The fight is on: The growing rift between the moderate and progressive factions of California's Democrats.
Jeremy B. White writes in Sacramento Bee: "Highlighting a rift among Democratic voters, a political action committee will seek to boost liberal California legislative candidates over more business-friendly Democrats in state legislative races."
"The ascendance of a bloc of moderate Democrats has angered some on the left, particularly given the legislators’ role in weakening climate legislation last year."
"Labor and environmental groups have backed a Democrat challenging Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown, D-San Bernardino, a rare attack on an incumbent Democrat by liberal interests. An incipient challenge to Assemblyman Mike Gipson, D-Carson, fizzled after Democratic challenger Marta Segura failed to qualify for the ballot. "
During the 2016 presidential campaign, it's hard to tell what's getting more attention: Donald Trump, or his star emblazoned on the pavement of Hollywood's Walk of Fame.
LAT's Joseph Serna reports: "Linda Lin and her family had no particular Tinseltown destination Monday morning — they were just taking in the sights at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue when Lin suddenly stopped and pointed down."
"There it was, the star's brass-colored outline juxtaposed with the black-tiled pavement. In the middle of the star were the two rabbit ears of an old-style television and his name in block, brass capital letters above them: DONALD TRUMP."
"In an instant, Lin's daughter Grace began her assault. With all her might, the South Pasadena elementary school student jumped up and down on Trump's star, stomping on it with emphasis."
The HuffPo also did its own piece on the star.
Meanwhile, San Francisco eyes the possibility of increased paid leave for new parents, and businesses aren't happy.
AP's Janie Har reports: "The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is voting on whether to require six weeks of fully paid leave for new parents — a move that would be a first for any jurisdiction."
"The state already allows workers to receive 55 percent of their pay for up to six weeks to bond with a new child. The money comes out of a state insurance program funded by workers. The proposal to be voted on Tuesday would require San Francisco employers with at least 20 employees to make up the rest."
"Advocates say the legislation is needed because too many families can't afford to take leave, but small business owners say the latest proposal is just another mandate in a long list of city mandates— including paid sick leave and health coverage— that unfairly targets independent owners."
California's lawmakers aren't satisfied with early development plans for highspeed rail, worrying that the design won't spur continued investment.
From AP's Don Thompson: "California lawmakers say the state's latest plan for a $64 billion high-speed railway lacks the details that could spur additional investment in the project."
"Sen. Jim Beall, the Senate transportation committee chairman, said Monday that the High Speed Rail Authority must provide "more beef" in its revised business plan."
"The new plan calls for constructing the first 250-mile segment from rural Shafter to San Jose at a cost of nearly $21 billion."
In an unexpected turn of events, the FPCC seems to be battling legislation that would, at face value, increase campaign transparency.
From Dorothy Mills-Greg in Capitol Weekly: "California’s political watchdog, which fights to reveal the political money trail, is opposing legislation that appears to do exactly that."
"The Fair Political Practices Commission, which enforces campaign ethics rules, has come out against two bills aimed at disclosure."
"The five-member commission voted on March 17 to oppose AB 700 by Democratic Assemblymembers Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, and Marc Levine, D-Marin County. The bill, a detailed piece of legislation that requires video advertisements to list their $50,000-plus donors on a black background, centered on separate lines and in type that must be at least 2.5 percent of the height of the screen. The bill also requires updating the disclosures when there is a change in the committee’s top contributors."
And for those who missed our Technology 2016 political forum at Chops, here's the link to the audio, courtesy of our own master sound man, Tim Foster.
Finally, from our "More Reasons Why Florida is an Awful Place" file comes word of the jellyfish invasion. Yuck.
"A South Florida beach was speckled in blue after thousands of jellyfish found themselves washed up on shore."
"The palm-sized sea creatures were seen mingling with spring breakers along Hallandale Beach on Thursday, with stunning photos showing them entirely covering some parts of the sand just north of Miami."
"Fortunately for sunbathers, the jellyfish, called Velella velella or “purple sailors,” are considered relatively harmless to humans"
“This happens about every three years. We are flying our Purple flag for dangerous marine life,” city officials posted on Facebook alongside the snaps, noting that there could be man o’ war jellyfish among the purple sailors."