason we wanted to refocus is because of the very difficult budget environment."

The changes also come at a time when California is appealing federal penalties of $160 million because it failed to move enough welfare recipients to private sector jobs of at least 30 hours a week in 2008 and 2009, a requirement to receive federal money that helps pay for CalWORKs. Many California recipients are given part-time, publicly subsidized jobs so they get work experience.

CalWORKs recipients say getting a regular job that pays enough to support a family is not easy as lawmakers think.

Sarah Smith, a 31-year-old divorced mother of four in Los Angeles County, had been a stay-at-home mother since the age of 18, only working sporadically between having children. She was forced to turn to CalWORKs a year ago after her husband stopped paying child support. She received $850 a month in cash aid and $700 in food stamps.

She's also been able to make herself more marketable through the job services the program offers. She's beefed up her clerical skills, self-confidence and resume with a minimum-wage, temporary job as a customer service assistant with the county Department of Social Services, but the job ends this month.
She's hoping she now will be able to find a permanent job. If not, she will try for a subsidized job program where the county pays half her salary and the private employer pays the rest.

Policymakers don't realize that people need a chance to rebuild their lives, Smith said, adding that CalWORKs aid is far from enough to live on.
"It's still a juggling act," she said. "People are trying to get jobs. No one really wants to be on welfare. Most people are trying to get off it."

Nearly half of CalWORKs families move off the program within two years, but about 18 percent are long-term. Those families are often have very young children and headed by parents who lack a high school diploma or job skills, or have a family member with a disability, according to a report by the Public Policy Institute of California.

Brown's reforms aim to get parents off welfare before they become entrenched. The plan calls for parents to be hired or employable within two years of entering the program by providing job training and counseling, mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence support services, and child care. They must either work or participate in those activities to get the cash aid.

After two years, the services and some money would be cut off if they do not find a private sector job — a move that would affect about 130,000 parents, according to the state Legislative Analyst's Office.

Those parents could still receive a much-reduced cash benefit for child maintenance. A parent with two children would receive $375 a month, a drop of $263.

If parents do find employment, they could still be eligible to receive services such as child care for another two years and some cash aid if their income remains below a certain level.

Social service providers say it's overly optimistic to expect the private sector to absorb tens of thousands of people, many with minimal job skills, with California's unemployment rate the second highest in the nation at 10.9 percent in April. Only 11 percent of CalWORKs parents had private sector jobs of at least 30 hours week in 2009, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

"CalWORKs recipients are living on a shoestring as it is," said Frank Mecca, executive director of the County Welfare Directors Association of California. "This is going to plunge many children into poverty and likely increase homelessness. You're shredding the safety net at a time when it's needed most."

Republicans say it's about time California pushed harder to get people to self-sufficiency, and say more is needed. Halving the time limit is a good move, but continuing to give parents cash for children with no strings attached defeats the purpose of welfare-to-work.

"It removes the responsibility from the parent. You're taking away the accountability from the oversight of the program," said Assemblyman Brian Jones, R-Santee, vice chairman of the Assembly Human Services Committee.

Instead of focusing on half measures of welfare reform, the governor should concentrate on job-stimulation strategies so people have a place to go, he said. "If there's no regulatory reform, he's wasting his time," Jones said.

The debate over CalWORKs' mission is likely to continue, especially if state revenues continue to fall short, said Caroline Danielson, policy fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California.

"The interest is in reorienting the program toward work," she said.

Contact the reporter http://twitter.com/ChristinaHoag.

Build Stockton for its future

June 4, 2012
Dear Governor Jerry Brown:
Dear State Assembly Member Joan Buchanan:
Dear State Senator Lois Wolk:
I am writing to ask you to support AB 484 (Alejo), which was recently amended in the Senate to help protect jobs in some of California’s most economically depressed areas.

This bill will help ensure businesses within an Enterprise Zone can continue receiving uninterrupted program benefits until such time as the Department of Housing and Community Development has completed regulatory and administrative review of the program, issued a request for proposal and issued conditional designation letters to the maximum number of Enterprise Zones within the state.

Not only is the Enterprise Zone program vital to economic development, the benefits of the program help our businesses offset costs and encourage expansion or hiring of new employees. Enterprise Zones deliver numerous benefits for employees and employers. AB 484 is a bridge to help two zones with high unemployment and improve economic stability in these distressed areas.

AB 484 ensures that employees and struggling businesses do not fall victim to bureaucratic and political delays. Our state is still struggling to pull itself out of this recession. Every job counts. AB 484 is vitally important to these economically depressed regions.

For these reasons, I strongly urge you to support AB 484.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mr. Gregory Pitsch
1704 Maude St
1704 maude st
Stockton, CA 95206-5713

Greg Pitsch, and Dale Fritchen Have Realistic Budgets that make "cents"

Dale Fritchen is the incumbent district 6 council member in Stockton, CA. He is running for re-election, and is squaring off against Michael Tubbs. Friday afternoon, he brought forward the only option in my eyes, and that is a financial solution laid out in black and white, a plan to cut back 20.5 million of our nearly 27 Million dollar deficit. Mr. Fritchen has also been dealing with looking for answers for the public while AJ s laughing thinking she fooled the public again. Stand up with Greg Pitsch honoring his endorsement for Dale Fritchen running for Dist. 6, to Unite Stockton as a whole, get rid of several un-necessary and risky spending that has destroyed our economy, costing unemployment to rise above 22% in February 2012.

Many are well aware of how our city was "occupied" again Thursday. A measly 100 people came out, they shut down the surrounding area it and had multiple agencies come assist with riot control. For 100 people?

"Wasted funds are being amassed like we've never seen before, and the people are no longer fighting for there own sake. It almost seems as if nobody cares about the City, and honestly I can't be in any such environment that promotes a negative tone or result, without having the desire to want to fix it.." - Gregory S. Pitsch.






MIKE KLOCKE
June 3, 2012


One person's "occupation" is another person's "annoyance."


Nevertheless, several streets downtown were shut as protesters carried signs and chanted about such things as officer-involved shootings, Stockton's leadership and influential banks.



Much of the gathering was from the much-more-intense Occupy Oakland movement. Buses brought people to Stockton to march.



To everyone's credit, there were no arrests.



Civic protests are an important part of this country's history, and they have led to great and positive changes. You do not have to go too far back in history to realize those truths.

I am certainly in no position to pass judgment on the officer-involved shootings that were such a focal point of the third Occupy event in Stockton. They obviously were on the minds of protesters.

The focus was on the deaths of James Rivera Jr., 16, and Luther Brown, 32. Some protesters carried signs with the names of the Stockton Police and San Joaquin Sheriff's officers involved.

Again, that is fine and well within the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

But before the city is occupied for a fourth time, I would like the protesters to consider rallying against - or for - some other things:

>>VOTE FOR GREG PITSCH<<

» Support the 35-year-old who was hit, threatened and then had the assailant follow her into her house;

» Stand up for the family of the unidentified man who was found dead by the railroad tracks in northeastern Stockton;

» Make signs in support of the woman who reported she was sexually assaulted, falsely imprisoned and threatened by a man in Stockton;

» Plea for justice for the young man whose Camaro was carjacked at gunpoint. Speak out against those who committed the crime;

» Support the Stockton police who had to deal with a hatchet-wielding man before making an arrest;

» Demand justice for the 43-year-old man who had simply just gotten a cup of coffee when his car window was broken with a chain and then he was beaten in the head and robbed;

» Chant demands that the people who fired gunshots into the house of a woman on Airport Way be sought, arrested and jailed before they do something such as this again. Incidentally, it was not the first time shots were fired at the woman's house;

» Rally people against the man who allegedly assaulted a police officer with a knife when he was trying to break up a domestic dispute;

» Decry the criminal who tried to falsely imprison a 15-year-old girl in his vehicle;

» Pray for the 21-year-old man who was shot in the head and left for dead on South Sinclair Avenue. Demand that his assailant be caught;

» Carry signs with strong messages of protest against the two men who beat a 71-year-old man, and the other two men who beat a 63-year-old man in robberies just a few hours apart.




What do you think of these suggestions as matters to protest the next time you show up to occupy Stockton?

The sad thing: each of these incidents happened within the four days prior to the Occupy Stockton visit. So we have not even touched on previous incidents, last year's record 58 murders in Stockton or - to change the direction of a potential protest - the need for more officers.

Occupy our city and call out the criminals. Criticize the people doing the beating, stabbing, shooting, robbing and more.

I could not agree more with the words of Occupy Oakland organizer Christopher Moreland, who told the media: "We're not here to start trouble; we're here to awaken the city of Stockton. We feel their pain and support them in their struggle."

Amen. But it is more than a struggle against officer-involved shootings, city leadership and Wells Fargo Bank playing foreclosure hardball.

It is a struggle against crime. Every day, every hour, practically every minute. For citizens - and definitely for law enforcement.

It is our life, and it is getting more intense - something you certainly know about in Oakland.

So roll these suggestions around in your collective thoughts before jumping on another east-bound bus.

Contact Record editor Mike Klocke at (209) 546-8250 or mklocke@recordnet.com

Oh Zee | Stockton, CA | World / Hip Hop / Funk | Music, Lyrics, Songs, and Videos | ReverbNation

Oh Zee | Stockton, CA | World / Hip Hop / Funk | Music, Lyrics, Songs, and Videos | ReverbNation:

'via Blog this'

CalPERS says Illegal funds are now Legal?

STOCKTON - While in violation of the city charter, retirement benefits that Stockton paid for years on behalf of some elected leaders were perfectly legal according to state law, which overrides any local rules.

So representatives of the California Public Employees' Retirement System said Thursday.

Called CalPERS, the state agency manages pensions for 1.6 million public workers, including a longstanding contract with Stockton.

City leaders said they will now undertake bringing Stockton's CalPERS contract in line with its charter. Until that happens, they also will discourage any newly elected Stockton leaders from enrolling.

CalPERS already has agreed to remove from its rolls three city current elected officials - councilmen Elbert Holman and Dale Fritchen and Mayor Ann Johnston - if each so chooses. The public-pension agency will credit Stockton the funds contributed for each.

"I will disenroll," Johnston said. "Absolutely."

Fritchen said Thursday he was still fuzzy on the details. The three leaders expect a full debriefing Monday at City Hall. But Fritchen said he's intent on doing whatever is right by taxpayers.

Fritchen repeatedly has described dysfunction at City Hall, which led to the controversy, "frustrating."

"I keep saying that," he said. "I can't think of any other word."

'Click Here' To read the rest of Scott's Article

Who's enrolled

Stockton mayors and council members enrolled in the CalPERS retirement fund, and the amount the city contributed:

Mayors *Bold Denotes if official is still in office.

• Joan Darrah: $7,682.62 (collected retirement, now deceased)

• Ann Johnston: $45, 538.61 (not retired)

*Why is her dollar amount so much Higher than the rest of the people that have yet to retire? Maybe because she has been in
office longer than the City Charter's Limit. So she has almost $46,000 extra in her retirement, don't you think her "expert eye for finding the
problem" that she touts she has would've caught that amount in her should be non-existent pension??

• Gary Podesto: $7,018.43 (collecting retirement)


Council members

• Steve Bestolarides: $15,475.79 (not retired)

• Dan Chapman: $15,561.42 (not vested)

• Dale Fritchen: $12,189.52 (still accruing retirement)

• Gary Giovanetti: $8,326.68 (not vested)

• Ted Gonzales: $3,003.95 (not vested; cashed out his own money)

• Elbert Holman: $12,189.91 (still accruing retirement)

• Clem Lee: $15,622.18 (not vested)

• Leslie Martin: $23,599.99 (not retired yet)

• Sylvia Sun Minnick: $2,269.38 (collecting retirement)

• Victor Mow: $4,194.24 (collecting retirement)

• Rebecca Nabors: $15,566.89 (cashed out)

• Richard Nickerson: $4,486.29 (collecting retirement)

• Melvin Panizza: $4,297.94 (collecting retirement)

Source: City of Stockton

Ron Paul Is Shaking the System!

Oh Zee's Quote of the day

"Do as you have been taught, and the world will change a whole lot." -- Oh Zee May 8th

Only in America!

Ron Paul Threatened by RNC that Delegates will be stoppedd

The Globalists are getting scared. They know its about to go down!