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Commentary: Q&A with City Council candidate Monica Montgomery
San Diego City Council candidate Monica Montgomery is seeking to replace her former boss.
(Howard Lipin/Union-Tribune photo)
Q&A with City Council candidate Monica Montgomery
San Diego City Council candidate Monica Montgomery is seeking to replace her former boss. Howard Lipin/Union-Tribune photo
Residents of San Diego's District 4 will be choosing a City Council representative in the fall. Incumbent Myrtle Cole faces challenger Monica Montgomery in the November election. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board met separately with each of the candidates. Here is the transcript of the interview with Monica Montgomery.
Union-Tribune: So thank you for coming in. We had your opponent in the other day. I'm looking forward to this conversation. Tell us why you decided to run.
MONTGOMERY: Well, I decided to run overall because I grew up in District 4. I've lived there for 30 years, and I have experienced the deterioration of the district first-hand, specifically in the last decade or so and so you know, kind of being in a position to do something about that through a leadership role as opposed to kinda sitting back and allowing it to continue to happen was a big part of my decision.
RELATED: Q&A with San Diego City Council President Myrtle Cole
I have nephews that live in the district. I want a better district and a better city for them and really the two kind of policy… two things that were kind of the… my last straw where… one is that the Jacobs Foundation still is holding about 37 acres in District 4 and it's going to be very important that that land is developed in a way that uplifts a community and not further depresses the community and so that was one thing… possibly being able to be at the helm or in those conversations and then the other was when the racial profiling study came out and the recommendations were attached and Council ultimately decided to accept the findings of the report but not the recommendations led by my opponent then that was… those were really like the last two kind of tangible things that put me over the top.
Union-Tribune: I've read reports, but I wanted to ask you. You resigned from her office the day after her now-infamous racial profiling comments?
MONTGOMERY: Yes, I resigned the day after. I walked out the day of.
Union-Tribune: Walk us through your thought process on that. No one wants to give up a job, but obviously, you felt strongly about it. Why did you make that statement?
MONTGOMERY: For several reasons. One is because it's just… what she said is just factually not true and, as a staffer, I would have been put in a position to defend those statements to the community members that I love and I was not willing to do that.
So for me, it was just about upholding the reputation that I have personally in the community whether or not I was going to run, whatever the future was, because when I left there, I had no idea what I was even going to do with my life, but it was that strong that… of a buildup of the criminal justice issues that had been kinda centered in District 4 around 182.5, the… the PERF report that had come out earlier. There were all these things leading up to this moment, and to say something like that I thought was out of touch, very insensitive, factually incorrect and just something that I could no longer defend.
Union-Tribune: How… talk about criminal justice issues. We've been editorializing a lot recently on the Community Review Board. I did a lot of reporting on that and there's not a district representative on that panel. There hasn't been since late 2016. The council president says that she has recently put forward some names, but only gave those names after my contacts with her.
Why do you think that she was so blasé about a District 4 representative on that board? And then thoughts on her seeming to slow walk this ballot measure that would give them subpoena power and then, as we framed it, gave cover to council members for saying we don't have enough time to put this on the ballot so we're going to spike the thing.
MONTGOMERY: So first of all, that's exactly the way I interpret it… the measure moving through the process. I think it was stalled on purpose. You used the word blasé, and that's basically how the community feels about the current representative, which is why the election results turned out the way that they did. Because this is just an example of all types of stalling and skirting issues that are important to people in District 4 and so we… there are so many things that we can mention, but the CRB is a clear example of the types of things that happen to our community where our needs are not addressed at the… at City Hall and so yes, I feel very strongly about that.
For me, it sort of certifies where it… we… we won the primary and that example of the CRB is just kind of proof and evidence of what the people have been experiencing for the last five years. There's been an attitude of stalling on the people's needs and not really fighting for or advocating what the people of District 4 desire and so that's just an example of that for us where we weren't surprised by it.
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Union-Tribune: Let me ask what… how long did you work for your opponent?
MONTGOMERY: I worked for her for two years.
Union-Tribune: Okay. So… and during that time then you were aware that she had not put forth the name and what was the reason given?
MONTGOMERY: Well… well I left around the time that someone… there was a District 4 representative on the board at the time that I was there. That person left the board. I think they moved or something like that to where…
Union-Tribune: Moved to Texas, I think.
MONTGOMERY: Right and so like while the time that I was there, there was a District 4 representative, but… but also I worked with staffers in Todd Gloria's office on the… on Measure G, which still has not been implemented fully. So… I mean you know, I really did… I can say that in the office I truly believe that I tried. Most of the staffers that I worked with there have also left and so we really were in it for the community.
I was working at the Mayor's Office when my opponent asked me to come work for her and I did that based on what is clear and evident… my love for my community and being on the… on the ground floor really, really helping and thinking that there was a leader that had at least the heart to help, if nothing else and so I haven't experienced not having a District 4 representative while I was in the office on that board, but I know being out in the community there are plenty of people that have put in applications and haven't heard anything. So…
Union-Tribune: For which positions?
MONTGOMERY: For the board. For the…
Union-Tribune: For the CRB particularly.
MONTGOMERY: For the Community Review Board, yes.
Union-Tribune: You mentioned… you used the word surprise. Were you surprised when you outpolled your opponent in the primary? I mean context for those who are reading or listening to this. Twenty… what is it… since 1992 no incumbent has… has lost in San Diego City Council races.
MONTGOMERY: I… I wasn't surprised that we made top two, definitely not. When the results first came out that evening, we were about at like 35 percent, we were maybe a couple hundred votes behind and I thought that that was where it was going to stay, but we pulled through and overcome and so there are two things about that. One is we really had a GOTV effort that was… that we integrated the community about getting out folks that, you know, are lower propensity voters that really felt compelled that maybe this time they could be a part of putting someone in office.
The second thing is this was the highest voter turnout on record for District 4 since… for a primary since we've been taking… taking note and having a record of that since the 1930s. So that was a huge, huge deal and then the last thing is really just the takeaway that 61 percent of the people in District 4 did not vote for an incumbent council president that currently represents them. That's a big deal and so we… we were surprised. I was surprised.
My… I can't speak for my team, but I was surprised that we got first. I'm not… I guess surprised isn't the word. I was grateful that… that people are getting involved in a process that is normally controlled by money and incumbency, I can say that.
Union-Tribune: What's your… we talked about framing at the election for… through, you know, her campaign and her accomplishments or lack thereof. What's your single greatest accomplishment? Why should someone choose you?
MONTGOMERY: Well first of all… and we can definitely talk about accomplishments. First of all, character and integrity is very important in this race. I don't flip-flop. I don't go back and forth. My values and my platform has not changed from the very beginning. So this is purely a community effort, and I will be providing a community voice at City Hall. So that's extremely important, but outside of that, I ran the… the local campaign on bill reform at the ACLU once I left.
My opponent's office… while there I put together and organized one of the biggest homeowner exposé that… that we had had in years in District 4. I, in the community, am extremely, you know, receptive of the community's needs, and I have distributed and exhibited that through my work. As an attorney, I helped hundreds of community members save their homes from foreclosure because I came into the industry during that time where, you know, folks were losing the only asset that they had and so you know, there are things that I have done that I'm very proud of… passing the bar, but you know, that's sort of… it has to be a combination of someone who understands those accomplishments are important, but also someone who understands people and the needs and the desires of the people and so I'm very proud of that.
I'm proud of the work that I did on the Groundwork San Diego Board with trail connectivity through District 4. We're still working on a lot of those things. I'm not a part of the board, but work closely with the organization. So you can see economics, environment, criminal justice, all of those things that I've had a hand in, in a lot of different things in San Diego.
Union-Tribune: You mentioned the Jacobs Center property. What were your concerns about that?
MONTGOMERY: Well, my concerns would be the same as, you know, any one entity having 40 acres of land in any district… is that how is it going to be built up? So will it include some of the things the community desires, some of the amenities that were first promised when Jacobs came and explained and shared their vision with the community about, you know, us having many of the things that we lack, just everyday things that other folks take for granted? Restaurants. Places to go and shop and so having a balanced… a balanced approach to that type of a development, I'm very concerned that the community won't have a space in those negotiations if we continue on the way that we're going now.
Union-Tribune: But the work that's been done so far, is that not adequate? Are they not heading in the right direction?
MONTGOMERY: So they had a sunset date or a date where they plan to finish all the plans that they originally came to the community with over a decade ago and Market Creek Plaza is… is fine. It's good. It has the Starbucks in it. It has the Food 4 Less in it. For whatever reason, we have not been able to keep a tenant with regard to the restaurant space in that facility… in that mall and so for them to still have as many acres as they do without any real concrete plans to… to move it forward… we hear a lot of things.
We've been hearing a lot of things from additional education institutes to hotels to… you know, all these things we've heard over the years, but the thing that has come to fruition is the Market Creek Plaza and now, you know, a Live Well Center on the corner where there's Malcolm X Library and Elementary Institute of Science where the community has a lot of concerns about a four-story 8,000 square foot building that, you know, is going to house probation and other resources right in the… dead in the middle of our community.
The Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library has opened a technology lab. Photo/AP
Union-Tribune: About eight years ago, Councilman Young was trying to set up getting a small Wal-Mart in his district and he met with the editorial board, and he was quite optimistic about chances to attract the kinds of businesses that you're talking about. What happened? Why? Or was Tony just imagining this receptivity from possible corporations coming to his district?
MONTGOMERY: I can't speak for Tony. I can say that I'm not going in here with my… blindly. I know that it is very hard, especially after community development corporations have been, you know…
Union-Tribune: Problems.
MONTGOMERY: Right and… and they no longer exist. We really did benefit a lot from the corporation that was housed in southeastern San Diego, regardless of the outcome. We got… we got the Concorde Institute, a 24 Hour Fitness, a Home Depot, you know, a Sizzler… a huge development on that corner and others. So… so it's not… it's really, really not easy. I think some of the challenge has been figuring out how to combine these new incentives like the tax credits and other things that businesses can use, but it's sort of… it's new.
People are still used to having that… that development corporation there to handle those things and to… to increase the urban development. We don't have that anymore and the challenge has been figuring out how are we going to get the things that we desire for our community without that entity? And so I'm… I know that it's hard, I know that it's tough, but I also know it's going to take a lot of hard work and that's something that we haven't seen as of late.
Union-Tribune: When Mayor Faulconer was running a few years ago for the first time, he told us in an editorial board meeting that he didn't like the idea of just focusing on biotech in La Jolla. He wanted to help every district in his city achieve high-tech jobs and achieve economic development.
We asked the incumbent about this the other day, and she didn't really fault Faulconer for his efforts, but from my perspective at least, I don't see much progress, so I wonder what Faulconer's done in the five or four years since he said this was a priority. Do you think that economic development in your district has been properly emphasized?
MONTGOMERY: No, I do not. I will give one example and kinda talk a little bit about how I see the district with more of the green economy and… and really having housing that… a lot of that in District 4. There… you all probably know about the audit with the business incentive industry small business program at the city of San Diego, which biotech, if I'm not mistaken, was one of the industries that businesses could receive incentives for from the city.
Well that… that program served over 200 businesses in the last five years and none of them were in District 4 and so when we are putting out our vision to the city of San Diego, and particularly in District 4, I think the first thing that needs to be done is to analyze those programs within the city that could help that type of growth in District 4 or District 8 or wherever it is. I don't know if that was done or not.
You know, I also worked for Kevin [Faulconer] for a few months. I know that his heart is there, but this takes a lot of grunt work, it takes a lot of hard work, it takes a staff that is dedicated to whatever your… you say your vision is and so that… it's very clear that… for those five years that an industry that could have received those incentives for coming in… I don't know even know that there was any effort to merge or to marry those two things, and it's clear that none of the businesses in District 4 were served by that program.
Union-Tribune: Housing and homelessness is a huge issue citywide and in neighborhoods all over, not just downtown. Thoughts on how the council has handled that from the hep A crisis to date and… and how you would handle it both in District 4 and citywide?
MONTGOMERY: Yeah. I mean it… it's just our black eye. Like it's… it's so sad and it is happening, especially in California because of the cost of living in coastal cities. So it's… it is not just us, but we do have the fourth-highest population in the county… I mean in the nation… our county does and I believe that, you know, the signs… a lot of the signs were there.
So grand jury reports about the possibility of a type of hep A outbreak years ago, the, you know, getting rid of thousands of affordable units in our city over, you know, a 10-year period. All of these things are contributing. In addition to that, you know, the cost of living just continuing to increase and the sort of wage stagnation. So there are a lot of things that have contributed to this and I think a lot of… we do a lot of studies and we have a lot of policy, but it is about implementation and it's also about vision.
So the way I see San Diego right now in not all of its leaders, but the way we kind of do things is we put… we continue to put Band-Aids on broken arms. So we… we are paying attention to homelessness and housing, but not taking the risks, I think, that are going to be needed that have… that short-term, you know, might be risky, but long-term will help our entire city. I think that there is not an effort to do that. I think it's easier for us to kinda set up committees and look at the policies and draft resolutions and get them passed that say, you know, the entire city needs to take on this burden in every single district, that kind of thing, but the implementation is still kinda slow.
So you know, I am of the belief that we have to take a holistic approach to homelessness and housing and what do I mean when I say that? We have to connect the dots between what type of economic opportunity we're providing for folks, especially vulnerable people who are really on their way to homelessness or just kind of getting into the world of homelessness, and looking at that as well… looking at that population as well. There are… I do believe in housing first. I know that it is expensive. I know that we, in San Diego are… we… rightfully so our residents want to preserve the character of San Diego, but this is San Diego.
This is San Diego where thousands of people are sleeping on the streets. This is San Diego and so we have to… with those who are dealing with substance abuse and mental health, Housing First… that model with the wraparound services… I think, is very, very important and so that's something that I would be advocating for, but additionally, I just believe that providing economic opportunity for folks in a city that is so expensive to live in is very, very important and if we're not doing that… if we're not doing that for folks who are homeless, if we're not doing that for people who are coming out of prison or jail then it's going to be a vicious cycle that we're creating.
Union-Tribune: Georgette Gomez and many others around California are gung-ho about rent control, and they see that as a solution to the problem. The larger picture, economists all say it depresses housing construction and, ultimately, we need more housing to solve this problem. So it kinda gets to the Band-Aid on a broken arm analogy. What do you think about rent control efforts and are you worried it could backfire?
MONTGOMERY: Well, listen. I have continually said that I'm… when it comes to housing and making sure that folks are… have shelter everything is on the table, everything is. I think we cannot afford to leave rent control and rent stabilization off of the table. I support the repeal that's going forward that's going to be on the ballot in November… Prop 10. I believe it received a number. I do support it.
Yes, there's always that risk, but I just look at the state that we're in now and I just… I… you know, continually subsidizing and giving incentives to developers, which is what we… we commonly do, which is… I'm not opposed to that, but it's not doing the full job that it needs to do. So on top of that, I also don't like the in lieu fee. I don't like that loophole, especially for communities like mine in District 4 where it's very important that we don't segregate communities based on income. I think that there should be, again, another form of balanced development where we are developing properties and developing housing, which people of all income levels are living together.
Union-Tribune: In San Francisco, the number of homeless has not gone up in recent years, which is not something people appreciate, but the number of homeless who are intensely psychotic or on drugs… on methamphetamines, in particular… has gone up and that's blamed for the quality of life issues that are coming in the fore the last two or three years in San Francisco.
The new mayor, London Breed, is proposing a change in state law that would allow the city of San Francisco, the city and county of San Francisco to act as interveners and to kinda take over the lives of the… of the worst… you know, the most drug addicted, the most psychotic. It seems like, on the one hand, pretty troubling civil libertarian-wise, but on the other hand it sure seems like you've got to do something in San Francisco and there's signs that we're about where San Francisco was a half-dozen years ago, but we're trending towards the tons of psychotic meth users out there.
What, if anything, different should the city do to deal with that part of the problem… the fact that a relative handful of these people cause a great majority of the worst problems?
MONTGOMERY: Yeah. That's tough because, as you know, I worked for the ACLU, so I… those flags go up right away. I mean it's tough and, you know, we have to… we have to look at those proposed solutions. I just have… I do have an issue with taking away any person's liberty no matter what. I think that's just really… we're not there yet, but if it… it becomes bad enough to where we have to begin to put these things on the table… so I haven't had a position about that yet. That's something that I can see where, you know, community members, homeowners might support that.
Union-Tribune: San Francisco seems ready to support it.
MONTGOMERY: Well, of course the tourism industry definitely will support something like that, but you know, it is… we have to be very careful when we begin to take away because I think about… this is not an analogy, but I do think about like the gang documentation list, for example. I think about how folks are put on that and, you know, when an audit was done it was found that, you know, babies' names were on that and, you know, folks who have no idea that they were on this list that could land them jail time and prison time more on the list.
So you know, we tend to abuse laws like that and so I would be very careful to, you know, support something like that, but… but understanding the severity of homelessness and I think… this is the last thing I'll say, but I think that really focusing on the people that are just… are weaving their way into homelessness based on the cost of living rising and kind of finding that niche of people that we can catch.
Because I do believe that being on the street every day continually and not being able to feed your family, having family taken away, all the types of things that happen based on homelessness can lead someone further and further into a psychotic, you know, break and so I think the inclusive and holistic approach is very important.
San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit holds a press conference. Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune
Union-Tribune: Big city police departments which have problems with corruption or problem with attitudes towards minorities historically in America have chosen outsiders to try to come in and shake things up and attack cultures, but San Diego hasn't done that. As far as I know since I've lived here there's never been an actual search for a new police chief. There's always promote from within. Is that a mistake and are you concerned about the culture of SDP?
MONTGOMERY: If I'm not mistaken, I believe the last search where Chief Nisleit was successful was actually a national search.
Union-Tribune: They did that.
MONTGOMERY: I think where… I think there are also community members involved in that selection. I do think when we choose community members… and this is the same issue we're having with the CRB… if a city… we choose people we want that will give us the answers I think that… that we need. So this is… you know, this is a large city with a small town feel. You know, a lot of people know each other and we do want to feel… we want someone that… that knows us, right?
A lot of the community members… as I was going through those meetings that the ACLU and others partnered into… partnered with in going into the community and asking what do folks want to see in a chief, for me, my perspective and what I have seen is that it is good to have outside eyes come in and evaluate where a police department is or even other entities. That happens often, not just in law enforcement. I think it's very helpful.
I think it's healthy, you know. I think sometimes, you know, someone can come in and evaluate and can determine that, you know, hey, things are not as bad as… as we think, you know, or it could be the opposite, but yes, I think that the national search is always a good idea, especially for… you know, we're dealing with a lot at our city right now. We're dealing with a lot of frivolous spending. We're dealing… you know, we do have the racial profiling report that shows us we've got this issue with the CRB. We had that pay to play issue, you know, months back with the San Diego Police Department.
So you know, yes, I think that it would be good to have people that have not been groomed into our own police department because there are relationships there. You go out on… in the field and you depend on each other for your lives, so of course when it comes down to it and you have to choose sides you're going to choose the department no matter what, you know and so I think it is important to have national searches, but also to really consider someone from the outside coming in and not just do it for a show.
Union-Tribune: Pro forma.
MONTGOMERY: Yeah.
Union-Tribune: Well, what do you think of the chief and the job he's done in the few months he's been in the department?
MONTGOMERY: Yeah, I haven't had a chance to… we have talked, but I haven't really had a chance to sit down and talk to him yet.
Union-Tribune: He didn't say nice say things about the ACLU when he was here two weeks ago.
MONTGOMERY: You said he didn't?
Union-Tribune: No, he… he ripped the report that said half of the [people in California killed by police] were unarmed. He said they weren't unarmed, but… actually the report said they didn't have guns, which isn't the same thing as unarmed… but he called it a lie and made a bit of a stink about it, for what it's worth.
MONTGOMERY: Well, there you have it. There you have it. Listen, he has a job to do. I've always taken the approach as a City Council member I have a job to do. I answer to my community. He answers to his… to his department. He also has a group of attorneys. He has a Police Officers Association and so I will not be… I will be putting my community first, period and so I don't mind going… I don't mind going toe to toe. That… that's fine.
There's no other reason why I would be doing this and so I'm sure that like many police officers that I know that the chief is a good guy, but the system itself is what we need to be looking at and to kind of tackle the nuances of a report is not getting us to the real issues that… we have trust issues in our community. We can do that all day, but until we deal with the trust issues it's still going to be this side and that side. So…
Union-Tribune: Last week we had a really harsh editorial about Mayor Faulconer that said he gets a D minus for his failure on all these big issues. This week we interviewed two City Council incumbents, and we asked both of them well isn't this a reflection on City Hall? It's not just a reflection on the mayor to be unable to get big things done, to keep having problems (with) agencies like the water bills and things like that. How poorly or well-run do you think San Diego is?
MONTGOMERY: I think one of Mayor Faulconer's biggest mistakes was helping Council President Cole get to the position she's in now, and I think that leads to some of the… much of the ineffectiveness that we see at the council level. I think the city is not being run the best that it could be right now. We… can look at… we have many different examples.
I talked about the small business one, which is small, but we are spending $18,000 a day right now on a building that we're not occupying. We just bought a building that is supposed to be for homeless resources and services that won't have any beds. We are doing a lot. The Convention Center, the going back and forth with the vacation home rentals, and there are just… the homelessness issue.
There's a lot and Council President Cole has been in the middle of all of that, and the buck stops at the leader and to be the second in charge in the city and to see it continually disintegrate is, you know, something that we all need to take a look at.
Union-Tribune: What do you think about the Convention Center proposal? Should… do we need an expanded Convention Center?
MONTGOMERY: You know, the issue that I have with the measure is that, in my mind, I felt that it was casual when it came to having money for the homeless and service… services in the streets. I don't think that… I think it gave council the ability to maneuver what those funds would look like, and there was not any definitive direction given for those issues within the measure. That's what I didn't like about the measure. Now, whether it would have gone to… you know, to the ballot, the people would have been able to decide and I wasn't necessarily opposed to that, but I think with a million bucks and big business and labor behind you, you should have gotten the signature. So I'm concerned that… at that level in the campaign that the bare minimum wasn't done, but yet we're supposed to trust these people with an appropriate measure. I have an issue with that.
Union-Tribune: Convention Center at large as a project, do you think San Diego should be spending energy and time on expanding that? Do you support a measure to expand that?
MONTGOMERY: It would depend on the measure, honestly, and it would depend on how my community members would benefit. There's often a lot of things done based on the tourism industry that my community does not benefit from at all, and so that's really in this position where I'm coming from with anything and I think a lot of things could be worked out to benefit all. That is not how we have done business in San Diego.
Union-Tribune: The other big development project in town is Qualcomm Stadium site… former Qualcomm Stadium site. Where do you come down on SDSU West or SoccerCity or door number three?
MONTGOMERY: Door number three. Listen, I… you know, my father has owned a construction company for years, my mom's a real estate broker. I'm not anti-growth. I just don't think that these deals with regard to land use are… are… the city is getting everything that we need to get out of them, you know and that is… that is my issue with both of those deals and so that's kinda… that's where I stand on it.
Union-Tribune: So you're no on both of them?
MONTGOMERY: I am leaning towards no on both of them.
Downtown will see more than $6 billion in new projects completed between 2016 and 2020, according to a roundup by Civic San Diego. Gensler
Union-Tribune: Your opponent is not without a list of accomplishments. She brought in a whole list of projects in the district that have come to light… a $13 million library project, a bunch of other projects. Do you have the background and the skills to continue the projects that are in motion there and identify the grants and the… all the other things to keep these projects going? Or do you challenge her claim? She gave us this list. We don't know if it's true.
MONTGOMERY: Here's the thing. You know, let me… let me just tell you this and I'll use the library for an example. Here's the reason why 61 percent of the people voted against council member Cole. The library is a perfect example. The Skyline Hills Community Council has… and members of it and members of that community have been working on that library as individual citizens for over a decade.
Tony Young secured the funding for that library. When, you know, as elected officials some things happen on our watch we push it through to the end, and that's great, but we don't do that without giving credit to the others that have come before us and that is the problem I have with her list, specifically the Skyline Library. It… to me, it's a lack of leadership in… in bringing everyone together and saying thank you that I was… that… that this was… you worked so hard and you labored so hard that when I came in, you know, my work was almost done or, you know, whatever it is. That's a major problem that people have with her.
You know, I was a part of the list of accomplishments. I was in the office and so it's not… the people are ready for advocacy for the things that they need in their… in our community. They want to see. They want a visible leader. We have projects, but we're not the builders. We have an unemployment rate that is, in some ZIP codes, twice the rate of that of the city.
You know, we have issues such as this new issue that came up with the Civic San Diego Board and the conflict. That… that project that he voted on was in our community. No word from council president. So these… so… yeah, you know, that should be the bare minimum. Getting sidewalks, paving streets should be the minimum of what a council member does. There should be vision. There should be proposals that help the members of our community and their quality of life. It doesn't matter if a bunch of developers come in and build in District 4 if the people of District 4 are being displaced because of it. So that's the issue that I have.
Union-Tribune: Because you raise Civic San Diego, I asked her this question because the story had broke… I guess it was over the weekend, and so you know, she hadn't seen it. So she kind of didn't answer the question, but what I asked her was Andrew Malik… it was Voice of San Diego.
So Andrew Malik who was an unsuccessful bidder on the Hilltop-Euclid project that we're talking about says there needs to be some sort of reform in picking developers for public projects in San Diego and that he won't take part in bidding again. So what does that say… that the project is so flawed that someone who would want to build in District 4 is now saying "no, thanks"?
MONTGOMERY: It goes to the problem that we have in the city, which is there's a network of folks that get a lot of the work here, and because of that the creativity is stagnant and we're not able to experience some of the others ways that we could build for people and, you know, there is a major problem. There's a major problem with folks who… who have good ideas, who have capital, who have backing, that want to do business with us, and the process… processes are so flawed that they… they say… you know... they can go somewhere else and this… that is a major issue. It's a major issue.
I've known… we've known people with less conflict that have had worse consequences for them, you know and so yeah, I… that… that makes me upset that we are… we're the ones that are not going to benefit, you know, based on a conflict of the Civic San Diego Board and… you know. Yes, I agree that the process is flawed and it makes it hard for people who are looking to maybe do business in San Diego in some of the more creative ways that we're going to have to develop in order to house folks and get people the things that they desire in neighborhoods, specifically in District 4. It's driving those folks away.
Union-Tribune: So… and we talked about this a little bit earlier so I'm not going to rehash that, but as a council member, what would you do then to clear away that reluctance to build or that difficulty in building?
MONTGOMERY: So it has to be… in my mind, it has to be a hands-on approach. We can no longer sit back and allow other folks to do it and tell us what the results of that are. Like I want to be hands-on just like I am in my campaign… the decision-making, you know, the strategy, how we're moving forward, you know .... all of… all of those things, you know, that are… whatever is ethically legal that, you know, we can… we really can get people to see that this is an awesome community and awesome district.
We have history here. You know, we have people deserving, we have people who spend money, and, you know, we can't give up. We can't give up and that's the thing. I'm not going to give up. I'm going to put what my community tells me first and… and just… you know, we can't always accept no for an answer.
Union-Tribune: I asked the council incumbents about the Climate Action Plan and the concern that some people have that whenever we adopt these things they increase costs and they hurt poor people. So, on the one hand, it's great, we've got to clean our environment.
On the other hand there's economic consequences and I wasn't really under the impression that either council incumbent had bought that argument or shared that concern at all. Do you worry sometimes that there's a disconnect between what environmentalists want to do and how it affects less wealthy people?
MONTGOMERY: I talk to environmentalists about this often. I've been endorsed by environmentalist groups and… and also Groundwork San Diego that I mentioned before that I served on the board. There is always, you know, that challenge and always that risk. I have come… I try to marry the issues of economic justice and environmental justice. We often face a lot of environmental racism in communities such as ours, so getting… we can be connected in many different ways.
I have heard concern over the Climate Action Plan that, you know, with the… kinda with the grid model then the prices rise up with the smaller outlets of energy. Prices rise for people particularly in low-income communities, and, you know, that is, of course, a concern. It should be a concern for anyone that is representing a community that is already under resourced and underserved, but at the same time it's just like another issue we mention about the risk involved… the rent control.
These are… these are new, innovative things that we're going to have to figure out how to tackle because we can't keep doing business the way that we have been doing them and so I know that the CPUC, you know… it monitors and regulates like SDG&E as far as rate hikes and income levels and things like that. I don't know how that would be integrated into a… having a local municipality, you know, deal with our energy, but I know that there is statewide regulation and we would just have to minor it closely.
Union-Tribune: So you support CCAs?
MONTGOMERY: Yes. Yes, I do.
Union-Tribune: I'm sorry. You support the Community Choice Plan or…
MONTGOMERY: Oh, the choice. You're talking about climate action.
Union-Tribune: Yeah.
MONTGOMERY: So both. So both and the Climate Action Plan… the one issue that I have is that the jobs equity portion of the plan has not been built out with anything definitive. It's a very sort of… in my mind sort of a lofty explanation of oh, these two should merge and, you know, this… you know, the green economy should create more jobs, but really there hasn't been a plan yet and that has not been spelled out to how we would do that. So I'm very interested in being a part of really just spelling that, ironing that part out.
Cindy Marten (grey jacket and black top) as she addressed the media at San Diego Unified Headquarters auditorium. Board member Scott Barnett at the podium answers questions with regards to the hire. Sean M. Haffey
Union-Tribune: Can I ask you about district-only elections at San Diego Unified, something that you support? To date it's been a Republican initiative on the council, so why do you support it?
MONTGOMERY: Well, I've always said I'm not backed by any major party. I'm a Democrat. I've never changed my affiliation. I will continue to be a Democrat, but I'm putting my community first and, you know, years ago it was a Democratic initiative when… decades ago when the Democrats did not have control over the board and so I think that we need to look at these things historically.
At the end of the day, my community really suffers. The black and Latino students, you know, in particular suffer in my community based on us not being able to really choose our representative. The city chooses our representative and so it's an important… it's an issue that is very, very important to my community, and I've always said that. You know, I'm… my values are clear and I identify with the platform of the Democratic party, but this is one where it's important and very clear with my community that my community wants district-only elections, but for district-only elections, I will not be able to run in this race and possibly win.
Union-Tribune: Why do you think the council has been slow to embrace it? They recently got a lawsuit that says this could be a Voting Rights Act violation, and a lot of school districts in San Diego County and up and down the state have made the switch out of fear of litigation.
MONTGOMERY: I think some of the decisions have been politically motivated and, you know, that's all. I can only speak for where I stand.
Union-Tribune: Scooters is another issue citywide. Especially down here that's become an issue. Is that… dockless bikes and scooters… are those… is that an issue in District 4 as well?
MONTGOMERY: So in District 4, you know, we don't have as many dockless bikes, but we have quite a few and with all of the other issues that we deal with, with, you know, debris and just trying to make sure that our streets are clean, receiving not the attention that we have deserved, a little bit more active in primary elections.
I don't know what that's from, but you know, it kind of adds to, you know, the issues that we're already having. So on one hand, you know, I see folks being able to pick up a bike and get to the trolley with it, you know, in a faster time maybe to get to work or whatever they're… they're doing. Well that's awesome, but to just have the bikes laying around it just creates a nuisance for… for the community and the members that are there, so more attention needs to be paid to that for sure.
Union-Tribune: Specific regulations or is that more an education campaign that'll work itself out in weeks or months?
MONTGOMERY: Yeah. I mean that's a good question. I would have to look at the two. I mean it probably would need to be some type of regulation on that, but at the same time we don't want to overburden folks, like I said, especially in communities like mine with, you know, like ridiculous fines or fees just, you know, based on leaving a bike somewhere. I'm not interested in that.
Union-Tribune: You describe yourself as a Democrat through and through. Are you a Seattle City Council Democrat? What kind of a Democrat are you? The Seattle City Council… it's pretty wild what they're doing. They're basically trying to implement a Barry Sanders' style agenda like regulating how workers are treated in not… not just pay, but other things.
So there's an appetite for that kind of real active Democratic [politician]. Are you in that mode or is there someone you would compare yourself to in national politics or California politics and say that's the kind of representative… that's the kind of Democratic lawmaker I'd like to be?
MONTGOMERY: Well, I… I'm a progressive with a strong criminal justice reform platform, economic justice, environmental justice, racial justice. I want to talk about all of those things and bring proposals to the table that are, you know, more progressive than we have seen in San Diego. I am also a long… I'm a San Diegan. You know, I grew up in this town, so I understand this town and it has to have a very unique approach to progressive politics and so I wouldn't compare myself to… there's people that I admire, absolutely, but I think for this time… for this race… for, you know, this… this city it has to be Monica Montgomery.
Union-Tribune: How would you have voted if you were on the council during the Morris Cerullo project coming to council?
MONTGOMERY: Against the project.
Union-Tribune: Why?
MONTGOMERY: There were a lot of concerns, I think, that were legitimate around the project around the… you know, land-use concerns around traffic and those types of things and I think those were legitimate concerns. I think that… I mean outside of having an issue with, you know, the owner and his stance on… I don't… I don't remember the term, but it's, you know, changing around the… you know, making someone convert from being gay, I believe. So yeah, so all of those things played a part.
Of course, you can't vote against something… against a development project based on a personal concern. I do think that there were legal concerns that were brought up at the hearing that I agree with. Again, I also just… you know, like I am going to be asking every single time what is my community getting from this? Will we be working on this project? This is a local project, local hire. What… you know, how are we going to benefit?
You know, often times our vote kinda gets pushed around, you know and we've been the swing vote historically in District 4, but I really am interested and want to work with folks to see how these things will benefit District 4.
Union-Tribune: Speaking of swing votes… back to the Convention Center decision where they attempted to put the Convention Center issue back on the ballot after the signatures were gathered. Had you been the swing vote on that day, how would you have voted?
MONTGOMERY: Listen. The week before I… we worked hard on the CRB initiative and it was killed. It was killed and we did everything right. So I think that… like I said… a million dollars should have bought those signature. It should have been enough to… the… the process that was chosen in the beginning by labor, by big business should have been fulfilled to where they did not have to come to Council.
I don't believe in changing the entire process for that. I believe that there are two different ways that you can get a ballot measure, you know, on the… a measure on the ballot. One is through the citizens' initiative. We went through the CRB. There was not a champion inside. council member Cole stalled it. We didn't even have an opportunity, even though we did everything right.
On the other end, the business community, labor, hoteliers… they, you know, chose to get the signatures, spend the money, and it didn't work out and it didn't qualify and I just don't think the process should be changed because, if that were the case, it should have been changed for us.
Union-Tribune: What do you think Myrtle Cole's greatest strength is?
MONTGOMERY: One moment, please. At one point in time she hired good folks. You know, honestly, Myrtle is… initially when you first meet her she's… she's a nice person, you know. I just think that when you have the… when the quality of life is at stake for 180,000 people that it takes more than being nice, that it takes a capacity to handle pressure, that it takes discipline to really study and read through. It takes vision, it takes real leadership, and I'm hoping that, you know, in November that District 4 will finally get that.
Union-Tribune: So in closing, what's your greatest strength?
MONTGOMERY: That's a good question. My greatest strength is that not only do I… you know, I kinda like love this stuff, right? I love reading your articles and I love reading through ordinances and I love doing all that, but above all I love people… I love my people and there would be no way that I was doing this without that type of love and compassion in my heart and I think that is what we are missing and that it will be the link that can get San Diego back on track.
Union-Tribune: Thank you for coming in.
MONTGOMERY: Thank you.
The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board sent the candidate a questionnaire on the issues during the primary election. Read her answers here.
Commentary: Catherine Rampell | Nation should abolish the debt ceiling
It's time to be grown-ups.
Commentary: How Del Mar is improving safety for racehorses
Local racetrack adopting stringent standards
Commentary: Why horse racing needs new rules to survive
PETA pushes better protections for animals
Commentary: Why Stonewall's legacy of liberation should be celebrated with pride
San Diego Pride part of global movement of activists
A conversation with California Treasurer Fiona Ma
Fiona Ma has been California's treasurer since Jan. 7, 2019.
Commentary: Why an African American leader is needed for the Jackie Robinson YMCA
Some months ago a group of interested San Diego residents learned that the former Jackie Robinson Family YMCA executive had been elevated to a corporate position within the organization.
Chris Reed: Abuses of prosecutorial discretion go far, far beyond Jeffrey Epstein
When a DA can "indict a ham sandwich," overprosecution may be a bigger problem than underprosecution
Ruben Navarrette | Is Duncan Hunter beyond redemption?
The Republican walked into a federal courthouse and rolled the dice on a last-ditch attempt to skirt punishment for his sins.
David Brooks | A source of meaning in our lives
A shocking number of respondents described lives of quiet despair
The most 2019 Fourth of July celebration possible: A fight over Nike's Betsy Ross shoes
If you're looking for heroes in the battle over the flag-emblazoned shoes Nike made and then recalled, you're out of luck.
Commentary: Catherine Rampell | Census-related emails need to been seen by voters
We should be laser-focused on these newly discovered private emails.
Commentary: Talking with Latino leader Janet Murguia
UnidosUS will be holding its 2019 annual conference in San Diego.


Big Island police have charged an 18-year-old Hilo male with a variety of felony offenses stemming from a robbery that occurred Monday (July 25, 2005) at a popular tourist attraction in Hilo.
At 6:52 p.m. Wednesday (July 27, 2005), Spenser Jordan Feary of Hilo was charged with two counts of second-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree theft and three traffic offenses. He is being held in the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of a total bail of $54,750.
Responding to a 6 p.m. call Monday, South Hilo patrol officers determined that an Arizona couple visiting Rainbow Falls in Hilo was accosted by a group of male suspects. The first suspect punched the 31-year-old victim; a second suspect then kicked the victim in the face, while the first suspect stole his camera. The victim's 33-year-old female companion had her purse ripped from her by a third suspect.
During the robbery, a family from California was videotaping the scenery at the falls and videotaped some footage of the incident. One of the suspects observed the 52-year-old male visitor with the video camera, ran up to him, punched him in his face and stole his video camera. His 45-year-old wife was verbally threatened by a second suspect and surredered her camera to that suspect.
The suspects were last observed running in the westerly direction from the falls parking lot. A witness observed a light blue foreign model hatchback leaving the immediate area and obtained a license plate, which was called in to the police emergency 911 system and broadcast to responding police units.
A patrol officer observed the vehicle in the downtown Hilo area and attempted to stop the vehicle. The light blue Honda vehicle headed towards Keaukaha. Traffic Enforcement Unit officers assisted in the pursuit. The Honda vehicle was stopped at the end of Kauhane Avenue, at which time three occupants fled the vehicle in the area of the Hilo International Airport airstrip.
Feary was arrested by police after a brief foot pursuit. A 17-year-old male was arrested and subsequently transported to the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility on Oahu for secure detention. An extensive air and ground search was conducted for a third suspect, who remains at large. Police are still looking for additional suspects who were involved in this robbery.
During the pursuit, a police officer observed one of the suspects discard a video camera from the Honda and the camera was identified as belonging to one of the victims.
Both male victims were taken to the Hilo Medical Center emergency room by Hawaii Fire Department rescue personnel for treatmeht of their injuries. The 33-year-old female drove to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. All of the victims were treated and released.
Detectives from the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section are continuing the investigation and learned that there were several individuals in the area who may have witnessed the robbery, but left before they could be interviewed by police. Police are asking that anyone who witnessed this robbery at the park to call Detective Lucille Melemai at 961-2377 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.


text:
require 'bc/require_google_auth/version'

module Bc
  class RequireGoogleAuth

    DEFAULT_ALLOWED_PATHS = [
      "/auth/google_oauth2/callback",
      "/auth/google_oauth2"
    ].freeze

    DEFAULT_SESSION_KEY = 'bc.auth'.freeze

    DEFAULT_AFTER_AUTH_PATH = '/'.freeze

    OMNIAUTH_SESSION_KEY = 'omniauth.auth'.freeze

    def initialize(app, opts={})
      @allowed_paths = opts[:allowed_paths] || DEFAULT_ALLOWED_PATHS
      @session_key = opts[:session_key] || DEFAULT_SESSION_KEY
      @authorized_emails = opts[:authorized_emails]
      @after_auth_path = opts[:after_auth_path] || DEFAULT_AFTER_AUTH_PATH
      @app = app
    end

    def auth_callback?(req)
      return false unless req.path == '/auth/google_oauth2/callback'
      return false unless req.env[OMNIAUTH_SESSION_KEY]
      return false unless req.env[OMNIAUTH_SESSION_KEY][:info]
      return true
    end

    def allowed_path?(req)
      @allowed_paths.include?(req.path)
    end

    def authorized_session?(req)
      !!req.session[@session_key]
    end

    def authorized_email?(req)
      @authorized_emails.include?(req.env[OMNIAUTH_SESSION_KEY][:info][:email])
    end

    def handle_unauthorized
      res = Rack::Response.new
      res.redirect '/auth/google_oauth2', status=302
      res.finish
    end

    def handle_auth_callback(req)
      if authorized_email?(req)
        req.session[@session_key] = req.env[OMNIAUTH_SESSION_KEY][:info]
      else
        req.session.delete(@session_key)
      end

      res = Rack::Response.new
      res.redirect @after_auth_path, status=302
      res.finish
    end

    def call(env)
      req = Rack::Request.new(env)

      if auth_callback?(req)
        handle_auth_callback(req)
      elsif authorized_session?(req) || allowed_path?(req)
        @app.call(env)
      else
        handle_unauthorized
      end
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Stick with It by Sean Young – The book has all the components of a great business book, opening with strong frameworks to think about change. From there, he pushes back on the recent popularity in "habit" books but there isn't enough contrast for me to see what is different about his approach. The framework started to feel familiar. The stories are good, but I found him repeating material in places. I really wanted to like it more than it did. Could.
The Mighty Thor: Thunder In Her Veins by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman – I just finished reading Aaron's run on Star Wars and decided this would be a great place to follow him to. I loved it. Jane Foster lifts Mjolnir and takes up the mantle of Thor. This first volume finds her trying to keep peace in the Nine Realms as she battles Loki, Odin and the cancer killing her mortal body. Must.


$25 per program for PHS members; $30 for Non-members.
Save and sign up for the series: $125 for all six programs for PHS Members or $150 for Non-Members. Please call 215.988.1698 to register for all six programs at the discounted rate.
Fourth Thursdays are open to anyone interested in learning about floral design while having fun with friends. Everyone will get to take home their seasonal creation. Participants are encouraged to BYO beverage of their choice.


INTRODUCTION The year is 2189...you're on a journey of discovery into the farthest reaches of the universe, charting new courses into the unknown.
Zero Gravity was developed to help overcome all the dull monotony of repeating the same routine day after day; lack of exercise; boredom.
In Zero-G one player is placed on each side of the cargo bay in the weightless environment of space.
Panel along the side can be struck to add or detract points from your score at different times. Joystick controlled by one player against the computer or against a friend.
GETTING STARTED Determination, speed, and dexterity are the key assets needed to complete zerogravity successfully.
Thundering into the unknown at breakneck speed, are you agile enough to negotiate the perils?
Roll left and right to avoid the cracks but be careful not to fall off the edge of the path as you go.
Be sure to identify and avoid the squares which will either speed you up or make you jump automatically.
Keep a careful eye on the clock as the more time you have left at the end of each level, the more bonus time you will be awarded.


text:
Luke 3:19 But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done,
Luke 3:21 ¶ Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened,
Luke 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."
Luke 3:23 ¶ When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli,
Luke 3:24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
Luke 3:31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
Luke 3:33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
Luke 3:34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
Luke 3:36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
Luke 3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness
Luke 4:2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry.
Luke 4:3 And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.'"
Luke 4:5 ¶ And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Luke 4:6 And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
Luke 4:8 Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'"
Luke 4:11 and,
'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP,
SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'"
Luke 4:13 ¶ When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
Luke 4:14 ¶ And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


These components complement Apache Cordova, the framework used for developing cross-platform mobile apps. It aims to simplify both the development and the testing of such applications by providing a framework for the client-side model.
When you use AngularJS or Angular, you need to split the app into components, and MVC takes care of the rest.
HTML is used by Angular to form the interface of the app. It is also less difficult to rearrange the interface if required.
Directives have been added to bring the additional functionality to Angular. With multiple elements in a function, it is not required to manipulate the Document Object Model (DOM), and you only need the MVC data.
With Angular, writing long and complicated codes is reduced considerably. The Data models enable a developer to put data manually in the programming.
What is Google saying about the new version?
AngularJS is the frontend part of the MEAN stack, consisting of MongoDB database, Angular.js itself, and Node.js environment. At NG-BE 2016 conference, which took place in Belgium last week, Google Angular Team Lead Minar presented the release schedule adopted for future versions of Angular and introduced the major version which will be Angular 4.
The new Semantic Versioning is about a 3-numbers version to a new release, major.minor.patch. According to Minar, for the near future, the Angular team may switch to using the latest version of TypeScript. That involves some breaking changes which mean introducing a new major version!
Because of the latest Angular router's version, the current version is not in alignment with the rest of the modules and the team plans to bring them in sync, releasing the next major version as 4. Another important thing is that the product will no longer be called AngularJS, but simply Angular. The first beta version of Angular 4 is supposed to be released this week, followed by six other beta iterations and then 3 RC ones with the target of making the stable 4.0.0 available on March 1st, 2017. In the meantime, only patches will continue for older versions.
The new version, Angular 4 will be as compatible with version 2 because the team does not want to repeat the breaking experience is moving from the first version to the second version. If some new feature turns out to break things up with the ecosystem, and if not fixed, Google Team would rather take that feature out than risking breaking everything.
Basically, from now on, you should name versions 2.0.0 or later of Angular simply "Angular." Try to avoid using the version number, unless it is necessary to disambiguate.
All the docs – even for AngularJS – will be aligned to this in the coming weeks. Also in blog articles, courses, books, if you are targeting a very specific version of Angular for a reason, consider adding a header line.
Why not version 3 then?
The core Angular libraries live in one single GitHub repository. All of them are versioned the same way but distributed as different NPM packages. Due to the misalignment of the router package's version, the team decided to go directly to Angular v4. All core packages are now aligned which will be easier to maintain and help avoid any confusion. The freelance gigs are eagerly waiting for this version as they are ready with their polished skills to make the web experience better for their customers.
Also, it is important to understand how Angular is being used and integrated into Google. All Google applications currently use Angular version equal to the master branch of the Angular repository. Whenever a new code gets added to master, it will be integrated into Google's single, giant mono-repo, where also other products such as Maps, Adsense, etc. are hosted. As a result, all of the projects using Angular internally at Google will run their widespread test suites against this new version.
It makes the team very confident to cut a new release since it will contain the exact combination of versions of Angular packages that Google is testing currently. Such aligned versions make sense and will make it easier to maintain them over time, which in turn helps the team be more productive and focus on adding new features.
Within next three months, Angular 4 final release will be there. The plan is to release a major version every six months, so Angular 5 will show up in September 2017, followed by Angular 6 in March 2018 and Angular 7 in September 2018.
The idea of this entire exercise is to introduce minimal breaking changes in all future versions of Angular 4. Get ready to use the excellent features!
What Are The Major Differences Between PHP 5 and PHP 7?


12 Axis stepping motor system under PC control via Ethernet communication link using custom software with diagnostic display and manual jogging controls across 3 motion controllers. The software allows for storage of performance profiles with the facility to overlay motion sequences. Motion profiles are created using a bespoke "drag & drop" icon based language.


The site is using 16 third parties.
The site is using 7 known tracking- or advertising companies.
Third parties are setting 6 short-term, 8 long-term and 0 flash cookies, 1 of which are set by 1 known trackers.


text:
News | one year ago
Remembering Dr. Francis Robicsek, an Innovator and Humanitarian
Dr. Francis Robicsek, founder of the Sanger Clinic (now Atrium Health's Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute), passed away on Friday, April 3rd at the age of 94. Dr. Robicsek was a beloved member of the community who was known for his innovations in medicine, outstanding patient care, commitment to mentoring, and his passion for humanitarian work at home and abroad.
As we remember Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute's founder, Dr. Francis Robicsek, we extend condolences to his family, friends and many patients. A visionary in his field, Dr. Francis Robicsek was a man of many talents and professions who impacted the lives of thousands worldwide through his lifetime accomplishments as a doctor, a philanthropist, a writer, an academic, an innovator – and so much more.  He also helped tens of thousands – close to home and abroad – as the President of Heineman Medical Outreach, Inc. His commitment to providing care – for all – is one that lives on through his legacy.
Francis Robicsek, MD, PhD, the founder of the Sanger Clinic (now known as Atrium Health's Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute), passed away peacefully, with his wife by his side, on April 3rd at the age of 94. Known worldwide, Dr. Robicsek was an extraordinary person who dedicated his life to improving medicine and the world in ways both small and large. His family, friends, patients, and colleagues mourn the passing of a devoted husband, father, doctor, mentor, and colleague. Dr. Robicsek is survived by Lilly, his wife of 67 years; four children; and five grandchildren. He asked to be buried in his scrubs, a symbol of his lifelong commitment to caring for others.
Early life and career
Dr. Francis Robicsek was born as Ferenc Robicsek in Miskolc, Hungary on July 4, 1925. In 1949, he graduated from medical school at Pazmany Peter University in Budapest. At just 28 years old, he became chief of the University of Budapest Department of Cardiac Surgery. Dr. Robicsek and his wife, also a physician – who was six months pregnant at the time – fled Hungary during the Hungarian revolution, escaping from Soviet control before they were able to fly to America. Dr. Robicsek and his wife settled in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Dr. Robicsek's uncle – a local building contractor – helped arrange visas for the couple.
A pioneer in a new era of cardiology and surgery
1957: Dr. Robicsek began working at Charlotte Memorial Hospital (now Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center), where he – along with Dr. Paul Sanger and Dr. Fred Taylor – performed the city's very first open-heart operations. In order to perform the surgeries, a special heart-lung machine was needed to keep the hearts beating, but the machine was hard to come by at that time. Dr. Robicsek traveled to the Cleveland Clinic to observe a heart-lung machine being used there, then came back to Charlotte and built a similar machine with a friend who was an engineer. Dr. Robicsek would then take the homemade machine, which was built in his friend's garage, and transport it in a pickup truck to use it in surgeries at area hospitals.
1964: A fellow doctor, Dr. Archie Coffee, collapsed next to Dr. Robicsek in an elevator. Acting quickly, Dr. Robicsek grabbed a pair of suture scissors from a nearby nurse, opened Dr. Coffee's chest, and reached inside and massaged the man's heart. He then carried Dr. Coffee to a patient room, where he used the cord from a table lamp to administer electric shocks to the heart. Dr. Coffee fully recovered and lived for 31 more years.
1986: Dr. Robicsek, along with Dr. Harry Daugherty of the Sanger Clinic, performed Charlotte's first heart transplant, ushering in a new era of heart transplantation in North Carolina.
1998: After performing more than 35,000 surgeries, Dr. Robicsek put his scalpel down, focusing his efforts on leading the Heineman Foundation of Charlotte and International Medical Outreach. Throughout his career, he continued to present at international conferences and was one of the best-known cardiac surgeons in the world.
Dedicated to our mission of Health, Hope, and Healing, for ALL
Dr. Robicsek was dedicated to the mission for caring for all patients. During the segregation era, African American patients in Charlotte were still treated at a separate hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital. Dr. Robicsek wasn't allowed to perform heart surgery there, but he found a novel way around the problem by admitting African American patients to a tuberculosis hospital in Huntersville. Although the patients didn't have tuberculosis, this workaround enabled Dr. Robicsek to perform heart surgery on them at that location. He also established one of the first integrated patient practices in the area.
A passion for international work
In the 1960s through the establishment of Heineman Medical Outreach, Inc., Dr. Robicsek began traveling to Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and other Central American countries in order to perform surgeries and establish medical programs there. When necessary diagnostics were unavailable, Dr. Robicsek would fly patients to Charlotte using a military transport plane, perform cardiac catheterizations to diagnose heart disease, then fly patients back to their homes – all in less than 48 hours.
Dr. Robicsek also founded the Guatemalan Heart Institute, which today performs 700 open heart procedures a year. When Dr. Robicsek traveled back to Central America, he was often surrounded by people who showed him their scars from surgeries he'd performed on them years before.
As President of the Heineman Foundation, Dr. Robicsek partnered with Atrium Health to create the International Medical Outreach (IMO) Program, which has improved the health of patients in 33 countries. His dedication to improving access to care worldwide led to millions of dollars in services donated, along with countless donations of medical equipment, supplies and medical education and training in underdeveloped countries.
In 2017, he received the Surgical Humanitarianism Award from the American College of Surgeons.
A man of many talents
Dr. Robicsek was also known internationally for his love and knowledge of Mayan culture. A professor in archaeology, he became the author of five books on the subject and collected pre-Columbian pottery, eventually donating more than 1,000 pieces to Charlotte's Mint Museum of Art. He also received numerous honorary doctorates in medicine, archeology, anthropology, and literature. He was also known for his love of pranks, often playing practical jokes on his co-workers.
Family, friends fondly remember Dr. Robicsek
"On behalf of my siblings, my mother and the grandchildren - Francis Robicsek embodies a multitude of such extraordinary and remarkable qualities that make us so proud to call Father, Husband, or Grandfather. He is our "Thousand Points of Light," and continues to brightly shine upon us and others who loved him. I had the personal great fortune to have worked together with my father at Atrium Health, for the last 10 years, and am grateful for the opportunity to spend quality time with him, either at work and at home most days of the week. He taught me to lead with passion, and not waste time on things that were unimportant. We could not be more proud and in awe of any other human on earth as we are of him. We will miss him dearly."
– John Robicsek, Dr. Robicsek' son and Assistant Vice President, Department of Pharmacy Services, Atrium Health
"I had the privilege of working with Dr. Robicsek for over 20 years, but the last 10 years were particularly special. When International Medical Outreach was formed, he gave me the opportunity to see, through his eyes, the devotion he held for helping the underserved in developing countries. He loved the people of Central America, particularly Guatemala. During a trip to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, he met a medical student, Marissa, who was in desperate need of heart surgery but could not afford it. True to Dr. Robicsek's character, his ingenious mind found a way for Marrissa to receive the desperately needed heart surgery. He called upon his former resident and dear friend, Dr. Raúl Cruz, at the cardiac center he co-founded in Guatemala, UNICAR. Within 24 hours, Marissa received the surgery. Today, she is a practicing physician in San Pedro Sula. There are literally thousands of these stories all around Central America. When he would travel there, people flocked around Dr. Robicsek with larger than life smiles of gratitude. Dr. Robicsek was first and foremost a loving husband and father, but his passion was medicine and healing people. I will be forever grateful that our paths crossed."
– Theresa Johnson, Director, International Medical Outreach
"Dr. Robicsek taught us all so much – the most important lesson was that of humanitarianism. The second most important lesion was that of collaboration. Perseverance was also a trait he appreciated. Early in my career, he asked me to explain how anyone could ever perform minimally invasive cardiac surgery. We spent the next few days revisiting possible techniques and strategies. One by one, he told me how improbable each technique was. But as he had taught me, I kept coming back for more. A month later he shared that although he had his doubts, he thought I should pursue it. He then arranged multiple international collaborative opportunities. He believed that if enough people told you it couldn't be done, it might just work. Years later we had a similar discussion regarding transcatheter aortic valve implantation. He was a great mentor, colleague, and friend, a true renaissance man, and to me, my second dad."
– Dr. Eric Skipper, surgical director of cardiac transplantation, Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute
"I remember the sessions that we used to have while in training. Usually on the weekends, Dr. Robicsek would gather us in the Sanger 'library', right next to his office, to discuss a surgical topic. One day we were discussing different surgical techniques and we all had our preferences. Dr. Robicsek told us, 'If you try something in the operating room and it doesn't work, don't try it again and expect a different result. Think outside of the box, but make sure to perfect the classic way first!' This commonsense approach works in surgery and it works in life. He was a great mentor, able to train people that agreed or disagreed with his methods. He was one of the few people that I know who always knew what to say."
– Dr. Jeko Madjarov, cardiothoracic surgeon, Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute
"Amongst his many accomplishments were Dr. Robicsek's contributions to the study of pre-Columbian art and 'cracking the Mayan code.' When a scholar critically stated that Dr. Robicsek could offer little to the field 'as an amateur' Dr. Robicsek responded: 'The Titanic was built by professionals. The Ark was built by an amateur.'
– Dr. Geoffrey Rose, President, Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute
"At the opening of an Echo lab, after telling me that he wasn't good with children, Dr. Robicsek disappeared, and the next time I saw him he was playing the marimba in the municipal marimba band that was composed of about a dozen 8 to 14 year old kids."
– Jim Olsen, SVP of Materials Resource Management and CPO, Atrium Health
Dr. Francis Robicsek impacted many across the Charlotte region and beyond. If you have a memory, please consider sharing it so the Robicsek family can read these stories from his Atrium Health family and the community.
Read Dr. Robicsek's obituary
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My main area of interest is health policy including methods to increase innovation in health care. A strong area of focus is examining approaches to decision-making for new health technologies (drug and device) and health services that provide better incentives for private and public sector innovators.
My research focuses on initiatives to use evidence-based medicine to improve the quality of primary care and to address health inequities for vulnerable populations. Specifically this included clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews, and community based research.


Sleep is the new prescription at wellness-minded resorts around the region. Here are five treatments and programs that will have you dozing off in no time.
Six Senses' signature Yogic Sleep retreats use restorative spa treatments and yoga nidra—a state of deep relaxation between waking and sleeping—to reduce stress hormones and reprogram the body. This can now be paired with the Sleep with Six Senses program, which was introduced at Thailand's Six Senses Yao Noi late last year. Expect a special bed fitted with a high-tech sleep sensor and organic sheets, lighting designed to enhance the release of melatonin—a hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness—and more.
Staying in eco-cabins on more than 200 hectares of pristine Queensland forest with limited digital access and zero sugar, caffeine, and alcohol is bound to induce a better snooze, but Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat's Triple S program tackles the problem head-on by focusing on the relationship between sugar, stress, and sleep. Guests here learn to break the cycle of bad habits like too much screen time and insulin-raising foods that contribute to insomnia. Later this year, Gwinganna launches Australia's first Somadome, a high-tech meditation pod designed to induce 20 minutes of deep slumber for people on the run.
Kamalaya, a leading wellness resort on the Thai island of Koh Samui, offers five-, seven-, and nine-night sleep enhancement programs, with daily treatments such as the soothing shirodhara—in which warm Ayurvedic oil is gently poured onto the forehead—and mind-body mentoring sessions with former monks as part of the package. As a bonus, all Kamalaya guests can add a sleep program onto their existing retreats.
Taking place in a bamboo yoga pavilion at the edge of a serene rice field, the new 60-minute Sacred Nap is one of the most sought-after spa experiences at the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan. Simply put, you float in a purple silk hammock that is suspended from the ceiling, as the resident wellness mentor, Ibu Fera, recounts the life story of Buddha amid the sounds of nature. The sensation of gently swaying as though weightless feels so relaxing that most guests report it's the best sleep they have had in years.
Atmantan, India's newest contemporary health resort and a rural sanctuary in the state of Maharashtra, brings its guests "sleep services" that run the gamut from Ayurvedic therapies such as shirovasti (medicated oil treatment for the head) to acupuncture and magnesium-rich meals. Also included are nutritious meals tailored to your Ayurvedic body type, limited caffeine and digital access, and touches such as a sleep ritual aromatherapy bath and chiropractic-designed bedding.
This article originally appeared in the August/September 2017 print issue of DestinAsian magazine ("Pillow Talk").


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Thirteen Feet Under
Jayme Moye / June 1, 2019
Auer, Lama, Roskelley summited Howse Peak before avalanche killed them on the descent
Derek Franz / April 22, 2019
Auer, Lama and Roskelley killed in avalanche on Canada's Howse Peak
Six women-led teams selected for 2019 Grit and Rock grants
Anna Callaghan / March 21, 2019
Alpinist story receives Best Mountaineering Article Award at Banff Book Competition
Anna Smith at the belay on Cyber Pasty Memorial (WI5+ M7+), Icefields Parkway, Alberta. Smith's life was featured in Alison Criscitiello's Alpinist 59 story "Contraindications," which recently received a Banff Mountain Book Competition award. [Photo] John Price
For the second year in a row, an Alpinist story has been selected for the Best Mountaineering Article Award in the Banff Mountain Book Competition.
Alison Criscitiello's story from Alpinist 59, titled "Contraindications," was chosen for the top prize in this category out of four finalists, which included James Edward Mills' story from Alpinist 60, "The Force of the Soul: Hugues Beauzile."
In "Contraindications," Criscitiello writes of several trips and memories leading up to the final days she spent with her close friend Anna Smith, who died at age 31 during an expedition in the Indian Himalaya.
Of the news of the award, Criscitiello wrote in an email:
It is a bittersweet, heart-torn feeling. October 1, two years ago, is the first day I sat alone high in the Miyar, part of Anna with me, part of her gone; this time of year I think will forever hold that suspended space. To be recognized by such an incredible jury and festival, and to be judged among stunning writers, is beyond meaningful and gratifying. Concurrently, it's for a story that was almost impossible to write, that is hard to read and that I never thought would be mine. I wrote and edited this story quite isolated, in a cabin in Atlin, BC, during the season of darkness and ice fog. Everything around me reflected my internal landscape, and I didn't know then why I was writing it when I've never written a non-science piece before, but I certainly do now. I am so glad and so proud to have gone through the process of writing this story and editing its many iterations with the help of the talented Alpinist Editor-in-Chief Katie Ives, because I've seen how important it has been to many [people] to read its details. Knowing it has resonated, added to someone's understanding or healing, is the prize.
Alison Criscitiello and Smith in the Miyar Valley. [Photo] Alison Criscitiello
Last year, Nick Bullock's story "Threshold Shift" from Alpinist 57 received the award for Best Mountaineering Article.
The Banff Mountain Book Competition has seven categories: Mountain Literature - Nonfiction, Mountain Fiction & Poetry, Guidebooks, Mountain Image, Mountain Environment & Natural History, Mountaineering Article and Adventure Travel. Each winner receives a $2,000 prize. A grand prize among all the categories will be announced November 1 and represents an additional $4,000 for the chosen author.
Joanna Croston, programming director for the Banff Mountain Festival, explained the rigorous selection process for the competition in an email:
There are several steps to the competition process. First, our long list of category finalists is selected by the programming team with consideration taken into account for reviews and feedback from a volunteer group of readers. There are approximately 30-40 readers each year who collectively read upwards of 150 books. Once the top books are determined in each category (usually top three to five) we give them to our jury for review and they determine the award winners. They also decide on a Mountaineering History award, which can be drawn from any category, [and] they...decide the grand prize. Any of the category winners and the Mountaineering History prizewinner is eligible for the grand prize. We will announce the grand prize on Thursday, November 1, at the festival here in Banff. This year's jury is Paula Wright (USA)*, Ian Welsted (UK/CAN) and Larry Stanier (CAN).
[*Wright is the associate editor for Alpinist and she recused herself from participating in any selections where Alpinist stories were involved.]
Honouring High Places: The Mountain Life of Junko Tabei, by Junko Tabei and Helen Y. Rolfe, was chosen as the winner for Mountaineering History. A feature about that book by Katherine Indermaur can be found here on Alpinist.com.
The winners of the other categories can be found on the Banff Centre's website here.


4x8 2 Deck Screenit designed with the smaller contractor and work site in mind! Featuring two The easy control system allows you to open the cone cavity to accomplish rock on rock crushing. This method of CEC's mating screen plant is built with conveyors that close the impactor and screen together in closed circuit.
Sep 1, 2017 Irock Crushers' Impact Crusher Closedcircuit plant has a small footprint – NEW. Irock Crushers introduces its TC15CC tracked impact crusher, which features a small footprint and ease of transportation. The crusher has a 15cubicyard capacity hopper that is paired with a 40inch vibrating grizzly feeder.
The 4043TR Closed Circuit Impact Crusher is built with all the rugged performance and durability of our standard 4043T, yet the 4043TR offers two additional functions: screen box. For unmatched productivity, especially in areas such as road construction where a smaller footprint is needed, the 4043TR is an ideal choice.
Mar 22, 2011 FT4250CC Closed Circuit Track Mounted Impact Crusher the aggressive 4250 MPR HSI to the maximum," said Ron Griess, Product Manager at KPIJCI, "This machine is a great asset for small contractors to large producers in road construction, asphalt recycling and anywhere you need to crush on site.".
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Mar 1, 2017 "The growth in recycling of concrete and asphalt recycling industries has led to higher demand for smaller, more mobile crushers," says John O'Neill, .. He says that we'll also see advances in contaminant removal systems and washing systems integrated into closedcircuit impact crushers.
Items 1 60 of 87 Whether looking for a Cone Crusher, Impact Crusher, Jaw Crusher or other various type, IronPlanet offers several makes and models that can help efficiently and effectively complete your task. Browse popular models from top manufacturers including Cedarapids Crushers, Crushers and others.


Dalhousie University offers undergraduate education enriched by a longstanding institutional commitment to research and to graduate and professional education. The University tries to assist all its undergraduate students to become independent thinkers and articulate communicators, knowledgeable about their chosen disciplines or professions, conversant with a reasonable body of general knowledge, and committed to learning throughout their lives.
Dalhousie assists its students to learn how to think for themselves. Students in all disciplines and professions can expect to develop skills and attitudes crucial for logical and independent thought. The faculty strives to teach students how to think, rather than what to think, and to enable them to make fair-minded enquiries in their fields of study and into the broader ethical, cultural and social issues that shape our lives. An educated person thinks carefully, reconsiders received ideas, and leads an examined life. The development of these habits of mind is the primary goal of undergraduate study.
Dalhousie assists its students to learn to express themselves, orally and in writing with clarity, precision and style. It does so, not only because communication skills permit the efficient transfer of information, but also because they make possible dialogues which lead to new ideas and to deeper appreciation of existing knowledge. Because a communal effort to exchange ideas and information is at the heart of university life, students in all disciplines and professions need opportunities to develop their skills in writing and in speaking at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum.
Dalhousie assists its students to master a combination of specialized and general knowledge. The specialized knowledge acquired by undergraduates at Dalhousie varies from discipline to discipline and even from student to student. Such knowledge should include, not only data skills, but also an understanding of the theories, structures and processes central to the discipline or profession in question, and an awareness of their practical applications and ethical consequences. Undergraduate students at Dalhousie should become familiar with a significant body of general knowledge as well. All should become acquainted with concepts central to our own culture and those of others. All should acquire basic quantitative skills and some knowledge of the principles of science and technology. All should share a sense of history and an appreciation of achievements in literature, philosophy and the arts. Such general knowledge helps us not only to confront the practical demands of work and life, but also to comprehend more fully our experience of the human condition.
Dalhousie assists its students to develop the capacity for commitment to learning throughout their lives. Their educational experiences within and outside the classroom should be rich and diverse. By providing social, cultural, recreational and other opportunities for student involvement and leadership, Dalhousie acknowledges responsibility for promoting both personal and intellectual growth.


After the deaths, the Columbia fire department discovered gas leaks in dozens of apartments, some of them with "severe and lethal" levels of carbon monoxide, along with numerous other examples of poor living conditions. As a result, 411 people have been ousted from their homes and told they'll never be able to live there again. The Columbia Housing Authority has helped provide them temporary shelter, and community groups have offered other items for assistance.
Rickenmann said the question of a criminal investigation likely will be raised at next Tuesday's City Council meeting, and he expects the majority of council members will support making a request to SLED.
Councilman Ed McDowell, who represents the area surrounding Allen Benedict Court, said he would support calling on SLED for an investigation.
SLED, the statewide police force, often is asked to investigate possible criminal wrongdoing involving public agencies.
If asked, SLED will consider the request to investigate Allen Benedict Court and the Columbia Housing Authority, SLED spokesman Thom Berry said. The agency would move forward with an investigation only if it determines there is a possible criminal element at play, Berry said. Violations of administrative policy, which are not criminal, do not fall under SLED's purview.
Another Columbia councilman, Moe Baddourah, has called for the director of the Columbia Housing Authority, Gilbert Walker, to resign, or for the Housing Authority's board of directors to remove Walker from his position.
Baddourah also said he would support asking SLED to open an investigation.


This large, hand-painted ceramic mural integrates architecture and history. Mythical animals, including peacocks and the historic bull and bear of the stock exchange, are incorporated into a large illuminated "D" for Detroit. The wall is alive with intricate Byzantine and Aztec designs influenced by murals in the Fisher Building, the Guardian Building and Diego Rivera Court in the Detroit Institute of Arts. Joyce Kozloff is an internationally known artist who is sought after by many public art projects. She made and hand painted all of these tiles in Kohler (pronounced Coal-her), Wisconsin at the Kohler Art Center. The room where she worked was so small that she never got to see this piece altogether until it was installed. The bulls and the bears symbolize the stock exchange. If you follow the bulls and bears around, you can see that they form a large letter "D" which stands for Detroit. A Detroit family by the name of Freer had a room which had peacocks painted on the wall. These peacocks were actually painted by the famous artist, Whistler, who had painted them for a home in England. The Freer family purchased the walls of the Peacock Room and had them installed in their home in Detroit. The peacocks you see in this piece pay tribute to Whistler's peacocks. That wall is now located in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.


The Freedom of information Act 1982 (Cth) has been a feature of Australia's legislative landscape since 1982. The purpose of the Act was to open government activity to public scrutiny, so as to enhance accountability and encourage citizen engagement with public administration - the foundations of democracy.
In 2010 the Australian Parliament implemented wide-ranging open government reforms - the most significant FOI reforms in thirty years. The OAIC was established and substantial changes were made to the FOI Act.
These reforms strengthened the effectiveness and smooth running of the FOI Act - by simplifying the process for accessing government information; tightening the exemptions to information release; strengthening independent oversight and review of FOI administration; promoting proactive publication of government information; and clearly stating the open government object of the Act.
The reform took place against a backdrop of broad debate about adjusting the focus of public administration to improve service delivery, engage the community, foster collaboration between the public and private sectors, and utilise new information technology in achieving those objectives. This debate - taken up in numerous public sector reports and reviews - converged around the idea that, in the information age, information is a type of resource. By extension, government information is a national resource and as such, should be available for public access and use.
This idea is embedded in the reformed FOI Act which includes a powerful new statement of its object - 'to increase recognition that information held by the Government is to be managed for public purposes, and is a national resource' (s 3(3)). The Act includes a new scheme for the proactive publication of government information, which extends the focus of FOI from a reactive model to embrace a responsive, proactive model for information release.
This Guide positions the reformed FOI Act within the information policy landscape, of which there are many elements. One element is international support, in theory and legislative practice, for requiring transparency in government and conferring a legal right on the community to obtain access to government information. FOI is a principle enshrined in international human rights instruments and provides a legislative anchor for transparent government. This places it at the heart of democratic government.
Important too are the recent developments in government information policy that give a broader meaning to open government. Formerly synonymous with public access to government documents, open government now implies proactive publication of government information (open data) and government collaboration with the community in developing and reviewing policy and administration (citizen engagement).
Technology plays a key role in building this broader open government platform. New practices and concepts that overlap but are distinct become important, such as data management, information exchange, open standards, service delivery and more.
Part A — Freedom of information past and present: provides an introduction to the foundational principles of FOI, explains the place of FOI within the broader framework of government information policy, and outlines the broader concept of open government. This Part also provides an overview of reforms to the FOI Act since 1982 and explains the role of the OAIC.
Part B — Key features of the Freedom of Information Act: provides a detailed summary of the FOI Act covering issues such as: its scope and application; the steps involved in processing FOI requests; exemptions under the Act; amendment or annotation of personal information held by government; review, complaints and appeals processes; and information publication requirements.
Terms and abbreviations are explained in the Glossary.
The OAIC has produced a range of agency resources which provide practical guidance on complying with the FOI Act and making good decisions.
The Information Commissioner has also issued guidelines under s 93A of the FOI Act to which ministers and agencies must have regard when performing functions and exercising powers under the Act. The guidelines cover all aspects of the operation of the FOI Act.
The guidelines and other FOI resources, including fact sheets for the public are available at Freedom of information on the OAIC website.
In July 2011, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet issued FOI Guidance Notes which are intended to assist agencies considering the application of exemptions for Cabinet and deliberative process documents when dealing with FOI requests.