After months of negotiations and several delayed votes, the governor and Legislature approved a slimmed down water bond last night to go on the fall ballot.
John Howard reports in Capitol Weekly: “Lawmakers and the governor reached agreement Wednesday to revise the November bond with the smaller bond which contains about $300 million less for storage – including reservoirs – sought by farm belt lawmakers, who have been forced to let crop lands go fallow for lack of water.”
“Overshadowing the negotiations was California’s deepening drought, as well as concerns from rival water interests that Gov. Brown would campaign against the $11.14 billion during his reelection race for governor – a move that would likely doom the measure.”
A major San Diego tribe renegotiated their gambling compact with the state due to an inability to keep up with payments.
David Sider reports in the Sacramento Bee: “In a compact signed by the governor the previous day, the Brown administration and officials with the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians said the tribe can no longer afford terms of a 2004 compact, which required Viejas to contribute a flat fee of $17.4 million to the general fund each year.”
“The Department of Finance estimated that the state will receive reduced revenue of about $3 million to $5 million annually under the new deal, which requires the tribe to contribute a percentage of earnings.”
The trial for a former Senate sergeant involved in a lethal shooting at his residence is set for this week.
James Gan reports in Capitol Weekly: “Police interviewed Lopez at a South Sacramento police station on Jan. 3, 2013. He was accompanied by Che J. Salinas, a registered lobbyist and former aide to three state Senators, including former President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland.”
“In an interview with Capital Weekly, Salinas confirmed that he was present at the questioning of Lopez.”
“During a preliminary hearing in September, Ryan Bullard, a Sacramento Police Department detective, testified that Salinas “was there as a family friend but he also happened to be an attorney.” He gave no further explanation of his presence.”
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is confident in the odds of a new film tax credit deal this year.
Chris Megerian reports in the Los Angeles Times: “It's unclear, however, how large the expansion would be. Garcetti wants $420 million, which is equal to New York's credit and more than four times the size of California's current $100 million offering.”
“"We have to be competitive," said Garcetti, who was flanked by other California mayors during a press conference in the Capitol.”
Michelle Rhee announced she’ll be stepping down from her post as CEO of education advocacy group StudentsFirst, leading us to wonder what’s next for her and her husband?
Stephanie Simon reports in POLITICO: “Rhee divulged few details about her decision to step aside as CEO in a memo she sent to her staff Wednesday afternoon. She said she remains “100 percent committed to the success of StudentsFirst” but that “it’s time for a shift in the day-to-day management” of the organization, which has 110 staff members.”
““It’s also time,” Rhee wrote, “for my next step in life, which will be focused on my family and supporting my husband,” Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. “His focus and passion for underserved communities … will be central to whatever comes next for us,” she wrote. There has been speculation that Johnson, a former NBA star, might be laying the groundwork for a future run for governor or U.S. Senate.”
Got goats? Alternative means are being used to clear up overgrown foliage in Sacramento.
Annie Chernich reports for Capitol Public Radio: “Goats may seem like an unlikely candidate for clearing out a 10-acre basin, but Associate Engineer at the Sacramento County Department of Water Resources, Kevin Siu, said this is part of a pilot program started this summer to explore alternatives for removing brush.”
““We kind of took a look at what other jurisdictions had been doing and time and again we found that goats have been used on a more and more frequent basis," said Siu. "Therefore, we figured ‘why don’t we test out goats for our needs and see if they work for us as well.'””