Lawmakers are calling on Attorney General Kamala Harris to probe the close relationship between the California Public Utilities Commission and PG&E.
Josh Richman reports for Bay Area News Group: “State Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo; Assemblyman Kevin Mullin, D-South San Francisco; and San Bruno Mayor Jim Ruane will hold a news conference Friday morning in San Francisco to deliver a letter to Harris.”
“The latest revelation of emails between CPUC staff and PG&E executives led to the outser of officials at both this week. The utility also disclosed in a regulatory filing that it may have violated PUC rules with emails it sent the agency as recently as January.”
An ex-employee of Assemblyman Steve Fox is suing the legislator over alleged inappropriate office conduct.
John Howard reports in Capitol Weekly: “The suit by Nancy K. Finnigan also alleges that the lawmaker fostered a hostile office work environment, and that he targeted her in “to prevent her from reporting the continuing illegal and improper conduct…”
“Fox spokesperson Lisa Gasperoni called Finnigan’s suit “nothing more than a disgruntled former employee attempting to extort Mr. Fox in the middle of his re-election campaign.”
In his run for Congress, Republican state Sen. Steve Knight has lost a former Democratic rival’s endorsement.
Jean Mearl reports for The Los Angeles Times: “"I consider Steve a friend," Rogers said in a statement, "but I'm just appalled at what appears to be his tone-deafness in regard to what our neighbors find appropriate."”
“He cited Knight's recent vote against a ban on the sale of Confederate flag paraphernalia on state property and his "rigid stance" against abortion. But the "final straw," he told the Los Angeles Times, was Knight's alliance with Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (R-Twin Peaks), arguably the Legislature's most outspoken and controversial conservative.”
Sen. Ben Hueso is seeking to push back the hearing over his alleged drunk driving until after the November election.
Chris Nichols reports for U-T San Diego: “The senator was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Sacramento Superior Court. But his attorney, Margaret Ann Virga, requested and was granted a delay until Nov. 6.”
“That's two days after Hueso, a Democrat, will face off against Rafael Estrada, also a Democrat, in the race for California's 40th State Senate District.”
“Hueso did not appear at Thursday’s court hearing.”
An atypical deal has been struck over a vacancy on California’s Coastal Commission.
John Howard reports for Capitol Weekly: “A decision on who will fill that seat could be made as early as December, when state lawmakers return to Sacramento for a brief procedural session. That session will be the first at which newly named Senate Leader Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, will preside after he formally takes over on Oct. 15 from Sen. Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento. As Senate leader, De Leon will chair the five-member Senate Rules Committee, which is responsible for making the appointment.
Under an unusual agreement reached between Senate leaders and a number of environmental groups just before the end of the legislative session, the period of time to consider the submitted list of candidates has been extended indefinitely. Such an extension is extremely rare, if not unprecedented, according to several people familiar with the issue. The list had been scheduled to lapse at the end of August.”
One Bay Area restaurant is taking on Yelp and asking its loyal customers to give it bad online reviews.
Ed Brackett reports for USA Today: “Botto Bistro, in Richmond near Berkeley, has launched a deliberate attempt to show the world that the restaurant doesn't care what the world thinks of its Italian cuisine — at least the world according to Yelp. And it seems like a good way for the restaurant to get booted from the site, Cerretini figures.
"I'm surprised we are still around on the site," he says. The restaurant, run by Cerretini and fellow Tuscany native Michele Massimo, has been openly mocking Yelp for about six months.
"We have nothing to lose," Cerretini adds. "Worst case, we go back to Italy and cook for mama."”