According to recent campaign filings, San Diego Reader publisher Jim Holman’s “loaned” just over $1.4 million to his third go-round at a parental notification law. Similar to two other ballot initiatives (2005 and 2006) that both failed, this one—called “Sarah’s Law”—will require that any minor who needs an abortion must first notify a parent or legal guardian. Unlike the last two ballot measures, though, a girl who convinces a judge that her parents won’t take lightly the news that she’s pregnant can instead notify an adult relative. That provision raises a whole bunch of issues on its own ’cause last time we checked, it’s illegal to abuse a child and so, basically, a girl would have to rat out her parents.
All that aside, $1.4 million?
Wait? Did you say “one-point-four-million dollars”?
Indeed I did: $1.4 million
Isn’t that, like, more than most people make in a lifetime?
Last time I checked, yep.
Wouldn’t that buy enough rice to feed 42,000 families in Africa for two weeks.
Look at you go with the stats. Lemme check that and…hey, you’re right!
Hm.
Yep, hm.
May 6, 2008 - 9:46 am at 9:46 am
I’m confused. Is the issue here how much money Holman spent on a cause that is obviously dear to him, or that you disagree with the cause at all?
Whatever you think about parental notification laws, it seems unfair to attack the man for DONATING money to a cause that he believes will make the world a better place rather than spending the 1.4 million bucks on, say, a new kitchen addition to his mansion.
May 6, 2008 - 9:55 am at 9:55 am
I’m not “attacking” him, Ed—I’m simply pointing something out. Make of it what you will. He’s not “donating” money to a cause—this is his show (the Reader offices are the ballot initiative’s headquarters). Holman is bankrolling a third attempt to amend the California state constitution which, currently, protects the privacy of any woman who wants to get an abortion. Bet you’d love to be able to throw a bundle of money to amend the state constitution to make it jibe with your personal morals.
May 7, 2008 - 9:43 pm at 9:43 pm
Well yes Kelly, I would like that, quite a bit. The first thing I’d do is amend the Constitution to make it illegal for baseball stadiums to stop selling beer after a certain inning.