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Turkey time with Lorena G.

High-profile legislative Democrat gets cozy with AT&T

"Families receiving turkeys have been pre-selected," noted Gonzalez's website
"Families receiving turkeys have been pre-selected," noted Gonzalez's website

It's time again for the holidays, when the state's giant corporate special interests ante up to cover the cost of turkeys distributed by elected officials to their impoverished constituents.

As previously reported, San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer was joined by chief of police Shelly Zimmerman and a phalanx of cops to be seen giving away the free poultry in the Southeast San Diego neighborhood of Webster.

Chief Zimmerman at Mayor Faulconer's turkey giveaway
Mayor Faulconer handing out turkeys at Webster block party

As television cameras rolled, more than 200 birds were "handed out to folks who need a little help this thanksgiving," reported station XETV.

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"It's all about making sure people feel safe in their neighborhood and this was so fantastic today, and especially the young children that came up to our officers and they're just out having a great time," a smiling Zimmerman (who of late has been battling in court to keep a lid on body-camera footage of a San Diego police shooting) told a TV reporter.

Besides the chief, an inflatable bounce house and slide were also provided for the kids’ edification.

The tab for the affair was picked up by One San Diego,the Faulconer-controlled nonprofit backed by some of the Republican's biggest campaign contributors, most if not all of whom who also happen to have their own city hall agendas.

In the month before the turkey giveaway, a family charity run by Resmed chief Peter Farrell gave $5000, as did fast food's Jack in the Box. Other donors to One San Diego have included cell-phone giant AT&T.

The mayor is not alone among local politicos associating himself with fowl freebies this season.

Assembly Democrat Lorena Gonzalez rolled out her own version of the political tradition, with an event called the Operation Gobble Turkey Giveaway and Health Resource Fair, held at Cesar Chavez Park November 19.

Not just anybody was eligible for a turkey, according to a notice on Gonzalez’s website, which said, "PLEASE NOTE: In collaboration with partner community organizations, families receiving turkeys have been pre-selected."

Among "event partners" listed on the flier, featuring a photo of a smiling Gonzalez and a plump turkey, was National Steel and Shipbuilding, the shipyard of military contracting behemoth General Dynamics that financed last year's successful referendum to overturn the Barrio Logan community plan.

Other sponsors included the Port of San Diego and SDG&E.

Another donor, according to a December 7 Gonzalez disclosure filing posted online by the California Fair Political Practices Commission, was Faulconer favorite AT&T, which came up with $5000 for the giveaway.

The filing says Operational Gobble "helps assist and uplift the most in-need families in the 80th Assembly District through providing holiday turkeys, fresh produce, and access to health resources."

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"Families receiving turkeys have been pre-selected," noted Gonzalez's website
"Families receiving turkeys have been pre-selected," noted Gonzalez's website

It's time again for the holidays, when the state's giant corporate special interests ante up to cover the cost of turkeys distributed by elected officials to their impoverished constituents.

As previously reported, San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer was joined by chief of police Shelly Zimmerman and a phalanx of cops to be seen giving away the free poultry in the Southeast San Diego neighborhood of Webster.

Chief Zimmerman at Mayor Faulconer's turkey giveaway
Mayor Faulconer handing out turkeys at Webster block party

As television cameras rolled, more than 200 birds were "handed out to folks who need a little help this thanksgiving," reported station XETV.

Sponsored
Sponsored

"It's all about making sure people feel safe in their neighborhood and this was so fantastic today, and especially the young children that came up to our officers and they're just out having a great time," a smiling Zimmerman (who of late has been battling in court to keep a lid on body-camera footage of a San Diego police shooting) told a TV reporter.

Besides the chief, an inflatable bounce house and slide were also provided for the kids’ edification.

The tab for the affair was picked up by One San Diego,the Faulconer-controlled nonprofit backed by some of the Republican's biggest campaign contributors, most if not all of whom who also happen to have their own city hall agendas.

In the month before the turkey giveaway, a family charity run by Resmed chief Peter Farrell gave $5000, as did fast food's Jack in the Box. Other donors to One San Diego have included cell-phone giant AT&T.

The mayor is not alone among local politicos associating himself with fowl freebies this season.

Assembly Democrat Lorena Gonzalez rolled out her own version of the political tradition, with an event called the Operation Gobble Turkey Giveaway and Health Resource Fair, held at Cesar Chavez Park November 19.

Not just anybody was eligible for a turkey, according to a notice on Gonzalez’s website, which said, "PLEASE NOTE: In collaboration with partner community organizations, families receiving turkeys have been pre-selected."

Among "event partners" listed on the flier, featuring a photo of a smiling Gonzalez and a plump turkey, was National Steel and Shipbuilding, the shipyard of military contracting behemoth General Dynamics that financed last year's successful referendum to overturn the Barrio Logan community plan.

Other sponsors included the Port of San Diego and SDG&E.

Another donor, according to a December 7 Gonzalez disclosure filing posted online by the California Fair Political Practices Commission, was Faulconer favorite AT&T, which came up with $5000 for the giveaway.

The filing says Operational Gobble "helps assist and uplift the most in-need families in the 80th Assembly District through providing holiday turkeys, fresh produce, and access to health resources."

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