Politics

“A society is always eager to cover misdeeds with a cloak of forgetfulness, but no society can fully repress an ugly past when the ravages persist to the public. America owes a debt of justice which it has only begun to pay.” – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a press conference in 1964; public domain image via Wikipedia

January 22, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – While the nation honored slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, President Donald Trump ironically issued sweeping executive orders to revoke not only Biden-era diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) guidelines for all federal agencies, but also roll back actions to protect minorities dating back to the 1960s, such as affirmative action, USA Today reports.

The actions drew swift condemnation from Bernice King, MLK’s daughter.  She posted on social media, “This is what my father described in his book, ‘Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?’, as #WhiteBacklash. That’s when any work and progress in the areas of racial justice and equity are met with assertions that no change is needed; with insistence that programs purposed for preventing pervasive, historically anti-Black policies and practices are harmful and unneeded; and with lies and distortion to convince people to curtail the work and progress.”

She noted that her father’s “dream encompassed eradicating racism, including in healthcare, policing, banking, and education,adding,”We have not done that. So don’t attribute canceling #DEI to wanting to honor #MLK.”

DEI programs aim to assure that people of all backgrounds are welcome and have resources to succeed regardless of race, color, or gender orientation. It differs from affirmative action programs, which have a goal of remedying historical injustices through preferential hiring practices.

Trump’s order claims that DEI has corrupted federal institutions by “replacing hard work, merit, and equality with a divisive and dangerous preferential hierarchy.”  His order to eliminate DEI will impact all levels of the federal government, including aviation, medical programs such as Medicare, and federal law enforcement agencies.  The federal government employees over 2 million civilian workers, of whom the largest number, 147,000, are in California, according to the Congressional Research Office.

During Trump’s first term, he issued executive orders to ban government contractors and federal agencies from offering diversity training, even setting up a tip line for whisteblowers to turn in employers who defied the order.

Private-sector employers may be targeted next, a Trump official told USA Today.

Already, some private employers, notably Amazon and Meta,  have announced that they are dropping or scaling back DEI programs.

But other companies are pushing back, such as Apple and Costco. Both have urged shareholders to reject anti-DEI proposals, and argue that diversity initiatives are good for business.

A USA Today investigation suggests the need for DEI remains.  The study found that the top ranks of America’s largest companies remain predominantly white and male.

Civil rights leaders have voiced outrage over Trump’s latest actions.

“We have DEI because you denied us diversity, you denied us equity, you denied us inclusion, “ the Rev.Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, said at the Metropolitan AME church, a historic black church in Washington  D.C.  “DEI was a remedy to the racial institutional bigotry practiced in academia and in these corporations.”

By Henri Migala

Photo: cc via Bing

January 22, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- On Monday, January 20, President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time, once again placing the world's top historic emitter of greenhouse gases outside the global pact aimed at pushing nations to tackle climate change.

The withdrawal comes amid increasingly severe wildfires, hurricanes and other severe weather disasters fueled in large part by rapidly accelerating climate change. A National Climate Assessment study found that climate change is affecting every region in the U.S., across economic sectors.

Far from taking any other steps to reduce carbon emissions, however, President Trump has issued executive orders to end actions aimed at cutting carbon and increase use of fossil fuels that accelerate climate change.

His administration has also deleted all climate change information and references from federal websites, eliminating access to key data for researchers, the press, and the public.

What is the Paris Climate  and why is it important?

The Paris Climate Agreement is a landmark international accord that was adopted by nearly every nation in 2015 to address climate change and its negative impacts. The agreement holds countries accountable to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to limit the global temperature increase in this century to 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, while at the same time pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees.

The only countries in the world which have not ratified the 2015 Paris Climate  are Iran, Libya and Yemen. With President Trump’s removal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, the U.S. has now joined those countries.

From the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC):

The Paris Climate Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015. It entered into force on 4 November 2016.

Its overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”

However, in recent years, world leaders have stressed the need to limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end of this century. That’s because the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that crossing the 1.5°C threshold risks unleashing far more severe climate change impacts, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall.

To limit global warming to 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 at the latest and decline 43% by 2030.

The Paris Climate Agreement  is a landmark in the multilateral climate change process because, for the first time, a binding agreement brings all nations together to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.

History of U.S. climate action and commitments under Paris Climate Agreement

The United States' relationship with the Paris Climate Agreement has seen significant shifts, influenced by changes in presidential administrations. Under President Barack Obama, the U.S. was an active participant in the negotiations and played a significant role in shaping the agreement. In 2016, President Obama formally signed the Paris Agreement, committing the U.S. to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025.

In 2017, President Donald Trump, who called climate change “a hoax,” announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Agreement, citing concerns about its economic impact and fairness to American industries. The formal withdrawal process took effect in November 2020.

On his first day in office, President Biden formally notified the United Nations of the United States’ intent to rejoin the Agreement, which the US did thirty days later, on February 19, 2021 (a delay required by policy).

The U.S., under President Biden, took an active role in global climate negotiations, aiming to reduce emissions, invest in renewable energy, and encourage other countries to enhance their climate commitments. The U.S. pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and was working to advance both domestic and international climate action.

In 2022, less than two years since taking office, President Biden’s leadership to tackle the climate crisis had boosted U.S. manufacturing and deployment of cost-cutting clean energy technologies, put the country on a durable path aligned with limiting warming to 1.5 °C, and galvanized global action by partners and the private sector – building unprecedented momentum towards achieving critical climate goals and strengthening global resilience.

Former President Biden’s climate action plan, presented at the COP27 (The 27^th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Egypt in November 2022, positioned the United States to achieve the ambitious goals of reducing emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels in 2030 and to net-zero by 2050 through a series of unprecedented climate actions. 

These Green New Deal actions were not only reducing emissions, but promised to bolster energy security, help families save money on their energy bills, create good-paying jobs for workers and spur a new era of clean American manufacturing, advance environmental justice, and ensure healthier air and cleaner water for communities.

Trump declares national energy emergency,  moves to worsen greenhouse gas emissions

On Monday, January 20, President Trump terminated America’s commitments to address climate change, both domestically and internationally, while promising to actively and aggressively engage in activities that directly contribute to climate change, such as committing the US to use more fossil fuels that increase greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. has been the world’s largest oil and gas producer for years. The CEOs of Exxon  and Chevron have said oil and gas production levels are based on market conditions and are unlikely to change meaningfully in response to Trump’s desire to “drill, baby, drill.”

As part of President Trump’s energy agenda, the President has declared a national energy emergency, arguing that the U.S. faces a “precariously inadequate and intermittent energy supply, and an increasingly unreliable grid” that threatens national security.

In anticipation of President Trump’s promise to expand U.S. production and use of fossil fuels, President Biden moved to protect U.S. coastal waters from oil and gas drilling. President Trump has issued an order to revoke Biden’s ban, although it is uncertain if the President has the authority to do so. A federal court struck down a similar order by Trump during his first term that sought to reverse President Obama’s move to protect Arctic and Atlantic waters from similar exploitation. President Trump has also ordered the exploitation of natural resources in formerly-protected , environmentally sensitive raeas in Alaska.

Excerpts from the President’s Executive Order:

Sec. 3.  Implementation.  (a)  The United States Ambassador to the United Nations shall immediately submit formal written notification of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

(b)  The United States Ambassador to the United Nations shall immediately submit written formal notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, or any relevant party, of the United States’ withdrawal from any agreement, pact, , or similar commitment made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

(c)  The United States Ambassador to the United Nations, in collaboration with the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury, shall immediately cease or revoke any purported financial commitment made by the United States under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

(e)  The U.S. International Climate Finance Plan is revoked and rescinded immediately.  (Note: all references to the US International Climate Finance Plan have been removed from all US government websites and was not available for review for this article).

(f)  Within 30 days of this order, the Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Agriculture, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Chief Executive Officer of the International Development Finance Corporation, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, President of the Export-Import Bank, and head of any other relevant department or agency shall submit a report to the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs that details their actions to revoke or rescind policies that were implemented to advance the International Climate Finance Plan.

Global and domestic reactions to the announcement of the second U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement:

World Meteorological Organization Spokesperson Clare Nullis:

"The United States of America accounts for the lion’s share of global economic losses from weather, climate and water-related hazards. According to the U.S. figures, the U.S. has sustained more than 400 weather and climate disasters since 1980 where overall costs exceeded $1 billion... The need for the Paris Agreement is more urgent than ever."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning:

"China is concerned about the U.S. announcement that it will withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Climate change is a common challenge facing all of humanity. No country can stay out of it, and no country can be immune to it."

Brazil's Environment Minister Marina Silva:

"President Donald Trump in his inaugural speech started to confirm the most pessimistic predictions about the challenging times to come. His first announcements go against backing the energy transition, combating climate change, and valuing renewable energy. They are the opposite of policies guided by evidence brought by science and common sense imposed by the reality of extreme weather events, including in his own country."

Former French Prime Minister and President of COP 21 Laurent Fabius:

"This is a serious decision, contrary to scientific evidence, but one that should not prevent us from continuing the vital international fight against climate change and its serious consequences for humanity."

New York Governor Kathy Hochul And New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Co-Chairs of the U.S. Climate Alliance:

"Our states and territories continue to have broad authority under the U.S. Constitution to protect our progress and advance the climate solutions we need. This does not change with a shift in federal administration ... It's critical for the international community to know that climate action will continue in the U.S. The Alliance will bring this message to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil (COP30) later this year."

Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO of World Resources Institute:

"It simply makes no sense for the United States to voluntarily give up political influence and pass up opportunities to shape the exploding green energy market."

Resources:

“Everything you Need to Know” about the Paris Climate Agreement: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/paris-climate-agreement-everything-you-need-know

To read the full text of President Trump’s Executive Order to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and revoke the US International Climate Finance Plan, see: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/putting-america-first-in-international-environmental-agreements/

For additional information and to read the full details about the strategies and goals of the Paris Agreement, see:  https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement

The Green New Deal: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/109/text

Extreme Weather and Climate Change:

https://www.c2es.org/content/extreme-weather-and-climate-change/

National Climate Assessment: https://refresh-stg-c2es.pantheonsite.io/content/national-climate-assessment/

Biden hopes to next achieve a cease-fire in Gaza before his term ends, with an agreement for a Palestinian state and security for Israel

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: Hezbollah fighters in Southern Lebanon in 2023, via Tasnim News Service

November 28, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – In a historic accord, on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and President Emmanuel Macron of France issued a joint statement announcing that after “weeks of tireless diplomacy,” Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a cease fire that went into effect yesterday.

“The United States and France will work with Israel and Lebanon to ensure this arrangement is fully implemented and enforced,” the statement continued. Though the U.S. has supported Israel including sending war planes used to bomb Hezbollah targets,  U.S. troops will not be sent to the region, the President assured.

The agreement includes assurances that Israel will be secure from threats by Hezbollah, which has been bombing Israel from southern Lebanon, and other terrorist groups.  Hezbollah must move its forces north of the Litani River, about 20 miles from the Blue Line marking the Israel-Lebanon border. 

Over the next six weeks,  stabilization of southern Lebanon is to be provided by the Lebanese army  and State Security Forces will deploy 10,000 troops, under international supervision. The agreement also includes withdrawal of Israeli forces, ultimately allowing residents of both Israel and southern Lebanon to return safely to their homes.

But President Biden made clear in a press conference, “This is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.”

President Biden, in a press conference, noted that over 70,000 Israelis and over 300,000 Lebanese people have been forced to live as refugees in their own countries due to Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, bombing Israeli communities and Israel retailing with military strikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah. 

Photo, right, via Israeli Defense Forces:  F-151 fighter jet provided by the Biden administration to Israel, shown here in bombing run against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon in September 2024.

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he supported the agreement, along with Israel’s Security Cabinet, to focus on the threat from  Iran, which has backed Hezbollah, and to work toward bringing hostages taken by Hamas home now that Israeli actions have killed Hezbollah’s leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and decimated its ranks. Netanyahu has made clear that Israel reserves the right to respond militarily if the agreement is violated, such as if Hezbollah resumes bombing, building tunnels or bringing in more weapons, San Diego Jewish World reports.

The peace is a fragile one. Already in the past 24 hours, each side has accused the other of violating the cease-fire.  Israel claims Hezbollah was moving its people into the no-go zone, and responded with warning shots from drones followed by bombing of a missile storage site. Hezbollah has claimed these were Lebanese civilians returning, though civilians have been warned to stay out of the area until it has been made safe.

Mike Huckabeee, Trump’s U.S. ambassador to Israel designee, told Fox News the peace agreement is “certainly good news”  for both Israelis and Lebanese, “if it holds, but the problem is that Hezbollah and its Iranian backed proxies like Hamas and the Houthis, they’ve never kept an agreement.”

Al Jazeera, an Arab news service, reports that tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese have begun returning home to southern Lebanon and celebrating in the streets, despite warnings from the Israeli military to wait until it is secured and Israeli forces have withdrawn.

Congressman Darrell Issa, a Republican from San Diego who is of Lebanese descent, refused to acknowledge Biden’s contributions despite intense negotiations by the Biden administration.  Issa tweeted, @realDonaldTrump deserves credit for peace in the Middle East. Biden deserve none.”

However the international media hails Biden, along with Macron, for achieving the daunting task of a cease fire  in Lebanon and aspiring for a broader peace.

Reuters, the French news service, calls the ceasefire agreement “a rare diplomatic feat in a region racked by conflict.”

Similarly, the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, makes clear, “The US, Israel's key backer, had led the charge with France in negotiating the deal in Lebanon.”

According to Reuters, Hezbollah strikes in Israel have killed 45 civilians and 73 Israeli soldiers, while Israel strikes in Lebanon have killed 3,961 people and injured 16,520 more. According to Israel, however, all but a handful of those kills were Hezbollah militants, not civilians.

As for the Gaza conflict, President Biden made clear that while he blames Hamas for initiating the war by slaughtering over 1,300 Israeli civilians on Oct. 7,2023, the people of Gaza have “been through hell” and deserve an end to the fighting and displacement.  Over 40,000 Gazans have been killed as a result of Israel’s relentless military campaign to destroy Hamas.

Biden faults Hamas for refusing to “negotiate a good faith ceasefire and a hostage deal.” He said Hamas now has a choice to make, and that the “only way out is to release the hostages including American citizens” in order to “bring an end to the fighting which will make possible a surge of humanitarian relief.”

Next up, Biden revealed that in the coming days, the U.S. will be pushing along with allies in Turkey, Egypt and Qatar to attain a cease fire in Gaza.  Any such agreement would have to include plans for a future Palestinian state as well as assurances that it cannot threaten Israel or harbor terrorist groups backed by Iran.

President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20, and has pledged to be a staunch supporter of Israel and a hard-liner against terorrism, though domestically he has drawn criticism for praising anti-Semitic leaders, such as saying of Swastika-bearing marchers in Charlston, "There are good people on both sides." 

The U.S. is also prepared in the waning days of the Biden administration to conclude historic deals with Saudi Arabia including a security pact and economic assurances, along with what Biden described as “a credible pathway for establishing a Palestinian state and the full normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel."

President Biden pledged, "In my remaining time in office, I will work tirelessly to advance this vision for an integrated, secure and prosperous region—all of which strengthens America’s national security.” 

By Miriam Raftery

January 8, 2025 (La Mesa) – Dozens of public speakers at yesterday’s Grossmont Healthcare District meeting urged the board to move its 9 a.m. meetings to evenings in order to accommodate people with full-time jobs. The proposal was made by newly elected director Nadia Farjood, a working mother who says her new full-time job at the District Attorney’s office prevents her from attending daytime meetings.

The district represents about 520,000 residents. Around 271 people signed a petition in support of Farjood’s proposal, and around 40 showed up in support at yesterday’s meeting. But despite testimony from union representatives, healthcare workers, district residents and local elected officials, Farjood’s proposal failed, with no other director in support.

Some speakers voiced concern not only for Farjood, but for the potential chilling effect on would-be candidates who may be persuaded from running for office if they have full-time day jobs.

Jesse Garcia from the carpenters’ union called it “unfair” and “unAmerican” to “disenfranchise the 23,000 voters” who backed Farjood in the recent election by refusing to accommodate her request, potentially forcing her off of the board. He noted that he serves on multiple boards and committees, which all have evening meetings.

Regina Beasley, a Sharp Healthcare worker and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) member, said restricting meetings to mornings is “discriminatory” based on age, gender and employment status, noting that “most of us in here have children.”

Leila Kater (photo, left) testified that she represents almost 2,000 healthcare workers in the Grossmont district. She told the board that workers “will start paying a lot more attention to these meetings” in order to “hold this board accountable.”

Toni Vargas, a phlebotomist, voiced concerns over "exclusion" of working people including healthcare workers by holding morning meetings, and said avoiding evening meetings is "about preserving power."

Briana Costen,  a trustee on the La Mesa Spring  Valley School District board, said she was “deeply troubled” by the tone of the discussion.  “This is a public board, and you serve the public,” she stated, noting that “75% of voters in this district are below retirement age” and thus likely to have work conflicts that would make it difficult to attend daytime meetings.

Patricia Dillard, Vice Mayor of La Mesa, called for “transparency and accountability.” She said if any member cannot attend evening meetings that are more accessible to the public,  “you should have no choice to go get off this board.”

Former La Mesa Councilmember Jack Shu said he would often take calls late at night from constituents. “Public service means you serve the people when it is needed,” he said after dozens of others had spoken out. “I have not heard one person speak in favor of keeping the 9 a.m. time,” he said, noting that the city of La Mesa changed its meetings to 6 p.m. and had an increase in attendance as a result.

Melinda Vasquez said she worked with Farjood and voted for her because “I knew that she would bring a different vantage point to this board...She should not have to quit her day job to do public service.”

Several callers gave remote testimony on Zoom, including La Mesa Councilwoman Lauren Cazares, who praised the “excellent service” she received from the healthcare district after being hit by a drunk driver and injured in December.  She noted, “I have a full-time job and am a councilmember.  It shouldn’t be difficult to participate in meetings,” then urged the board to “please serve the community that elected all of you.”

After public testimony, the board held a discussion led by board president Bob Ayres, who thanked everyone for sharing their views.

Director Virginia Hall disputed claims by some speakers that all board members are retired and should be more flexible. “I do work,” she said, adding that she’s also helped care for her grandson. “It saddens me to hear these comments.” She praised the district for accomplishments including lowering tax rates for taxpayers, giving out $1.5 million in grants to community organizations, receiving a Golden Watchdog Award, and being named the Best Healthcare District in California in 2023.

Hall noted that people who can’t attend in person may participate via Zoom, and noted that the board did launch a pilot program holding meetings at 5 p.m. for six months last year, but that attendance did not increase. She suggested that attendance at meetings is low because the community trusts board members to make wise decisions.

Director Randy Lenac, participating remotely, noted that the head of LAFCO has said the Grossmont Healthcare District is the “gold standard of healthcare districts” and that Sharp Grossmont is a “great hospital.”  He voiced support for keeping meetings at  9 a.m. and said the meeting time has been “settled for a long time,” drawing groans from the crowd.

Farjood pointed out that the issue at hand was not whether or not the district has done good work. She then pressed her colleagues over their responses to a survey sent to board members about their availability for meetings at other times. Though all other members had written down a preference to keep meetings at 9 a.m., she noted, “None of the members identified any conflict with 6 p.m..”  She said she has seen board members at other evening meetings, including a recent holiday party.

Lenac insisted that “9 a.m. is the best time to assure principal participants can attend,” and insisted that his availability for other times is “irrelevant,” drawing laughter from the audience. He noted, however, that when meetings used to be at 7:30 a.m. he sometimes had to drive through snow from his rural residence, but added, “I never missed a meeting.”

Farjood asked who Lenac considered principal participants, prompting the attorney to try and stop her questioning. This drew shouts from the audience, such as ”No one elected him!” and “Stop speaking down to us!”

Assured she could continue, Farjood stated, “My view is that the public are principals.”

Lenac then clarified that he was referring to members of the hospital who regularly address the board on matters such as healthcare quality, finances, facilities, and future projects.

Farjood said the board is the oversight body for the hospital.  “To say we would put the interests of the hospital above the public you’ve heard from today is backwards,” she added. She asked Lenac how he knew that hospital principals couldn’t attend a 6 p.m. meeting, and he admitted, “Well, I don’t know, but I know that 9 a.m. works.”

As for the 5 p.m. pilot program, Farjood called it a “sham” and noted that many people get off work at 5 p.m. and are commuting home at that hour. She also objected to what she views as inadequate outreach by the district, noting that most constituents she met walking precincts said they “never heard of it.”

Farjood clarified that she is not asking the board to change its days, which alternate between Tuesday and Thursday, but only to shift times to 6 p.m. or later.

Hall objected, saying that people are tired at the end of the day, and that traffic can be bad at 6 p.m.

Farjood suggested that better outreach could boost meeting attendance. When Hall asked why so many people showed up at this meeting, when meetings are usually sparsely attended, Farjood replied, “Because I let them know about this,” drawing cheers from the audience.

Board Chair Gloria Chadwick (photo), a retired nurse and long-time advocate for seniors, noted that some seniors are vision-challenged, particularly with night driving.  Pressed on her own availability for evening sessions, Chadwick said, “I will do whatever our board decides.”

Direcftor Ayres (photo,left) said “it’s possible” he could attend evening meetings, but noted that he has an outside full-time job that often requires evening work, including talking with clients in other countries.  “Last night I didn’t finish until almost 9 p.m.,” he noted.

As for Farjood’s conflict with attending daytime meetings,  Ayres noted that directors are also expected to attend training sessions, committee members, legislative days, grantees’ events and community events, which are often during daytime hours.

Farjood asked why the board needs two meetings a month. She then made a motion asking the board to change to one meeting per month, on the third Thursday at  6 p.m. No member seconded the motion, which died without a vote.

“Today is a dark day for the Grossmont Healthcare District,” concluded Farjood (photo, left), who added that increasing public access was a key part of her campaign. “No amount of years serving on this board can erase the message sent today—that working people cannot serve on this board.”

But she added defiantly,  “I am not going anywhere,” suggesting she may seek accommodation from her employer or, as an attorney, perhaps pursue a legal remedy.  “I will be advocating for this at every meeting,” she pledged, thanking all who showed up in support.

Photo:  County Supervisor Jim Desmond delivering his State of North County speech in June. (File photo courtesy of Desmond’s office)

January 16, 2025 (San Diego) - San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond announced that he will run for Congress.

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – Hours after being sworn into office in the Capitol Rotunda, President Donald Trump issued a sweeping executive order protecting all of the nearly 1,600 people accused or convicted of crimes stemming from the Capitol attack four years earlier.  On January 6, 2021, the violent mob assaulted and injured 140 police officers, forcing terrified lawmakers to flee or hide while the mob tried to halt the peaceful transfer of power.

Trump’s order issued a blanket pardon for nearly all of the insurrectionists, erasing their felony records and freeing all who were serving prison sentences, even those convicted of attacking police officers or armed with weapons including firearms, stun guns, flagpoles, fire extinguishers, bike racks, batons, a metal whip, office furniture, pepper spray, bear spray, a tomahawk ax, a hatchet, a hockey stick, knuckle gloves, a baseball bat, a massive “Trump” billboard, “Trump” flags, a pitchfork, pieces of lumber, crutches and even an explosive device.

 In addition, he commuted sentences for 14 members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, who were convicted of seditious conspiracy, including the groups’ leaders,  Stewart Rhodes and Enrique Tarrio, who were serving 18- and 22- year sentences for their roles in organizing the attacks. Both men are now free.

Trump also directed his Attorney General to drop all remaining charges against individuals accused of crimes related to the January 6 Capitol attack, but whose cases had not yet gone to trial.

Trump mischaracterized those imprisoned as “hostages,” when in fact all were provided with due process and were convicted by juries of their peers of serious crimes, including violent assaults documented on TV and security videos.

Former FBI Director Christopher Wray has called Proud Boys and Oath Keepers “violent extremists”  who committed “domestic terrorism” in his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Some Capitol attackers threatened to kill members of Congress and Vice President Mike Pence,  even erecting a gallows outside. They also sought to stop certification of electoral college votes, after Trump convinced his followers that the election had been stolen from him. Yet 62 judges, some appointed by Trump, all found no evidence of fraudulent election results.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cailf.), who was House leader during the attack, called Trump’s actions “shameful”  and “a betrayal of police officers who put their lives on the line to stop an attempt to subvert the peaceful transfer of power,” NBC News reports.

Trump’s executive order states that it “ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national healing.

But ABC news reports that some Department of Justice officials have voiced alarm over the prospect of violent convicted offenders going free—potentially able to retaliate with violence against prosecutors, judges or witnesses.

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – Among the dozens of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump yesterday after his inauguration is a notice to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO).  Under a 1948 law, withdrawal requires one-year notification and Congressional approval, Associated Press (AP) reports. 

If completed, withdrawal by the U.S., a founding partner of WHO, would drop one-fifth of WHO’s funding and prevent the U.S. and the American medical community from accessing vital health resources and data.

Trump previously tried to withdraw from  WHO in 2019, but President Biden rejoined the organization after his election before the waiting period ended. In July 2020, amid the pandemic, a joint statement by the American Medical Association and three other medical organizations representing pediatricians, family physicians and other doctors strongly opposed Trump’s withdrawal order, calling it “dangerous.”

The medical groups’ letter stated that withdrawal would put ”the health of our country at grave risk. As leading medical organizations, representing hundreds of thousands of physicians, we join in strong opposition to this decision, which is a major setback to science, public health, and global coordination efforts needed to defeat COVID-19. The WHO plays a leading role in protecting, supporting, and promoting public health in the United States and around the world. The agency has been on the frontlines of every global child health challenge over the last seven decades, successfully eradicating smallpox, vaccinating billions against measles, and cutting preventable child deaths by more than half since 1990. Withdrawing from the WHO puts these investments at risk and leaves the United States without a seat at the table—at a time when our leadership is most desperately needed.”

Yesterday’s executive order claims WHO mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic, calls for unspecified reforms cites political influence of member states, and cites “onerous” payments by the U.S. that are higher than China’s sharem even though China has a larger population.  Trump has previously faulted WHO for changing advisories such as for masking and social distancing as more information became available about the new COVID-19 virus.

WHO  issued a statement saying it “regrets” Trump’s withdrawal from the global health authority and voiced hope that the U.S. will reconsider “for the wellbeing of millions of people around the globe.”

““The United States was a founding member of WHO in 1948 and has participated in shaping and governing WHO’s work ever since, alongside 193 other Member States, including through its active participation in the World Health Assembly and Executive Board,” WHO stated.

The statement continues, “For over seven decades, WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats,” it added. “Together, we ended smallpox, and together we have brought polio to the brink of eradication. American institutions have contributed to and benefited from membership of WHO.”

“WHO plays a crucial role in protecting the health and security of the world’s people, including Americans, by addressing the root causes of disease, building stronger health systems, and detecting, preventing and responding to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks, often in dangerous places where others cannot go, the statement continued,” adding, “With the participation of the United States and other Member States, WHO has over the past 7 years implemented the largest set of reforms in its history, to transform our accountability, cost-effectiveness, and impact in countries. This work continues.

According to the AP, withdrawing from WHO could prevent the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and other health agencies from accessing information on WHO-coordinated programs ranging from flu vaccine development to genetic databases. 

Dr. Ashish Jha, who served as White House Covid-19 response coordinator during the Biden administration, called Trump’s decision to withdraw from the WHO in his second term a “strategic error.”

“WHO is a pretty essential organization — and with America’s withdrawal, it creates a political vacuum that only one country can fill — and that is China,” Jha said in an interview with CNN on Monday.

He predicted that China will step up for the organization in the absence of US funding and leadership, which could, in turn, “give China more political influence around the world.”

Read full text of Donald Trump’s inauguration speech on January 20, 2025

View video of speech

By Miriam Raftery

January 20, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – Donald J. Trump was sworn in for his second term of office today inside the Capitol rotunda, instead of outdoors, due to bitterly cold weather.  In a 30-minute inaugural speech, Trump promised a “Golden Age of America” in which he would “put America first,” proclaiming, “America’s decline is over.”

The 47^th President is only the second ever to be returned to office after being voted out following his term as 45^th. 

Below are highlights of his inaugural speech, along with fact checks and clarifications as context.

Trump railed against “unfair weaponization of the Justice Department” and pledged to “rebalance” the scales of justice.

Fact check:  Trump was convicted by a jury on 36 felony fraud counts in federal court and faced dozens of other charges that were dropped due to a Justice Dept. policy prohibiting prosecution of a sitting president, however multiple grand juries found evidence of serious crimes. He previously announced his intent to seek retribution against his political enemies and those who prosecuted him. This morning, President Biden responded to those threats by issuing  proactive pardons against individuals who investigated Trump as members of the January 6 commission, as well as General Mark Milley.

With his predecessor at hand for the inauguration, Trump repeatedly criticized  the Biden administration as “corrupt,” but did not specify examples. In other criticism, he stated, “We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad.”  Trump predicted that his “proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier.” He than announced satisfaction that “the hostages in the Middle East are coming back home to their families.”

Fact check:  Biden has drawn criticism over the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from  Afghanistan, as well as the mounting death toll in the Israel-Gaza War. However it was the Biden administration that negotiated cease fires in both Gaza and Lebanon to end the military hostilities in the region and return remaining hostages.

Trump faulted the Biden administration’s handling of the wildfires in California. “Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency,” he stated, adding that in Los Angeles, ”we are watching fires still tragically burn from weeks ago without even a token of defense....everyone is unable to do anything about it. That’s going to change.”

Fact check:  While its unquestionable that the L.A. wildfires have been devastating, President Biden actually pledged to have the federal government cover 100% of the disaster response cost, higher than the 75% that is customary. He’s also asked Congress for additional help, though it will be up to the Trump administration to carry through.  The fires were fueled by hurricane-force winds and in some areas, so many homes burning that fire hydrants ran dry; winds were so strong that firefighting planes could not fly. Thousands of firefighters did come from across the nation and around the world to help battle the catastrophic blazes.

Trump attacked the public health system, calling it the most expensive in the world while failing to deliver in times of disaster, but did not provide specifics.

Fact Check: It is true that America spends more than other developed nations on healthcare, in some cases four times higher per capita, though the U.S. is also larger geographically and in population than most other countries. The Affordable Care Act,  or Obamacare, has provided healthcare insurance for millions who were previously uninsured, though Trump has pledged to eliminate the program.  It is unclear what Trump meant about failing to deliver during disasters; both the Trump and Biden administrations mobilized to combat the COVID pandemic, developing a vaccine in record time, getting protective gear out to healthcare workers and more.  If Trump was referring to inadequate coverage for those facing a personal health crisis such as cancer, Affordable Care Act coverage is far better than for those who are uninsured and better than coverage under many private insurance policies.  The ACA also prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage for preexisting conditions.

He faulted America’s schools, stating,”We have an education system that teaches our children to be ashamed of themselves, in many cases, to hate our country,” promising “All of this will change starting today, and it will change very quickly.”

Fact check:  Trump has set a goal of abolishing the Department of Education, which provides funding for schools across the U.S., though this will require Congressional approval.  It is unclear how the quality of education would improve if a major source of funding for schools is taken away. As for the curriculum specifics, Trump is on record objecting to historically accurate teachings about issues such as slavery, the treatment of Native Americans, and other minorities.

With the inauguration occurring on Martin Luther King Day,  Trump specifically thanked those Black and Hispanic community members who voted for him, adding,  “Today is Martin Luther King Day...in his honor, we will strive together to make his dream a reality.”

Fact check:  Trump, in his speech, pledged to strive for world peace, a goal that King shared. However Trump has also pledged to eliminate policies that mandate or promote diversity, equity and inclusion in an executive order on day one. Dr. King strongly supported increasing diversity, equity and inclusion to assure fairness and opportunities for people of color.

Trump announced that later today, he will sign a series of executive orders, starting with declaring “a national emergency at our southern border.” Specifically, he said, “all illegal entry will be halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.” He also pledged to reinstate his “remain in Mexico” policy, end “catch and release” policy, send troops to the southern border to block immigrants, and invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

Fact check:  Illegal immigration across the U.S. southern border has actually dropped to a 5-year low as of this January, USA Today reports  That’s due largely to Biden policies such as closing the border during migration surges, working with Mexico to stop migrant caravans, and creating an app for would-be asylum seekers to apply online without entering the U.S., an app Trump has said he will eliminate.  Trump’s remain in Mexico policy, which did reduce illegal immigration, also resulted in many migrants victimized by criminals while in a migrant camp in Mexico...As for Trump’s statement that he will deport “millions and millions of criminal aliens,” a National Institute of Justice Study found immigrants commit crimes at much lower rates than U.S. citizens, and the overall crime rate in recent years has dropped even as immigration has risen.  With a estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., the vast majority have committed no crimes, other than crossing the border illegally, including those brought here as children. Most nations have indicated they will not accept deportees from the U.S., making it unclear how Trump’s administration could deport many immigrants who are here.

Trump claimed the U.S. experienced record inflation during the Biden administration. He blames this on “massive overspending and escalating energy prices.”

Fact check:  The highest inflation under Biden was 9.1% in June 2022, which was not even close to the 23.8% record set in 1920, CNN reports.  Inflation after COVID occurred worldwide.  As of December 2024, inflation had dropped to 2.9%, one of the lowest in the world.  Energy prices rose globally due to instability in Ukraine and the Middle East. Much of the increased spending under Biden included efforts to combat COVID and reduce the pandemic’s impact through his Inflation Reduction Act and American Recovery Act which helped individuals, small businesses and local governments recover from the pandemic’s economic impacts.

Trump said the solution to bring inflation down further will be a “drill, baby, drill” policy which he has previously said will include offshore drilling in California and opening oil reserves in Alaska.  He also announced, “With my actions today, we will end the Green New Deal and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate.” He later said he will pull America out of the Paris Climate Accord, a long-standing campaign pledge.

Fact check:  Whether large-scale oil drilling will bring down prices remains to be seen, but Trump’s planned actions will indisputably worsen greenhouse gas emissions by burning more carbon and pulling out of clean energy options, also potentially dissuading other nations from living up to their environmental promises under the Paris Climate Accord signed by 200 nations. Politico reports,” The U.S. withdrawal further imperils nations’ already slim hopes of preventing 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming since the Industrial Revolution began.”

Trump said he will “immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families,” adding, “We will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens.” He also announced intent to establish an External Revenue Service to collect tariffs, duties and revenues from foreign sources.

CNN labels Trump’s claims that tariffs would help Americans “false” since tariffs are paid by U.S. importers— companies in the U.S.—not foreign companies. Moreover, numerous studies including the U.S. International Trade Commission’s study have found that when Trump imposed tariffs on China in his first term, Americans bore almost the entire cost—including higher prices on consumers goods.

Trump reiterated his plan to establish a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)  aimed at streamlining government to be more efficient and reducing spending.

Fact check: Trump has named billionaire Elon Musk, head of Space-X and the X(formerly Twitter) social media platform, to head up DOGE. Concerns have been raised over the propriety of an unelected person wielding such power without oversight, since DOGE would not be an official government entity. Another concern is Musk’s conflicts of interest, since his business entities have received lucrative federal contracts and funding. There is also a moral issue, with potential cuts to include Medicare for the poor and fixed-income seniors on Social Security being proposed by billionaire Musk and Trump along with tax changes that would benefit the wealthiest Americans. A lawsuit challenging legality of DOGE was filed minutes after the inauguration, CBS News reports.

The newly elected President also pledged to “sign an executive order to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America,” after what he called “years of illegal and unconstitutional efforts to restrict free expression.”

Fact check: Trump is likely referring to earlier efforts under the Biden administration to prevent spread of disinformation by foreign nationals including Russia on social media, as well as COVID conspiracy theories and AI-generated misleading political videos. Conservatives have objected to this as censorship.  The Supreme Court sided with Biden, ruling it legal for the government to communicate with social media with concerns on content moderation policies. Meanwhile in anticipation of Trump taking office, META has proactively eliminated fact-checking on its Facebook and Instagram platforms, AP reported, following suit after Musk did so on X.

Trump took aim at gender-affirming care and policies protecting LGBTQ+ individuals.  “As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female,” he stated. 

Fact check:  Mother Jones reports details on what this executive order is expected to include: “Federal agencies will be instructed to classify people by biological sex on government IDs like passports, visas, and personnel documents. ... agencies also will be ordered to stop interpreting sex discrimination laws in ways that protect trans people—inviting federal workplaces, schools, and social service programs like shelters to misgender and discriminate against trans people. Transgender women in federal prison reportedly will be transferred to men’s prisons and no longer provided with gender-affirming medical treatments—potentially forcing up to 1,500 incarcerated trans women to medically de-transition...The order is expected to attempt to cut off federal funding for gender-affirming medical treatments, like hormone therapy—a move that primarily affects transgender adults.

Trump also announced plans to rename geographical features. “A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and we will restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley,” he said. Trump praised McKinley for imposing tariffs and for his role in American controlling the Panama Canal.

Fact check: Trump has no power to force other nations or international authorities to change the Gulf of Mexico’s name, and Mexico’s president has objected, noting the name has existed on maps long before the U.S. became a nation. He could order the name changed on internal U.S. documents.  Trump’s Secretary of the Interior could, however, change the name of Denali,  formerly called Mt. McKinley, in Alaska back to the original name.  This would likely anger Native Americans, since Denali honored the indigenous name of the mountain. This also raises the question of whether Trump will seek to rename Denali National Park and other features with Denali in the name.

Trump announced intent to take back control of the Panama Control. “We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back,” he announced.  Trump claimed “China is operating the Panama Canal.” He used the term “manifest destiny” to refer to ambitious to advance space exploration and land American astronauts on Mars.

Fact check:  Panama has denied ceding control to China and Trump has provided zero evidence to back up this claim, Reuters reports. Trump has not said how he would retake the Panama Canal, which Panama has indicated it would not relinquish, though Trump has previously said he would not rule out use of military force. Trump has also drawn alarm in the international community with his demands for the U.S. to gain ownership of Greenland, a Danish territory, over the objections of Denmark, as well as his use of the term manifest destiny, which in America’s past has been used to assert a divine right to expand territory by conquering indigenous peoples.

Trump pledged to build the strongest military in the world, stating, ”Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent and totally unpredictable...We will not be conquered, we will not be intimidated, we will not be broken, and we will not fail.”

Fact check:  Peace through strength is a concept touted by many leaders throughout history, starting with the Roman Empire Hadrian  over 2,000 years ago, including Presidents George Washington and Ronald Reagan in the U.S.  The policy has had mixed results, providing a deterrent in some cases, while spurring pushbacfk in others.

President Biden also laid out proposed future reforms, including a Constistutional amendment to limit presidential immunity, tax reforms, and term limits for Supreme Court justices

By Miriam Raftery

Hear audio of President Biden’s farewell address; view video, read transcript

January 19, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – In his farewell address to the nation delivered in the White House oval office on January 15, President Joe Biden issued a warning reminiscent of the farewell speech delivered by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1961.

“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” President Biden said. Specifically, he cited “the concentration of technology, power and wealth” and warned of  “dangerous consequences if their abuse of power is left unchecked.”

President-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated tomorrow, has surrounded himself with wealthy tech company executives,  drawing controversy. There are parallels to the Russian oligarchs who wield undue influence over Russia’s president Vladimir Putin and have profited from his reign, while supporting his policies.   Trump has tapped billionaire Elon Musk, head of Tesla and Space-X which both have received large federal contracts or grants, to lead a non-governmental commission called the Department of Government Efficiency to improve government “efficiency” and recommend deep spending cuts. Critics have said this poses a conflict of interest for Musk.

Other tech billionaires have changed their business platforms to appease Trump after he leveled criticisms.  Mark Zuckerberg, head of Meta, halted fact-checking on Facebook. Jeff Bezos, who owns Amazon as well as the Washington Post, blocked an editorial decision to endorse Kamala Harris over Trump and announced an end to diversity, equity and inclusive policies in line with Trump’s stated goal of eliminating DEI protections for minorities and women at the federal level.  

Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg all plan to be at Trump’s inauguration.  “When you have the three richest men in the country on the dais,” Sarah Anderson, global economy project director at the Policy Studies nonprofit research group told ABC news, “You cannot overlook how much influence the billionaire has on the government.”

Daniel Kinderman, an associate professor of political science at the University of Delaware, agrees with Biden’s assessment that current income inequality in the U.S. now amounts to “oligarchic conditions.” He called the current situation “a turbocharged technological oligarchy that has control over media and technology” by unelected tech tycoons.

Kinderman, in an ABC news interview, pointed out that the top 1% of Americans own 35% of the nation’s wealth and capital, while the bottom 50% of Americans own just 1.5%.  He said the nation is now in uncharted territory due to top tech CEOs having more control over public and political discourse.  He voiced concern that such CEOs could “write their own rules that just benefit their own industry.”

Biden voiced concern over corporations controlling the media as well as social media. “Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation, enabling the abuse of power. The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking.  The truth is smothered by lies told for power and profit.” He also voiced concern about progress toward addressing the climate crisis on the brink of being undone “for power and profit.”

He likened the rise of wealthy moguls with too much power both to the robber barons in the 1920s and to the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned Americans about in 1961.

Eisenhower, a respected former general and Republican, warned of the rise of an immense military establishing and arms industry  following World War II and the Korean War. “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex,” he warned in his final speech to the nation as President. “The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist,” Eisenhower warned, adding that this could threaten American liberties and the democratic process.

Eisenhower noted that a technology revolution had given rise to the growth of the industrial-military complex, but offered a remedy. “Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together,” Eisenhower concluded, urging Americans to avoid  “fear and hate” that fuels wars and division, and to and to instead support “mutual trust and respect” for “peoples of all faiths, all races, all nations” and “all who yearn for freedom.”  He called for efforts to end “poverty, disease and ignorance” in order to foster peace and prosperity.

Biden, a Democrat, quoted Eisenhower and similarly called on the American people, the media, and all branches of government to “confront these powerful forces.”

With Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the presidency, however, the prospect of the legislative branch serving its role of checks and balances appears dim.  Similarly, a Supreme Court with a 6-3 conservative majority, including three justices appointed by Trump in his first administration, has issued a ruling granting near-total immunity to a president for any official acts while in office, dimming hopes of judicial oversight.

That leaves the free press and most significantly, the public. In the 1920s, the abuses of the robber barons eventually diminished in large part due to the rise of labor unions and new legislation to rein in those abuses. Massive protests led to the end of the Vietnam War in the 1970s. Most recently, some Americans have pushed back on tech giants’ actions; 250,000 cancelled their subscriptions to the Washington Post over Bezo’s decisions supporting Trump, while millions have dropped accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X sites owned by the tech-oligarchs.

President Biden laid out a list of specific actions he hopes will someday be taken to protect our democracy and national security.  Those include:

• Assure that artificial intelligence development is led by America, not China;
• Reform the tax code to have billionaires pay their fair share, instead of getting massive tax cuts;
• Get dark money contributions out of politics;
• Enact 18-year term limits and ethics requirements for Supreme Court justices
• Ban members of Congress from trading stock while serving in the House or Senate; and
• Amend the Constitution to make clear that no president is immune from crimes he or she commits while in office.

After Biden's farewell address, Google reported a sharp rise in searches for the term "oligarch"; among the top 10 states with rises in searches for the term, eight were in red Republican-controlled states, ABC reports.

Biden’s speech also included confirmation of the cease-fire deal reached with Hamas, which today released several hostages in the first step toward a permanent cease fire.

He also highlighted his administrations accomplishments, including guiding America out of the COVID pandemic, creating nearly 17 million new jobs, getting a major bill passed to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, passing the most extensive green energy measure ever, strengthening  the NATO alliance and helping Ukraine stay free, giving Medicare the power to lower prescription drug costs, getting medical care for veterans exposed to toxins, and launching “a new era of American possibilities.”

He voiced confidence in the ideals that America stands for, the concept that “all of us deserve to be treated with dignity, justice and fairness.”  But to protect our rights, freedoms and dreams, Biden said, “We have to stay engaged in the process,” even when that’s frustrating.

He reflected on the Statue of Liberty as an abiding symbol of liberty and the ideal that everyone deserves to be treated with “dignity, justice and fairness.” He told of a veteran known as keeper of the flame, because he was in charge of polishing the statue’s torch to keep the light shining visibly, 

“Now it’s your turn to stand guard.  May you all be the keeper of the flame,” Biden told the American people.

Council asks  staff to revise resolution, which will be on the agenda January 28

By Miriam Raftery