This is a profile piece about wealthy communities in Southern California. It contrasts and compares independent school districts from LAUSD. Many parents are abandoning public school and taking their resources with them. One high median income community is the exception.
http://www.examiner.com/x-5067-LA-School-District-Examiner~y2009m3d24-Many-California-parents-will-abandon-public-schools--but-not-all
UTLA, the LA teachers' union, has been under fire for failing to reform antequated contract provisions. What do you think about my review of Steve Lopez' article from the LA Times? It's a call to the unions to reform.
http://www.examiner.com/x-5067-LA-School-District-Examiner~y2009m3d25-UTLA-under-fire--the-LA-Times-is-now-on-board
aWESOME. WOW! - this is not regarding what was said (haven't even gotten there yet!) - it was about BEING INVITED! By the WHITE HOUSE. (I have always seen me in comoparison to the national scene as a small fish in a GARGANTUAN pond. I can't even remember the last important person I SAW, much less MET. While I have heartily believed in Obama's message since I first read stuff over a year ago, I never expected THE WHITE HOUSE to contact.... ME!
And the way that I got "connected" with the White House totally indicates the power in the ability to change things. A year ago, in the 'disabilities' groups that I had found here and joined, besides discussing issues, points of view, how the campaign was going - some folks were actively trying to get the campaign to change "disabilities" from ISSUES to PEOPLE. It was not a simple task - and I am definitely not claiming any accolades in its' ultimate success. But succeed it did! Which goes to show you that Obama et al is truly about CHANGE.
Fast forward a few months. Kareem Dale joined the discussions, had a blog which focused on disability-related issues. He is an attorney who is visually impaired, and is from Chicago. He became the campaigns coordinator/ person in charge for disabiliy policies. I had written him a few times - asking questions - commenting, etc. And he took the time to respond.
I didn't continue to email him (that was last summer) but every once in awhile I got an email from him (group email)........................... Fast forward about 8 months. I get a quick email from him - I am INVITED to attend the town hall meeting in LA! INVITED! INVITED!!
Wow, this little fish in the gargantuan pond somehow was significant enough to merit such an honor. So I went and got the ticket - I was number5! The thing was worth GOLD (which I don't have!)
I couldn't sleep the night before. It was surreal - going from obscure anonymity to being important enough to get INVITED!
I sat in the third row (wore red so you can find me!).
Now the reason I sat so close is "interesting". I have a hearing impairment and wear aides. While I can clearly undwerstand normal speech up close, I need hearing aides to hear softer voices, higher female voices, etc. And hearing aides are notoriously bad in crowds. Analog aides ($900 each) don't discern which sound is important and which sound is not - it magnifies everything.
So I asked a volunteer about assisted listening devices (ALD). I can get them when I go to the theater. Took awhile, and a Whitye House staffer came and APOLOGIZED to me - they didn't have any. I am guessing that perhaps no one has ever asked for them before (weird, because many people wear aides and probably hear things like me). She mentioned something reL ASL interpreter as an accommodation - but that is for people who USE IT. Many others with hearing loss do not.
A LAUSD representative came (I had suggested they contact the site to see whether they had anything) - the lady never came back so I assume they had nothing.
Now I can't recite the ADA verbatim, but I do think there is something in there about "accommodations". To "accommodate" one needs to know WHO needs accommodations. I don't think this is a daunting task since there are any number of disability-focused groups out there who would be more than willing to help identify necessary accommodations. Like wheelchair access (done), ASL (done). Am I the only person with a hearing impairment who wears analog aides and has the same auditory crowd scene experience? Since I was told this by the audiologist who fitted me with aides, he probably told other people. So, logically, this should not be some deep dark unknown. But then I *AM* that small fish in the GARGANTUAN pond and maybe my section of the pond is "different". (???)
SO.... I could hear the speakers at the podium clearly (duh! 3rd row). But when Obama walked over to one side - things got harder to understand. And the questions - I basically hadn't a clue as to what anyone said. I could only guess the question's intent via Obama's answer. I *KNOW* I understand much better via ALD (I use one with the TV!)
Well, I emailed my concern to Mr. Dale. He is now Special counsel to the President on Disability Policy. (Think that is the whole title). I think he'd be the one to logically check this thing out, and maybe fix it.
But hey ... the ADA is not new. Didn't Clinto n sign it? That's a long time ago! And you mean that every time a President had a meeting with the public (or even a meeting, PERIOD) and no ALD's were available ... does that mean that government workers, by default, have perfect hearing ... or am I the only one? I just can't fathom the White House missing this. I wonder about stage theaters - can a ticket holder get an ALD to isten to the Broadway play?
Oh heck... I have a rare congenital syndrome (Moebius syndrome - congenital oculofacial paralysis). In other words, the Secret Service men on duty have the same smile that I do. Soooo... when I was raising my hand like everybody else, I wonder if Obama maybe saw/though - "no smile ... weird ... nah..." (not that blunt but you get the idea). I also observed that media really look for attractive people (and black people - I am *NOT* denigrating race here AT ALL - my point is that by focusing on black people so much, they keep the race issue there, when it seems the issues of the day are economy, health, education... Maybe they are looking for stories their viewers want (well, duh! if they changed what they were looking for - their story - the people who watch would still watch!!!)
In summary (ha! look how long this is!) - Obama was great. He is so NORMAL. There are not enough keystrokes to write the positive stuff I feel for him and his plans. And there are issues that still need resolution. And, having seen the Obama machine work this past year - things will get worked out.
YES WE CAN!
I wanted the world to know Obama made many people believe...
My Story is about my Queen and and her friend.
My Queen of 4 years, wanted to vote and support the change, and become a part of history. He had never voted in her 32 years on earth, as well as I.
But this year she would do so...
I pushed Obama's Message of change to her daily, she then started to beleive, she went out to vote, got rejected by two voting places because of the ignorance of the voting polls operaters. I went to the internet for her answer, and it revealed that she needed a provisional ballet to vote outside her regien, I sent her a text messge to her Metro PCS phone, and gave her the power of knowlege, I then turned to lavote.net for a voting pole location close to her, shot out another text "while I was at home watching the Election day on my 47inch plasma "which gave me a diverse pool of updated information"
She was able to vote around 7:15pm pacific standard time.
She met with a friend who did not want to vote saying Obama is losing and my vote will not count.
"She got on her phone and called until her friend picked up the phone" She met up with her and she voted as well.
at the end, her friend said thank you for making me vote "My vote really did count!"
My Queenwas very exicited about voting for Obama, and she said with so much pride and happiness "THANK YOU THANK MY VOTE REALLY DID COUNT I DID IT!"
All around the City people now feel that the system works, and their voices will be heard, History has been made, and the American people is coming closer, to that more perfect union.
CHANGE IS REAL AND IT STARTS WITH ALL OF US BELEIVING THAT ONE MAN CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
3D: The Digital Developer
OpEdNews has been the site of choice to post the growing list of major and minor newspaper endorsements for Obama. The Editorials are quoted generally in full, with interspliced commentaries from major editors and commentators, explaining what is behind the Editorials.
Part I Obama's Editorial Endorsements: including Washington Post, Fidel Castro, Richard Lugar, Chuck Hagel, & more!
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-s-Endorsements-The-by-Stephen-Fox-081016-633.html
*******
Part II Editorial Page Endorsements of Obama Denver Post, Chicago Tribune, San Francsico Chronicle, Los Angeles Times
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Editorial-Page-Endorsement-by-Stephen-Fox-081017-544.html
********
Part III New Endorsements: Salt Lake City Tribune, Bangor and Brunswick, Maine, Philadelphia, Miami, Portland, Kansas City
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Endorsements-Salt-Lake-Ci-by-Stephen-Fox-081018-476.html
More Obama Endorsements IV: Sacramento, Katie Couric, Malaysia, Houston Chronicle, Detroit, Waco Tx (sort of)
http://www.opednews.com/articles/More-Obama-Endorsements-IV-by-Stephen-Fox-081019-492.html
I had thought about creating a blog on the Obama website for at least a couple weeks now; I just never got around to it. So, in the final 4 weeks until Election Day, and probably in the days after, I will be sharing my thoughts. What better time to start, than on the day of the 2nd Presidential debate? I find this to be the most interesting presidential election in my lifetime. I've been watching these "debates" in anticipation the same way I'd watch a major basketball game or HBO boxing event. I've been somewhat surprised and ecstatic that Obama seems to not only be maintaining a sizeable lead in the national polls, but particularily in the electoral map. And even more pleasantly surprising is his wide-margin leads in traditional red states like Virginia.
I will catch up on a few things that is probably considered "old news" by now:
I'm always going to insert my a photo and/or video in each of my entries...
Video: Where Change Happens
This Saturday, September 27th, please join us at the grand opening of the South Los Angeles Obama for America Campaign Office.
Meet campaign staff and fellow supporters in the area, and learn how you can volunteer for the campaign. There are only a few more weeks until the election and we need your help.
5444 Crenshaw Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90043
9:00AM - 10:30AM Rally 10:30AM - 3:00PM Get Involved with the Campaign!
RSVP today
General Office Hours are Monday-Friday 9AM - 9PM. Saturday and Sunday 10AM - 8PM. Please stop by anytime to volunteer for phonebanking or data entry (bring a cell phone and laptop if you have one!)
We also need volunteers to help us staff our office. We're looking for Volunteer Coordinators, Data Managers, Phone Bank Coordinators, Front Desk Managers and Office Managers. If you can make a commitment to join us for at least 16 hours a week in 4 hour shifts, please email Lauren Brown at lbrown@obamaca.com.
This is my web video contribution to the Obama/Biden ticket for the Presidency of These United States. As a Gay Activist, and out and about freelance photo/video journalist/reporter/writer, I am doing everything I CAN to win over the people of both of my communities, to vote Obama/Biden. When I say both of my communities, what I mean is, being Gay, I belong to the GLBTQA community, which is diverse, and does have some population centers in the city, such as West Hollywood, but many are widely spread all over the city in widely different locations, this is why the internet is an ideal way to contact the GLNTQA community, who largely, are not concentrated in a specific locale. My second community, is of course, the actual physical locale in which I live, the Westlake/McArthur park area of Loa Angeles, which is mostly Spanish speaking newly arrived immigrants. These are MY PEOPLE too, so, I belong to two communities, one which has a physical location, and one which does not.
Please use the following link, to view my video commentary, on why I, as a gay man, a gay parent, a gay family person, am voting Obama/Biden, and my effort, to convince the other members of the GLBTQA community to vote with us. (FYI, GLBTQA = Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and Accepting Persons, it is the anacronym commonly adopted by most of us to describe ourselves.)
And Also, I need some assistance as to how, I can link this video into the Obama web sites, so it gets a greater viewing audiance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0Xtj7n9cLQ
Thank you all...
Love First, Love Always, Love ONLY
David Lee Frater
The Free Cuba Film Series creates global unity.
The American public continues to speak out, wanting to see Cuba.
10 New screening locations in one week and growing fast!
Premiering tomorrow, Saturday, September 6th at 6PM in
Beverly Hills, CA - Fine Arts Theatre -
Journalist and other members of the media are speaking out for Max Lesnik,
the focus of the documentary "The Man of Two Havana's" in the Free Cuba Films Series.
Mr. Lesnik had lived his journalistic career with death threats, political warfare
and multiple bombing against his Magazine, family and his life.
All simply because he spoke/speaks out for America uniting with Cuba verse avoiding our neighbors.
"It's overwhelming clear the majority of the American population wants to unite with Cuba."
Filmmaker Luis Moro.
The first film in the series is, Cuba's Love and Suicide, a true love story set in Havana;
the second film, Havana KidZ, is the kid's version of Buena Vista Social Club;
the third film, The Man of Two Havana's, delivers true accounts of the direct family relationship between
U.S. politicians, Cuban-American terrorist and Fidel Castro.
The evening is an entertaining, uplifting and an educationally revealing experience.
The films bring audiences into the real Cuba with their own eyes.
Title : Los Angeles City Declares, “Building Walls Builds Communities !!!”News Item : Los Angeles Rampart, Police Station Grand Opening CeremonyDate/Time : 09:00 AM, Thursday, September 4th 2008From : David Lee Frater, CEO, Shooting-Star Productions, Freelance Photo Journalist, Reporter and WriterRelease : Free Press Release, no compensation required for publication, but heck, if your paper, publication or enterprise wants to send me five bux, hey, that's five bux more in my pocket than I have now.Copyrights : Free Press Publication Release, NO COMPENSATION IS REQUIREDLA City Leaders Declare "Building Walls Builds Better Communities !!!"Thursday, September the 4th, 2008, a day that shall live in infamy. On the very day of the anniversary of the City of Los Angeles was incorporated, the very birthday of this city, or, more correctly, by it's original name, “Le Pueblos De Los Angeles”, or, in English, “The Village Of The Angeles”. The civic leaders of this city, declared their intention to “Build Walls To Build Better Communities”.The symbolic reference of the wall they spoke of, is a two foot thick steel re-enforced concrete wall that is a major architectural component of the latest high tech, automated, computer controlled, over priced and excessively flamboyant Public “Robo-Building” ever constructed in the city of Los Angeles with public funds. The grand opening of the latest scandal of over spending by the city council, and it's esteemed Mayor, the opening of the new “Police Palace”, Located at the new home of the Rampart Division of the LAPD, at: 1401 West 6th Street, Los Angeles California, USA 90017, (213) 484-3400. And should ALL READERS, perchance, happen to call that police station several times a DAY and FLOOD their phone lines with idiotic questions such as, “Is it legal to sell ice cream on the streets in the Rampart Division Area?”, well, might that non violent activist voluntary peoples protest send a message to these city officials, and the PompousLAPD Police Palaces as well?At a time when this city is plagued with rapidly declining property values, impacting on property tax income, with property developers going bankrupt over the sudden loss of property values, an ever escalating unemployment rate and the ever escalating cost of energy, this cities civic leaders ”plan” to correct a bankrupt city is to SPEND itself out of bankruptcy. Does this seem like an odd economic plan to anyone else out there? Or is this the “New-World”, “New-Order”, “New-Economy” solution proposed by all overspending, fat, sassy, overfed, self inflated city officials in this country, the “politically correct” solution to all our economic and social problems???... SPEND, SPEND, SPEND, SPEND... The Holy Dollar CURES ALL EVIL !!! Damn the bankruptcy lawyers !!! Damn the Economists !!! Damn the Financial Advisers !!! Full SPEND AHEAD !!!Somebody far smarter than me, needs to explain to me, HOW, spending MORE money on unnecessary police facilities, during economically challenged times, some how “creates jobs”, “increases community”, and “makes everything better for everyone”, during a time when the economy is in a tailspin, property values are falling below the basement, and unemployment rates are going sky high above the clouds, all over the country. Please explain to this simpleton man, who only has a slightly above average IQ, how this can possibly work?The very ground upon which this monument to civic mis-management has been built, is the very same hallowed ground, that once held an emergency receiving building of the Good Samaritan Hospital of Los Angeles. That spot, that very SPOT, is where Robert “Bobby” Kennedy was initially taken to, when he was shot in the lobby of the Ambassador hotel. That ground is HOLY GROUND, it can, and may very well, contain the blood of our forefathers, who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. Upon this sacred ground, which should be a monument to the KENNEDY FAMILY, a MONUMENT to our beloved “BOBBY KENNEDY”, and NOT A MONUMENT TO INCOMPETENCE, is where this Police Palace stands today. They bulldozed it, over the very blood of Bobby Kennedy's last heartbeats. And what did they do with that holy ground? They built an overpriced, over complicated, techno robo-building police station.They did not build a day care center for low income working class children, they did not build an emergency medical clinic for the working poor, they did not fund a food co-op for the hungry, they did not build anything Bobby would have approved of. They built a monument to oppressive government itself, in the reflection of their own vile images.Congratulations city leaders of “Le Pueblos De Los Angeles”, you have now lost the respect of your own family names.What an affront to the memory of Bobby Kennedy !!! He was a liberal progressive, and NOT a dictator usurping the income of the working classes. What an affront to the legacy of his family !!! What an INSULT TO THE PEOPLE OF “Le Pueblos De Los Angeles”!!! These people ARE this cities LIVING Angels, ONE AND ALL. Except for this cities city council, who have shown themselves to the general public to be the incarnation of “Los Diablos”, the Living Devils. The military police department of this city, who seem to think that spending over 20% of the total cities gross income on the police department is not nearly enough, and it MUST be DOUBLED in the next few years, increasing that economic burden to over 40% of the total city income, seems to think that the solution to all socio-economic problems of any community is MORE GUNS ON THE STREETS, MORE POLICE, MORE BULLETS, MORE ARRESTS, MORE POLICE STATIONS, MORE JAILS, to the point of absolute economic collapse of the entire Greater Los Angeles Area. These “leaders” are strangling all money out of the budget for ANYTHING other than the POLICE !!! Agenda items such as.... low income housing for the low income working poor, or, affordable health care for their children, are being cut down to NOTHING in the city budget in favor of ever more and more money on more and more unnecessary city and police employees, buildings, facilities and other related government services, LEAVING NOTHING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PAY THEM THEIR SALARIES !!!Does the word NAZI, ring a bell in any ones mind?SHAME ON THE CIVIC “LEADERS” OF LA !!!SHAME, SHAME, SHAME !!!You have done more than insult the legacy of the Kennedy's, you have committed the crime of deliberate gross incompetence upon your honest hard working tax paying citizens of this City of the Angels !!!This is an OPEN PLEA, an OPEN REQUEST, to the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT of these UNITED STATES, that the City of the Angeles, Los Angeles, or, “Le Pueblos De Los Angeles”, has become so corrupt, so vile, so oppressive, as to require a FEDERAL INVESTIGATION into all of this cities officials, policies, their budgets, their salaries, their “expenses”, programs and agendas. This City of the Angels, is so badly infested with self serving corrupt persons who are so powerful locally, that we, here, cannot correct this problem on the power of our own resources. WE MUST HAVE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE to rid this city of these cancers, and there are many cancers here. PLEASE, PLEASE, in the NAME OF GOD, For the SAKE OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY, these actions must be audited by an unbiased FEDERAL AUTHORITY. For like, Chicago, in the days of AL Capone, we are under such a corrupt regime that we cannot break free of the power they hold here amongst the working people. We need the help of the rest of this nations citizens, we need THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT to investigate, we need their guidance, the Devil has come home to roost and rule in the Village of the Angels, and the real Angels here, the common people, have no power to stop him, for they are Angels, and not Devils, and cannot in their hearts do evil to anyone, not even the guilty.
It clear now, that this nation, this ENTIRE NATION must change all the ways it does it's daily political business!!! From which person, which canidate, will this necessary change come from? The Republican canidates, who will, without a doubt, continue on with old policies that do not work, or, The Obama agenda?
I think the choice is clear, very clear, WE MUST HAVE REFORM NOW !!!
GoTellMama! I'm for Obama art show comes to Los Angeles. This is the second stop on the national general election GOT NEXT TOUR 'o8 Art Series - A traveling art exhibition + installation of Barack Obama inspired art work exhibiting in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Austin, Atlanta, Chicago and New York.
Opening Reception: Friday, August 8th, 2008 5-10PM Show continues through Sunday, August 10th. with DJs JEREMY SOLE (KCRW, Musaics, Afro Funke') ALFRED HAWKINS (Firecraker) Drinks courtesy of STARR African Rum HVW8 Art + Design Gallery 661 N. Spaulding Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 www.gallery.hvw8.com GoTellMama! Brought to you by CRO www.gotellmama.org
