Fresno Bee Racism Sexism CD 16 Election

Fresno Bee article is racist and sexist.
 
In listing Dr Loraine Goodwin as a candidate for CD 16, it mentions she is a physician. But they


fail to mention her years of work in women's health and preventive medicine. 


Dr Goodwin also has a law degree from San Joaquin College of Law and she works as a legal 


arbitrator and mediator. She also sits on the California Air Hearing Board, Central Region and 


the IRWMG where she acts to protect valley air and water. Dr Goodwin also sits on the 


Madera behavioral health board, which provides help to the poor, homeless and addicted. She 


also sat on the Madera American Disabilities Act Advisory Board which initiated ADA 


requirements to remove barriers for disabled. 


Dr Goodwin comes from a Fresno farm family that has farmed for generations. She 


understands farming needs and wants to encourage young farmers. 


If you believe in education, you can believe in Dr Goodwin. As a member of the Madera Unified 


School Board, she started the "Farm-to-school Program which gives fruits and vegetables to 


kids and pays farmers over $500,000 a year - Goodwin has proven she can bring money into 


the central valley, keep staff working and finances sound. 


Dr Goodwin stands up for women, children, disabled, seniors, families and students. We must 


act to reduce racism in the central valley. It is a hard fight...it keeps coming back. Join the 


GOODWIN TEAM. 


Don't trust what you read in the Fresno Bee.

Butt cocaine kills

Here is a KMBC story that is too bizarre for me:


A South Carolina man's brother died after police said he was forced to eat cocaine hidden in his brother's backside (butt).

Both brothers were taken into custody on allegations they had drugs in their car.

But police told Charleston, S.C., TV station WCIV there were additional drugs hidden in 23-year-old Deangelo Mitchell's backside (butt).

Officers said Deangelo Mitchell convinced his brother, 20-year-old Wayne Mitchell, to swallow the ounce of cocaine to hide the evidence. He died soon afterward.

"It's sickening," North Charleston Police Chief Jon Zumalt told WCIV. "I got upset when I saw the thing. I was pretty shocked on it."

Deangelo Mitchell already bonded out of jail on the drug charge, but now police are looking for him again on charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Drone gone

The Iranians say they have shot down and captured a US stealth drone. This drone, possibly a RQ-170, is super secret and can avoid detection.

The unmanned drone can scout the landscape for nuclear weapons. No pictures of the drone in Iranian hands or other evidence to prove the capture of the drone have emerged. Loss of the RQ-170 could leak secret technology to other countries, like China, which could have an opportunity to examine it closely.

The US did admit a drone went missing last week.

We will just have to wait for confirmation and, in the meantime, hope it's not the drone.

Know the state bike laws

As the central valley starts to incorporate bicycles and other non-gasoline vehicles into the community, it is important to know the state laws for riding a bike.

http://www.cityofmerced.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=7254

Madera California Seizes Private Property for Christmas

Eminent Domain for west Sixth Street in Madera. Madera just completed installing water meters costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now, the city council wants to tear up that same area and widen the street making West Fourth Street a 4 lane road, so cars can speed along. Madera City Council will have a hearing on Tuesday December 6, 2011 at 6:15 PM at 200 West Fourth Street about the land-snatching proceedings. All interested parties must be present, as this is the only hearing that will be held before the courts hand over the properties.

It is notable that the Madera city council has 2 bankers as members and this is reminiscent of the foreclosure snatching that has pulled the American economy down over the past 5 years.

Residents of the West Fourth Street area say if they can not stop the tearing up of their property, they want the area rezoned for professional offices or commercial C-1. The noise, traffic and accidents will increase. Family pets will be injured and killed by the fast-moving traffic. Air pollution will increase. Many people are fleeing Madera because the city has so many problems and the residents say at least they can make some income from their property once the city makes it less desirable for family residences if the area is appropriately rezoned.

Time for crabs_the edible ones

.
The commercial Dungeness crab season officially began today after central California crab fishermen and seafood processors agreed this morning to a price of $2.25 per pound for the spindly crustaceans.
"We'll have crab on the market by Wednesday or Thursday," said Larry Collins, head of the San Francisco Crab Boat Owners Association. "Get your salt water boiling."

After a record catch in 2010, expectations are high for another strong year. Commercial crab fisherman last year hauled in about 19 million pounds, blowing previous records out of the water.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/28/BAQM1M16HB.DTL#ixzz1f3O3izXS

UC Davis abuses students roaches

I was shocked at how poorly UC Davis treated its own students when they decided to join the 99%ers protest.  On the news I saw the students sitting or crouched down on the ground as a large policeman carrying a large canister of orange mace walked along the student lines spraying them heavily with mace. he was very calm and "matter of fact." The students were only sitting. There was no aggressive movement (or any movement except to escape fumes). The students were coughing. I was taken back to the images of spraying roaches - something you hate and may fear. Does UC Davis consider their students roaches? As they totally disposable? It did not help when the head of the university said she would investigate in her thick German accent. This a throw back to the gassing of the Jews or the tear gassing and shooting of Blacks as they marched for equal rights in the 1960s.
Our universities must teach students how to stand for their beliefs. Gassing and other abuse is totally unacceptable. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!!!

These are our kids and our future leaders. I hope all will carry this memory as a reminder of the misuse of police force by "scary labels" put onto ordinary citizens. The officers falsely claimed they were afraid because they were "surrounded" by activists. Yes, the officer was walking past kids sitting on the ground, immobile, and the officer sprayed them like roaches. Sometimes people do not listen to commands, especially crowds, but macing our sons and daughters in this situation is unbelievable - this was not a prison riot.

I want monster hands and feet

If you are a horror movie fan, you may enjoy bidding on items from an LA area prop house.

Auction time 11AM
Date:	Saturday October 22, 2011
Location:	El Segundo CA, USA 90245
Online Bidding:	http://www.icollector.com/Fangoria-s-Annual-Movie-Prop-Auction_as21162

Dr Murray defense reels in Jackson trial

The Michael Jackson death trial is historic in a very odd way. This is the first trial I have ever heard of where millions are being spent to prove Michael Jackson, a Black male, received poor medical care. Blacks in America are often subject to inferior medical care for various reasons. In this case, everyone is angry that Michael Jackson received inferior care. I'm moved and I think America has graduated to a new level of humanity.
I listened to the trial today, and the Dr. Murray defense team was sent reeling from the numerous accusations of negligence. The story was laid out clearly and I know Dr. Murray was watching his career fly out the courtroom window. Feelings were clear and the medical professionals who testified about the standard of care deviations were adamant that Dr. Murray has no defense in this case and was absolutely the direct cause of Michael Jackson's death.
True, this trial still involves a Black male as the defendant, but to have the State prosecutors advocating that Michael deserved better medical care is historic. It brings a tear to my eye. I hope all minorities will take note and realize that they deserve great medical care too.
Probably the most hurtful testimony against Dr. Murray came from the California Medical Board Medical Review Officer. This person has control of his state medical license and things look grim.
The real zinger of the Jackson case is that Dr Murray could have helped himself and reduced his problems if he had told his girlfriend, who was listening on the phone, to CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY. What a difference that act might have made.
It is a shame that Dr. Murray got caught up in this high finance web of providing medications casually to a suspected drug abuser, Michael. Dr. Murray's talents are needed in many parts of the world and he is highly trained. He just went wild once he entered this world of money and excess. He developed a "big head" and set aside his medical training. I think he is seeing things much more clearly in the courtroom.

Feds approve casinos for 2 Calif. tribes

By SUDHIN THANAWALA Associated Press

Posted: 09/03/2011 11:22:52 AM PDT

Updated: 09/03/2011 04:16:06 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO—The Obama administration has approved casino proposals from two California Native American tribes under a rarely-granted exception to the federal law that prohibits gaming on reservations established after 1988.

The U.S. Department of Interior on Friday approved the Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians' proposed 1,700-machine casino and 170-room hotel near the Northern California city of Marysville and the North Fork Rancheria's 2,500-machine casino and 200-room hotel in the Central Valley city of Madera.

Both the tribes' proposed gaming sites are dozens of miles away from their current reservations and put them closer to urban centers. The Enterprise Rancheria casino would be 40 miles north of Sacramento. The North Fork proposal would put it 30 miles north of Fresno, according to the Department of Interior.

Federal officials said the projects would benefit the tribes economically without hurting the surrounding community.

"Both tribes have historical connections to the proposed gaming sites, and both proposals have strong support from the local community, which are important factors in our review," Larry Echo Hawk, assistant secretary of the interior for Indian Affairs, said in a statement about the decisions.

But Doug Elmets, who represents half a dozen California tribes that already have casinos, said the decision sets a dangerous precedent.

"It's a horrible, flawed policy that is now going to allow tribes to

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build casinos away from their aboriginal territory simply for economic gain," he said. "And probably more importantly, it opens the floodgates of urban gaming throughout California, if not the nation."

Under the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribes can build casinos on reservations that existed before Oct. 17, 1988, but not on lands taken into trust after that date.

The law allows the Secretary of Interior to make an exception in cases where the off-reservation acquisition is in the tribe's best interest and does not hurt the surrounding community.

There have been only a handful of such exceptions granted since 1988, according to Kathryn Rand, co-director of the Institute for the Study of Tribal Gaming Law and Policy at the University of North Dakota.

Rand said Friday's decisions by the Obama administration reflect a change in the federal government's approach to off-reservation gaming from the Bush administration.

The Bush Interior Department in 2008 all but ruled out approval of tribal casinos that are not within commuting distance of reservations. It rejected applications from more than 20 tribes, including one for a casino 1,400 miles from the reservation.

"The Bush administration was leaning in the direction that distance mattered more than anything else," Rand said.

Distance from the reservation remains a factor for the Obama White House, she said. The Interior Department on Friday also rejected a casino proposal from the Pueblo of Jemez, which had proposed a casino on land close to El Paso, Texas, nearly 300 miles from its reservation in New Mexico. Federal officials cited concerns about the tribe's ability to oversee land that was so far away. Tribal officials have said they are reviewing their options.

But Rand said overall, the administration appeared to be taking a more pragmatic, case-by-case approach.

The Enterprise Rancheria and North Fork Rancheria proposals are now before California Gov. Jerry Brown, who has one year to decide whether to approve them. The projects would also need state legislative approval, according to Charles Banks-Altekruse, a spokesman for the tribes.

"We're confident that the governor shares our goal of bringing jobs and business opportunity and community investment to California," Banks-Altekruse said.

Evan Westrup, a spokesman for Brown, said the governor will review the decisions in the months ahead.

"Each proposal will be assessed individually, and our office will continue to engage all stakeholders to ensure the interests of the tribes, local communities and the people of California are all considered," he said.

The Interior Department on Friday also rejected a casino proposal from the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians, which had sought a gaming facility in the San Francisco Bay area city of Richmond, more than 100 miles from its existing tribal lands.

The Guidiville proposal already appeared to have been scuttled earlier this year when the Richmond City Council rejected it.

The Interior Department said in its decision that Guidiville did not have a modern connection or a significant historical connection to the proposed site.

A call to a tribal spokesman on Saturday was not immediately returned.

Tim Trumbull Electric, Madera, CA charged $105.00 to replace one fuse (which I provided). A ten minute visit. I consider this excessive and warn you to look elsewhere for an electrician If you do not want to pay excessive prices

CHOWCHILLA  HITS BOTTOM AND DEFAULTS ON LOANS

Chowchilla defaults on bond payment for new government building. As Chowchilla heads towards bankruptcy, the city promises to dig into reserves to pay missed payment with penalty fees. Years of neglect by state officials, including then State Senator Denham have led to the pitiful state of financial affairs.

CSBA NEEDS TO REDUCE EXPENSES NOW


Scott Plotkin, 57, the executive director of the California School Boards Association (CSBA), a educational non-profit, was paid $516,517 in 2008 and $452,339 in 2009 after receiving sizable bonuses and other compensation.

Plotkin was CSBA's executive director for nine years. Prior to CSBA, he worked for the California State University system and was a consultant for the state Senate Committee on Education.
Plotkin retired under fire Sept. 1st with a $43,000 severance payment, Plotkin now draws $205,000 annually from his California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) pension . He is receiving $17,089 monthly from CalPERS. Plotkin's salary was spiked during his last three years to increase his retirement payouts.

In addition, Mr. Plotkin illegally used his CSBA administrative credit card to take $10,000 cash advances at various casinos on multiple occasions. A full revelation of CSBA credit card abuse was never made public.
CSBA Chief Deputy Executive Director Jeff Vaca is serving as interim executive director. Tax filings show Vaca earned $180,700 in 2009.

CSBA lobbies on behalf of school boards, provides trustees with professional development acts a resource on policy and legal issues, and holds annual state-wide meetings.
CSBA receives much of its funding from membership dues and other fees paid by publicly funded California school districts and county offices of education. In essence, when our schools run out of money, CSBA dues and fees are part of the reason and you and I must pay more via tax increases.
CSBA needs to repair its reputation and become financially responsible. This is our money they are wasting. CSBA needs to cut salaries, bonuses and benefits. CSBA even filed a lawsuit against the state of California demanding more money to schools and claiming money mismanagement by the state.
As for CalPERS,Plotkin is entitled to up to a 2% COLA every year. This means his first COLA in May 2012 will add an additional $350 a month to his pension, and he will be getting 2% increases every year for the rest of his life.
California has over $500 billion in unfunded retirement benefits now and this abuse of the California retirement system needs to be corrected immediately. Plotkin should have a cap on his retirement benefits at the level of $150,000. Fiscal responsibility has to be the new rule in California

GOODWIN'S LAW - Loraine Goodwin

On September 3, 2009 I wrote a letter to the Madera Tribune protesting the State Parole Board's refusal to parole inmate Susan Atkins, even though she was bedridden and in-and-out of consciousness during the parole hearing. Thankfully the Madera Tribune printed my letter advocating Medical Parole. Thanks to the letter, the advocacy was picked up in the state legislature and signed into law on September 28th by the governor. Medical Parole will save the state many millions, possibly billions, and put a dent in our state $19.1 billion deficit. Personally, I'm calling it "Goodwin's Law" because it's harder to get a law passed when your not even in the state legislature. Medical Parole should also be known as "Goodwin's Law" because all California residents benefit by reducing inmate end-of-life state expenses, hence a "good win" for all residents. We have a $19.1 billion state deficit and a $500 billion state retirement shortfall. Every savings helps.

Loraine Goodwin
Candidate Congress CD 19


THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE YOU PUBLISHED IN 2009:


9/03/2009
PAROLE BOARD DECIDES
It is clear the California Parole Board has no fiscal responsibility when they decide parole issues. In the recent case of inmate Sharon Atkins, the Parole Board had an opportunity to cut thousands of dollars in costs to an already broken correctional budget. Instead, the parole board chose to forge ahead.
Susan Atkins appeared before the parole board Wednesday for a Compassionate Release Hearing. The hearing took about 7 hours according to news reporters. Susan was incarcerated around 40 years ago for brutally stabbing an actress after breaking into her home. A horrible crime that deserves a life, if not a death, sentence. Now, years later, inmate Atkins is unable to walk and can hardly speak. She has terminal brain cancer and, by news reports, can not move 85% of her body. Custody officers wheeled inmate Atkins into the Parole Hearing on a gurney, she can not sit in a wheelchair.
During the hearing, the family of the slain actress stressed that society would not be safe if this inmate was paroled and that inmate Atkins deserved to die in prison. I understand the family’s statements.
However, it is the duty of the Parole Board to put the whole picture together and do what is best for society and the correctional system. Realistically, this inmate is not going to terrorize society if paroled. She can’t move. Pictures of inmate Atkins at the hearing showed her appearing to doze off during the hearing. She certainly appeared terminal.
So, what is the risk if inmate Atkins is paroled? As I see it, none to society. She has a husband. He could provide end-of-life care – but I doubt he would commit crimes because she was paroled.
What does the state gain or lose by paroling inmate Atkins? Mainly, they lose additional medical costs. Her medications, nursing, hospital trips, special custody costs and special correctional housing in the skilled nursing facility add many thousands of dollars per week to the correctional budget. Since the governor is trying to squeeze financial savings for the state budget, this is an area that needs to be re-evaluated.
Loraine Goodwin, MD, JD
MUSD Trustee
Candidate Congress CD 19