A 54th B-Day in the 54th AD on 5/4 at 1:54

Tonia Reyes Uranga leads organizing
meeting in Cal State Long Beach Chartroom

Youthful minds realizing adult dreams

Local politics usually isn’t my bag. I’m a long-time Long Beach townie who’s listened to a lot of broken political promises. Being more than an objective observer can be dangerous, especially for a journalist-in-waiting; physically, emotionally and “careerally.”

Except for an occasional foray into several campaign headquarters, I was never impressed with the glad-handing of local politicians. I always felt empty when I left the “party,” inevitably departing with more questions than answers. I’m one of those curious types.

I decided to slake my curiosity by visiting 54th Assembly District candidate Tonia Reyes Uranga’s campaign headquarters for her birthday party last Sunday.

I’ve known Tonia and her husband Roberto for a few years, mostly as a reporter at Long Beach City College where Roberto is a trustee. I still approach politicos with the apprehension and skepticism only a journalist can enjoy.

I half expected to see a bunch of well-heeled prehistorics clambering over each other to get next to the city councilwoman groveling, “Take my picture with Tonia.” I wasn’t expecting much, to be frank.

What I observed instead of the usual hangers-on were teenage volunteers from San Pedro High School, Long Beach Wilson High School and LBCC chomping at the bit to get Uranga’s campaign in high gear.

There was a contagion in the air among these young adults and it wasn’t all about posing for cellphone mug shots or wolfing down free pizza.

In one room students were folding brochures, while in another teens were mending “Vote for Tonia” lawn signs. The room in between had a crayoned wall mural and a group of little girls happily playing with dolls.

The teens were excited about the possibility of change. What they were craving wasn’t the change being uttered by candidates on the national stage. They want things to be immediately different in their own yards and believe Uranga will deliver.

Rather than giving a long-winded speech laden with astronomical promises, Uranga offered a brief pep talk hailing the efforts of the young volunteers. She could have offered them the moon, and set off looking for donors, but opted to celebrate her 54th birthday with family, friends and supporters.

Uranga promised them she would fight with her last breath to improve their quality of life by championing education, the environment and healthcare reform.

With a daughter about to graduate from Cal State Long Beach, a son planning on attending CSULB next year and another planning "Bruinship" at UCLA, the parental concern was very palpable.

Citing that her Democratic and Republican opponents have far stronger financial support than she does to do battle with, Uranga said, “They might have a lot of money, but I have gold,” sweeping her hands toward the teens. “I’m already a winner.”

Myself being a parent of college and high school students — and believing I know what is important to their future happiness — I couldn’t help but step astride of my ego while thinking, “Now that’s a ‘mom’ speech worthy of a piece of birthday cake.”

Flatulence flying over gas tax vacation schemes

Running on empty, running dry

All three presidential candidates are pumping hot air into the political fray over how to deal with high prices at the pumps.

Hillary Clinton and John McCain have proposed a “holiday” on fuel taxes for the upcoming summer travel season, while big oil enjoys a surreal all expenses paid vacation of its own.

Clinton’s plan is to call for a national moratorium on gasoline taxes (currently at 18.4 cents per gallon). McCain, on the other hand, hasn’t released details of his similar scheme, but both have fueled discontent among oil execs, economists and Clinton’s Dem opponent — Barack Obama.

President Bush said he would consider such a plan, but it’s certain the Texas oilman will only support fellow Republican St. Juan de Arizona’s deal, whatever that might be.

Current expectations are that gassing up the old jalopy will hit $4 per gallon in the next few weeks. Consumers are already fuming over the recent news that large oil companies recorded exorbitant profits during the ongoing fossil fuel crisis.

Obama, calling any moratorium a mere stopgap “gimmick,” said he is against a gas tax holiday, claiming it will only serve to further raise prices in the long run.

Oil companies are sure to drop an “F-bomb” on either Clinton’s or McCain’s strategy.

In the meantime, most of us will probably be pushing our cars down the road — out of cash and out of gas.