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Big demand for PHP coding skills

WORLDVIEW SEO PR BUSINESS-TECH WIRE — oDesk reports today that PHP job skills far outstrips demand for all other programming skills. In fact, demand for certified Open Source PHP developers is nearly double that of the next closest computer software development and programming skill set. Based in San Mateo, oDesk is the leading platform for managing online software development workteams.

Faith-Based Initiative and Obama

Tuesday’s victory for Sen. Barak Obama, and the enlarged Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate, make it clear that the faith-based initiative will enter a new phase when the presidency changes hands on January 20, 2009.

The elevation of Barak Obama to the highest political office in the land is a welcome sign that America’s shameful history of racism and slavery is decisively being put behind us. Less clear is what an Obama administration will do to carry out the promise of a rejuvenated and expanded faith-based initiative.

The faith-based initiative began during the Clinton administration with the adoption of Charitable Choice in 1996 as part of federal welfare reform. The core of the initiative from the very beginning has been safeguarding the faith identity and practices of faith-based organizations that agree to partner with government programs to serve the needy. It is in better protecting the faith of faith-based organizations that a level playing field is created. It is when their religious freedom is better protected that more faith-based organizations are ready to respond to the government’s “welcome” sign.

Will the Obama administration continue this vital trend–not only announcing a warmer welcome for faith-based groups but making sure that governmental rules and practices in fact are more hospitable to faith-based organizations? Many faith-based organizations are waiting to see what will happen. Call it hopeful wariness, or watchful hopefulness. They know the new administration will face many pressures from its supporters and allies to downplay religious freedom.

Despite the inevitable controversies, a successful faith-based initiative will protect, not threaten, the faith of faith-based organizations.

Stanley Carlson-Thies, is director of the Coalition to Preserve Religious Freedom, based in Washington, D.C.

Boycott Target and Trader Joe’s

BOYCOTT TARGET and TRADER JOES’S. Lisa Vorderbrueggen blogs that Target and Trader Joe’s have banned the Salvation Army from ringing their bells for donations in front of their store locations. Other outfits want to severely limit the presence of this yuletide giving tradition.

Despite the claims of some corporations that they are community partners, in these tough times, it’s time to prove it. Until then BOYCOTT TARGET and TRADER JOES’S. It’s not about safety, or being unfair to other groups; it’s about these guys turning what’s left of the true Spirit of Christmas into just another secular shopping spree. Enough.

Blue Devils honored, Nov 21

The Concord Historical Society kicks off the social season this year with its 3rd Annual Black and White Gala, benefitting the Museum Fund, on Friday November 21, 2008. This year the event will be held at the Concord Hilton, and will honor Concord’s own, world-renowned Blue Devils. The evening will begin with a no-host Social Hour from 6-7 pm, followed by dinner, presentation to Blue Devil honorees, raffle and dancing to the big band sounds of the Generation Gap.

Jan Kunz, Concord Historical Society President said, “The Concord Historical Society is proud and excited to be able to honor the Blue Devils this year for their 51 years of operation in Concord. They are an important part of Concord’s history, present and future.” Tickets are $65 each and can be purchased by calling 827-3380.

Diablo Dems plan 09 agenda, Nov 19

“Making Change Happen” is the topic of the Diablo Valley Democratic Club meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Ygnacio Valley Library, 2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. Members and guests will discuss a new agenda Democrats can all take part in for 2009. Topics include helping the new administration promote peace, prosperity and health care for all; a clean environment, open government; equality and preservation of civil liberties; as well as working on local issues and campaigns.

Serving Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Clayton and Martinez, the Diablo Valley Democratic Club is a grassroots organization supporting progressive values and causes. Information: 925-335-2647 or www.dvdems.org.

Soros predicts deep recession

Billionaire philathropist George Soros, who already got his, says a deep recession is inevitable and does not rule out a depression.

Soros, founder and chairman of Soros Fund Management, told a Congressional government reform committee that, far beyond the Fannie Mae debacle, “hedge funds were an integral part of the financial market bubble which now has burst; predicting hedge funds will be “decimated” by the current financial crisis and will shrink by 50-75 percent. He called for the Treasury Department and SEC to take action to prevent future market bubbles. Want to buy shares in tulips?

CNWS minority report

You know there’s trouble when the minority reports on the last page states, “the rush to approve was divisive and unnecessary!” So tune in Monday, when the Concord City Council will consider plans concerning the Reuse Plan for the Concord Naval Weapons Station at its upcoming meeting, Nov 17. Additional meetings will take place December 1 and January 12.

COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, CNWS MINORITY REPORT

October 28, 2008
Mayor William D. Shinn and Concord Council
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, California 94519

Dear Mayor Shinn and Council,

At the Community Advisory Committee, Concord Reuse Project, meeting on October 14, two alternatives for the CNWS, findings and a resolution were sent to the Concord City Council on a 10-7 vote. When the CAC met on September 30, Michael Wright indicated that a minority report might go to the Council as well, particularly if the CAC recommendation was less than 2/3. Therefore, those of us in the minority would like to submit a minority report.

We commend the efforts by the Council, CAC and staff to allow for extensive public participation and to carefully craft two alternatives from the original seven, following the Guiding Principles. We strongly support the basic elements in both alternatives especially the open space, regional park, city parks, sports complex, higher education campus, new library, new green housing, jobs-generation and new local schools.

We request that the Council consider our comments and amend the findings with the suggestions we have submitted.

TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY
We believe the community should have had time to read and respond to the newly framed alternatives with the findings as expressed in the resolution (CAC No. 08-1). While the CAC had this information hand -delivered a few days in advance, members of the community did not. After months of building consensus, this rush to approve was divisive and unnecessary.

CAC Minority Report 1
Most people expected a decision on October 21, which was well within the time table the CAC was given.

OPPORTUNITY TO MODIFY THE FINDINGS
The motion that was made to accept the draft resolution also accepted the findings without any modifications. We believe that the CAC should have had the opportunity to modify and add to these findings before taking action, preferably at the October 21st CAC meeting. If this had been done, we believe that the CAC vote probably could have provided a consensus. We seek to remedy this, in part, by including amendments to the findings in this report.

CHALLENGES WITH BOTH ALTERNATIVES
NN Both provide for more density in housing and jobs than the transportation system should be expected to accommodate. The Oct. 10, 2008, Clustered Alternative has 12,300 dwelling units (28,880 people) and 26,530 jobs; the Concentration and Conservation Alternative has 10,205 dwelling units (23,240 people) and 21,260 jobs. At a conservative 10 trips per day per household — not counting jobs traffic — this would be 123,000 Average Daily Trips (Clustered) and 102,050 Average Daily Trips (Concentrated). While we understand that any development will add to traffic, these figures would create congestion that is unacceptable to the community. NN Development in both alternatives has been placed over major wetland areas. The California Regional Water Quality Control Board’s response to the DEIR referred to filling 35 acres of wetlands on this site which would occur on the least developed of the seven Reuse Plan Alternatives covered by the EIR. The letter states: “”it is critical to acknowledge that compensatory mitigation for the permanent loss of such a substantial acreage of wetlands habitat could be very difficult, if not impossible to achieve.” (p. 2, DEIR response) This agency must provide permits for development, as you know.

–In the Clustered Alternative, parks or open space/trail areas which buffer the existing neighborhoods are still inadequate, as expressed repeatedly by the Neighborhood Alliance and others.

–After two years of meetings, workshops, and dialogue, it is clear that the community will accept nothing less than permanent public open space status for the designated open space areas. The findings and maps need to reflect this, preferably specifying the open space as

CAC Minority Report 2
a regional park, in order to clearly represent the city’s intentions for the open space areas.

SPECIFIC FINDINGS IN THE CAC RESOLUTION NO. 08-1
At this point we do not know what the reactions of the community might have been to these findings. We believe a community consensus was possible which the CAC could have forwarded to the Council in late October. It is now up to the Council to find that consensus.

Here are our suggested additions to the findings:

Section 1. General Findings Regarding the Concentration and Conservation Alternative and Clustered Village Alternative

A. Overarching goals
p. 3 Quality of Life
The final sentence should list: some additional community facilities such as large picnic areas, educational centers and camping.

B. Key Planning Principles

p. 4 6. This item should include “a broad array of travel choices” (a phrase used elsewhere in the findings).

p. 4 12. This principle should read “Maximize permanent open space
and include plans to provide public park facilities, tree-planting and trails.”

Section 2. Specific Findings Regarding the Concentration and Conservation Alternative
p. 5 C. COMMUNITY

p. 7. 4. Parkland
Second bullet add at end: with park facilities and trails. Retain existing trees as a goal.
p. 7 D. LAND STEWARDSHIP

p. 7 Viewshed and Hillside Protection Second bullet add “and regional park facilities.”
CAC Minority Report 3

p. 8 Biological Resources
Fifth bullet, first sentence. Change last phrase to say “special management of cattle grazing.” (not termination, necessarily)

p. 8 E. ECONOMICS
new 2. Benefits to Concord
As the project progresses, many jobs will be created in the businesses that locate here and in the construction of the project itself. Through a practice of hiring local workers in good living wage jobs with training/apprentice programs, we can ensure that the City of Concord, its residents, and businesses realize the economic benefits of this project and have trained local workers for the future.

Section 3. Specific Findings Regarding the Clustered

Alternative
p. 10 C. COMMUNITY

p. 12. 4. Parkland
Third bullet add at end: with park facilities and trails. Retain existing trees as a goal.

p. 12 D. LAND STEWARDSHIP

p. 12 Viewshed and Hillside Protection Second bullet add: “and regional park facilities.”

p. 12 Biological Resources
Fifth bullet, first sentence. Change last phrase to say especial management of cattle grazing.” (not termination, necessarily)

p. 13 E. ECONOMICS
new 2. Benefits to Concord
As the project progresses, many jobs will be created in the businesses that locate here and in the construction of the project itself. Through a practice of hiring local workers in good living wage jobs with training/apprentice programs, we can ensure that the City of Concord, its residents, and businesses realize the economic benefits of this project and have trained local workers for the future.

CAC Minority Report 4

Thank you for the opportunity to provide this minority report. We have appreciated the opportunity to serve on the Community Advisory Committee and look forward to the Council’s discussions and decision.

Sincerely yours,

Scott Hein, Beverly Lane, John Mercurio, Rosanne Nieto, Greg Enholm,
Melvin Lee and Paul Elliott

cc City Manager Daniel E . Keen , Michael W. Wright, CAC
CAC Minority

Business networking seminar, Dec 5

Rick Silva, founder of B2B Gathering, a leading business networking provider in the East Bay, will conduct a private, closed door seminar that will teach business professionals how to build a powerful referral network. The seminar will be held at the Bishop Ranch Conference Center, in San Ramon, on December 5, from 1-3 p.m. Admission is $99.

Rick will share how to create a steady stream of referrals, that will help you grow income by turning your your current clients into your “sales force.” Don’t sell! Learn to build a network, craft an “elevator pitch” and other proven networking strategies. See the B2B site for more detail and registration.

California budget crisis grows

If you want to get a feeling for the size of California’s current budget problem - it comes in around $735 for every man, woman, and child based on the latest population estimates. That means in order to balance the budget over the next 20 months every PERSON would have to pay an additional $735 in taxes just to balance the budget.

On November 6th the Governor released his budget solution. It is full of “revenue hikes” which is exactly what we do not need given the projected size and length of time the budget deficit is going to
be with us. The just-released analysis by the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) says the state must come up with an additional $27.8 billion in the next 20 months and then face ongoing deficits far into the future (see LAO’s statement at the end of this item). The $27.8 billion equates to over 25% of the
state’s general fund. There has to be a fundamental restructuring of the way the state operates and what services it provides. Small service cuts and large tax increases are not going to solve this problem.

Here are the revenue sources Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed:

Temporary sales hike: Effective Jan. 1, 2009, state sales taxes would increase by 1.5% for
three years, from 5 percent to 6.5 percent. At the end of three years, the rate would return to 5
percent. Theoretical revenue: $3.54 billion 2008-09 and $7.3 billion in 2009-10. WITH NO PLAN TO REPLACE THIS REVENUE IT IS UNLIKELY THIS WOULD BE A “TEMPORARY” TAX. Note: This would place the majority of CCC sales tax levels at 9.75%. This tax increase can be put in place with a 2/3rds vote of both houses in the Legislature.

Add tax to services: Effective Feb. 1, 2009, the state would begin taxing certain services that
are currently untaxed at the new 6.5 percent sales tax rate. Those include appliance repair, furniture repair, vehicle repair, golf, and veterinarian services. As of March 1, the tax would expand to amusement parks and sports events. Theoretical revenue: $357 million in 2008-09 and $1.15 billion in 2009-10. THESE TAXES ARE PERMANENTLY EXTENDED TO SERVICES. NOTE: Unlike the sales tax increase, it is not at all clear that this can be done with a Legislative vote. It appears this will take a vote of the people under Prop 218.

Oil severance tax: Effective Jan. 1, 2009 there would be a new tax on oil extracted from the ground or water in California at a rate of 9.9 percent of the gross value. Theoretical revenue: $528 million in 2008-09 and $1.195 billion in 2009-10. Note: much of California’s oil is not the highly valued “light sweet crude” and there are many marginal wells just barely producing. This additional tax could mean that these wells will be permanently taken out of service. To be realistic – these taxes would be passed on to the consumer.

Nickel-a-drink tax: Effective Jan. 1, 2009 there would be a hike in alcohol taxes in the state by a nickel per drink (defined as 1.5 ounces of liquor, 12 ounces of beer, or 5 ounces of wine) Theoretical revenue: $293 million in 208-09 and $584 million in 2009-10.

Vehicle registration fee: Effective Feb. 1, 2009 vehicle registration fees would be raised by $12. Theoretical revenue: $150 million in 2008-09 and $359 million in 2009-2010 Note: Isn’t this where the Governor came in? This kind of tax is regressive and extremely unpopular.

Statement From the nonpartisan state Legislative Analyst’s Office:
Overview of the 2008 Special Legislative Session Proposals
——————————————–
We concur with the administration’s assessment that the state’s struggling economy signals a major
reduction in expected revenues. Combined with rising state expenses, we project that the state will
need $27.8 billion in budget solutions over the next 20 months. The state’s revenue collapse is so
dramatic and the underlying economic factors are so weak that we forecast huge budget shortfalls
through 2013-14 absent corrective action. From 2010-11 through 2013-14, we project annual shortfalls that are consistently in the range of $22 billion.

— This update from Kris Hunt, Executive Director of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association.

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