BearFlagBlue | Nor*Cal Style. East Bay Attitude. Progressive Politic.: February 2009

Budget Down...Water Up

2/27/2009 05:00:00 PM | by sean mykael

Darrell Steinberg says the number one priority now that we have a budget is solving the water crisis in California.

With California's budget crisis resolved for the moment, state lawmakers Thursday turned their attention to another emergency: a three-year drought that has left key reservoirs at 35% of capacity.

Legislators stepped forward with plans to ask voters to borrow as much as $15 billion for projects to expand and improve the state's water supply.

"This is the session to aggressively solve California's water challenges," Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) said Thursday.

At the end of the day, we just don't have enough to go around. Hopefully, some of that 15 billion will go to projects that aim to reclaim and recycle water.

Floats Back in Bay to Breakers

2/27/2009 04:00:00 PM | by sean mykael

After public outcry the organizers of the Bay to Breakers will re-allow floats in the historic race.

Race spokesman Sam Singer confirmed Thursday evening that floats will be allowed, as long as they do not carry kegs or liquor. He said that guidelines are being developed, and that race sponsors will announce the new policy today or Monday, after meetings today with the mayor's office and other city officials.

"Outrageous, fun, zany costumes and floats are part of the essential character of the Bay to Breakers race," Singer said. "We are really asking people to act responsibly and treat the other participants and the rest of San Francisco with respect by not urinating, defecating, vomiting or littering the streets of San Francisco."

Critics of the changes, who said they racked up 20,000 members on a Facebook group in recent weeks, said the new rules would turn the fun only-in-San Francisco party into a regular 12-kilometer footrace like any other race in any other city in the world. Earlier this week, they called for a registration boycott of the race.

Not far enough. If the city is worried about piss and trash then put out more trash cans and porta potties.

This is one tradition that should not be killed...Bay to Breakers isn't Bay to Breakers without the booze and the nudity as well as the floats.

Boycott Bay to Breakers!

Apple Moth Quarantine in Sonoma

2/27/2009 03:00:00 PM | by sean mykael

The Apple Moth has come to Sonoma, placing the farmlands under quarantine.

The state has placed a swath of Sonoma County farmland under quarantine after two insect pests known as light-brown apple moths were found near Sebastopol in the past three months.

While the boundary of the quarantine has not been established, it will include apple, grape and vegetable farms and nurseries in the area where the moths were found along Highway 116, also known as the Gravenstein Highway, south of Sebastopol.

Quarantines have been established mostly in wine-growing regions of Sonoma, Solano and Napa counties, but this is the first one that includes apple orchards, said Lisa Correia, the chief deputy agriculture commissioner for Sonoma County.

Correia said one moth was found in a trap in November, prompting the California Department of Food and Agriculture to put up additional snares. Another moth was found Feb. 17 about 3 miles south of Sebastopol, which spurred the state quarantine, she said.

The quarantine will subject growers and other businesses inside the infestation zone to inspections and, if the alien moth is found, an extensive treatment program.

As if things weren't hard enough on agriculture in our state right now.

Min Wage for CA Employees

2/27/2009 02:00:00 PM | by sean mykael

Once again, the state employees are getting screwed.

State workers' pay can be cut to the federal minimum wage when lawmakers miss California's annual budget deadline, a Sacramento Superior Court judge has tentatively ruled.

Assuming the ruling stands, it's a win for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a fight that started last summer when Controller John Chiang refused to cut paychecks that paid about 200,000 hourly state workers $6.55 per hour, the federal minimum. Exempt or salaried employees would get $455 a week.

So while the republicans work on ways to steal away their retirements...they have found a way to strip away state employees pay, any time their party decides to hold up the budget. One more reason we must repeal 2/3rds and replace it with a simple majority vote.

Why anybody would want to work for the State of California at this point is beyond me. Unfortunately, in this economy there is no where else to go.

No More Raids

2/27/2009 01:00:00 PM | by sean mykael

The Obama Administration takes another step in the right direction.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is sending strong signals that President Obama - who as a candidate said states should be allowed to make their own rules on medical marijuana - will end raids on pot dispensaries in California.

Asked at a Washington news conference Wednesday about Drug Enforcement Administration raids in California since Obama took office last month, Holder said the administration has changed its policy.

It's time to end the war on drugs all together now. It hasn't worked and is a waste of money and puts too many harmless people behind bars. One step at a time though.

Support AB 390

Abortion Rights Opinion Shifting

2/27/2009 12:00:00 PM | by sean mykael

A new poll shows that more people support taking away the privacy of pregnant teens

A new poll finds that while a large majority of Californians still support abortion rights, more are open to placing restrictions on abortions, including notifying a parent when a minor seeks to end her pregnancy.

Since January 2000, the percentage of Californians who say they do not favor limits on abortions has declined 10 percentage points, to 71 percent. Over the same period, the number who back abortion restrictions has grown by 8 percentage points, to 27 percent.

"There's been a small shift. Californians are strongly supportive of abortion rights. Most are against restrictions, but not to the degree that they were in 2000," said Public Policy Institute of California president and survey director Mark Baldassare.

I'd like to think that most girls who live in a loving & supportive home in which they can talk to their families about these types of issues, do for the most part go to their parents. It's the other girls out there that I worry about; the ones from abuse homes, or freaky religious homes, or who knows what kind of homes. Their rights need to be protected.

Chronicle Flack

2/27/2009 11:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

The Columbia Journalism Review take the San Francisco Chronicle, and specifically the Hearst Corporation, to taskfor turning the once great news rag into a publicity service.

Not one word makes it into the paper from Chronicle unions, whose contracts Hearst CEO Frank Bennack wants to “quickly” rewrite with “significant” concessions under threat of closing the newspaper.

Not one word from others with an interest in whether the Chronicle dies after 144 years—say, interviews with the mayor, city supervisors, major advertisers, political scientists, or perhaps just a few scattered longtime readers.

Not one word from, say, an authoritative voice on Bay Area journalism like Alan D. Mutter, or from the Chronicle’s most severe critic, Bruce B. Brugmann, owner of the Bay Guardian.

And not one word about the changes in ownership of the Bay Area’s twenty-one newspapers, Hearst’s role in financing ownership changes in places like San Jose and the East Bay, and their meaning in the context of the demands for job cuts and, no doubt, reductions in wages and benefits and relaxation of work rules.

Presenting management publicity as news destroys respect among readers and diminishes the value of the brand. The issue is not that Hearst may need to rewrite its deals with the Newspaper Guild and the Teamsters, but that editor Ward Bushee Jr. let flackery pose as news without even a passing mention that there was more than one side to this story.

Maybe this is part of the reason newspapers are having the troubles they are in the first place.

Arnold Boosts 1A

2/27/2009 10:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

Capital Notes John Myers reports that the effort to pass a spending cap just got a nice little bounce from Arnold.

The campaign effort has just begun in earnest, with Governor Schwarzenegger's allies launching the Budget Reform Now political committee to get voter approval on Propositions 1A through 1F.

Schwarzenegger has quickly seeded the campaign with $80,000 in startup cash, and his own political campaign committee apparently raked in new donations last week while the guv was back east. That being said, the committee is officially being headed up by Jim Earp of the California Alliance for Jobs; other official supporters include the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Business Roundtable.

Support the Employee Free Choice Act

2/27/2009 09:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

The Center for American Progress has a new report that makes the case for the Employee Free Choice Act.

One of the primary reasons why our current recession endures is that workers do not have the purchasing power they need to drive our economy. Even when times were relatively good, workers were getting squeezed. Income for the median working age household fell by about $2,000 between 2000 and 2007, and it could fall even further as the economy continues to decline.1 Consumer activity accounts for roughly 70 percent of our nation’s economy, and for a while workers were able to use debt to sustain their consumption. Yet debt-driven consumption is not sustainable, as we are plainly seeing.

What is sustainable is an economy where workers are adequately rewarded and have the income they need to purchase goods. This is where unions come in.

Read the full report on California here

Who Will Stop The Cap?

2/27/2009 08:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

Over at Calitics, David Dayen looks into the upcoming special election, and what it could mean for the future.

But clearly, Prop. 1A is the most dangerous measure in the long-term, locking the state into deep cuts into the distant future, which would ratchet down services regardless of demand or growth. This is the long-sought effort by the far right to drown government in the bathtub. And yet to this point, no opposition has been found to this measure.

We have 81 days to organize.

Bye Bye Mai Tai

2/27/2009 07:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

If you've never been to the Tonga Room at the Fairmont in San Francisco...then now is the time to go.

Looks like twilight time for the tiki torches in the Fairmont Hotel's famed Tonga Room.

The Nob Hill hotel's owners are looking into a big-time condo conversion in the Fairmont tower, and the Tonga Room - with its tropical decor and Hurricane Bar - isn't included in the plans.

The Tonga Room is one of the nation's oldest tiki palaces, dating back to 1945 when MGM's top set director, Mel Melvin, was brought in to transform the Fairmont's indoor swimming pool into a nautical bar.

The result was a South Seas paradise - with a lagoon and a floating stage for the orchestra, a dance floor built from the remains of an old lumber schooner and even periodic tropical storms, complete with thunder and lightning.

It really is a cool place. Great Mai Tais. It will be sad to see it go.

Interestingly enough the Fairmont is owned by Lew Wolff...the same guy that's trying to screw everything up for the Oaland A's.

Saving for Retirement

2/27/2009 06:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

We need to start investing in retiree benefits now, or it's just going to be more expensive in the future.

"Even as the state grapples with a decline in revenues during hard times, it is important for lawmakers to begin crafting a long-range plan to meet this future obligation," Chiang said in a press statement.

For years, the state has paid just enough to cover retiree health care each year. The pay-as-you-go practice is akin to making minimum payments on a credit card bill; you pay more over time than if you pay extra with each installment.

If the state had been paying the costs of all future retiree benefits and invested the money at about an 8 percent return, the annual cost would be about $2.7 billion this year, according to the estimates. In 2017-18 the yearly cost would be about $3.2 billion, about $2 billion less than what will be due under the pay-as-you-go system.

My wife is a state employee. We're going to need those benefits one day. Sure be nice if they could start acting now, so that when it comes time for her to retire there is still something left.

What's She Holding On To?

2/26/2009 07:15:00 PM | by sean mykael

San Jose A's?

2/26/2009 06:50:00 PM | by sean mykael

Now that the Fremont deal is dead...San Jose is trying to woo the A's

A day after the Oakland A's cut off relocation talks with Fremont, San Jose's elected officials and community leaders jumped to work Wednesday on reviving a stadium romance that withered nearly three years ago.

Some gathered in a hastily called meeting. Other boosters signed up for a new "Baseball San Jose" page on Facebook. They talked of conducting polls and rounding up sponsors and perhaps even offering a discount on city-owned land already earmarked for a downtown stadium.

They also called team owner Lew Wolff, who is in Arizona to mark the beginning of spring training.

What is so wrong with keeping the A's in Oakland?

No Salmon Fishing

2/26/2009 05:39:00 PM | by sean mykael

Things are not looking good for the King Salmon. Not too mention fishermen and fish lovers.

The number of chinook in the ocean right now is barely enough to meet the minimum sustainable goal when the fish return to spawn in the Sacramento River system this fall - and that's assuming no fishing is allowed this year, according to a forecast Wednesday by a federal agency.

The ominous news, contained in the Pacific Fishery Management Council's report on ocean salmon fisheries, comes on the tail fins of last week's announcement that fewer salmon than ever recorded swam through San Francisco Bay last fall to spawn in the Sacramento River.

"This is grim news for the state of California," said Don Hansen, chairman of the council, a federal body that regulates commercial and sport fishing. "We won't be able to talk about this without using the word 'disaster.' "

A decision is expected to be made by May 1st, but I would hope this news would be enough to keep the fishermen away. They'd only be hurting themselves.

Mass Mobilization to Shut Down Fruitvale BART

2/26/2009 05:32:00 PM | by sean mykael

A whole lot of folks aren't very happy with the way BART has handled the Oscar Grant shooting.On March 5th, protesters plan on shutting down the Fruitvale station during commute hours.

A group of East Bay residents protesting BART officials' handling of the shooting death of Oscar Grant on New Year's Day say they plan to shut down the Fruitvale station on Thursday, March 5, during evening rush hour....

George Ciccariello-Maher, an Oakland resident and spokesman for the protest group No Justice No BART, said demonstrators hope to force BART officials to close the Fruitvale stop through a "mass mobilization" to the station. He said the protesters are ready to try other tactics -- although he said violence would not be necessary -- to shut down the station if their gambit doesn't work.

Plan your commute accordingly.

The Audacity of Dope

2/26/2009 04:57:00 PM | by sean mykael

Cool editorial regarding AB 390 from a San Jose Spartan

Bill Clinton may have not inhaled, but millions of other Americans have.

This week, California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, introduced legislation that would allow people to openly purchase marijuana in the state.

Not only would this legislation allow stoners to step out of their hot-boxed closets, but it would also help pull the state out of debt.

Honestly, I just really liked the cheezy title.

A friend of mine came back from the inauguration recently with a simple bar of soap that had the iconic image of Obama plastered over one side. It was being marketed as...

The Audacity of Soap.

So awful. I loved it.

Coal Tar in the Bay

2/26/2009 04:36:00 PM | by sean mykael

PG&E has been slow in looking into cleaning up coal tar deposits on the SF Bay

Hazardous chemicals in bay sediment near San Francisco's single remaining large power plant threaten the health of people and marine life, yet Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has been slow to investigate the problem, according to Port of San Francisco officials and city leaders.

The carcinogenic chemicals are byproducts of coal tar, a thick, dark, gooey substance left over from industrial uses at the eastern waterfront site. Much of them came from the manufacturing of gas that lit the city's homes and street lights in the 1800s and is not related to current power-generating operations.

The large coal tar deposits and other compounds pollute the soil onshore, and the tar has oozed from the shoreline into the bay over the years.

Luckily nobody is really using this particular are of the bay to swim, but people do often fish nearby. Coal Tar Fish can not be a good thing to be eating.

Scary to think of all the crap floating around in that bay.

Hurry Up & Vote

2/26/2009 04:25:00 PM | by sean mykael

We have 82 days until the May 19 Special Election

When the Legislature agreed last week that May 19 was the best possible day to hold a special election, the politicos also decided to toss a bunch of California's election rules straight out the window.

Take, for example, the rule that legislative ballot measures have to be placed on the ballot at least 131 days before the election. Problem is, the budget deal that included the six ballot measures wasn't even on the governor's desk until 88 days before the anticipated vote.

It's going to be a busy couple of months.

Save HR 200!

2/25/2009 09:27:00 PM | by sean mykael

One of the key pieces of housing legislation that President Obama would like to see passed is John Conyers HR 200, which would allow bankruptcy judges to lower mortgage payments to reflect the current value of the home. HR 200 would allow hundreds of thousands of people to stay in their homes with more reasonable payments. And, I just don't see how it helps the homeowner or the bank to be sitting on an empty house anyways.

Apparantly, Ellen Tauscher is trying to block HR 200.

Chris Bowers has more at Open Left

Tomorrow, the House will vote on Representative Conyer's bankruptcy cram down. The whip count is unclear right now, but some Blue Dogs and New Democrats, including Melissa Bean (D-IL), Dennis Moore (D-KS), and New Democratic chair Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), are working on behalf of the financial services industry to water down the legislation. Tauscher in particular is problematic, both because of her leadership role in one of the ideological caucuses, and also because rumors are that she has organized up to two dozen members thus far. It is about time that Tauscher, and the Representatives she is organizing, stop listening to industry lobbyists who do not have the public interest in mind.

So, let's make Representative Tauscher listen to someone else right now. Contact Ellen Tauscher, and urge her to stop organizing other Democrats to water down HR 200. She needs to listen to honewoners, not to the financial industry that got us into this economic disaster:

Email form (California residents only)
D.C. office: 202.225.1880

Not only is helping struggling homeowners the right thing to do, but if we don't turn the corner on the mortgage and economic crisis, then Democrats will find themselves in the same bad electoral position Republicans currently face.

Tauscher is key to this vote, and she can be influenced. After she was threatened by a primary challenge during much of 2007, her voting habits distinctly changed for the better. As such, if you are feeling cheeky enough, it might not hurt to mention that when you call.

Contact Representative Ellen Tauscher on HR 200!
Email form (California residents only)
D.C. office: 202.225.1880

I'm not happy that it has come to this, but the alternative is just unacceptable.

Please contact Ellen Tauscher and Save HR 200!

Robert on the Radio

2/25/2009 09:19:00 PM | by sean mykael

Tune in to KRXA540 Thursday at 8am when Robert in Monterey will be hosting the KRXA Morning Show.

He'll be discussing the recent Constitutional Convention Summit in Sacramento and taking your calls.

Join the coversation at (831) 899-KRXA or 1(888) KRXA-540. LIVE Thursday 8-10am on KRXA 540 AM.

Listen Here

Tax Myths Dispelled

2/25/2009 07:54:00 PM | by sean mykael

I hear it all the time. I'm sure you've heard it too. That California has the highest taxes in we get the crappiest government for it.Steve Lopez at the Los Angeles Times attempts to dispel the myths

All that mattered were taxes.

"California has the highest taxes in the country," a reader named Mary wrote to me.

"I guess it's our patriotic duty, as residents of California, to pay the highest taxes (or close to it) in the country, for the most incompetent government in any state," wrote Art.

Most incompetent government? We're probably in the running, but two other states I've lived in were at least as screwed up, with Pennsylvania actually taking pride in its monumental incompetence.

As for the claim that Californians pay the highest taxes of any state or close to it, I'm sorry to disappoint, given the great joy so many people seem to derive from hyperventilating.

But we're not even close.

"We're 17th," said Jean Ross, executive director of the nonpartisan California Budget Project.

That means the residents of 16 states pay higher taxes than Californians....

We tend to be higher on income taxes and lower on property taxes, Ross told me. We're also low on taxes for fuel and alcohol.

Further in the article Lopez asks...

Does it make sense that on the same street in any California town, one resident pays $3,000 in property taxes while the owner of an identical house pays $20,000, thanks to Prop. 13?

Great question.

Milton Friedman Supports AB 390

2/25/2009 07:25:00 PM | by sean mykael

Andrew Cohen at CBS news reminds us that the great conservative icon, Milton Freidman supported the legalization and taxation of marijuana.

Consider the late, great Milton Friedman, the Nobel Laureate, former Reagan advisor, and esteemed scholar associated with the very conservative Hoover Institution. He was among hundreds of important economists who argue that pot should be legalized and taxed - and that the income from such taxation could generate billions in new revenues and billions more in enforcement savings. If you live in California, what would you rather have? Pot smokers whose cases are tying up the legal system? Or better health care and roads thanks to a marijuana tax. I’m just asking the question-and others are too.

In these trying times, don't we need a bipartisan issue like this to bring the people together?

Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Libertarians, Decline-to-States...

Come together and support AB 390.

March 4th Marriage Equality Vigils

2/25/2009 07:15:00 PM | by sean mykael

On March 5th the CA Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments challenging the legality of Prop 8. The evening before, on March 5h, Prop 8 will be challenged in the streets with candlelight

A series of candlelight vigils are being planned by Marriage Equality USA on March 4th (one week from tomorrow), the evening before the California Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in the challenge to Proposition 8, the measure which banned same-sex marriage in the state.

Said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA Media Director: "On the eve of justice, we're calling on Californians to march forth on March 4th in candlelight vigils to be held across the state in support of the Constitution's promise of equality for all. We invite supporters of marriage equality, their friends and families, and especially the 18,000 same-sex couples married last year, to join us in a showing of faith and support that love and justice will prevail."

So far vigils are planned in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, San Jose, Visalia, Modesto, Stockton, Bakersfield, and Roseville.

For more information on a vigil being held in your area, please visit http://eveofjustice.com/

CA Drought to Suck Worse Than Ever

2/25/2009 03:52:00 PM | by sean mykael

Jill Richardson has written a great post regarding the feds cutting off the tap and how it will affect our state.

To manage water in the face of the drought, the federal government is cutting off water to many California farms for at least three weeks in March. The amount of time without water will depend on whether we get rain in the next few weeks. In the San Joaquin Valley, the drought will cause an estimated $1.15 billion (with a B) in lost agriculture-related wages and 40,000 lost jobs in farm-related industries. And if that ain't bad enough, the New York Times reports that the problems go beyond food in affected towns:

I love her ideas, but I wish her luck with #1:

Why is it still legal to have lawns in California? Seriously. Somebody should outlaw watering your lawn. If we weren't in such a budget crisis I'd add that the city should provide native drought resistant plants to residents who want to make their yard beautiful and able to survive without water.

I think drought resistant yards are great and anything we can do to promote them is awesome...but getting rid of my lawn?

Let's slow down now.

Raise a Glass to Bill Brand

2/25/2009 03:29:00 PM | by sean mykael

Services for former Oakland Tribune reporter, and Beer critic, Bill Brand were held today

Former Oakland Tribune reporter and nationally known beer critic Bill Brand has died at San Francisco General Hospital, nearly two weeks after being struck by a Muni Metro train near AT&T Park.

Mr. Brand, 70, was hit at the intersection of King and Second streets on Feb. 8 as he was walking toward a Muni platform to start the journey to his Berkeley home after doing one of the things he loved most, covering a beer-tasting event. He went into a coma and never recovered, dying on Friday...

A dynamo of a man, Mr. Brand was a fixture in the East Bay news scene for more than 30 years. A fast, clever writer, he covered stories big and small with equal gusto - from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and Unabomber killings to writing a column about family life.

"Bill was a great writer, one of those old-school guys," said Oakland Tribune colleague Cecily Burt. "He could make anything interesting, and he was hysterically funny."

Cheers, Bill. Peace.

Haters

2/25/2009 03:19:00 PM | by sean mykael

Everybody seems to love knocking California these days.

Things are tough enough for the image of the Golden State when California's own Jay Leno suggests that we auction the place off on eBay.

And it burns when state author and futurist Joel Kotkin pens a piece for Newsweek, declaring that "the buffoonish current governor and a Legislature divided between hysterical greens, public employee lackeys and Neanderthal Republicans have turned the state into a … laughingstock."

Inside and outside the state, California's press reviews are stinking terribly these days.

But California's defenders say let 'em laugh. Let the Wall Street Journal run a column headlined "How California Became France."

Let the New York Times declare that California "appears headed off the fiscal rails." California has heard it all before.

Let them laugh.

California is going to be just fine. Change is on the horizon in the Golden State. We'll be back and when we are, watch out...

As California goes, so goes the Nation.

Lungren Vulnerable

2/25/2009 03:11:00 PM | by sean mykael

Bayne of Blog takes a look at what may have inspired the DCCC's recent interest in CD-03

In 2006, Bill Durston lost to Dan Lungren in the 3rd Congressional District by more than 21 percent. Republicans held a 7% voter registration advantage, and viewing CD-03 as a lost cause, no other Democrat stepped to the plate to take on Congo Dan. To no one’s surprise, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC aka D-trip) completely ignored CD-03.

In 2008, Durston again took on Lungren. Again, he lost, but in the intervening two years Democrats had reduced the Republican advantage to 2% of voter registration. The vote gap also closed dramatically. Unable to muster even half the votes cast in the 2008 election, Congo Dan squeaked out a 49.5% to 44% win over Durston. Still, no help came from the D-trip.

Now it’s 2009. A Democratic President occupies the White House, the Democratic Party is energized, and the D-trip is finally starting to get it. What a difference an election can make. Congo Dan is vulnerable, and the D-trip is paying attention.

Word is that Bill Durston has been having some serious back problems of late. Let's hope that Bill is feeling better soon. He's so close. 2010 could be the year.

Newsom at Home with Marijuana

2/25/2009 01:00:00 PM | by sean mykael

Newsom expresses support for Medical Marijuana

Newsom was asked last week in Santa Cruz about his stance on medical cannabis. ''Will you defend our rights ..to the kind of medicine we voted (for)?'' in California, an audience member asked. And, she pressed, will Newsom protect workers ''so we're not fired from work for using cannabis instead of Oxycontin as an analgesic?''

Newsom, smiling, delivered a shot to the right, saying, "on the Oxycontin...Rush Limbaugh, pay attention.''

Then he told the audience of about 200 people: "I do feel at home on this issue.'' The answer, he said, was "yes, and yes.''

Is he home enough on this issue to support AB 390?

Grin, Duck, and Weave

2/25/2009 12:00:00 PM | by sean mykael

Poizner & Whitman on the May 19 special election ballot initiatives.

At the state GOP convention last weekend, Poizner said he had yet to see the language for the measures, so couldn't take positions. He did say he would "probably" reluctantly support the measure aimed at borrowing $5 billion from future state Lottery proceeds. He said he knows, however, that he will never raise taxes as governor.

Whitman delivered a mea culpa for her spotty personal voting record, then took a position on just one of the ballot measures - a spending limit whose passage would also extend the life of the temporary tax increases.

Assuming she votes this time, she said she'll vote against it.

Boycott Bay to Breakers

2/25/2009 11:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

From Citizens for the Preservation of Bay2Breakers

Talks with race officials stalled. We are boycotting all race registration until further notice. We are calling for runners and non-runners to unite in this effort.

The heart and soul of San Francisco is under attack. Since 1912, Bay to Breakers has been a celebration of San Francisco’s great spirit and citizenship. This year, race sponsors and officials of the iconic event have announced a “zero tolerance” policy banning floats, alcohol, and nudity. We believe these severe restrictions are stripping Bay to Breakers of the freedom of expression and creativity it has evolved into over its 96-year history. Please help us save our beloved race. Bay to Breakers, a San Francisco tradition.

Please join our Facebook group and sign our petition.

Without the floats, and the costumes, and the beer, and the nudity, there really isn't much point in even having a Bay to Breakers. At this point it seems the only option is killing it, to save it.

Boycott Bay to Breakers!

No Easter Egg Hunt This Year?

2/25/2009 10:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

What the hell was the Mayor of Los Alamitos thinking?

The mayor of Los Alamitos is coming under fire for an e-mail he sent that depicts the White House lawn planted with watermelons, under the title "No Easter egg hunt this year."

Local businesswoman and city volunteer Keyanus Price, who is black, said Tuesday that she received the e-mail from Mayor Dean Grose's personal account Sunday and wants a public apology.

"I have had plenty of my share of chicken and watermelon and all those kinds of jokes," Price said. "I honestly don't even understand where he was coming from, sending this to me. As a black person receiving something like this from the city freakin' mayor -- come on."

Dean Grose needs to turn off the John & Ken show. These stupid rednecks get enough of that crap and they start thinking that everybody finds this shit funny.

What an asshole.

SF Chron to be Sold or Closed?

2/25/2009 09:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

A memo from the publisher via the SFBG Politics blog.

Memo from Frank Vega, Chairman & Publisher February 24, 2009

Dear Fellow Employees:

The rapidly declining economy, coupled with severely declining advertising revenues, is forcing nearly every newspaper company to re-think how it conducts business while continuing to serve its respective communities.

Despite all of our best efforts as an organization, The Chronicle continues to show staggering losses each week. Recent staff and expense reductions have not stemmed these losses, which are only worsening in the present economy. In response to our financial picture and the bleak economic forecast for the foreseeable future, our management team has begun a series of cost-saving initiatives designed to alleviate those losses.

First and foremost of these cost savings will be a significant reduction in force across all areas of our operation affecting both represented and non-represented employees. We will shortly begin discussions with union leadership on proposals. Our current situation dictates that we accomplish these cost savings quickly. Business as usual is no longer an option.

If we are unable to accomplish these reductions in the immediate future, Hearst Corporation, which owns The Chronicle, has informed us that it will offer the newspaper for sale or close it altogether. We know these are painful times for everyone and we face difficult choices. We share in the sincere hope that we will reach agreement with all parties involved on the concessions needed to continue to operate and provide the Bay Area with a quality newspaper.

I will update you throughout this process. Thank you for your support and good work, particularly in economic times that are difficult for all of us.

Sad news. I'd be especially sorry to see SFGate go. They have one of the best online presences of any California newspaper.

CA Constitutional Convention Summit Coverage

2/25/2009 08:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

The Bay Area Council held it's Summit on a Constitutional Convention yesterday in Sacramento. San Jose Mercury caught up with Rick Jacobs of the Courage Campaign

After a bruising effort to fix California's budget deficit that left few satisfied, political reformers are debating a novel idea to end the state's political gridlock: rewrite the state Constitution to fundamentally change how California is governed.

More than 300 people gathered to debate the idea Tuesday at a Constitutional Convention Summit. They agreed on one thing: The state's system of government is broken.

Agreement over how to fix it was more elusive.

There was no shortage of ideas: end term limits for legislators, redraw political districts to make them smaller, allow voters to register on Election Day or when they renew their driver's license, and scrap the initiative process.

"What we have is so broken that I can't even imagine that we get something worse," said Rick Jacobs, chairman of the Courage Campaign, a Los Angeles group that was among the meeting's sponsors.

"If we ever get to the point where there is a constitutional convention, I think it ought to be big, it ought to be broad, and we ought to trust people," Jacobs said.

I was a little disappointed that I wasn't able to attend myself, but the cost was way to prohibitive.

Thankfully Rick Jacobs & Robert Cruickshank of the Courage Campaign were there to present the progressive side of the argument.

Thanks guys!

Low Marks for CA Education

2/25/2009 07:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

A new report from UCLA says California Education isn't doing so well. KPCC has an interview with the author.

UCLA researchers released a new report today that indicates California is near the bottom of all states in measures of public school education. The report says one third of ninth graders fail to graduate high school on time. It also shows California is near the bottom in terms of the number of high school students who enroll in four year colleges right away. Shirley Jahad talked with an author of the study, UCLA Professor John Rogers. He heads the UCLA Institute for Democracy Education and Access.

Listen Here

Public Pressure Stopped Stadium

2/25/2009 06:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

A's owner Lew Wolff comments on backing out of a Fremont A's stadium.

Oakland Athletics owner Lew Wolff said Tuesday he backed out of plans to move the team to Fremont because he was daunted by the opposition from local residents, retailers and employers.

"Perhaps my view ... failed to properly anticipate the resistance we have encountered," Wolff wrote in a three-page letter sent to the city Tuesday. "The business I am in should be fun first and foremost."

Wolff said he hopes to keep the team in Northern California, but does not plan to announce any changes in the near future.

Good. Just keep them in Oakland.

Dr Dean on Health Care

2/25/2009 05:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

From wu ming at Surf Putah

In a nutshell (and really you should watch Dean say it on the video), Obama's plan would open Medicare to everyone, as a public healthcare alternative, and have that plan compete with the overpriced, weak benefit, corporate bastard insurance plans already in existence. The uninsured would get to see doctors for preventative care instead of landing in emergency rooms after things have gotten bad, businesses getting killed by the cost of providing insurance to workers would get some relief, our country wouldn't be left vulnerable to disease exploding in untreated pockets of society in the case of a major epidemic, and the corporate plans would have to actually offer something better than "buy our exorbitant plan or you'll go bankrupt from your own medical bills, suckers."

Dean for HHS!

Homeless in Sac on Oprah

2/25/2009 04:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

Oprah is coming to Sacramento.Actually, she was already here and the segment is airing today.

A segment on Sacramento will air on The Oprah Winfrey Show Wednesday, a publicist for the show confirmed today.

A production crew including Carmichael native Lisa Ling was in town last week taping material related to the recession and its effects on people.

The taping focused on a family which lost its home as a result of the housing crises and looked at the situation of the homeless in Sacramento.

Tent cities in the state capitol...lovely.

Rex Babin on AB 390

2/24/2009 11:08:00 PM | by sean mykael

AB 390 Details

2/24/2009 06:01:00 PM | by sean mykael

Here are some of the specifics of Tom Ammiano's recently introduced marijuana legalization legislation

Assembly Bill 390 would charge cannabis wholesalers $5,000 initially and $2,500 annually for the right to distribute weed.

Retail outlets would pay fees of $50 per ounce of cannabis to generate revenue for drug education programs statewide.

The bill would prohibit cannabis near schools. It also would ban smoking it in public places or growing it in public view.

It would instruct state and local officers not to make arrests for cultivating, selling, possessing, transporting or using the drug.

Support AB 390 by contacting your state legislators and asking them to support AB 390.

The Marijuana Policy Project has an excellent tool that makes it very easy to email your local officals.

Let's end marijuana prohibition in California!

Poizner & Whitman Slide to the Right

2/24/2009 05:45:00 PM | by sean mykael

As the country moves further to the left the GOP moves further to the right

The accepted political wisdom is that there's room for a conservative challenger in the 2010 Republican race for governor. But any newcomer to the race is going to have to scramble to get to the right of Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, who spent last weekend's state GOP convention playing "Can you top this?" for the conservative activists in attendance.

Poizner promised at a GOP breakfast that as governor he'll send the California National Guard to the Mexican border to keep those illegals from sneaking across. Whitman told reporters that something has to be done about those "sanctuary cities" like San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Neither were as popular this weekend though, as the life-sized cardboard cut-out of Sarah Palin.

PG&E Goes Solar

2/24/2009 05:34:00 PM | by sean mykael

PG&E announced today that it's making an investment in solar...a major investment

California's drive to produce more clean energy got a big boost today when Pacific Gas & Electric announced its largest-ever plan to build and invest in ground- and rooftop-mounted solar energy generation systems.

The five-year plan, which must be approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, would supply up to 500 megawatts of photovolataic power for Northern and Central California, enough to power the equivalent of 150,000 homes by 2015, the company said.

The effort, which will cost PG&E at least $1.4 billion, would be one of the largest solar-generation programs of its kind in the United States, said PG&E chief executive Peter Darbee today at a press conference at the company's San Francisco headquarters.

Good job PG&E!

This new solar program is expected to supply about 1.3 percent of PG&E's power.

Keep it up! Let's see that number go higher.

State Spending Transparency

2/24/2009 05:23:00 PM | by sean mykael

Assemblyman Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) has introduced a bill intended to make state spending more transparent.

AB 400 would require agencies and departments post on their Web sites each year how they're spending their money. Several other states already have online tools that let anyone look at state spending. Here's an example of what Texas does.

The State Worker would like to know what state employees think of the idea. I tend to lean on the side of openness & transparency myself. I'm interested to hear the responses over at the SacBee.

Expect BART Delays

2/24/2009 05:15:00 PM | by sean mykael

Times are tough. They're about to get a little tougher on commuters.

BART is looking at a hiring freeze and deferred maintenance

"BART may reduce its budgeting for maintenance and upkeep by $21 million," said BART spokesman Linton Johnson. Currently, there is $714 million in the maintenance budget.

If the cut is made, it will be difficult for the agency to maintain its 96 percent on-time standard, Johnson said.

For example, Johnson said, last summer a number of BART delays occurred because trackside equipment failed in the hot weather. "These are areas that would be easily fixed if we had the money. We would just install better equipment that would withstand hot weather." But if the agency chooses to defer such actions, more delays could happen this summer.

I hope they aren't planning to do this on top of a rate increase, while at the same time decreasing the number of trains that run.

Sounds like riding BART is about to become a real pain in the ass.

The BART Board will be taking up the issue at this Thursday's meeting.

VoteMORON

2/24/2009 04:53:00 PM | by sean mykael

Calitics is reporting that CA Senator George Runner has proposed a Voter ID initiative.

Well, it seems George Runner is branching out from just costing the state extra money in our prison system to costing our state money in our elections. He recently filed what he has dubbed "VoteSAFE: Secure and Fair Elections Act" or as I like to call it, The VoteMORON: Mostly Obnoxious Runner Obfuscation and Negation Act. (I must admit I worked way too hard on that.)

It's a fairly standard attack on two sets of generally progressive voters. First, it requires ID for all voters at the polls, and then requires that people who vote by mail include the last four digits of their driver's license, California ID card, or social security number. And then the municipality has to go through and check everybody. Oh, and of course the ID can't be more than 2 years expired.

So instead of making it easier for the elderly and new citizens to vote, Runner wants to make it harder and more cumbersome. Oh, and more expensive for localities performing the elections. Yup, sounds like some Good George Runner policy there.

Why are republicans always trying to make it harder for people to vote?

Have we really had any huge problems lately with people voting more than once?

Has Mickey Mouse ever actually showed up to vote after registering?

Ridiculous.

I'd be curious to hear Debra Bowen's take.

Solis Confirmed

2/24/2009 04:44:00 PM | by sean mykael

Finally, a U.S. Secretary of Labor who actually supports working people. Someone who supports the right of workers to form a union without being subjected to the threat and reality of losing their job. Someone who supports the Employee Free Choice Act which is currently the subject of extensive debate both inside and outside of Congress.

That’s right. After much delay by anti-labor Republicans, Hilda Solis has been confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Labor.

Issa For Whitman

2/24/2009 01:41:00 PM | by sean mykael

I guess this means Darrell Issa won't be running for Governor. Darn.

Rep. Darrell Issa, the wealthy Southern California congressman whose money helped start the 2003 recall, has endorsed former eBay chief Meg Whitman in her bid for governor.

The endorsement is important not just for Issa's support, but because Issa, a strong conservative, has been eyed as a potential candidate himself by some hardliners in the party who fear the lack of a "true conservative" in the race.

What a pair.

Issa made his money off of stolen goods, while Whitman made her fortune selling them...

allegedly.

Recovery For America

2/24/2009 01:26:00 PM | by sean mykael

The DCCC has announced it will be targeting 12 GOP congressional members in the next phase of it's Putting Families First campaign.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), chaired by Congressman Chris Van Hollen, announced the DCCC is launching the third phase of the Putting Families First campaign on Tuesday targeting Republicans who opposed President Obama's economic recovery bill, the largest component of which is middle class tax cuts to 95 percent of Americans.

During this phase of the campaign, the DCCC is taking the message of middle class tax cuts and economic recovery directly to Republican Members by mounting a major grassroots campaign that includes phone calls, e-mails, and text messages directly to targeted Republicans' constituents.

The DCCC is also launching a new webpage, www.recoveryforamerica.org, designed to educate people about the benefits of the economic recovery bill and how it will impact their district. The site includes an interactive map that illustrates the job creation and tax cuts by state, information about targeted Republicans; and a petition where people can voice their outrage about Republican opposition. People can also get the economic recovery information on their mobile device by texting the word "recovery" and a state abbreviation to 30644 (For example: "recovery CA").

Two of the targeted congressional districts are in California.

Representative Ken Calvert (CA-44)

Representative Dan Lungren (CA-03)

Bill Hedrick for Congress, has more over at Calitics.

Great Heroes

2/24/2009 01:15:00 PM | by sean mykael

Safely landing a plane into the Hudson or casting a vote for a budget...what's the difference really? They're all heroes!

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday came to the aid of six Republican lawmakers who ran afoul of the state Republican Party for backing a budget with tax increases, calling them "great heroes" who put people before politics.

"I think that they've done a terrific job and they should pay very little attention to what the party says," the Republican governor told reporters in Washington. "Because remember what I said, what is good for the party is not good for the people and what is good for the people is not good for the party."

"what is good for the party is not good for the people"

Especially where it concerns Republicans in Sacramento.

High Time to Legalize

2/24/2009 01:06:00 PM | by sean mykael

Dan Walters: It's high time to legalize California pot

Habitual use of marijuana may be a dumb thing to do, but really, is it any dumber, or more harmful, than abusing liquor or smoking cancer-causing cigarettes?

The difference, of course, is that while possession of marijuana in small amounts is no more illegal than a traffic infraction, selling it can be a serious crime. And those who sell it and those who commit other crimes to buy it represent a significant portion of those locked in California's very overcrowded prisons.

Isn't it time to recognize that the war on this particular recreational drug is an abject failure, costing taxpayers many millions of dollars each year? Wouldn't it be smarter to legalize marijuana – which may be the state's largest single agricultural crop, estimated at $14 billion a year – and tax its sale to adults much as we do liquor and cigarettes?

Sounds like even Dan Walters of the SacBee supports AB 390.

Do you?

Contact your CA State Legislators.

Seniors Are Struggling To Survive

2/24/2009 12:56:00 PM | by sean mykael

This just makes me so sad.

Groceries or medicine? Rent or heat? Two meals or three? Almost half of California's seniors confront these essential survival questions each day, according to a new study released today by researchers calling on the state to better track its seniors who have slipped off the public's radar.

The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research report measured economic stability by the real costs to eat, travel and pay for medical costs and housing in each of California's 58 counties.

Its findings reveal 47 percent of state residents 65 and older are unable to pay for their basic needs. That's 864,000 seniors, more than half of whom struggle at home alone.

Shameful.

I don't know what more to say right now.

Campaign's Matter

2/24/2009 11:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

Two consultants from the "Yes on 8" campaign share an interesting play-by-play of how they won victory for their campaign

When we signed our ﬁrm up to manage the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign to put the traditional deﬁnition of marriage—one man, one woman—into California’s constitution, Frank Schubert’s brother told him we had “no chance” to win the campaign. That view reﬂected conventional wisdom. After all, California is one of the most liberal states in the nation. It’s a state whose Supreme Court had just legalized same-sex marriage. A state where the Democratic nominee for president hasn’t had to aggressively campaign in nearly two decades. A state where millions of young, ﬁrst-time voters were poised to go to the polls to send a message to George Bush and elect Barack Obama. And a state where for the ﬁrst time in history, according to a major polling outﬁt, a majority of voters supported gay marriage.

This is the story of how conventional wisdom was stood on its head and how Proposition 8 was enacted by a 700,000-vote margin.

Know your enemy and know yourself.

Hat Tip to The California Majority Report

May 19 Special Election Ballot

2/24/2009 10:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

Calitics:: The May 19 Special Election Ballot

Prop 1A: Very Complicated Spending Cap/Rainy Day Fund

Prop 1B: Education Finance Reforms

Prop 1C: Securitization of the Lottery

Prop 1D: Raiding First 5, Prop 10 of 1998

Prop 1E: Raiding Mental Health Services, Prop 63 of 2004

Prop 1F: No State Elected Official Raises During Deficits

Prop 13: Changes to the taxation of Seismic Retrofitting

Keep your eye out. In the coming days, I'll be speaking with some other progressive bloggers & activists to help put together a "voter cheat sheet" for the coming special election.

50+1 vs 55

2/24/2009 09:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

The general consensus amongst democrats in this state is that we need to repeal the 2/3rds rule, which essentially gives a minority party the ability to hold the state hostage with its veto power.

What is not so clear amongst ca dems is just how we would change the current rules; Specifically in regards to the percentage required to raise taxes in the state. Some folks think there should be a 55% treshold, while others argue for a simple majority vote of 50%+1.

After spending some time throwing the idea around in my head and having some conversations with friends, I personally think that a simple majority vote is the only solution that really makes sense. At the end of the day whats the difference between 55%, or 60%, or 66%? They are all just arbitrary numbers pulled out of thin air.

As far as politicians lending their support to either idea? As it stands so far we've got John Garamendi & Gavin Newsom supporting a 55% solution, while John Burton & Jack O'Connell have come out in favor of a simple majority.

If I'm correct, I believe Garamendi will be at today's Constitutional Convention Summit. Maybe somebody there can talk some sense into him. After recent comments, I'm not too sure how firm Newsom is on the 55%, he might be swayed as well.

Public Pot Polling

2/24/2009 08:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

Polling guru Nate Silver of 538 has run the numbers regarding public support for legalization of marijuana.Turns out the public is more in favor of the idea than they ever have been before.

The first poll, conducted last week by Rasmussen Reports, has 40 percent of Americans in support of legalizing the drug and 46 percent opposed. The second, conducted in January by CBS News, has 41 percent in favor of legalization and 52 percent against. And a third poll, conducted by Zogby on behalf of the marijuana-rights advocacy group NORML, has 44 percent of Americans in support of legalized pot and 52 percent opposed.

That all three polls show support for legalization passing through the 40 percent barrier may be significant. I compiled a database of every past poll I could find on this subject, including a series of Gallup polls and results from the General Social Survey, and could never before find more than 36 percent of the population (Gallup in October, 2005) stating a position in favor of legalization:

It's absolutely ridiculous that marijuana is even illegal in the first place, especially considering the governments stance towards alchohol, tobacco, prescription & over the counter medicines, etc.

What's becoming increasingly clear though, is that we simply can not afford to continue this prohibition against pot.

It's time to support AB 390.

Torrico Running for AG

2/24/2009 07:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

Assemblyman Alberto Torrico of Fremont is the latest to announce that he will be running for Attorney General

Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, is one of five candidates vying in the June 2010 Democratic primary for the state's top law enforcement job. He'll face better-known contenders such as San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris and Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, as well as two Southern California lawmakers: Pedro Nava of Santa Barbara and Ted Lieu of El Segundo.

"As I've served in the Legislature now for five years, it's become clear that our state has lost its way," said Torrico, 39, who says he's troubled that California spends more on prisons than on colleges.

Before making up my mind, I'd like to hear each of the candidates opinions regarding AB 390.

Convention Gossip

2/24/2009 06:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

The CA GOP held its convention in Sac over the weekend. Carla Marinucci offers her always interesting take over at the Spin Cycle

*CEOs don't like answering questions: First there was former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who -- after delivering a speech to a big breakfast audience -- gave reporters the brushoff when they tried to ask her about a possible Senate run. Then it was former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, who at times simply ignored questions in her press conference -- and just forged on the next one. Those techniques work in CEO-land and Hollywood, but in politics? Not so much.

*Sarah Palin, still hot: Two cutouts of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in the house for Republicans to use as a model for pictures. What, none of Ronald Reagan, George Bush, or Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger? (And any chance Arnold had was kaput after he told CNN's John King Sunday that he still has a lifesized cutout of ...President Barack Obama in his house, thanks to his wife, First Lady Maria Shriver.)

*Whitman's colors showing: Whitman's team was giving away a cool little campaign item -- rubberized ''Meg 2010'' bracelets, complete with a flashdrive clasp that held a video of her campaign message. Tech-saavy, to be sure. But we also noticed it was not red, white and blue -- but orange and green. Sound familiar? Hint: Arnold's re-election campaign.

The Spin Cycle also has video of Maldonado being confronted by party vice chair Jon Fleischman.

I really wish I could have been there this weekend. Sounds like it was a schadenfreudtastic good time.

$1.50 a Pack

2/24/2009 05:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

The Cancer Society is planning a campaign to raise taxes on cigarettes

Cash-strapped states have been increasing taxes on cigarettes so much that California, which once had one of the nation's higher smoking taxes, is now 31st, the American Cancer Society says in beginning a drive to raise the state's tobacco levies...

The Cancer Society contends that a cigarette tax boost - it's proposing $1.50 a pack increase - would not only raise much-needed money for the state, as much as $1 billion a year, but also counteract a recently discovered increase in the incidence of smoking in the state. It wants a portion of the new tax to be dedicated to anti-smoking programs.

Assemblymember Tom Torlakson has already introduced legislation that would raise the cigarette tax by an additional $2.10.

Seems like this movement is picking up steam.

I wonder if Tom Torlakson and the Cancer Society will be supporting Tom Ammiano's recently introduced legislation(AB 390) to tax marijuana as well.

Save the Ocean Beach Library

2/24/2009 04:00:00 AM | by sean mykael

OBceans are urged to attend the City Council budget community-input meeting. The meeting is downtown, on Wed., Feb. 25th on the 12th floor of City Hall, 202 C Street, from 9:00 am to noon. OB residents concerned about keeping our branch library open need to tell the City Council that.

Stephanie Pinnell of the The Point Weekly is trying to save the Ocean Beach library.

On the corner of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and Santa Monica Avenue resides a historic landmark, one that has served the Ocean Beach community and surrounding areas as both a valuable storehouse of knowledge and a tranquil study haven for over 80 years. This unique site is the home of the Ocean Beach branch of the San Diego Public Library, and today, it faces threats of possible closure.

On November 6th, 2008, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders announced the tentative closure of the Ocean Beach branch due to budget cuts, along with 6 other libraries, 9 recreation centers and a gym. An astounding response from the community has led to the mayor’s decision to forego the issue and revisit it this spring.

“Its closure would be devastating, demoralizing. It would cut out the heart of the community. The library is a necessary part of the community, of society, of peoples’ lives,” said editor Frank Gormlie of the OB Rag, an online blog site dedicated to keeping the community up-to-date with local news.

My impression is that there are a whole lot of people with a whole lot of love for this little library. Hopefully the community will turn out to save it's library on the 25th.

Sorry Gray...Our Bad

2/23/2009 03:47:00 PM | by sean mykael

Six years later, the state GOP has buyers remorse. Here is the text of a resolution that was being distributed at the State GOP Convention this weekend.

"Whereas, in 2003 a grassroots effort was begun to recall then-Governor Gray Davis from office on grounds which included gross mismanagement of the budget and finances of the State of California;

"...Whereas, candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger campaigned as a reformer and champion of fiscal discipline and responsibility who would bring change and reform to government which it sorely needed;

"Whereas, in the subsequent years Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has instead proven to govern as a tax and spend politician precisely similar to the one he campaigned to replace in the recall election;

"Whereas, the trust and confidence of Republicans has been betrayed and shattered by Governor Schwarzenegger's repeated and ongoing efforts to collaborate with Democrats in the Legislature to seek solutions to the state's fiscal crisis by irresponsible borrowing and increasing taxes and refusal to make the needed reductions in state spending;

"Whereas, Governor Schwarzenegger's current budget solution includes more than $14 billion in higher taxes on sales, income, gasoline and the car tax which he specifically attacked Governor Davis for raising;

"Whereas, it is plain that Governor Schwarzenegger has abandoned the most basic tenets of Republican ideology and rendered the whole purpose of the 2003 recall pointless;

"Therefore, be it resolved that the California Republican Party officially extends a heartfelt and sincere apology to former Governor Gray Davis for its role in recalling him from office."

via Sacramento for Democracy

Eating Their Own

2/23/2009 03:36:00 PM | by sean mykael

The six republicans that broke ranks with the party to pass a budget, received their punishment at the State GOP Convention over the weekend.

On Sunday, with more than 1,000 Republicans convening at the Sacramento Hyatt Regency for their spring state convention, delegates approved a watered-down measure aimed at chastising the six Republicans who broke ranks to vote last Thursday for a new state budget package, which included $12.5 billion in new taxes.

Although the original resolution called for censuring the six legislators, the final version says only that the party doesn't plan to provide financial support or send out mail for any of the targeted lawmakers during the 2010 campaign season. Two of the six are on the ballot in 2010: Assemblyman Anthony Adams of Hesperia (San Bernardino County) and state Sen. Dave Cogdill of Modesto.

No Free Ride For Car Pools?

2/23/2009 03:30:00 PM | by sean mykael

In addition to considering a $6 dollar charge during commute hours, Matier & Ross are reporting that bridge authorities are talking about charging carpoolers a bridge toll.

The era of free rides for carpoolers on the Bay Bridge and other spans in these parts may soon be over, as transit planners eye a $2 or $3 charge for those who do the eco-friendly ride share.

The hot-potato idea is among the money-raising schemes expected to be debated when the Bay Area Toll Authority meets in two weeks to consider how to plug a $140 million budget gap next year.

And as far as the money handlers are concerned, it may be time for the free-riding bridge commuters to start paying a "discounted" rate to help out.

After all, says toll authority spokesman John Goodwin, "the tradition of free carpools is unique to the Bay Area."

At the rate they are going with these toll hikes in recent years, the tradition of swimming to work will become unique to the Bay Area as well.

$150 Million Campaign

2/23/2009 03:10:00 PM | by sean mykael

Capitol Alert's Shane Goldmacher points at an interesting line from Meg Whitman's recent feature in the New York Times.

Whitman predicted that her campaign could cost $150 million, much of it coming from her own fortune.

As Goldmacher points out...

That would be approximately double the cost of what Democrats Phil Angelides and Steve Westly spent in the 2006 primary -- combined.

No Fremont A's

2/23/2009 03:01:00 PM | by sean mykael

Lew Wolff's plan to build a new stadium and move the team from Oakland to Fremont is dead.

Not just dead, but dead-dead-dead. Lew Wolff's master plan to put the A's in the worst imaginable place for both the team and the town officially croaked when the ballpark project agenda item for Tuesday's Fremont City Council meeting was canceled, and the A's asked that the environmental impact report and notice of preparation processes be stopped.

That's city clerk-ese for Grandpa Lew has given up the ghost on a project that would have hosed the A's financially, annoyed Fremont residents and made the Giants extraordinarily happy: three things that any right-thinking A's fan would wish to avoid.

As for a Lew's next move?

"To tell you the truth, I don't really have a Plan B," Wolff said. "Right now, I'm going to take a breath and think things out."

How about moving out of state? "I'm not really sure things would be any easier in Omaha, either."

Omaha?

Good. Keep the A's in Oakland.

Equal Rights For Everyone

2/23/2009 02:48:00 PM | by sean mykael

As the Chronicle reports, there was Joy in the Castro as Penn wins Oscar for 'Milk'

"You commie, homo-loving sons of guns," Sean Penn told the academy upon accepting the best actor award for his portrayal of the slain San Francisco Supervisor and gay rights leader Harvey Milk. "I did not expect this, and I want it to be very clear that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me often."

Penn acknowledged the presence of anti-gay demonstrators outside the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles and said: "I think it's a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame and their shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone."

Thank you Sean Penn, and Dustin Lance Black, and mostly...Thank You Harvey Milk.

From, just another commie, homo-loving son of a gun.

Equality Now!

Garamendi on the Budget

2/23/2009 02:36:00 PM | by sean mykael

Bayne of Blog has Lt Gov John Garamendi's take on the recently signed budget.

Garamendi also takes on 2/3rds...

If we are to move California forward, we must end the 2/3rds vote requirement to pass a budget, and do so quickly. I will help lead the fight to change this vote requirement and end the system that has allowed the minority party to create anarchy.

and the governor...

The governor wants to be known as the “green governor,” and the “education governor,” and the “reform governor,” yet he has utterly failed to lead our state in a manner that advances these goals. In fact, as a result of his ever-changing fiscal and budget policies, we have begun to move backward on each of these issues.

Don't Start Singing Yet

2/23/2009 02:29:00 PM | by sean mykael

All of these recent storms have sure been nice...but as wu ming or Surf Putah reminds us...this drought isn't over yet.

The rain coming down this weekend is great news, but even if we get up to 100% of normal precipitation, Californians really need to keep acting as if we're still in a drought. First of all, we're pretty close to assured of being in one anyways, if thankfully a slightly less acute one. Next, some of the rain that's soaking Yolo County right now will end up washing snow off lower elevations and reducing snowpack for the summer and fall (something that will become commonplace with the effects of global warming), and a lot of that water will flow right back out to sea, recharge underground aquifers, or get sucked up by thirsty roots. All of which is good news for the state's parched delta and riparian ecology, but the net effect will likely still be lower reservoirs and thus less water available for human use, be it agriculture, tap water, industry or idiots overwatering their suburban lawns, be they in SoCal or Sacramento.

So quit putting off fixing that leaky faucet.

Credit Where It's Due

2/23/2009 02:22:00 PM | by sean mykael

SFBG Politics Blog is happy to see SF getting getting credit from Obama on the health care front...Tim Redmond just wants to make sure that credit goes where it's due.

"Instead of talking about health care, mayors like Gavin Newsom in San Francisco have been ensuring that those in need receive it," [Obama] said.

Actually, Sup. Tom Ammiano and his colleagues developed Healthy San Francisco. Newsom joined in later, after the hard work was done. Ammiano has been very good about letting Newsom take some of the glory, but it's a bit annoying for the rest of us to see a guy who has never been good at developing and implementing his own programs get so much praise for someone else's work.

Pirates for Obama

2/23/2009 01:58:00 PM | by sean mykael

Best. Obama Campaign T-Shirt. Ever.

Where was this one during the campaign? Anybody know if you can actually buy this T-shirt?

MTC Hearing on Use of Stimulus Funds

2/23/2009 01:43:00 PM | by sean mykael

Wednesday, February 25th - MTC Hearing on Use of Stimulus Funds

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is proposing spending $70 million of new federal economic recovery funding on an “Oakland Airport Connector,” which even BART acknowledges is nowhere near “shovel ready.” This $70 million is urgently needed RIGHT NOW to keep existing local transit agencies from imminent service cuts and fare hikes. If you ride BART, AC Transit or any transit in the Bay Area, we need you to join us in fighting service cuts and fare hikes! Join us on Thursday, Feb. 25th at 10am at MTC (101 8th St., across from Lake Merritt BART) in telling MTC to direct new funding to critical public transit needs, not the costly Oakland Airporter.

For further info on this issue, check out V Smoothe’s article at OakBook.

For even more information, check out Living in the O.

Quote of the Day

2/23/2009 01:33:00 PM | by sean mykael

John Meyers on Arnold Schwarzenegger

And in non-governor news, he confirmed an interest in a cameo appearance in an upcoming Sylvester Stallone flick, picked Mickey Rourke to win an Oscar, and said The Candidate was his favorite political flick. That movie is an interesting choice, given it's about a candidate who's so focused on winning -- rather than governing-- that after his victory famously says: "What do we do now?"

Constitutional Convention?

2/23/2009 01:13:00 PM | by sean mykael

The Bay Area Council is sponsoring a California Constitutional Convention Summit in Sacramento tomorrow. Robert over at Calitics wants to know...Is it Time To Re-write California’s Constitution?

California's constitution has been amended frequently - over 500 times by some accounts - and included an effort in the late 1960s to modernize the document. Still, it has become clear that California's government is broken and unable to meet the needs of one of the worst crises our state has ever faced.

The economic crisis, drought, an energy and environmental crisis that seem to have faded a bit from the public mind but are still very much here - all of these problems are dumped into the lap of a government hamstrung by a conservative veto and a series of rules, many of which date from the last 30 years, designed specifically to prevent government from meeting the people's needs.

Ammiano: Legalize It

2/23/2009 12:50:00 PM | by sean mykael

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano introudces legislation to legalize marijuana in the Golden State

Marijuana would be grown and sold openly to adults 21 and older under legislation introduced this morning by a San Francisco lawmaker.

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, said the cash-starved state could generate more than a billion dollars by taxing pot growers and sellers.

Ammiano predicted that the public would support loosening marijuana laws that require substantial public funds to enforce.

"I think there's a mentality throughout the state and the country that this isn't the highest priority," he said. "And that maybe we should start to reassess."

Besides the fact that it's just wrong that marijuana is illegal in the first place, our state could really use the cash right now. By some estimates marijuana is the states largest cash crop. It seems to me that if people are going to be growing the stuff anyways, we might as well take advantage and make the best of the situation.

Obviously the taxes generated and the savings in enforcement costs would be significant. There are also the tourism dollars that should be taken into account.

With the logging jobs disappearing over the last few decades, there are whole towns that are only just surviving with the help of a black market marijuana economy. The energy and revenue generated from a new Marijuana tourism industry could really breath new life into Northern California.

Spending Cuts Calculator

2/23/2009 12:25:00 PM | by sean mykael

Late last week and over the weekend tax calculators were rolled out in various publications across the state. The problem with these types of calculators is that hey never factor in how cuts to service might affect the average family. David over at Calitics asks the question...Where Are The Spending Cut Calculators?

In my life, I have never seen a "spending cut calculator," where someone good plug in the services they rely on, like how many school-age children they have, or how many roads they take to work, or how many police officers and firefighters serve their community, or what social services they or their families rely on, and how much they stand to lose in THAT equation. Tax calculators show bias toward the gated community screamers on the right who see their money being piled away for nothing. A spending cut calculator would actually show the impact to a much larger cross-section of society, putting far more people at risk than a below 1% hit to their bottom line.

We'll Be Back

2/23/2009 10:50:00 AM | by sean mykael

Sorry folks.

I've been running errands all morning and still have a bunch of stuff I need to get done. I'll be back to regular posting sometime this afternoon.

Thanks.

Budget Links

2/23/2009 12:01:00 AM | by sean mykael

CA BUDGET UPDATES
Blogs: Calitics, Health Access California, Capitol Notes, Capitol Alert

Twitter: @KQED_CapNotes @ccleague @aewright @capitolweekly @sfbriancl @cruickshank

Video: The California Channel

Audio: CA Senate, CA Assembly

Very Soon...

2/22/2009 10:55:00 PM | by sean mykael

Post Budget Timeline

2/21/2009 03:53:00 AM | by sean mykael

Save these dates

Today: Not wasting any time, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs the package of bills. The financial package includes tax hikes, spending cuts and borrowing billions of dollars more.

April 1: The new taxes begin to kick in.

The sales tax increases by 1 penny on the dollar

Vehicle license fees would double to 1.15% of value.

Personal income taxes would increase by a quarter of a percentage point.

The dependent tax credit is reduced by $210.

May 19: Voters will weigh in on ballot proposals related to the budget deal. If the proposals are rejected, the state could face a hole in its spending plans.

Specifically, voters will be asked to approve the four temporary tax hikes in the budget.

Voters will also be asked to move $226 million from mental health programs and $608 million from programs aimed at children younger than 5 years old.

They will be offered the opportunity to put a cap on future state spending -- but only if the tax hikes just passed stay in place for four years instead of two.

On borrowing, voters will be asked to approve borrowing of $5 billion against future lottery proceeds.

Voters will also get to decide a constitutional amendment to eliminate salary increases for state officers, including the governor and Legislature, in years with a projected budget deficit.

June 2010: Voters will be asked to adopt an open primary system. This would list all candidates running for a nomination on a single ballot instead of by party. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, would run against each other.

Garamendi Gets the Blue Pencil

2/21/2009 02:56:00 AM | by sean mykael

Schwarzenegger has pledged to make an unspecified $600 million in cuts through his line item veto powers. And boy oh boy did he take out the blue pencil to the Lieutenant Governor's office.

He cut the LG's budget by 62%.

Calitics has the Lt Gov's statement.

As the SacBee points out:

Schwarzenegger did not, however, inflict the same budgetary punishment on Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, a Republican candidate for governor, who has been sharply critical of the budget deal's $12-plus billion in new taxes.

See the full list of cuts, starting on page 8.

Budget Signed

2/21/2009 02:03:00 AM | by sean mykael

Better late than never

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a $130-billion budget Friday that raises sales and income taxes across the board for the first time in 17 years and slashes spending by one of the sharpest rates in modern California history.

Well, I'm glad that's finally over.

Winners & Losers

2/19/2009 11:26:00 PM | by sean mykael

John Wildermuth at SFGate gives his take on who were the winners and losers in the state budget struggle

Winners:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg

Assemblyman Anthony Adams

California

Sen. Abel Maldonado

Losers:

Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass

Democratic allies

The two-thirds requirement

Right-wing radio hosts

Sen. Abel Maldonado

Have you had enough?

2/19/2009 10:22:00 PM | by sean mykael

We have to stop the insanity. The only way this madness will end is if we eliminate the 2/3rds rule.

Please join the Courage Campaign and CREDO Mobile in signing the pledge to repeal the 2/3rds rule. Then forward this link to your friends:

Perfect Medicine?

2/19/2009 10:17:00 PM | by sean mykael

Schwarzenegger to sign budget Friday

"This is the perfect medicine for our ailing economy and it will boost public confidence in California, reassure the financial community, and allow us resume selling our bonds and rebuild our state," Schwarzenegger told a Capitol news conference.

"Let's be clear, that our work is not over," he added, referring to a soon-to-be launched campaign to pass ballot measures that were tied to the budget vote.

He will sign the budget — to last through June 2010 — on Friday.

Perfect medicine?

What kind of medicine is Arnold taking?

I'm glad it's over...it's good that we finally have a budget...but the deal sucks for everybody.

This is no way to pass a budget...a crappy budget at that.

Perfect medicine my ass. We need reform.

Stop the insanity: Restore democracy to California

Capitol Notes Post Budget Podcast

2/19/2009 06:00:00 PM | by sean mykael

Capital Notes — From KQED’s John Myers » Podcast: At Last

In this week's sleep deprived Capital Notes Podcast, we take the big picture view of the budget deal and the process that made it happen. Capitol Weekly editor Anthony York and I walk away from our two twittering projects of the week to consider what happens next.

Abel or Arnold?

2/19/2009 05:39:00 PM | by sean mykael

Between Abel's furniture fetish, and Arnold's push for an open primary, Brian at Calitics ask the question...

I find myself debating this quite often in the aftermath of the budget. At first, I really thought Abel took this one hands down. After all, he held this thing up for days upon end just to get himself a few perks. But I've decided to make a case by using one example for each of them, as I seek to answer this eternal question.

Who is the bigger jerk, Arnold or Abel?

Buchanan Cuts Pay

2/19/2009 04:32:00 PM | by sean mykael

Following this mornings budget vote, Joan Buchanan announced that she would be cutting her pay.

Joan Buchanan, one of the four freshman Assembly Democrats would won previously Republican seats, announced she was taking a 10 percent pay cut, after voting for the budget package.

"I cannot, in good conscience, ask others to sacrifice if I am not willing to do the same." she said in a statement.

It's so nice to have an assembly member you can be proud of. As one of her constituents, I'd just like to say thanks to Joan Buchanan.

Budget Breakdown

2/19/2009 04:26:00 PM | by sean mykael

Budget Facts - ContraCostaTimes.com

$15 billion in state spending cuts and tax breaks, including:

--about $8 billion cut from public schools and community colleges

--about $1.4 billion cut from state workers' pay and overtime

--about $787 million cut from state colleges and universities

--about $690 million in tax breaks for multistate or multinational companies

--about $567 million cut from grants to the blind and disabled

--about $460 million cut from public transit

--about $200 million in tax breaks for small businesses hiring new workers

--about $185 million cut from programs for the developmentally disabled

--about $100 million in tax breaks for Hollywood production companies

--about $100 million in tax breaks for people buying new homes

$12.8 billion in temporary tax increases, including:

--a one-cent-on-the dollar increase in the state sales tax (about $5.8 billion);

--a 0.25 percent increase in the state income tax rate (about $3.7 billion);

--a $200 reduction of the dependent-care credit Californians can claim on their income taxes (about $1.4 billion); and

raising the Vehicle License Fee from 0.65 percent to 1.15 percent (about $1.5 billion).

(All these tax increases will last two years, but would be extended for two more if voters approve a permanent spending cap in a May 19 special election. Also, if the state gets more than expected from the federal stimulus package, the income tax hike will be reduced to 0.125 percent.)

$11.4 billion in borrowing, including:

--$6 billion in bonds to cover this fiscal year's unpaid bills, if not covered by whatever we get from the federal economic stimulus package;

--$5 billion in bonds against the value of the state lottery's future revenue, if approved by voters in the May 19 special election;

--$400 million transferred from several of the state's special funds.

When are delayed tax refunds going out?

According to state Controller John Chiang: "The Department of Finance has promised to provide us within a week with the data we will need to update our cash flow analyses and determine how to manage the State's payments through the end of the fiscal year. Once this budget plan provides the needed cash in the treasury, my office will work around the clock to get delayed payments out the door."

State Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, agreed to provide the crucial final vote needed to pass the budget only after lawmakers agreed:

--to put on the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment creating in 2012 an open primary system in which the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election

--to put on the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment to ban legislative pay increases during years in which the state is running a budget deficit

--to eliminate a 12-cent hike in the gas tax and a 5 percent surcharge on income tax liability

--to eliminate $1 million worth of new workstations for State Controller Office employees

Lawmakers refused Maldonado's demand for a proposed constitutional amendment eliminating lawmakers' pay entirely when the state budget is late.

What some others got in exchange for their votes:

--State Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield: a $10,000 tax credit for those who buy new homes, capped at $100 million and backed by the home-building industry; and help for the horse-racing industry via $32 million per year in state funding to mitigate maintenance fees at fairgrounds.

--State Sen. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana: an extra $70 million in property tax revenue, and $50 million each year after that, for Orange County, which he long has maintained wasn't getting its fair share of state money.

Linkbar

Should Marijuana be Legalized & Taxed?

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