Tag: California

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Trump Cuts Off Forest Fire/FEMA Money For California

Donald Trump announced this morning he has cut off forest fire FEMA funds from California ‘unless they get their act together’ regarding forest management.

Note: California sends far more money to the federal government than it gets back in federal aid.

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Trump: “Raking And Cleaning” The Forest Floor Will Solve Forest Fires

Donald Trump toured the devastation of California town of Paradise following the massive forest fires there with Gov. Jerry Brown and Governor-elect Gavin Newsome.

Speaking to the press in the middle of a town that has over 1,000 people missing, Trump displayed a sudden expertise on the science of forestry.

“You gotta take care of the floors. You know the floors of the forest, very important,” Trump said, with Gov. Jerry Brown and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom listening.

Trump shared that during a recent meeting with the president of Finland, which has 73% forest coverage, told him the secret to avoiding forest fires is ‘raking and cleaning’ the forest floor.

“You look at other countries where they do it differently and it’s a whole different story. I was with the president of Finland and he called it a forest nation, and they spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things and they don’t have any problem. And when they do, it’s a very small problem.

What the Trumpster doesn’t mention is most of California forests are on federal land, meaning the federal government is in charge of managing those lands.

Plus, the Trump administration cut funding for fire prevention.

It’s worth noting that Finland is a sparsely populated nation (just over 5 million people) with a land size less than California. Most of that is forests and lakes.

The weather in Finland provides long and cold winters, as well as rain throughout the year.

I imagine that has a lot to do with fewer forest fires.

The president of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, was asked if he’d recommended ‘raking’ as a way to avoid forest fires to Trump. He told the press that he’d mentioned that Finland has “a good monitoring system” and that Fins “take care” of their forests.

But, no, he never mentioned ‘raking.’

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Banner Day For Trump: Disses WWI Memorial Service Due To Light Rain, Threatens To Withhold Funds From California As The State Burns

A new forest fire raged on in California today, destroying more than 150 homes in Malibu, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, and Westlake Village areas.

A new forest fire raged on in California today, destroying more than 150 homes in Malibu, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, and Westlake Village areas.

Donald Trump took to Twitter to address the issue, but it wasn’t quite the ‘presidential’ tone California might have hoped for.

Trump’s take was to blame “gross mismanagement of the forests.” The Donald’s answer was to threaten “no more Fed payments” unless things were brought more inline with his thinking.

The head of the California Professional Firefighters was not amused.

“The president’s message attacking California and threatening to withhold aid to the victims of the cataclysmic fires is Ill-informed, ill-timed and demeaning to those who are suffering as well as the men and women on the front lines,” stated California Professional Firefighters President Brian K. Rice.

“At a time when our every effort should be focused on vanquishing the destructive fires and helping the victims, the president has chosen instead to issue an uninformed political threat aimed squarely at the innocent victims of these cataclysmic fires,” Rice added. “At this moment, thousands of our brother and sister firefighters are putting their lives on the line to protect the lives and property of thousands. Some of them are doing so even as their own homes lay in ruins. In my view, this shameful attack on California is an attack on all our courageous men and women on the front lines.”

It goes without saying that California sends FAR more money to the federal government than it ever gets back in support given that the Golden State is the 5th largest economy in the world.

For the President of the United States’ first reaction to be condemnation of the state rather than empathy for the Americans who are losing their homes was unsettling to say the least.

I’m of a mind to believe that Trump’s lack of empathy comes in part from the fact that he will never win the Golden State when he runs for reelection in 2020. So, I doubt he cares much for California.

Just ask Puerto Rico.

I’m not the only one who thought the response was less than ‘presidential.’

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California: Shooting In Thousand Oaks Bar Leaves 12 Dead

Another mass shooting has occurred, this time in a bar in Thousand Oaks, California, that left 12 dead.

The incident began at approximately 11:20pm at the Borderline Bar and Grill,  which was holding its regular “College Country Night.”

The shooter has been identified as a former U.S. Marine who may have been coping with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the L.A. Times.

Ian David Long, 28, lived in Newbury Park, not far from the club where he threw smoke bombs and rained bullets on a crowd of more than a hundred people Wednesday night.

Sheriff Geoff Dean said his department had had several interactions with Long, including a call to his home in April for a complaint of disturbing the peace. Deputies at the time said Long was irate and acting irrationally, Dean said. They called in mental health professionals to evaluate him, and they concluded he did not need to be taken into custody.

In the neighborhood where Long lived, residents said they were well aware of his problems.

Richard Berge, 77, said the former Marine had PTSD and was known to kick in the walls of the home. Long lived with his mother, Berge said.

“She’s a very sweet woman, but she had a lot of problems with the son,” Berge said. “I just know he tore the house up.”

Long was dressed in black when he burst into the Borderline Bar & Grill, a country-music-themed venue popular with college students, around 11:20 p.m. He drove his mother’s car to the bar and did not say anything before opening fire, a law enforcement official said.

The shooter was armed with a Glock 21 .45-caliber handgun with an extended magazine that he purchased legally in Simi Valley, Dean said. A source said he also had a “smoke device.”

Sgt. Ron Helus, a 29-year Sheriff’s Department veteran who was planning to retire next year, was the first to enter the bar. He suffered severe wounds and later died in the hospital.

He is survived by a son and his wife, whom he called before entering the bar, Dean said.

No motive has been determined.

And right-wing loons immediately tried to set the narrative that the shooter was “Middle Eastern.”

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California Lawmaker Pulls ‘Conversion Therapy’ Ban Bill

California Assemblyman Evan Low

A California lawmaker surprised many when he pulled his bill, Assembly Bill 2943, which would have made so-called ‘conversion therapy’ a fraudulent business practice in the Golden State.

Assemblyman Evan Low (D) was one vote from seeing AB2943 being sent to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk to be signed into law. The measure had already passed by solid margins in both the Assembly and Senate.

But Low pulled the legislation from consideration after meeting with faith leaders who hold strong objections to the proposed law.

From The Sacramento Bee:

Conservative religious groups vigorously objected to the legislation, which they considered an attack on their First Amendment freedoms. Some churches and other faith-based organizations offer programs that they say help individuals to overcome unwanted same-sex attractions.

Because it applies to consumer transactions, AB 2943 would not have outlawed religious counseling to change an individual’s sexuality or other conversion therapy services if they are offered free of charge. But opponents had promised to challenge the measure in court.

In a statement, Low said his meetings with religious leaders left him “feeling hopeful.”

“I believe every person who attended these meetings left with a greater understanding for the underlying reason and intention of this bill to create a loving and inclusive environment for all,” said Low. “However, I believe there is still more to learn.”

California banned the practice of ‘conversion therapy’ on minors by licensed mental health practitioners back in 2012. AB 2943 would have expanded the ban to adults.

Low’s personal investment in the legislation is deeply personal to him as an openly gay man who experienced confusion as a young man coming to terms with his sexuality.

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News Round-Up: August 29, 2018

Go-go guy Teddy Bear

Some news items you might have missed:

• After the owner of West Hollywood’s The Abbey asked his go-go dancers to take a pay cut, go-go guy Teddy Bear (above) raised his voice, and got fired & banned from the gay bar.

• The online fundraising platform ActBlue raised $100 million in August for Democratic candidates, marking their biggest fundraising month since they launched in 2004. The liberals are NOT losing any steam before the 2018 midterm elections, kids.

• Check out out Olympian Adam Rippon on the set of Will & Grace along with fellow-guest star Minnie Driver! Squee!!!

• The California legislature has passed a resolution condemning intersex surgeries on children in an attempt to halt procedures that would try and ‘normalize’ children’s sexual characteristics.

• Openly bisexual Halsey (one of my favorite out recording artists) clapped back at anti-LGBT folks who come to her concerts saying, “People bring anti-LGBT religious propaganda to my concerts alot and it’s like, I feel like I’ve done enough good in the world that God’s gonna forgive me for eating some p*ssy.” #LOL

• Rupaul has announced a new Christmas album coming this fall! This will be Ru’s 3rd collection of holiday songs following 1997’s Ho Ho Ho and 2015’s Slay Belles.

A post shared by RuPaul Charles (@rupaulofficial) on Aug 28, 2018 at 12:02pm PDT

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News Round-Up: August 27, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:  • California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law AB 2439 which designates the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City as the official state LGBTQ veterans memorial. California is the first state to have a designated memorial honoring LGBT veterans. • Streaming service Netflix is catching flak for under-representing lesbians, bisexuals and trans folks in it’s LGBT content.

• Homocon and self-described provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos recently took to Facebook to cry about his ‘ruined life.’ The far-right lunatic says his cancelled speaking events have cost him “tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. And when I get dumped from conferences, BARELY ANYONE makes a sound about it – not my fellow conservative media figures and not even, in many cases, you guys.” • Human Rights Campaign Foundation president Mary Beth Maxwell resigned her position after multiple instances of using the N-word in the workplace. • The Hollywood Reporter calls the upcoming film, 1985, “Sensitively observed, a model of eloguent restraint;” and Variety calls the film an “Excellent drama… nothing here rings false.” Starring Gotham‘s Cory Michael Smith as “Adrian,” eldest son to Texas residents Virginia Madsen and Michael Chiklis, the film follows Adrian as he returns home following the death of his partner to AIDS. Home for the holidays to say goodbye to his family, he reconnects with his old friend Carly (Jamie Chung) and his younger brother Andrew (Aidan Langford). Watch the trailer below. The film is set for limited release October 26.

 

A 21-year-old man from Newport Beach accused of killing a former classmate could face life in prison without parole after prosecutors added a hate crime enhancement to murder charges.
Samuel Woodward is accused in the stabbing death of Blaze Bernstein

A 21-year-old man from Newport Beach accused of killing a former classmate could face life in prison without parole after prosecutors added a hate crime enhancement to murder charges.

Samuel Woodward is accused of murder in the stabbing death of his former high school classmate Blaze Bernstein.

Bernstein was reported missing by his parents in January while he was visiting home during the winter break at the University of Pennsylvania. His body was eventually found in a shallow grave in Borrego Park with over 20 stab wounds.

DNA evidence found in Woodward’s car and Borrego Park led to his arrest.

At the time the hate crime component was added to charges, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told CBS News that a search of Woodward’s social media and cellphone data revealed “graphic” and “chilling” photos and text messages.

Rackauckas said the material, which was “homophobic, anti-Semitic, misogynistic and anti-government” showed Woodward’s “dark side.”

CBS News also reports that Woodward has been linked to white supremacist group.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Woodward denied the hate crime enhancement during a court appearance on Wednesday even though Woodward admits it was a kiss that sparked the altercation.

According to an affidavit, Woodward told investigators that Bernstein kissed him while they were sitting in a parked car Jan. 2. Woodward told authorities the kiss was unwanted and that he pushed Bernstein away.

After Wednesday’s court appearance, Woodward’s attorney, Edward Munoz, said his client has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a developmental disorder that can hinder a person’s ability to socialize or communicate.

Munoz said that “there’s going to be some evidence that comes out to say he’s very confused” about both his sexual identity and “his own identity.”

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Settlement Reached In California Prison Lawsuit Alleging LGBTQ Abuses

(photo credit: Donald Tong via Pexels)

In 2014, a group of LGBTQ inmates at the Alternative Lifestyle Tank at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga filed a federal class action lawsuit alleging hate speech by the prison guards and extreme incarceration due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

According to The LA Times, attorneys for the plaintiffs now say they have reached a settlement with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Among the allegations raised by the lawsuit:

• Under the guise of “protection,” LGBTQ inmates were held in their cells for up to 23 hours a day

• The plaintiffs say they were subjected to derogatory hate speech and anti-gay slurs by prison guards and staff

• They were not allowed to take part in educational programs or drug rehabilitation programs

• They were unable to participate in work programs that could potentially reduce their sentences or attend religious services

The lead plaintiff, former sheriff’s deputy Dan McKibben, told the press at a 2014 news conference when the lawsuit was filed, “When you’re sworn, you’re sworn. And I took that oath.”

“These guys, every other minute, were violating that,” he added. McKibben died in 2016 before a resolution could be reached.

Veronica Pratt, a 33-year-old transgender woman, told The LA Times on Wednesday, “It was just depressing. It was demeaning.”

“It’s a struggle being incarcerated and then to have someone tell you ‘You can’t go to classes, you can’t try to better yourself’ because of your sexual orientation,” said Pratt. “It’s degrading.”

More from The LA Times:

The settlement agreement, which was filed in federal court in Riverside, would compel the county to offer more housing options for gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex inmates; lift restrictions on participation in work, educational, religious and community reentry programs; and establish a committee that will meet regularly with incarcerated gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people to discuss their housing options.

Transgender and intersex inmates will also have the opportunity to be housed based on their gender identity.

The settlement also includes a nearly $1-million payment that will be divided among class members. And the Alternative Lifestyle Tank will be renamed the GBTI Unit — gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex.

LGBTQ inmates will still have the choice to be housed in the newly-named unit, but the new agreement dictates that they will have access to rehabilitation/education courses and any other programs available to other inmates.

A spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Department declined to comment because the settlement has not been approved by the judge.

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News Round-Up: August 16, 2018

Andrew Serkin (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Miami-based InstaHunk Andrew Serkin (above) took a break from the sun. #LuckyUs

• An Oklahoma school district briefly shut down this week after people purporting to be parents of students used social media to make violent, epithet-filled threats against a transgender girl. “If he wants to be a female, make him a female,” one user wrote. “A good sharp knife will do the job really quick.” Another post read, “You know we have open hunting seasons on them kind. Ain’t no bag limit either.”

• Regarding the still-unfolding and massive molestation scandal wracking the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania, Catholic League president Bill Donohue today told followers the alleged victims were not raped: “they were groped or otherwise abused, but not penetrated, which is what the word ‘rape’ means.” #SRSLY

• A new twist in the #MeToo movement: An 11-month Title IX investigation recently found New York University Professor Avital Ronell responsible for sexually harassing her gay student, Nimrod Reitman.

• GQ Magazine got in hot water for calling these guys “stocky.”#Stocky???

• Omarosa Manigault Newman‘s tell-all Unhinged claims that Ivanka Trump hated the Saturday Night Live sketch that labeled her “complicit” in March 2017. According to Omarosa, Ivanka was “thin-skinned and could not seem to take a joke.”

• The California Senate has approved AB 2943, a bill that could protect LGBTQ people statewide from undergoing gay conversion therapy. The bill passed in the state Assembly in April. After heading back to the Assembly for a concurrence vote, the bill will hopefully be signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

• Donald Trump’s military parade this fall is shaping up to cost $80 million more than initially estimated. The parade, slated for Nov. 10, is now estimated to cost $92 million, blowing way past the original $12 million estimate.

• Queer artist Anthony Starble recently teamed up with The Klassiks to create an sexy EDM remix of his latest single, “Paperweight.” The new mix adds a catchy synth line and bass drops that kicks up the intensity from the original.

I like. Listen below and then head to iTunes for more from Starble here.