In the fight over redevelopment dollars, Riverside (the city) and Riverside (the county) may have come up an answer that works for them: loan each other money. The Press Enterprise's Duane W. Gang and Alicia Robinson tell the tale.
"In what could be a first in the state, Riverside County and the city of Riverside are considering loaning each other money -- rather than going to the municipal bond market -- to pay for redevelopment projects."
"The Board of Supervisors provided the authorization Tuesday morning, and the Riverside City Council followed with an evening vote. The move is just the latest step local officials have taken to get tens of millions of dollars worth of redevelopment projects on the books before the state can impose Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to phase out the redevelopment agencies."
Gov. Brown headed to Orange County -- a brave move in itself -- and into a gathering of hundreds of police chiefs, where he says that limiting officers' pensions may be necessary to balance the deficit-riddled state budget.
From the LAT's Anthony York: "I
didn't take my retirement at 50," the 72-year-old governor told the
California Police Chiefs Assn. in Anaheim. "In fact,
if you want to
stabilize this pension system, we need a lot more people
working until they're
72."
"His comments elicited some uneasy laughter. "I know some of you might not be ready for that," Brown
added,
"but we're going to have to deal with pensions. That's
going to be part of
the program."
The little-known courts that deal with the custody of children in child abuse and neglect cases would be open to greater public scrutiny under newly proposed legislation, notes Capitol Weekly's Malcolm Maclachlan.
"In California, these courts are considered “presumptively closed” — that is, members of the public and the press are barred unless a judge feels there is a compelling reason to open up a hearing."
Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, wants to change that. His AB 73 would make these proceedings “presumptively open,” meaning the public would have access unless a judge made a decision to close them. The rational for having closed courts is to protect vulnerable children. But Feuer said that his bill would allow for judges to close courtrooms in cases where the child could be put at risk, such as from an abusive parent who no longer has custody."
The key issue in the legal fight over gay marriage isn't whether it's right or wrong, it's whether people can step in and defend a law when the state won't. The Times' Maura Dolan takes a look.
"The
state high court issued a one-sentence order denying a request for an
accelerated briefing and hearing schedule. The court
has agreed to determine
the legal rights of initiative sponsors but said a
hearing would not be held
until September at the earliest."
"The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeal asked the California court
to decide
whether state law gives initiative sponsors the legal
right to defend ballot
measures when state officials refuse to do so. Its
decision will determine
whether Proposition 8 is overturned on narrow procedural grounds with limited
impact or whether the case eventually reaches the U.S. Supreme Court on constitutional
questions."
Republicans in the Legislature have used Nevada as a shining example of fiscal responsibility, but have neglected to note that in Nevada it takes only a simple majority vote to put taxes on the ballot.
From the Ventura County Star's Timm Herdt: "One thing that hasn't changed in Nevada is that its Republican politicians continue to be fiscal conservatives. But if GOP lawmakers from California were to return to Reno this year to pick up any lessons, they might be surprised at one thing they'd learn."
"They'd find out that the state's constitutional amendment, passed in 1994, that requires any tax increases be approved by a two-thirds vote of legislators includes a provision that gives ultimate authority to voters. To place a tax increase proposal on the ballot, it says, shall require only a simple majority vote of lawmakers."
And now we turn to that group of people who offer a tempting target for officials hunting new revenue -- bicyclists. New York weighs in.
"This afternoon, Gothamist points us to a proposal by assemblyman Michael DenDekker, a Democrat from Queens, which would require by law that every bicycle -- not just in New York City, but in New York state -- have a license plate, to be re-registered every year only after an inspection of the bike."
"A second bill, also in the works, would make it so every rider must be insured and carry identification. The enforcement would mean about $1,875,000 for New York, plus $375,000 every additional year in fees. But that's not the point, lawmakers insist."
"The first bill would work on "ensuring personal protection for cases such as bicycle theft or bicycle accidents. With a recent high increase in bike use on roads, rising from 30% in 1980, and doubling to 60% just ten years later, it is essential that the state of New York be able to identify the bicycle riders."
Time to break out the Revolver album....