Bob White: pot, booze, Father Joe

California Strategies, the Sacramento-based lobbying outfit founded by San Diego State University star alum and Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger political intimate Bob White, has been making big money of late working for purveyors of intoxicants. In addition to lobbying city hall on behalf of the San Diego Alternative Health Association for “lawful dispensation of medical cannabis for healthcare purposes,” the firm’s local office has recently been retained by Ralphs Grocery Company to “change hours of sales for [a] liquor license” at the supermarket chain’s Point Loma stores. Besides its pot and booze clients, Cal Strats, as it is known among insiders, is also working for SDVP Management, otherwise known as Father Joe’s Villages, the downtown non-profit homeless shelter building outfit founded by Father Joe Carroll. According to the lobbyist’s disclosure filing, “recent fee increases and legal settlements are affecting the client’s ability to do business in San Diego.” To relieve the problem, the filing continues, the lobbyists are seeking a “reinstatement of solid waste fee exemption for Father Joe’s Villages and [to] find an alternative location for Girls Think Tank operations.” Among other endeavors, Girls Think Tank has led the push for installation of so-called Portland Loo restrooms downtown. According to its website, the group is “now many members strong and our efforts are reaching the masses. From our signature project — distributing survival backpacks to displaced men, women and children on the streets during the coldest months — to standing with them at City Council, we’ve learned that by speaking — and acting — out, real change occurs."