Progressives are not Liberals

There has been much to do about the divide within the Republican party between the "Tea Party" and the "Republican Establishment". However, the Republicans are missing the divide within the Democratic Party and are doing nothing to divide and conquer. Today the Democratic Party is made up of Liberals and Progressives. However, these are different ideologies. Liberals are: a political ideology or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality. Progressives are: political philosophy advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes usually in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies. As of today conservatives want fairness and equality in the rules everyone plays by, just like liberals. And if you have been listening to Mitt Romney's stump speech about freedom you can hear that it sounds a lot like liberty for all. Hopefully, our political leaders can find a way to work together. But if the Republican Party can start to realize that they have more in common with their Liberal counterparts than with the Progressives in the Democratic Party, maybe they can move towards agreement on more issues. Just a guy from Pedro, no political hack, but I do know that a liberal is not a progressive.

Rancho Holding's Butane Gas Issue Over Reaction

The Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council has been beating the drum for a few years now about the need to remove Rancho Holding's Butane tanks from Westmonte and Gaffey streets in San Pedro. This push for the tank removal culminated recently with a meeting held on June 27th at Taper Avenue Elementary School a couple of blocks away from the tanks. Unfortunately the Council and many in San Pedro need to get overthemselves and their "fears" of a big explosion. The fact is that the probability of a tank blowing up is LESS than the probability that a tanker blows up in the harbor. Does anyone remember the SS Sansinena in 1972? So, if you are not going to fight against tankers blowing up in the harbor, why fight Butane gas. Also, I would estimate that 80% of everyone that has a house in the immediate area bought their home less than 30 years ago. As a result, the people of the Northwest San Pedro Council knew about the tankers, refinary, and the jet fuel tanks near Mary Star High and bought anyways. It would be like moving next to Dodger Stadium, finding out that there is tons of traffic on game days and asking the Dodgers to move the Stadium. The Rancho Holdings butane gas issues is not an issue at all. As a San Pedran I am slightly offended that this has even become an issue. This issue shows that San Pedrans are stupid. Stupid to buy a home next to a refinary and butane tanks and complain about it. Stupid to complain about a butane tank explosion when you live next to a Refinary in plain site.

Warner Grand Needs to be a Local Asset

In the June version of "San Pedro Today" the editor, Josh Stecker, does a good job of telling the community that the Warner Grand is a great local asset that is under utilized. What the editor does not mention is that the Warner Grand is expensive and does a poor job of reaching out to the community to house events. A great example is how South Shores Elementary School goes to Dominguez Hills for its annual production. Even last summer's Scalawag Productions needed some intervention from the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce to make it financially viable. Basic economics would say if you want more people to use your product, you should lower the price. You can sell more donuts at $1/per compared to $5/per. So if you want more utilization of the Warner Grand, and you want to increase traffic into down town, then the Warner Grand should lower its prices and help draw in the local community. Josh is correct, the Warner Grand is a great local asset. We just need the Warner Grand team to find a way to lower the price and help draw in the local community so downtown will become the go to spot it should be.

110 Toll Lane Divides Rich and Poor

The toll lanes planned for the 110 Freeway is not good for the poor and families. Nothing can be more divisive then a special road where people with money can drive and others can watch. Additionally divisive is saying that the funds from the toll road will be used for the separate but not equal public transit which is primarily used by the poor. Toll lanes may bring in revenue to our government, but at what costs? Families that want to drive into Los Angeles for the day can't use the car pool lane on impromptu trips making things tougher on them. If you have been in a car with a small child you know the value of a quick trip and what is lost by creating toll roads. Toll roads also create a spectacle where the poor get to watch the rich have special access, further fermenting discontent in america. Toll roads are divisive, the car pool lanes were able to be accessed by everyone. Now it takes $3/month and maybe $1.40/mile.

Taxes is not Charity

This past week I read an article in the Daily Breeze that indicated that religious leaders were backing the "tax the rich" proposition in California, and in general support raising taxes to support "social justice" causes. In addition, just this past month I ran into someone that thought it was Ok to be taxed more. PLEASE stop the insanity. Paying taxes is not the same thing as "social justice" and is not the same thing as giving the poor. It may be true that a portion of taxes go to the poor in the form of welfare benefits, etc. But most of it goes elsewhere to fund the police, fire department, teachers, building projects, the deficit, any the many other government departments that have nothing to do with the poor. Combine the fact that taxes are a forced tithe and I don't know why religious leaders would support it. Forced tithes were never in Jesus' play book. Jesus wanted people to give freely. I know that some religions do require tithing, but forcing all Californians to tithe would be wrong in any religion. Charity on the other hand is given freely and more of the funds given to charity actually goes to the needed. When only a portion of taxes actually go to the poor, it should not be equaled to funding charities and addressing social justice issues. When taxes are forced not given freely it is more like robbery then charity. Please stop the insanity. We need to re-educate our religious leaders that charity is Christ like, taxes are not.

USS Iowa and SS Lane Victory Should be Together

It is exciting to have the USS Iowa coming to San Pedro. The old Todd shipyard employed many Pedro people and put the Navy front and center at our port. Before the Air Force moved in we had Navy housing and a strong Navy presence. Over the years with the downsizing of our military and the consolidation of its sites we have lost touch with the Navy. It will be good to have them back. However, though our community leaders did a good job lobbying to bring the USS Iowa to town, I think the Port of Los Angeles did us a disservice by keeping the USS Iowa and SS Lane Victory separated. I appreciate that the two might be right down the street and a red car ride away. But imagine the synergy of having visitors park in one lot, with the ability to easily visit both. If we want San Pedro to be a destination town we need to make it easy for people to see the great items in our town. Keeping the SS Lane Victory and USS Iowa separate makes no sense.

Better Land Use in San Pedro

When you drive around San Pedro there are lots of vacant lots and undeveloped property. In some cities the local neighborhood works with the property owner to adopt the lot. The neighborhood also works with the city to post the correct signs about no dumping, etc. A great opportunity for San Pedro is to have the Dalmation American Club and the Muller House team up to clean up the lot on 16th and Beacon. A simple lot clean up could improve parking for both of these valuable local institutions. And if they chipped in for a single light post the parking would be more secure for night time events. San Pedro is a great town, we can make it better by cleaning up and re-using the vacant lots.