Do you want to know what collective racism is?

Here’s my screenshot of the current Redheaded Blackbelt home page.  Note that there are three stories on the right column entitled “crime.”  Note that of four suspects shown in photographs of this page three of them are white as snow.  Note that the fourth is not.

Now note that there are 3 comments attached to one story; 10 comments attached to another story; and 83 comments attacked to the third.

Note the skin color of the person photographed in that third story.  Now go to those comments (84 now, 1 added since I took the screenshot).   Note the very first comment:  “I really wish I could say the obvious.”  And what follows is a long discussion about his skin color and it’s supposed relationship to the crime alleged.

So far in the other two stories, no discussion of their skin color.  And no, their crimes are no less serious.  Both involve violence or threat thereof.

As there are no Latinos photoed in the stories, there is no discussion today about how they’re protected by Sanctuary (usually by people who have no idea what Sanctuary even means) or how we need a wall.

This folks is collective racism.

No criticism of Kym at all.  Her stories are fine.  But this is the climate in which we live.  This is why dog whistle politics work.  This is why the country is divided.

Kudos to Sheriff Honsal

As you all know, I have my differences with the Sheriff with regard to his opposition to Sanctuary policies and some of the rhetoric, but clearly he’s principled.  Also makes me wonder if he’s had run-ins with HR that he can’t talk about.

Auditor-Controller Karen Paz Dominguez posted the following on her Facebook Page.

I received the most wonderful gesture of collaboration and teamwork from our Sheriff and his CFO. I feel so humbled and blessed by the recognition and I had to pinch myself a couple times to believe it. I am very grateful and feel re-energized to keep working for the public’s interest.

Grand Jury vindicates Karen Paz Dominquez – notes “high risk of fraud”

Ryan Burns has the story at Lost Coast Outpost.

My Social Security Number has been suspended!

All morning I’ve been receiving robocalls from the Department of Social Security, telling me that my social security number has been “suspended due to suspicious activity.”

Does this mean I don’t have to pay taxes?

I don’t know why everyone is on Trump’s case this morning. He’s absolutely right!

He basically said that the freshman four Nancy Pelosi attacked earlier in the week all come from a country where the government is “a catastrophe.”

According to NBC:

“Tlaib, a Palestinian American, was born in Michigan; Omar, a Somali refugee, moved to the U.S. when she was 12 and is a naturalized U.S. citizen; Ocasio-Cortez, who is of Latin-American descent, was born in New York; and Pressley, who is African American, was born in Cincinnati.”

So stop with the TDS already!

Serious note – Pelosi opened this up.  She owes the four women an apology and she really should stick up for them now.

 

Clif Berkowitz joins the race for First District Supervisor

He’ a great guy and an excellent DJ.  He’s giving up a lot to run for the office – more than most candidates have to sacrifice.  Very smart guy.

Definitely not a politician.

Of course my first negative thought is that he might win, and we would lose Motown Mondays!  Can anyone replace him for Motown Mondays?

Lost Coast Outpost has the story.

But it’s all about a few bad apples, right?

It turns out that the head of the Border Patrol was also a member of that secret Facebook group.

Acosta out. Was the sweetheart deal the product of extortion?

I mean was Acosta really told to lay off because Epstein was involved in intelligence?

Or does he have dirt on powerful people?

Repeal Section 1325

As I’ve discussed before, the passage of section 1325 in 1929 criminalized, for the first time, illegal entry into the US. Note that not all undocumented people are criminally liable. If you overstay a visa or are waved in at a checkpoint (happens much more often than you may think) you are only civilly liable, not criminally.

 

If Congress repealed section 1325 and also repealed the criminalization of unlawful reentry, the “zero tolerance” policy under Trump would become moot and the detention center crisis would be mostly resolved.

 

He’s still not my first choice of candidates, but Julian Castro did us all a huge favor in raising the issue in the last debate.

It’s still a point of contention among Democrats, but the discussion is long overdue.

HR Director Out

Following her confrontations with the offices of County Counsel (resulting in a lawsuit) and the Assessor’s Office,  Lisa DeMatteo is out.

Will this put an end to the internal culture wars in the County government?

Change is happening.  Please acknowledge it.