BY JOE PAYNE On the day George Floyd was senselessly murdered in Minneapolis, Minn., the Central Coast’s branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) held multiple vigils, but not for Floyd. They were meeting to raise awareness of police brutality over the killings of Amaud Arbery, who was shot downContinue reading “Santa Maria NAACP and police prepare for peaceful Thursday vigil as community groups targeted for Sunday’s unrest”
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A Sense of Proportion in Santa Maria’s Response to Sunday’s Protest and Unrest
It’s about 24 hours since glass was smashed at the Santa Maria Town Center and a dozen thrill seekers tore through the building, smashing liquor bottles and windows, with a couple even getting away with merchandise looted from at least one store. I’m typing this from home where I have been since before the 9Continue reading “A Sense of Proportion in Santa Maria’s Response to Sunday’s Protest and Unrest”
Live coverage: Black Lives Matter protest in Santa Maria, California, May 31, 2020
The Black Lives Matter protest in Santa Maria, California today went marching by my home, so I did what any self-respecting journalist would do and ran outside! My phone had enough battery for about 30 minutes of live streaming, which includes the march along Broadway back to the Santa Maria City Hall where protestors satContinue reading “Live coverage: Black Lives Matter protest in Santa Maria, California, May 31, 2020”
Understanding power dynamics amid the Minneapolis riots
It’s astounding. Damn near unbelievable. But here we are. In the midst of a historic pandemic, the ongoing crisis of police violence against people of color in the United States has flared up again, with the fallout appearing worse than ever. In the wake of the death of George Floyd, senselessly killed by Minneapolis officerContinue reading “Understanding power dynamics amid the Minneapolis riots”
Has Donald Trump and his administration made the coronavirus crisis worse?
I decided to jump head first into a very complicated topic for my latest video: Has the president made the coronavirus crisis worse in the United States? It’s hard to argue otherwise considering the late response, disjointed measures, and straight-up denialism that Trump and his appointees have employed. A crisis demands leadership, but it alsoContinue reading “Has Donald Trump and his administration made the coronavirus crisis worse?”
How Nancy Pelosi has failed to lead during the coronavirus crisis
In an effort to live up to my name as a Political Payne, and after sharing a good amount of my critique of the Republican Party and the right wing in American politics, it’s time to share my views on the Democratic Party and its response to the coronavirus crisis, and thusly annoy those onContinue reading “How Nancy Pelosi has failed to lead during the coronavirus crisis”
Who’s to blame for the mess we’re in?
Hello readers, both returning and those seeing my page for the first time! The Santa Maria Times shared an opinion piece by me today that is in rebuttal to a column by local conservative radio show host Andy Caldwell, which criticized California’s coronavirus response and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Here is my rebuttal, hope you enjoyContinue reading “Who’s to blame for the mess we’re in?”
COVID-19 conspiracy theories are just like any other
We knew it was bound to happen. Today’s conspiracy theorists are always prepared to have a reactionary response to negative news, but the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis has spawned some novel nonsense. As I highlight in this video, conspiracy theories are nothing new, and in some cases, the latest are created by the same cast ofContinue reading “COVID-19 conspiracy theories are just like any other”
Why are conservatives protesting stay-at-home orders?
I grew up (and still live in) a conservative California town, so I’ve always known conservatives and I’ve always been fascinated by their way of thinking. There’s the deep hate and distrust for the government, unless a Republican is in charge. There’s the insistence that their freedom is endlessly being trampled on by Democratic lawmakersContinue reading “Why are conservatives protesting stay-at-home orders?”
What we can learn from the Spanish Flu
For the video I produced this week, I took a dive into the history of the Spanish Flu pandemic of the early 1900s, and what we can learn and apply today. Unfortunately though, there are also several examples of history repeating itself today with how our government officials have responded to the COVID-19 crisis. LackadaisicalContinue reading “What we can learn from the Spanish Flu”
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