Citizens only

Sep 28, 2018

Citizens only for California boards and commissions, Jerry Brown says in veto

 

Sacramento Bee's ALEXEI KOSEFF: "Undocumented immigrants and other non-citizens will not be allowed to serve on state and local boards and commissions, despite recent efforts to further integrate those living in California illegally into civic life."

 

"Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday vetoed Senate Bill 174, which would have authorized the appointment of any California resident over the age of 18 to a civil office, regardless of immigration or citizenship status."

 

"I believe existing law — which requires citizenship for these forms of public service — is the better path,” Brown wrote in his veto message."

 

FEMA and California wildfires: A report card

 

Capitol Weekly's SCOTT SORIANO: "Nearly a year after the 2017 California wildfires hit the north and south state, the report card on FEMA—the Federal Emergency Management Agency—is in."

 

"The Sept. 4 analysis by the U.S. Government Accountability Office detailing FEMA’s performance credited FEMA with fulfilling its own disaster readiness goals, but says that wasn’t enough for the agency to be sufficiently prepared to deal with the horrific fires that engulfed parts of the state."

 

"FEMA wasn’t alone: California also wasn’t prepared for the volume of debris created by the wildfires, the study noted. Getting rid of debris following a disaster is a top priority."

 

SF gets state OK to expand involuntary holds for severely mentally ill

 

The Chronicle's MELODY GUTIERREZ: "Officials in San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles counties will be able to expand conservatorship rules to give them more control over who can be involuntarily held for mental-health treatment."

 

"Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB1045 by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, on Thursday. The bill creates a five-year pilot program in the three counties intended to get more mentally ill people who suffer from substance abuse off the streets and into treatment."

 

"The bill was among 350 that were still on Brown’s desk before Thursday. Sunday is the deadline for the governor to act on bills."

 

Net neutrality, abortion pills at UC and CSU awaiting Jerry Brown's verdict

 

The Chronicle's MELODY GUTIERREZ: "Gov. Jerry Brown has until Sunday to decide the fate of 350 bills on his desk, including legislation that would create net neutrality regulations in California, expand access to abortion pills at public universities and increase public access to police misconduct records."

 

"Brown can either sign or veto bills or let them become law without his signature. Bills go into effect Jan. 1, unless another date is specifically listed in the legislation."

 

"Brown has yet to weigh in on SB822 by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, which would create the strongest net neutrality protectionsin the country. Those regulations would bar internet service companies from slowing rival websites or those that don’t pay for faster service."

 

READ MORE related to Energy & Environment: Future here now with renewable natural gas -- JOHN DRAYTON in Capitol Weekly; On wetland regulation, we may define away nature at our own peril -- Water Deeply's MATT WEISER

 

SF Mayor Breed wants quick action on conservatorships for mentally ill, addicted

 

The Chronicle's DOMINIC FRACASA: "San Francisco got permission from the state Thursday to implement an expanded conservatorship system that supporters say will give the city more tools to treat the mentally ill and addicted people adrift on the city’s streets."

 

"Mayor London Breed said she wants to move quickly to implement a plan."

 

"With Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature on SB1045, San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles counties can create five-year pilot programs allowing them to expand the conditions under which a mentally ill or drug-addled person may be involuntarily held. The law is meant to provide greater flexibility to treat homeless people suffering from mental illness or addiction who might refuse treatment."

 

Crews begin work to shore up cracked beams at SF's Transbay Transit Center

 

The Chronicle's EVAN SERNOFFSKY: "Crews made preparations to brace a damaged section of San Francisco’s new Transbay Transit Center on Thursday, after cracks were discovered this week in two large steel beams over Fremont Street."

 

"Standing on scissor lifts, construction workers peeled off corrugated metal sheeting below the cracked section while crews inside the facility rerouted electrical lines and other utility equipment. The next step is to ease the pressure on the beams that officials say are in danger of failing."

 

"The Transbay Joint Powers Authority, which built and operates the facility, is trying to locate large steel columns to place under the compromised beams. The columns will run through the bus deck onto Fremont Street."

 

READ MORE related to Transbay Transit Center: Before transbay center beam cracked, 2 contractors already mired in litigation -- The Chronicle's JK DINEEN/JOHN KING

 

Will rent control kill California housing production? Not necessarily, data show

 

Sacramento Bee's ANGELA HART/KATY MURPHY: "Demanding financial relief from rapidly rising rents in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Berkeley and Santa Monica passed the strongest rent control laws in the nation."

 

"California’s landmark tax law, Proposition 13, had just passed, rolling back property taxes for homeowners and ensuring they’d receive tax breaks. During the campaign, taxpayer advocates promised renters similar help."

 

"Yet rents continued to rise. Tenant activists, both in Berkeley and Santa Monica, turned to the ballot box, convincing voters to pass — by wide margins — rent control laws even more strict than their larger neighbors in Los Angeles and San Francisco."

 

Key undecided senator, Republican Jeff Flake of Arizona, announces he will vote yes on Kavanaugh

 

LA Times's JENNIFER HABERKORN: "Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said Friday morning that he would vote to approve Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, a key gesture of support that makes the nominee’s confirmation more likely."