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San Francisco Mayor Makes His Points in Santa Barbara
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom stopped in Santa Barbara on Friday evening to host one of a series of town hall meetings the declared candidate for governor is holding throughout California.
Before an enthusiastic crowd at the Veterans Memorial Building, 112 W. Cabrillo Blvd., the Democrat discussed health care, education and green technology. He reviewed his track record on those matters back in San Francisco, asked the audience for its input, and invited everyone to join him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
“Today we have an estimate of anywhere from 6.5 (million) to 7.2 million people who have no basic health care — more than any other state in the nation,” he said as he promoted his vision for universal health care. “I don’t think it can be done; I know it can be done.”
In 2006, Newsom negotiated a universal health-care package for uninsured San Francisco residents that, he said, is based on universal access to health care, not insurance, and with an eye toward promoting good health as opposed to treating sickness. An estimated 73,000 residents are eligible for the Healthy San Francisco program administered by the city’s Department of Public Health.
Newsom, 41, also discussed his stance on education, calling it the most important issue in the country.
“It transcends all our issues,” he said. “You cannot have an economic development strategy or a recovery strategy unless you have a workforce development strategy.”
He touched on the notion of training newly laid-off workers in new technologies, the rising cost of higher education, reduced UC enrollments as a result of state budget pressures, and $8.2 million in other education spending cuts to help balance California’s budget.
“Human capital is the most precious resource, in my perspective, that the state of California enjoys,” he said. “Yet we’re losing our ability to train and recruit and invest in people.”
One of the things San Francisco has done, Newsom said, is to commit to funding K-12 arts education. Additionally, in a program that encompasses both health care and education, wellness centers have been established at schools to monitor both the physical and mental health needs of adolescents.
Furthermore, he emphasized the need for early childhood education.
“Look, if you want to get serious about truancy, get serious about dropouts, get serious about graduation rates, get serious about the achievement gap for African-Americans and Latinos, you’ve got to focus on getting our kids prepared for kindergarten,” he said. San Francisco, said Newsom, is the only city in the state that has a fully funded universal preschool.
On the issue of energy and the environment, Newsom said the next 15-20 years are crucial for policymakers.
“We’ve got to reduce our CO2 emissions 80 percent by 2050,” he said. However, it is possible to meet and even exceed state-mandated green standards, said Newsom, adding that “the bar is extraordinarily low.”
San Francisco aspires to a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2012, said Newsom, who touted his city’s “aggressive” green building standards and alternative fuel strategies, and its 70 percent recycling rate.
His “dream and vision,” he said, would be to shut down all of California’s offshore drilling.
“I don’t care if gas is $35,” said Newsom. “I don’t believe in it principally because I believe in the technologies and the innovation, and I believe in the imperative to shift our industrial economy to a more green, more sustainable economy.” Energy projects in the Bay Area include a wave platform and a tidal project, he said.
Outside of his big three, Newsom also discussed the notion of indexing the minimum wage for inflation, and asserted that California should support employers who provide a living wage as much as possible.
“If we’re going to use our taxpayer dollars, we want to make sure you’re providing adequate resources to your employees, because otherwise, we’re going to be providing dollars on the front end and again on the back end,” he said, referring to state-sponsored services for those who cannot support themselves on their wages.
Newsom also touched on the need he saw for an overhaul of the governance system, to change the way money is acquired and spent by government.
“You can change the Constitution in the state of California to strip rights away from a protected class with 50 percent of the vote plus one but it takes two-thirds to pass a budget,” he said. “How perverse is that?”
Newsom also called for a new economic stimulus strategy, especially in light of California’s bond rating, now the lowest of any state. California’s general-obligation bond rating was lowered Thursday to A from Standard & Poor’s and Fitch and A2 from Moody’s — just days before the state is to re-enter the market to sell $4 billion in bonds in an attempt to restart construction projects that were halted in December during the budget crisis.
Focusing on local issues like mental health services, Newsom talked about the May 19 special election in which voters will decide on the suspension of funds from Proposition 63 to help balance the state budget. Prop. 10 funds, which go to early education, also stand to be suspended.
“I wish I had a quick answer for you what we’re going to do about it,” he said in reply to a question posed by Roger Thompson, head of the Consumer Advocacy Coalition. A strategy, he said, might be to rely on more faith-based or community-based organizations as California weathers its latest budget storm.
The election to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is more than a year away, but already the race is in full swing. In addition to Newsom, among those in the mix for Democrats are state Attorney General and former Gov. Jerry Brown, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, state Superintendent of Public Instruction and former Santa Barbara Assemblyman Jack O’Connell and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is also considered to be weighing a run. On the Republican side are former Rep. Tom Campbell, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman.
Click here for additional California political coverage and commentary from calbuzz.
Click here for additional photo coverage of the Newsom town hall session from Robert Bernstein.
— Noozhawk staff writer Sonia Fernandez can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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» on 03.21.09 @ 03:08 AM
Whether you like it or not.
» on 03.21.09 @ 04:39 AM
Excellent coverage Sonia. Who is this Justin Michael mayor candidate I’m being compared to in Santa Barbara? When I was speaking yesterday in SB I heard a 29 year old local is running for Mayor of SB. That’s fantastic! - G.N.
» on 03.21.09 @ 07:00 AM
Does everyone like my impersonation of Gavin Newsom?
At least I spelled his name correctly instead of my first error yesterday not knowing how to spell Kettman(n)‘s name.
These unverified commenting names are fantastic! -J.M.
» on 03.21.09 @ 09:27 AM
This is a guy that I’d rather not have reaching into my pockets. There doesn’t seem to be any program that he isn’t in favor of as long as someones else is paying for it.
» on 03.21.09 @ 10:51 AM
All Flash and no Substance! Kinda of insulting to have him at the Vets Building.
» on 03.21.09 @ 11:00 AM
Thank God my house closed escrow last week in Santa Barbara. Although I wish I had sold 2 years ago, just knowing that I got my house sold before Newson gets in is a huge relief. Is there any tax he does not support?? I wish Sacramento and Washington D.C. would spread my work ethic around instead of my money.
Newson truly will be the death of the late, great State of California.
» on 03.21.09 @ 11:55 AM
Perhaps the Justin Michael comparison is appropriate.
Did Fernandez mention Gavin Newsom losing his wife and family, when he borrowed his best friend/campaign manager’s wife, as his reward for getting elected?
Did she note the advisers and cabinet officials in San Francisco who have had to step down from important posts due to their ethical and legal lapses?
Like so many ambitious politicians, many of Newsom’s campaign promises to the
voters who elected him mayor are as unfulfilled as Villaraigosa’s down in LA. These
guys are always swimming upstream, toward that next, bigger paycheck, whether
they’ve actually followed through with successful programs to match their press
releases, or not.
Fortunately, it looks like California, for all its budget problems, will not lack for
interesting candidates. So, keep your eyes open, and ask tough questions, before
committing your support too soon to any of these folks.
» on 03.21.09 @ 12:26 PM
Obama + Newsom + Michael. Three empty suits all built on image and hype at all levels of government. Can’t wait to vote.
» on 03.21.09 @ 03:20 PM
Sure that’s what we need - old sanctuary city Newsom to turn it into a sanctuary state for sure.
» on 03.21.09 @ 04:34 PM
Finally, the time has arrived to fix Americas Healthcare crisis, and Americas healthcare nightmare. Hundreds of thousands of you are killed needlessly every year by your healthcare delivery system in a rush to profit. And because of a rush to profit Hundreds of thousands more of you are needlessly dying from treatable illness that people in other developed and civilized countries don’t DIE! from. Rich, middle class, and poor alike. Insured, and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies.
Additionally, thousands more of you are driven into financial ruin, and bankruptcy just because you, or one of your loved ones got sick or injured. And all of this is happening at a time when America spends twice as much of it’s GDP (Gross Domestic Productivity) on health care than any other country in the developed world. Individual Americans spend about ten times as much on health care as any other people in the developed world. This is a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. AND IT MUST END!
But before we can truly fix this healthcare crisis and disgrace, everyone needs to clearly understand what the problem is. And everyone needs to clearly understand the real enormity of the problem. The problem is that HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY IN AMERICA IS SEVERELY CORRUPTED AND COMPROMISED BY GREED! AND THE PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MOTIVE. And it is corrupted, and compromised IN EVERY ASPECT, AND EVERY PLACE OF HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL DELIVERY. Unfortunately for all Americans, compromised healthcare ALWAYS results in needless suffering, injury, disability, and or death. Which is exactly what is happening now in America in shocking numbers.
Health care is NOT! a private for profit business. Healthcare is an essential public service. Like police, and fire. And healthcare is also a human right! PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTHCARE IS AN OXYMORON, AND AN IMMORAL AND UNETHICAL PERVERSION OF HEALTHCARE AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
So how do we fix this healthcare disgrace? I believe the fix for Americas healthcare disaster is essentially the same thing that every other developed country in the World has essentially done. “NOT FOR PROFIT, TAX PAYER SUPPORTED, SINGLE PAYER, AUTOMATIC, FREE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE FOR ALL. Essentially HR676 (enhanced, and expanded medicare for all). Just like every other CIVILIZED! country in the developed World has. There is no other way to truly fix and reform our current disastrous healthcare delivery system.
All Universal health care systems work best when everyone participates. But I know that the healthcare lobby, and some politicians will try and undermine “Not For Profit, Tax payer supported, Single payer, Automatic, Free Universal Healthcare for all” by falsely claiming that it will limit your choice, and require you to participate.
So, I propose that everyone be included in the national plan unless they choose to opt out. If you opt out and need medical care the national plan will insure your provider that they will be reimbursed under the rules for members in the national plan. But those who opted out, and their insurer will be responsible for the FULL! cost to the national plan for providing your care if you or your private insurer fails to reimburse the provider or the national plan in a timely manor to at least the standards of the national plan.
Including reporting you to credit agencies, withholding of taxes, leans, and garnishment of wages for unpaid medical bills. Just like you have now under private for profit healthcare, and private for profit health insurance.
Further, people who opted out will be required to provide proof of financial responsibility for future illness or be required to participate in the national plan. And everyone with children will be required to participate in the national plan. Or provide proof of insurance coverage on each child to the standards of the national plan. It will be against the law to report anyone in the national plan to a credit agency for unpaid medical bills.
Frankly, only a dope would want to opt out of the national plan and opt to keep our current disastrous private for profit medical, and insurance plans. But they will be free to choose. The most important thing is that the vast majority of Americans that want the protection, benefits, and higher quality of a universal national plan have that choice.
You see, one of the most important aspects of a universal healthcare system is easy access, and patient protection. This is accomplished by having a single payer without a conflict of interest in patient care. And by having a payer who has the power to enforce minimum standards of excellence in healthcare delivery for everyone in the plan. This is much of what Medicare does now for senors. “Aeger Primo” (The patient comes first). Unfortunately in our healthcare system the patient comes last. We are just a peace of meat to them. Cash cows to be slaughtered for profit.
So this is IT! my fellow Americans, My fellow human beings, My fellow World Citizens. And my fellow Cyber Warriors. :-) The time has come. D day. H hour. HEALTHCARE REFORM THIS YEAR! Let no one stand in our way. Contact your representative and tell them you want “Not For Profit, Tax Payer Supported, Single Payer, Automatic, Free Universal healthcare for all. And tell them you want that choice now. Tell them you want President Obama’s budget passed without delay. President Obama’s budget is brilliant. And exactly what is needed now.
President Obama, and his allies will need all the support you can give them. The healthcare lobby will try to take out his people if they can, like they did with Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer. And they will try to neutralize President Obama’s popularity, and political power. Or they will try to take him down someway. Don’t stand for it. If they attack him. Go after them ten times harder and remove them from office. We had an election. And you the people chose President Obama’s leadership, and change agenda. Let no one in government disrespect the will of the American people and remain in office.
Let’s get this healthcare reform done now my fellow Americans. This year. Take no prisoners.
God Bless All Of You
Jack Smith — Working Class :-)
http://jacksmithworkingclass.blogspot.com/
(http://jacksmithworkingclass.blogspot.com/)
» on 03.21.09 @ 07:26 PM
Oh my God. Speaking of San Francisco, it was interesting to note that while most new-release DVDs in Blockbuster were rented out on a Saturday night, the vast majority of Penn’s “Milk” were stranded, unrented. Have we-the-people have finally realized that giving away our state to sap-sucking special interest “sanctuary” groups is NOT working??!!?? Or are we just going to continue take it—where and whether—we like it or not?
» on 03.21.09 @ 09:06 PM
Jack Smith says: “Let no one in government disrespect the will of the American people and remain in office.”
Are you KIDDING ME? What do you think Congress is doing each and every day lately? And for far too long, I agree.
Jack, buddy, you—and a lot of folks—need to get a clue. If you want real CHANGE in this country NATIONALIZE the legal profession. Find a way that CONGRESSPERSONS (mostly lawyers) can’t take “donations” that BUY their votes. Do that, my working class friend, and you’ll see some real CHANGE.
In the abstract, doctors—of whom I know a few—go SCHOOL for many long hard years. Their jobs involve life-and-death decisions. They SHOULD be paid more than lying, cheating politicians/lawyers/hedge fund hogs.
Next time you go to the ER with chest pain, we’ll give you the “nationalized” doc. He won’t be the best (because the best will have fled the profession.) He might not even be a doc. Maybe a PA. If you’re over 50—and you get that chest pain in Britian—don’t think you’re getting to the ICU. Nope. You’re gonna live—or you’re gonna die. Because the powers that be—those very same “legislatwhores” have decided that OLD PEOPLE don’t get intensive care. (But you can bet that THEY do.)
» on 03.22.09 @ 12:15 PM
S.F is the laughing stock of our nation, and his pandering to Illegal aliens will kill his chances. Also cheating on his wife with his best friends wife, and His big wasteful tax and spend policy that has bankrupt S.F.
Go home to your creepy city—please.
Like it or not———-What happen Gavin—?????
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