A bill authored by San Diego Assemblymember Toni Atkins that will strengthen California’s child pornography reporting laws has advanced further in the legislative process with a bi-partisan, unanimous vote of the Senate Public Safety Committee. AB 1817 adds commercial computer technicians to those who are “mandated reporters” of child abuse. “The days of hard copy…
There is no exact timeframe or science to real estate cycles, but this alternation has been going on internationally ever since there were landowners. Today in San Diego and in most of the world, it is a buyer’s market. It has been a buyer’s market for four to five years, as prices have continued to…
From an ad in the Advocate magazine, submitted by a defrocked Pentecostal preacher, who was kicked out of his church for being gay, came a gathering of 12 people in a living room in Los Angeles, which birthed the first Metropolitan Community Church; becoming a global denomination in excess of 200 churches in more than…
Fighting for every life threatened by cancer – in every community Dear Editor, In recognition of June 2012 being LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) Pride month, Gov. Jerry Brown recently noted that “California has been a leader in advancing the rights of its LGBT citizens.” The California Division of the American Cancer Society is…
The article this week is from a sermon preached by a congregant who wishes to remain anonymous. James Cone teaches at Yale and recently published a book, The Cross and the Lynching Tree. It is a disturbing book. Cone tells the story of how, over a 60-year period (1880-1940), more than 5,000 African American persons…
Assemblymember Toni Atkins has announced that the California legislature have voted to adopt an on-time state budget. The budget closes the $20 billion structural deficit California faced just 18 months ago, turning it into a $2 billion surplus reserve by fiscal year 2015/2016. Calling the budget “responsible but painful” Atkins said, “State spending, as a…
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Many of the U.S.’s most gay-friendly neighborhoods are in some of the country’s most expensive real estate markets. But there are also plenty of more affordable options for same-sex couples, according to real estate website Trulia. Trulia identified zip codes with the heaviest concentrations of gay men and women by examining…
Everyone has heard the real estate terms, short sale and foreclosure. Often people confuse the two types of transactions, even though they are very different. Whatever your understanding is of short sales and foreclosures, it is important to know the following basic concepts for both of them. Short sale A short sale is a transaction…
Art & Soul, Being Alive’s signature fundraising event, is an annual happening, formerly known as Soul Plates. Each year, celebrity artists create one-of-a-kind art pieces that are auctioned off. The event is typically attended by 250 guests. While the event is said to be great fun, its underlying purpose is serious – to increase awareness…
Home equity is the difference between the balance of your home mortgage and the current market value of your home. If you are fortunate enough to have equity in your home, using it to invest in real estate is something you may want to consider. Throughout history, many people have made outstanding investments in real…
