New term limits manage to give lawmakers both more and less time to serve in the Legislature – prompting more Assembly members, like Al Muratsuchi, to stay put rather than seek higher office.
Christopher Cadelago reports for the Sacramento Bee: “…the Torrance Democrat passed up the opening [for Sen. Ted Lieu’s seat], as did fellow freshman Assemblyman Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, who also lives in Lieu’s district.”
“I wanted to stick it out with my constituents in the South Bay instead of jumping offices,” Muratsuchi said in a recent interview. “We all get one vote in the state Legislature. We all get paid the same. And we all have an equal opportunity to make an impact on state policy.”
Before nabbing state Sen. Leland Yee for corruption and gun trafficking, an undercover federal agent also acquainted himself with San Francisco and Oakland officials.
Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross report in S.F. Gate: “Multiple sources tell us that an FBI operative posing as an Atlanta developer approached at least two San Francisco supervisors and two Oakland City Council members in recent months, saying he was looking for business opportunities.”
“The undercover operative showed up in the Bay Area waving around a multimillion-dollar letter of credit and bragging that he had access to even more money, according to sources connected to the case.”
Sayonara Toyota! The company is moving its headquarters from Torrance to Texas.
Jerry Hirsch and David Undercoffler report in the L.A. Times: “The move, creating a new North American headquarters, would put management of Toyota's U.S. business close to where it builds most cars for this market.”
“North American Chief Executive Jim Lentz is expected to brief employees Monday, said the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly. Toyota declined to detail its plans. About 5,300 people work at Toyota's Torrance complex. It is unclear how many workers will be asked to move to Texas. The move is expected to take several years.”
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling would face “maximum sanctions” if alleged audio recordings of Sterling are authenticated.
Diamond Leung reports in the Mercury News: “Johnson, who has been asked to lead the players association in addressing the issue, said the players are looking for the maximum fine and suspension leading up to removal if Sterling did indeed make racially charged comments that the NBA has said are "disturbing and offensive.”
If you’re still running Windows XP, a decade’s long tech slump isn’t your only problem – the software has a major security flaw.
Danny Yadron reports for the Wall Street Journal: “Microsoft on Sunday warned about a flaw affecting versions 6 through 11 of its flagship browser. The coding flaw would allow hackers to have the same level of access on a network computer as the official user, Microsoft said, which is a best-case scenario for intruders.”
“Windows XP, though outdated and plagued with security flaws, still runs on some 300 million machines. Microsoft offers extended support for corporate clients still running XP, but at a hefty price.”
Republican strategists just can’t seem to combat the gubernatorial force that is Tim Donnelly.
Rory Carroll reports in The Guardian: ““Tone down the crazy,” conservative pundits counselled.”
“But in California the grassroots call the shots, making the Tea Party a resilient force. For Donnelly, his surge in the polls shows he is in tune with constituents fed up with what they see as dysfunctional, bloated government. He brushed off his prickly relations with the state's GOP establishment, a rump subject to Democratic dominance in Sacramento.”
Neel Kashakri is boasting the support of GOP leaders, but can that aid his hemorrhaging campaign?
Seema Mehta reports for the L.A. Times: "President Bush has been very helpful and made calls and opened doors," Kashkari said. "There are a lot of people who care about California."
“The candidate said in his speech that Romney was providing "a lot of help." When asked if an endorsement was expected, Kashkari replied: "Stay tuned."
Los Angeles’ youngest mayor of the last century has an acute knack for taking Instagram shots that resonate with a new generation.
Adam Nagourney reports in The New York Times: “The little-known photo feed is akin to a private diary or a sketchbook, the kind of document that once upon a time might not have been discovered for 50 years, hidden away on a shelf somewhere.”
Google’s driverless cars are learning to master the city streets.
Justin Pritchard reports for the Associated Press: “The company has said its goal is to get the technology to the public by 2017. In initial iterations, human drivers would be expected to take control if the computer fails. The promise is that, eventually, there would be no need for a driver. Passengers could read, daydream, even sleep — or work — while the car drives.”