There Oughta Be a Law… For the least several weeks I’ve been diligently following the Anna Nicole Smith tragedy. Nightly watching the Nancy Grace hard news updates, pouring over the 
tabloids, just waiting for the story to meet the litmus test that would allow me to write about it on these pages — some semblance of tie-in to California politics.
At last, with the California Medical Board entering the fray, my opportunity is here.
It seems that every one of the 11 medications found in Anna Nicole’s room at the time of her death was prescribed by the same California physician. The State Medical Board promises an investigation…and right they should!
There oughta be a law, and if there already is one, there oughta be another. Perhaps even a handful.
We need to lead the way on this. California has more celebrities than any other state, we undoubtedly fill more celebrity drug prescriptions than most other countries (especially since the users can afford not to go thru Canada RX), and we need to protect our most significant unnatural resource. What’s more, they can’t protect themselves. We can’t expect the famous to have any personal responsibility…they’re too, well…famous.
Yes, a mandate is needed here, perhaps for any doctor prescribing more than say 10 medications at once to any Hollywood type, that they take a class. Yes, that’s it, a mandated training.
You freshman legislators out there, looking for a way to make a name for yourselves, this is it. Divest from Iran? Forget that noise — let’s divest the California Medical Board from licensing physicians that haven’t been through a thorough "Celebrity Ethics Training."
There, I’ve handed it to you on a mirrored platter. "Anna Nicole’s Law" is now just awaiting a courageous author.
Your Green Commitment… As more and more local politicians "think globally, act locally," more and more are considering support for global warming initiatives, such as something called the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. One such case is my own city where the city council voted unanimously to support such an effort.
(Not to focus on my former colleagues and friends in La Mesa, as the following could be sent to any elected official, but this is the first time I’ve seen it…heck, do I really need to put this disclaimer here?!)
A concerned citizen by the name of Scott Kidwell has now sent the council an open letter, worth the read:
Dear Representatives,
You recently approved a resolution, with a 5-0 confirming vote, to endorse the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Just how firm is your commitment to the goals within the subject document and more to the point, what are your specific personal goals and objectives to support the cause?
While you are certainly likely to incur minor to significant costs, your commitment to this issue will demonstrate how you each truly value it’s worth. As such, I challenge each of you to set an example for La Mesa residents by committing the following list of ideals and also providing quarterly progress reports at city council meetings:
1) Inventory global warming emissions in your personal life, set reduction targets and create a written action plan. Compare your energy usage to that of the average La Mesa resident and demonstrate that your are reducing your carbon footprint without resorting to buying carbon credits from any source.
2) Use alternative transportation such as bicycles, walking, car pooling and public transportation. An increase in commute time is expected but you can adjust to this as you expect the rest of us to do so.
3) Convert all personal motor vehicles to hybrid types for use in emergencies.
4) Convert all personal investments to "green" companies or funds.
5) Convert all landscaping at your home to drought tolerant types or back to the area’s natural vegetation.
6) If you are in a particularly large home, move to housing sized for the number of people in your family based on the average square footage per person ratio found in La Mesa.
7) Make improvements in your home to reduce the need to use heating and cooling supplied by fossil fuel burning utilities.
8) Change all appliances and lighting in your house to the highest level of "Energy Star" rated products.
9) Install a solar power system on your house.
10) Promote measures in your government duties to eliminate all unnecessary travel out of the city. Take advantage of current technologies such as video teleconferencing for all collegial type meetings.
11) Reduce or eliminate pleasure or vacation travel that requires the use of fossil fuels.
12) Commit to the purchase of food stuffs and personal apparel produced through "green" sources.
As persons who hold high profile leadership positions, and have publicly committed to support this cause, you set an example for the citizenry. All too often elected officials rubber stamp legislation, to garner support of a particular segment of the electorate, with little or no intention of action other than falling back on the old adage of "Do as I say and not as I do." Well, you have talked the talk and talk is cheap. Are you willing commit your personal resources of time and money and prove you have the fortitude to walk the walk?
Sincerely,
Scott Kidwell
Scott says his "actual frustration is with politicians who embrace a cause celeb for expediency and then try to side step the accountability that goes with the vote. If you really believe in a cause, whatever it is, then put your money where your mouth is!"
Yes, Scott, we didn’t miss the subtle message. Someone send Al Gore a copy.
No Wrath Like a City Attorney’s… Thanks to John Dadian for sending along a cover story from California Lawyer Magazine (published by the Daily Journal, penned by Ron Donoho), entitled the Wrath of Aguirre:
In Mike Aguirre’s all-or-nothing world, it’s no surprise that 100-percent change is the goal. Cleaning house was the task San Diego’s crusading and polarizing city attorney set for himself. Elected in 2004, Aguirre vowed to clean up a political system that had become so dysfunctional, the New York Times actually alluded to the city as "a kind of Enron-by-the-Sea." At the time, San Diego owed $1.4 billion to its city pension system and showed little sign of being able to shrink that debt. Moreover, the city had been the target of an SEC investigation, hadn’t completed a financial audit since 2002, and was frozen out of the bond market.
Claiming to be the people’s attorney – and not a rubber stamp for the politicians – Aguirre felt that many of the 130 or so civil and criminal attorneys he inherited when he took office were entrenched in a culture that conditioned them to perpetuate the will of the mayor and the city council.
"Yes, my goal was a complete turnaround," he acknowledges. "It was like the office didn’t exist for the public. I decided we could change either the people [in the office] or the attitude, and unfortunately the attitude change proved to be very difficult. Some people did come around. But a lot [about half] went out the door."
Not all of them, however, went quietly. In fact, two of the top deputies Aguirre dismissed filed a lawsuit charging several claims of retaliation and a violation of their right of association. One of them, Jim Chapin, alleges that Aguirre fired him because he refused to pressure his wife, Lori Chapin, into leaving her job as general counsel for the city’s pension system. The other, Penny Castleman, claims Aguirre operated by a reign of terror, belittling staff and using vulgarity to demean his minions. Although the other three claims in the suit were dismissed, the claim that Aguirre retaliated against Chapin and Castleman for joining and participating in a labor union still remains.
To read the entire article, click the link below.
And, have a great week!