A convicted felon caught in possession of a gun has committed a crime -- the law is clear -- but there are increasing disparities in California over the length of the sentence.
From the LAT's Jack Leonard: "A year after state voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 36, judges around the state are handing down conflicting decisions on whether prisoners given life terms for gun possession can qualify for shorter sentences."
"The ballot measure specifically excluded prisoners whose third strikes were either violent or serious, or who during the commission of their last crime were armed with a firearm or deadly weapon."
"Whether someone convicted of simply possessing a firearm was in fact armed during the commission of a crime is a more complicated legal question than it might appear. The answer could mean the difference between freedom and life in prison for more than 280 third-strikers across the state. In Los Angeles County, about 120 prisoners are waiting for the legal wrangling over the issue to be resolved."
The safe assumption is that Jerry Brown will run for re-election next year, and he's raising money hand-over-fist for a campaign. But he won't say whether he's running or not.
From the LAT's Anthony York: "As recently as Tuesday, the governor deflected the question at a public event. "I am aware that in November of next year there will be an election," he said, "and I will make some decisions regarding that."
'Two days later, he joined deep-pocketed Hollywood luminaries in a campaign fundraiser at the Bel-Air home of Disney studio chief Alan Horn."
"Although Brown stays mostly out of the spotlight, his aggressive fundraising — and his preference for biding his time — put the safe money on a run for an unprecedented fourth term as governor, a race he would enter as a strong front-runner. And experts say that despite an already respectable war chest, it behooves him to wait."
The hotly controversial rural fire fee is fanning a new round of controversy because a slight, inflation-pegged increase is going to take effect, boosting the levy by about $2.
From the U-T's Michael Gardner: "State law requires the fee to automatically adjust upward for inflation — even though about $26 million already collected remains unspent."
"The hike amounts to $2.33, netting the state an additional $1.7 million on top of the $72 million in current fees expected from mostly rural residents. That will push the price to $117.33 or $152.33, depending on the property location...."
“This rubs salt in the wound,” said San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, a strident critic of the fee."
Many residents of San Francisco are unhappy at the change in ambience caused by the invasion of high-tech executives and workers -- the so-called technorati -- who are being blamed for driving up rents and depleting the middle class.
From the NYT's Erica Goode and Claire Cain Miller: "Resentment simmers, at the fleets of Google buses that ferry workers to the company’s headquarters in Mountain View and back; the code jockeys who crowd elite coffeehouses, heads buried in their laptops; and the sleek black Uber cars that whisk hipsters from bar to bar. Late last month, two tech millionaires opened the Battery, an invitation-only, $2,400-a-year club in an old factory in the financial district, cars lining up for valet parking."
"For critics, such sights are symbols of a city in danger of losing its diversity — one that artists, families and middle-class workers can no longer afford. On the day of Twitter’s public offering this month, 150 demonstrators protested outside the company with signs reading “People not profit” and “We’re the public, what are you offering?”"
"More and more longtime residents are being forced out as landlords and speculators race to capitalize on the money stream."
As Stockton grapples with bankruptcy, the path forward appears to be clouded by disagreements with the last creditor.
From Calpensions' Ed Mendel: "A federal judge last week set a hearing on approval of Stockton’s plan to exit bankruptcy for next March 5. But the hearing could turn into a multi-day trial if the city can’t cut a deal with the last holdout creditor, two Franklin bond funds."
"The plan to cut Stockton debt would pay Franklin $95,000 for a $35 million bond issue. A Franklin attorney, calling the cut “unprecedented,” unsuccessfully argued that the city had not disclosed enough information about settlements with other creditors."
"U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Klein, ruling disclosure was adequate, gave Stockton permission to circulate the debt-cutting “plan of adjustment” to all creditors for a vote on Feb. 10. An objection from one creditor can force a trial."