The traditional backbone of California's fire-fighting effort is the cadre of low-security prison inmates who do the on-the-ground grunt work attacking the flames. But the new program to shift state prisoners to local authority to save money may end up taking inmates off the front lines -- which could cost the state a lot more money in the long run.
From the Chronicle's Wyatt Buchanan: "When wildfires ignite in California, some of the first crews on the scene are not state firefighters, but inmates who undergo training to handle such jobs as creating containment lines."
"There are more than 4,000 prisoners statewide trained for the work now, but prison officials said they expect that number to shrink by 1,500 by June as inmates are sent to county jails instead of prison..."
"Inmates - distinguished by their orange protective clothing (Cal Fire firefighters wear yellow) - were a key force last month in containing the Robbers Fire, which burned 2,650 acres in a steep American River canyon northeast of Auburn (Placer County). The area was mostly inaccessible to large bulldozers and other equipment used to build fire lines."
The comforting view of firefighters scrambling to save homes in rural California will continue, but now property owners are going to pay extra for the privilege -- $150 more, to be exact.
From Capitol Weekly's Mandy Honeychurch: "Hundreds of thousands of rural residents across California will find something new in their mailbox by the end of the year -- a bill for firefighting."
"The $150 charge, known as a “fire prevention fee,” passed the Legislature in July of last year. It is intended to help balance cuts to Cal Fire and will go toward fire protection efforts in these areas most prone to wildfires. The fee, supported by some 825,488 habitable structures in the state, is expected to generate $89 million for the current fiscal year."
"The houses and other structures receiving this fee all lay within the State Responsibility Area (SRA), which consists of 31 million acres in California whose fire protection is charged to the state. The SRA was created decades ago to protect against wildfires that could harm the state’s timber, watershed, and rangeland resources. In recent years, the amount of houses and structures in the SRA has grown, increasing from 2000 to 2010 by 16%. This increase in population and homes has made it more expensive for the state to fight wildfires in these areas."
Meanwhile, the ripples from Facebook's IPO continue to spread: The sharply downward trend of Facebook's stock is not good news for the state.
From California Capitol's Greg Lucas: "Facebook shares hit a new low July 31 — $21.71, 43 percent below its initial public offering."
"This isn’t good new for the state, which hopes to bank a healthy chunk of tax receipts from stock sales the distribution of 240 million Restricted Stock Units to Facebook’s 3,000 employees as early as November."
"Lower share price, lower rake-off for the state. Both Gov. Jerry Brown’s Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst predict a share price of between $35 and $45 in November when those RSUs, as they are known, get handed to employees."
"While still three months until November – a lifetime on the stock market — $35, let alone $45, seems a hard climb from $21.71 especially given the stock’s steady downward movement since going public May 18."
Not surprisingly, organized labor is gathering its considerable forces to fight Proposition 32, which would ban the use of payroll deductions for political contributions. The issue has been around for years, and it's back in November.
From the LAT's Michael J. Mishak: "A coalition of California labor unions has raised nearly $10 million to fight Proposition 32, far outpacing the backers of the November ballot measure that promises to eliminate special-interest money in politics."
"While the measure would prohibit both unions and corporations from contributing directly to candidates, labor leaders are more concerned about another provision in the initiative: banning the practice of political contribution by payroll deduction, the primary method unions use to raise political cash."
"Unions representing firefighters, police and teachers are digging deep to fund the "No" campaign, raising more than $7.6 million through June, according to records filed with the secretary of state's office Tuesday. Since then, they have raised an additional $1.5 million. The labor coalition had $6.5 million cash on hand as of June 30, having spent more than $1.7 million this year on online ads, focus groups, polling and political consultants."
L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a former speaker of the state Assembly, is casting about for his next gig and one job came immediately to mind -- governor of California.
From the LAT's Anthony York: "As Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa prepares to take the gavel for the Democratic National Committee’s national convention in Charlotte this summer, Yahoo! News asked whether the termed-out mayor could be the nation’s first Latino president."
"Villaraigosa assured his interviewer that he has no interest in national office, but he does have another job in mind after 2013, when he will be forced from Getty House."
"The job I've said to people I would like is I would like to be governor of the state of California," he said. Villaraigosa spokesman Teddy Davis was not immediately available to comment on the mayor’s statement."
And from our "A Man, a Plan, a Canal" file comes word that a company is seriously looking at the feasibility of digging a canal across Nicaragua to link the Atlantic and Pacific.
"Two Dutch companies say they have been awarded a $720,000 contract by the Nicaraguan government to study the feasibility of building a rival to the Panama canal that would travel through Nicaragua and Costa Rica."
"Since the early 1800s, the so-called "Nicaragua Canal" has been considered a serious possibility as a route that could link the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, though the Panama Canal ultimately won out. Some experts believe the growth of global shipping means that two canals through Central America would benefit the industry, especially if a Nicaragua Canal could accommodate larger ships."
