The More Things Change

As the old saying goes: the more things change, the more things stay the same. This certainly holds true for our nation in regards to progressing towards equaliity. When Barrack Obama was elected as the first Black President of the United States in 2008, many tried, erroneously, to proclaim it the begining of a post racial society. They couldn't have been more wrong. I asked how much progress had been made, genuinley, when, although Obama was President, young Black men like Oscar Grant were still getting shot in the back while in handcuffs, by Police, in public? Has "progress" been made since the Civil Rights movement, which really was an extension for equal rights fought for since our country's early history? I think one can make the argument that there has been some progress. Now instead of Mexicans and Blacks being segregated in parks, movie theatres, and schools, from Whites, now they get to be segregated in prisons. To say that we live in a post
racial society where everyone is equal and has the opportunity to pull themselves up by their proverbial bootstraps, is a fallacy. Not only that, but it's a Red Herring to distract from the real issues of inequality. I don't want my ethnic heritage to be denied or ignored, it's not what was being asked for, the point is not being held back as a result of it. There are still serious issues regarding not only race but economic class, that need to be addressed and rectified in this great work in progress that is our nation. Perhaps as a result of the declining public education system, which I fear is by design as a way of the Republicans keeping the populus ignorant enough to support and vote for them against their own best interest, that we have lost sight of history and are therefore are doomed to repeat it. From the blatantly racist laws of Arizona regarding racial profiling and the attack on Ethnic Studies, to the scapegoating of illegal immigrants in
Californian politics, the Tea bagger movement, the attempt of Texas education officials to censor the truth in textbooks about slavery and civil rights, to the expansion of modern day slavery: prisons. All of the gains fought for and paid for with lives to move this nation towards the principles it was founded on, are now under attack with a desperate zeal. The more things are progressing, the more they are being attacked as an attempt to go back in time, an attempt to be blind to the truth that has been exposed through the struggle and sacrifice by those who sought to lead our nation towards the rhetoric it was founded upon. So it becomes neccessary for us as a nation who truly value the vision of what this country is suppossed to be, to fight now as before, perhaps even more, to make those dreams embedded in the conscience of our nation a reality. I've seen the past and I am not going back.

Motecuzomatzin

Strange Bedfellows

San Joaquin Sheriff Steve Moore (a Republican) will be making a campaign appearance along with fellow non-partisan elected officials Carlos Villapudua, Susan Eggman and Jose Morales on June 3rd at Cancun (6 p.m.). I hope one of my fellow democrats have the guts to call Moore out for his endorsement of rightwing nutcase Brad Goehring. How can a sheriff who is suppossed to stand for public safety, stand by a candidate who advocates openly for violence against "Liberals", irresponsibly declaring "open season", while campaigning? But even more dangerous to the prosperity and growth here in San Joaquin County is Goehring’s pledge to not accept federal appropriation request. This despite San Joaquin County receiving far less federal funds then we pay in federal taxes? How is further debilitating the good people of San Joaquin County fair and equitable?
Here is a partial list of appropriation requests submitted by Congressman Jerry McNerney:
Assistance to Victims of Domestic Violence
$406,151 requested from the Department of Health and Human Services
Funding will be used to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence. This funding will help to provide important services that might otherwise be unavailable. The recipient of this funding is the Women’s Center of San Joaquin County, located at 620 N. San Joaquin Street, Stockton, CA 95202.
Gang Prevention and Intervention Strategy
$400,000 requested from the Department of Health and Human Services
Funding will be used for parenting classes, recreational opportunities, and after-school programs designed to reduce gang activity. This funding will help reduce crime and provide better opportunities for young people in Tracy. The recipient of this funding is the City of Tracy, located at 333 Civic Center Plaza, Tracy, CA 95376.
A Child Is Missing
$300,000 requested from the Department of Justice
Funding would allow A Child is Missing, a not-for-profit organization, to assist law enforcement agencies in California's 11th Congressional District to quickly locate a missing child or elderly person. The recipient of this funding is A Child Is Missing, located at 500 SE 17th Street #101, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316. The City of Ripon Police Department supports this funding request.
Gang Suppression Enforcement Program
$400,000 requested from the Department of Justice
Funding will support Gang Suppression Enforcement Program operations in and around the 11th Congressional District. The funding will be used to cover costs associated with personnel, overtime, equipment, and other items and will help combat gang-related crime. The recipient of this funding is the California Department of Justice, located at 1300 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Mobile Data System
$1,000,000 requested from the Department of Justice
Funding will go towards replacing the current data communications system to improve public safety. The recipient of the funding is the City of Stockton, located at 425 N. El Dorado Avenue, Stockton, CA 95202.
Operation Peacekeeper Gang Outreach Program
$200,000 requested from the Department of Justice
Funding will help support two full-time Youth Outreach Workers. This program seeks to assist troubled youth by providing positive activities to keep them from joining a gang. The recipient of this funding is the City of Stockton, located at 425 N. El Dorado Avenue, Stockton, CA 95202.
Public Safety Cameras
$950,000 requested from the Department of Justice
Funding will be used to install video cameras in heavily traveled locations. This funding will help reduce crime. The recipient of this funding is the City of Tracy, located at 333 Civic Center Plaza, Tracy, CA 95376.
Public Safety Mobile Communications Equipment Upgrade
$461,600 requested from the Department of Justice
Funding will be used to acquire and deploy new mobile radio equipment for police and fire departments. The purchased equipment would benefit public safety. The recipient of this funding is the City of Lodi, located at 25 East Pine Street, Lodi, CA 95240.
San Joaquin County Juvenile Camp
$5,000,000 requested from the Department of Justice
Funding will be used to construct a new juvenile facility in San Joaquin County. This funding will help to improve public safety. The recipient of the funding is the San Joaquin County Probation Department, located at 575 West Matthews Road, French Camp, CA 95231.
San Joaquin County Public Safety Communication Project
$2,858,500 requested from the Department of Justice
Funding would help develop an effective radio system that supports the essential needs of the region's first responders. This funding will help to improve public safety. The recipient of this funding is the San Joaquin County Information Systems Division, located at 44 North San Joaquin Street, Suite 455, Stockton, CA 95202.
Save Our Youth Program
$500,000 requested from the Department of Justice
Funding will be used to support a program that discourages gang and drug involvement by young people and provides assistance in job placement, return-to-school programs, counseling, and other services. This funding will help to reduce crime and improve public safety in Manteca. The recipient of this funding is the City of Manteca, located at 1001 West Center Street, Manteca, CA 95337.
University of the Pacific Gang Intervention Program
$558,240 requested from the Department of Justice
Funding will support a program that identifies high school youth who are involved in gangs or at risk of gang activities. The program will help to provide young people with positive opportunities and incentives to prevent them from joining gangs. The recipient of this funding is the University of the Pacific, located at 3601 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95211.
This is the type of change that Republicans Brad Goehring and Steve Moore are advocating for. Moore likes to hide behind the “non-partisan’ shield yet each election he makes no shame of endorsing extremist like Dean Andel, Richard Pombo and Brad Goehring. So Sherriff Moore, 1) Why do you continue to endorse extremist republicans? and 2) Why are you against youth programs, equipment for our police and fire forces, public safety and gang prevention? Is this seriously how you want to use your political capital and represent our county? It's a shameful disgrace.

A New Voice For 2.0

One of my goals with creating this blog was to encourage democratic activist to start sharing their views online with the larger netroots community.  Starting soon, expect to see posts from Motecuzoma Sanchez. Motecuzoma is a former Stockton mayoral candidate and youth empowerment activist. Recently, Sanchez found himself being escorted out of a Meg Whitman event hosted by our local Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for asking a question that was deemed "off topic". You see, accountability, honesty and transparency don't have a place in Whitman's campaign. Gotta love her!

At anyrate, hope you enjoy Motecuzoma's perspective. 

Nicholas 

A Key To A Thriving Downtown & Improved City Image: The Arts

For over a year now, I have been telling anyone and everyone that the key to Stockton’s image makeover and a thriving downtown area is the Oakland model. Just last month the New York Times published an article titled “Oakland’s Journey From Seedy to Sizzling”. Before voting on transferring the entire arts endowment into general fund; Mayor Ann Johnston and Stockton’s City Council should consider the following quote from NYT: According to research by the Oakland Cultural Trust, an arts advocacy group, for every dollar that Oakland invests in culture, it gets back four dollars in fees, licenses and taxes. Nonprofit arts in Oakland generate more than $103 million in gross annual economic activity and provide around 5,000 jobs, the trust found.

I applaud the aggressive tone Mayor Johnston took, during her State of the City Address, in defense of our city’s image.  However, I am concerned that the proposed elimination of the city’s arts endowment will kill one of the key and necessary elements to reforming our city’s image and revitalizing our Downtown area. As a past resident of the Jack London Square District (part of Downtown Oakland) during its own transformation, I’ve seen firsthand how vital a role the arts (and arts community) played in transforming a once blighted neighborhood into a thriving cultural hub and helping change people’s perception of Oakland. I hope Mayor Johnston and Stockton’s City Council will consider the lessons our neighboring port city learned and vote in favor of economic prosperity and protect the arts endowment. Our city’s future and a thriving Downtown area demand it.

Nicholas Hatten

Proudly Returned Stocktonian

(Letter to the Editor submitted to The Record) 

The LGBT Community Of San Joaquin County & The Progressive Movement

I just posted an article this article to Calitics:

Hi there, Nicholas Hatten here. Ye of McNerney '06 and '08 campaigns and Stockton's Drinking Liberally. First time poster but long time lurker. What's got me so excited that I've decided to break my lurking streak? Well, the awesomeness that is San Joaquin County's LGBT community.
A year ago this month I moved back to the lovely city of Stockton after a decade long love affair with the Bay Area. I moved back after re-discovering the Central Valley during my time with Team McNerney. Now I was already aware of how progressive leaders like Councilmember Susan Eggman (LGBT icon), Jerry & Carol Bailey (single payer icons), Martha Gamez (uber-grassroots icon) and others had helped change the landscape of politics in the Central Valley. What I wasn't aware of was how much the LGBT had matured and evolved into a political force during my time away.

For the rest of the blog, click here: http://calitics.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=11565

Let's Take, A Long (Precinct) Walk

When I realized I would need to collect signatures to qualify to sit on the DCC, I was really looking forward to walking my neighborhood and taking the pulse of the street. Well, what an eye opening experience that was.

Before I get into my story, let me just share how helpful the people who work at the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters office are. As a novice to the whole DCC thang, they helped me file my paperwork, let me purchase a neighborhood list to collect signatures and always greeted me with a warm smile and encouragement. I share this because a certain San Joaquin County Republican, running against McNerney, needs to have a talk with his staff. I was shocked at the level of attitude and rudeness this person was throwing at the RoV clerks because her boss had misfiled paperwork. This isn't a partisan issue either. I don't care which part of the aisle you sit on, treat public servants (and people in general) with respect if you plan on working in politics.

More on the flip...

An Uncontested Election Is A Bad Election

The Record states:
With nobody stepping forward to challenge them at the polls, San Joaquin County Supervisors Larry Ruhstaller and Ken Vogel can stay in office for another four years without a fight.

Ruhstaller and Vogel are Republicans running for re-election in non-partisan races. Well, fine...good for them! However, if we want to advance the progressive agenda we are going to have to start running progressive voices locally sooner or later. You can't get upset at Cardoza and/or McNerney for being "moderates" when we aren't capable of growing our movement locally folks. It's as simple as that.

On the plus side, a lot of this can be attributed to voter and activist apathy and Republicans aren't doing any better at fielding half decent candidates themselves. But the voter registration advantage is ours and we shouldn't be resting on our laurels.

For the rest of the article click here.

BTW: Is that a Pombo I see running for a local school board seat? Anyone know if there's any relation to Dick?

Putting It Together

This is a pic of me as I submitted my petition(s) to be a candidate for DCC. I decided to collect signatures from my neighborhood and must say that I am happy I did so. The experience was an eyeopener. Stay tuned for a more detailed blog about those experiences.

Congratulations to Steve Lopez, Barbara Grizzle, Jerry Bailey, Sylvia Low, Rose Roach and Charlotte Stafford for qualifying (along with me---there are five open slots) for Supervisorial District 3. It's an honor to have my name along yours on the upcoming June ballot. Good luck to you all!

Running for the DCC- March 12th Deadline

Pledge 4 of the San Joaquin County Democrats 2.0 Pledge states the following:

Continue striving for diversity-While inroads have been made there is still a need for diversity in regards to ethnicity, residency (in particularly rural parts of the county like Ripon, Escalon and Linden) and age among DCC members.

Do you have concerns for your community? Passion for politics? Want to see your name on a ballot? Well how bout running for to be a representative with your local democratic party? How, you ask? Fairly simple.

1) First, visit the County of San Joaquin, Registrar of Voters

212 North San Joaquin Street
Stockton, CA 95202-2409
(209) 468-2885

The process will take about thirty minutes and is fairly painless.

2) Collect 20 signatures from registered democrats from your district. Your district area is the same as your county supervisors. To encourage diverse participation, the organizers of SJ Democrats 2.0 are offering to email you a list of Dem voters from your neighborhood to make signature collecting easy. It's always safe to collect at least 30 signatures to leave room for any errors that might come up.

3) Return your collected signatures to the San Joaquin Registrar of Voters by the March 12th deadline.

See, a pretty simple process, right? New voices, diverse opinions and a range of experiences will strengthen an already strong local party. Can you commit to a better tomorrow by joining the San Joaquin County Democratic Committee?

So what does the SJCDCC do? Well, they attend a monthly meeting where they vote on the direction of the county Democratic party. They endorse non-partisan local races and they hold fundraisers to support Democrat and non-partisan endorsed candidates. They also get to do fun things like represent the county at state conventions.

Take the San Joaquin Democrats 2.0 Pledge

The goal of this blog is to grow the democratic party within the San Joaquin County. While major advances have been made with voter registration, candidate recruitment and wins (all but one of San Joaquin counties federal and state elected officials are democrats), there is still room to build on our successes. The organizers of this blog believe the following pledge will further build on the successes of the democratic party and our local progressive movement.

The San Joaquin County Democrat 2.0 Pledge

• Commit to a 50 plus 1 vote campaign strategy. The political reality within the San Joaquin County is that it's a light blue county. This reality is reflected in the moderate positions our elected federal and state officials take. Increasing the democratic voter registration advantage within San Joaquin County and helping progressive candidates win local non-partisan offices will encourage progressive candidates to seek federal and state offices. The number one priority for our party should be a comprehensive field, voter registration and outreach strategy that can successfully execute majority wins in each city and district within San Joaquin County for our Democrat and non-partisan endorsed races.
  
• Embrace modern online activism: The San Joaquin County Democratic Party and its activist will benefit from sharing their stories with the larger netroots community via Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Daily Kos, Calitics and MyDD. An active party blog is also essential for online activism.
  
• Acknowledge the Decline to State threat: More and more candidates are choosing to run for local office as decline to states and some of our Democratic leadership are choosing to back these candidates. By ignoring the Decline to State threat, we hurt our local progressive voice on issues like gay civil rights and health care. As of today, throughout the entire county, only 1 registered democrat has declared their re-election intentions (Eggman) and two (Paderes and Griffen) have declared their intent to run for office.
  
• Continue striving for diversity: While inroads have been made there is still a need for diversity in regards to ethnicity, residency (in particularly rural parts of the county like Ripon, Escalon and Linden) and age among DCC members.

It is our hope that candidates running for the San Joaquin County DCC will join our pledge. Please show your support by stating your name, city and district in the comment field.

Current list of 2.0 pledgers
Angel Picon
Motecuzoma Sanchez
Nicholas Hatten