A business-driven group that wants to rewrite California's main environmental protection law says legislation to do just that will lead to more lawsuits and delays in projects -- the very things the group contends it wants to avoid. Didn't hear much about environmental protections, however.
From the AP's Laura Olson: "The group outlined its concerns to Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, in a letter obtained by The Associated Press. The group includes powerful organizations such as the California Chamber of Commerce, the Southern California Association of Governments, and the California Association of Realtors."
"The coalition is among many environmental, business and labor groups that have been privately working with the Democratic Senate leader to reform the four-decade-old California Environmental Quality Act. Critics say the law, which was intended to protect the state's air and water, has been abused to block projects and gain costly concessions from developers."
"Steinberg's legislation, SB731, aims to cut the number of lawsuits and the resulting delays in construction that can drag on for years when opponents object to a project."
Federal regulators say California's electricity market was manipulated by a key Wall Street player in 2010-11 -- and California wasn't alone. A huge settlement, $400 million to $1 billion, is in the offing.
From McClatchy's Kevin G. Hall: "The federal regulator of electricity markets on Monday accused Wall Street powerhouse JP Morgan Chase & Co. of using multiple trading strategies to manipulate electricity markets in California and the Midwest for profit."
"The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission already had alleged in March that JP Morgan Chase was guilty of manipulating energy markets in California and the Midwest. But late Monday, after the close of financial markets, the agency made public the details in a Staff Notice of Alleged Violations."
“JP Morgan Ventures Energy Corporation (JPMVEC) violated the Commission’s Prohibition of Electric Energy Market Manipulation . . . engaging in eight manipulative bidding strategies,” said the notice by FERC Secretary Kimberly D. Bose."
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, under siege for multiple allegations of sexual harrasment, lawsuits and a few other issues, wants the city to pick up his legal tab.
From the U-T's Craig Gustafson: "Embattled Mayor Bob Filner is asking San Diego taxpayers to cover the legal fees he'll incur from a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former staff member."
"Filner's attorney, Harvey Berger, sent a letter Monday requesting the city pay the mayor's legal expenses. The City Council will consider the issue Tuesday in closed session and allow public testimony at 5:30 p.m. or whenever the regular council meeting ends."
"Irene McCormack Jackson, the mayor's former communications director, filed the lawsuit July 22 against Filner and the city seeking unspecified damages. She has accused Filner of creating a hostile work environment in which women were treated as "sexual objects or stupid idiots" and making unwanted sexual advances toward her, including kisses and derogatory comments."
Just when you think you've heard it all when it comes to people preying on the vulnerable, how about this one: A couple has been arrested for allegedly swiping the luggage of passengers at SFO amid the confusion that followed the Asiana flight.
From the LAT's Maria La Ganga: "A United Airlines customer service agent and his wife have been charged with one felony count of grand theft and two felony counts of commercial burglary for allegedly stealing luggage at San Francisco International Airport in the disarray following the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214, prosecutors said Monday."
"Sean Sharif Crudup, 44, and Raychas Elizabeth Thomas, 32, both of Richmond, Calif., are out on bail. Crudup has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Thomas is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 26 and has yet to file a plea. If convicted, each could receive a maximum sentence of four years and 4 months in state prison."
“On July 8 our victims were flying home to SFO from the Cayman Islands,” said San Mateo County Dist. Atty. Stephen Wagstaffe. “Their luggage, several pieces, which contained an extensive amount, $30,000 of clothing … went on an earlier plane and landed at SFO before the crash.”
The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the Voting Rights Act has its greatest impact on the South, but in California it also raises the notion that the Golden State should put together its own protections that do SCOTUS one better.
From Capitol Weekly's Alex Matthews: "The high court’s decision, which said the 1965 legislation was no longer relevant to modern society and tossed out the formula determining federal oversight, provoked an outcry from civil rights advocates. But beyond that obvious backlash, the ruling has stirred a more groundbreaking debate in California, posing the question: If 20th century civil rights protections aren’t applicable in the 21st century, what laws are?"
“We can try to consider going above and beyond on our own without having to be dictated by either the Supreme Court or Congress” said Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, who is running for secretary of state in 2014."
“It was not the very best way for the United States to demonstrate how strongly we want everyone to participate in this democratic process,” said Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, who is also running for secretary of state. “What it means particularly in the state of California is that all of us have to redouble our efforts to ensure that there will be no measures enacted in the state of California that are going to impede and discourage anybody from participating in this democratic process.”
And from our bulging "UFOs Are Everywhere" file comes word of the strange mechanism in the skies over Shanghai. Well, stranger than the others.
"A small "unidentified flying object" that has been seen over Shanghai's Huangpu River in recent days has been revealed to be a remote controlled plane being used to deliver cakes, reported Shanghai-based news website eastday.com."
The "UFO", which is 1.1 meters long and weighs 10 kg, crossed the Huangpu River in a 45-minute flight to deliver a cake to a customer, according to the bakery that was testing the device, which flies at a maximum height of 100 meters."
"While some residents applauded the novel delivery service, others worried about its safety as people could be hurt if it falls from the air."
"Currently there are no regulations on commercial use of remote controlled planes being used for deliveries."
Not for long ...