SQUID FRY 03.31.16: Justice for Some…

JUSTICE FOR SOME… Squid loves a good word game, partially because Squid’s outsized brain gives Squid a leg up when playing Words With Friends against Squid’s harbor seal pals. So when Squid saw the California Civil Justice Foundation on Assembly candidate Anna Caballero’s statement of economic interest – the form public officials must file to show how they make their money – Squid was puzzled at first. It sounds like an organization devoted to fighting for civil rights. Then Squid realized it’s really just clever word play: The nonprofit has the same Sacramento address as the Civil Justice Association of California – a group purportedly built to “reduce litigation against small businesses,” but a closer look shows it’s a front group for big business. It’s registered as a lobbyist and large political donor, and board members include big businesses from every sector, like Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil, JPMorgan Chase, Apple and Anthem Blue Cross.

After Caballero stepped down from her post on Gov. Jerry Brown’s cabinet last fall to run for Assembly, she started a consulting business, Caballero and Associates. It’s listed on her statement of economic interest, where she’s also obligated to include the names of clients who paid $10,000 or more. The sole client listed there: the California Civil Justice Foundation. Which makes her proposed ballot designation – “independent small businesswoman” – also sound like a smart word play.

FIGHTING WORDS… Squid may not be the most generous creature, but Squid is observant of those who give – and likes to praise those who give in return. Squid knows tragedy happens in Monterey County, but Squid likes to think it’s balanced out by the many do-gooders among us.

But some people don’t like to commend do-gooders, which was painfully apparent when Squid went to Salinas’ Chinatown last week, where homeless encampments made the streets look like a refugee camp. Squid observed homeless advocate and attorney Anthony Prince riling up a group of protesters, ordering them via a loudspeaker to stand their ground and not move for city officials, who were coming in to sweep the camps away.

Enter Jill Allen, who manages Dorothy’s Place, a nonprofit that exists for the purpose of helping the homeless. Allen pledged to house 200 people in 90 days, offering hope of decency to people about to be displaced. Instead of gratitude, all Squid could hear was Prince bickering. He interrupted Allen to yell at her to call Mayor Joe Gunter and ask him to call off the sweep. Squid hoped the city would come sweep Prince out of the scene, because if he cared more about the homeless than the spotlight, he would commend Allen instead of confronting her.

Prince’s legal aptitude? That’s for another rant.