Do you think the Republican Party is too liberal on social issues? The California Republican Party is a conservative faction in the Republican Party. They recently reorganized their Ventura County chapter with the help of State Assembly Member Scott Wilk.

I am interested in their plans to get more involved in Ventura County politics.

What do you think they should do?

A classic.

Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks are in the top ten for safety nation wide.*

Maybe it is a combination of luck, police work, good citizenship, and good parenting.

But if you are feeling generous here is the website for The Simi Valley Police Foundation.

If this post gets to 100 comments without one example of name calling or poor behavior ( that includes being off topic!) I will join too.

Who else will take the pledge?

Do you put credit into these surveys?

( David Hare, candidate for the Democratic nomination to take on Republican Assembly Member Audra Strickland. To see his website click here. His opponent is Ferial Masry. If you have pictures oft he Street Fair email them to me and I will post them.)

So, how did The Simi Valley Street Fair go? What candidates did you see? Who did you speak to and about what?

What city is holding the next event where candidates can meet the public in an informal setting? Independence day celebrations?

I say McCain won the debate. He didn't dodge questions, he wasn't afraid to say Bush mismanaged the war for four years, and he had some great lines. If someone can't say Bush has made serious mistakes they lack courage.

In my mind Rudy seems like an odd candidate. He favors the government paying for abortion, but he will restrict abortion, but he will keep it legal, but he will appoint judges to overturn it, but...you get the point.

Also, Rudy thought the "death tax" going to zero for a few years would be a great incentive. For what? Murder? Really, I don't know what he meant.

Mitt Romney seemed too smooth. Is it a strange coincidence that Massachusetts is known for flip floppers? Republicans will look like hypocrites beyond belief after they attacked John Kerry for flip flopping. He is telegenic, but in the Republican party is that a good thing?

Of the second tier candidates I liked watching Ron Paul. His chances are next to nil but he is the Mike Gravel of the Republican Party. The others seemed like a joke to include. Anyone really think Tommy Thompson stands a chance? Duncan " Hunting but no hiking" Hunter? Pass the microphone please.

I am shocked people are raising their hands against evolution. And they won't say Libby is a criminal?

I also say Mayor Miller and Steve Sojka in the audience. Guys, you should of declared and got the free VIP dinner. I mean, Tom Tancredo did. I bet he got better parking too.

After the debate I attended the Rudy for president event at Paul's Italian Villa. Steve Frank and the Rudy team threw an awesome event. There were tons of college age people there. One of them that I have known for years found out from friends at Santa Monica Community College! Thanks for Barbra Williamson and Team Rudy for letting me know.

Anyone recognize the people in the picture? We were all standing by each other and I corralled them together for a picture.

All four of these people were really charming and made the event fun. No matter how many sticks and stones are thrown their way they still have a higher purpose and a sense of humor. Jerrod, make sure to send in the picture of Cameron Smyth warming up the crowd.

No matter what I think of Rudy's performance, the fact is his team really is putting together a grassroots campaign locally and I respect that.

Anyone at the debate see Tom McClintock, Tony/Audra Strickland, or Elton Gallegly? Seemed like half of his caucus was up on the stage.

Here is another photo from the Rudy event. Cameron Smyth ( CA- Assembly R Santa Clarita) has endorsed Rudy and was giving a warm up talk. Thanks to his staff member for sending in a much better photo than the picture I could take from my vantage point.

Here is another guest blog entry from Scott Blough. If you would like to write a guest blog entry on the local blog that reaches key decision makers across Ventura County send me an e-mail.

April in California

In 2004, the Pacific Research Institute ranked California 49th out of 50 states in economic freedom. Evaluating many variables, this study concluded that the Governor must improve the business climate in California. Economic freedom is defined by this Institute as "the right of individuals to pursue their interests through voluntary exchange of private property under the rule of law.�?

Gingrich is coming on strong with another serious policy proposal. Here is Scott Blough with more.

The mathematical fight against Poverty
By Scott Blough

Winning the Future

One of the most creative books I've read on the future policy challenges for the United States was "Winning the Future" by former Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich. Love him or hate him, he has a ton of ideas and trends we should be paying attention to now to leverage our present opportunities to create long term gains.

Newt Gingrich often talks about the idea that we should pay students to take math and science courses. At an event last September, Gingrich said, "I'm looking for a foundation that will go into the poorest neighborhoods to pay students to study math and science, someone who will pay more than McDonald's"

While using financial incentives to coax students to study math and science may seem radical by some, Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City announced last week a new model to fight poverty that uses financial incentives much like the Gingrich idea for education.

The poverty pilot program develops a set of criteria such as improving career skills, more parental involvement in their child's school, work and school attendance. If these criteria are met the City of New York would pay out a portion of the public's tax dollars to the participants.

What do you think about financial incentives to deal with poverty and education?

Do you think it will work?

I welcome your thoughts.

Here is another thought provoking policy discussion from my think tank scholar in residence Scott Blough. If you would like to join and write for this blog let me know.

Scott is writing about a proposed law by local Assemblyman Cameron Smyth. I don't yet understand the full bill but this section stands out:

(b) Urban greening will improve the quality of life, reduce air
pollution, save energy, and help to reduce global warming.

Anyways, click on continue reading to read Scott Blough's take.

( Here is a guest entry from local citizen Scott Blough. Want to write a guest entry? E-mail me @ briandennert@yahoo.com)

Scott Blough here.

Thinking about and preparing for the future is difficult. Many of us would much rather fight yesterday's battles or stay within our daily routine. While I often find myself falling into the routine trap, taking on something uncomfortable and new is part of life, so here goes.

There is a growing emerging market in many local communities across the US. An opportunity, I feel both that I may not totally understand, but remains untapped in many communities. Many communities are quietly developing a new green economy and community.
A small community in Northern California is developing green building regulations whereby rewards are given to builders for installing energy efficient materials like Energy Star air conditioning.

A Mayor in Florida is proclaiming he wants to be first to go green in his county.

There is a US Green Building Council
defined by sustainable and profitable buildings and development. There is even a new Bank that's looking to loan to green industries and is focused on environmental entrepreneurs.
From your local schools to your local developments and industries, what is your community and county doing to foster this emerging market?
With all the wind these past few days, how much energy and energy savings could the local Simi economy developed this past week?
Do you believe it's possible that the coming green economy will eventually be a revenue source for government, an employment source for citizens, and a source of fiscal savings for your local community?
Or is it just a fad?
I welcome your thoughts

( Editor's note: I created the title. Mr. Blough is not really trying to take credit for The Brown Act If you would like to write a guest entry, e-mail me @ briandennert@yahoo.com. You do not need to agree with me or my views to have an article published.)

Scott Blough Here. How would you feel if a decision concerning how your tax dollars were being spent was made in private closed session? All that was required was a report of any conclusions of the deal after the fact.

A few months ago, I came across a great article stating collective bargaining negotiation is exempt from Brown Act scrutiny. This would indicate that while in closed session a deal is often struck with no public input or scrutiny from the local media.

The same goes for real property negotiations. Technically, the government can "consider price and terms of payment in connection with the purchase, sale, exchange, or lease of real property�?, yet the public often is given a conclusion after the fact.

While I totally understand the need for closed session on legal disputes, public security, and personnel issues, how do most of you feel about labor negotiation and real property negotiation being done in closed session?

With many jurisdictions in the state facing unfunded pension liabilities, is it really time to keep the light out?

I welcome your thoughts.

One of the books that I've recently been reading through is entitled, An Army of Davids by Glenn Reynolds.

The book discusses a growing movement of people who have been empowered by technology to beat big media conglomerate reporting, big government fleecing of the public's interest, and big corporate issues. Face it, we are a do-it-yourself individual-based society and technology is creating a new level of ingenuity. My favorite example is the people who have started to make their own beer or those that make their own music CD's.

What many people don't grasp yet is that blogs represent an opportunity to write your own laws you'd like to see. A place to garner feedback and really debate at a whole different level...

This evening I intend to quickly outline some two redistricting proposals currently in the system. I think the general consensus from Brian's blog is most want to redraw the lines and create competitive elections as do I. Well, if you do, what proposal do you support?

Or you're welcome to write your own reform for the discussion. Who do you think should decide?

See some of the plans here.

The Governor's plan would form a citizen's commission where 55 citizens chosen by the Fair Political Practices Commission of 20 Democrats, 20 Republican and 15 Decline to states or minority party members would develop a plan.

A different plan is from Democrat Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, a Democrat from Compton, where a five-member commission would be dominated by Democrats and Republicans to develop the plan.

Don't like the plans. Feel free to write your own plan.

And if you don't like any of the plans and like the status quo, then do what good obstructionists do in the Legislature and attach some wicked poison pill amendments.

Brian, what is your plan?

As always, I welcome your reform ideas.

The picture is of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

( Editor: here is another piece by Scott Blough. I will post entries from guest bloggers across our community. Just send me an e-mail. As usual, just because I post it doesn't mean I agree or disagree.)

Scott Blough here. Both nationally and locally during the 2006 campaigns we heard a lot about ethics reform. We never really heard what specifically would be done about ethics reform, but we heard about it. Well, I decided to look around and find out what other local communities and activists are actually doing about ethics reform.

Many communities such as San Diego and Los Angeles have offered ethics commissions to oversee ethics within the government structure or electoral process. The city of Simi Valley has an ethics pledge and has recently upgraded their website to give greater access to staff reports and streaming video of meetings, which I think is a great addition.

Then, I came across this proposal from the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights . The Foundation says they are a non-partisan website, but I really don't agree.

A copy of a "sample text" is linked here for your review.

While this sample is written with a city in mind, the basic idea behind the proposal bars public officials from receiving personal or campaign advantage from those to whom they allocate public benefits. Feel free to take a look at the sample text for yourself as I believe this is the first rule I've seen that expands the conflict of interest thought process to campaign accounts. Apparently, it has passed in cities such as Pasadena and Santa Monica, but since then, attempts have been made to water it down or end it.

Do you think an expanded conflict of interest law like this one should be applied to local government, school boards, or county government?

What ethics reforms would you offer?

I welcome your thoughts

Here is another policy entry from Scott Blough. I find it interesting that the people that slag each other all day over campaigns don't discuss policy. Anyways, I might agree or disagree with Scott. I will print his stuff either way, just like I will post articles from other people also.

For the past year, I've been following the use of Red Light cameras used at intersections to catch drivers who run red lights. I have seen these types of cameras in the City of Ventura and the City of Oxnard. While some cities have seen a large drop in red light accidents, motorists in other communities have been faced with certain levels of abuse. Lobbyists for these camera companies have also grown increasingly powerful in state and local governments and municipalities often do not want to lose the revenue source, once installed.

So far, my favorite was the discovery in Bethesda, Maryland that the city had shortened the yellow light timing to catch more motorists when the light changed red. or there was even an instance where a man received a ticket in the mail for running a red light when he was in the hospital.

The other important point to think about is that according to a Federal Highway Administration study that while right angle crashes dropped 25%, rear end crashes at intersections increased

Would you like to see red light cameras in your community?

If you live in Oxnard and Ventura, how do you like your cameras so far?