The familia Calderon has been a durable fixture in California politics for years, flexing their political muscle and putting together a power base that, so far at least -- has served them well.
From the LAT's Patrick McGreevy and Paige St. John: "The Calderons have flourished in the sometimes ruthless environs of the California Assembly and Senate, where four family members have served in the carpeted chambers: brothers Charles, Ronald and Tom, and Charles' son. They've cut reputations for raising campaign cash and reigning over the Legislature's powerful "juice committees," those overseeing banking, insurance and other industries that have the cash to bankroll political campaigns."
"They use their political muscle to help one another, squeezing political opponents, pushing legislation backed by supporters and even orchestrating a brazen leadership coup attempt."
"Power begets power," said Jaime A. Regalado, a political scientist at Cal State L.A. "They've been around for the long haul and, over time, scared away a lot of people who wanted to run for their seats."
With California's prisons overcrowded, one wonders why the state doesn't build more lockups. But new construction isn't on the table.
From the Bee's David Siders: "In his final effort to forestall a federal court order requiring the state to reduce its prison population by nearly 10,000 inmates, Gov. Jerry Brown last week counted the ways prison conditions have improved since the court first winced at overcrowding years ago."
"Since 2008, Brown's administration said in a U.S. Supreme Court filing, California has diverted thousands of offenders from the prison system to counties and has spent more than $1 billion on new employees and facilities to improve mental health and medical care for inmates."
"Despite pressure to relieve overcrowding, however, there is one thing the state has not done: build more prisons."
Sen. Rod Wright, who faces trial on multiple election-law charges, is busy raising money for his defense fund.
From the LAT's Jean Merl: "As Democratic state Sen. Roderick Wright prepares for his often-delayed trial on perjury and voting fraud charges this fall, he has raised nearly $300,000 for his legal defense fund, fed largely by large interests with business before the Legislature."
"Records he filed with the state show Wright has collected the money since forming the fund in late 2009, shortly after investigators with the Los Angeles County district attorney's office searched two of his properties. The searches were the first public sign that Wright was under scrutiny about where he lived when he ran in the Inglewood-based district he represents."
"He has pleaded not guilty to all eight felony counts."
From the LAT's Patrick McGreevy and Phil Willon: "During a five-year period ending in 2010, at least 148 female inmates received tubal ligations that had not been approved, confirmed Joyce Hayhoe, a spokeswoman for the receiver. The allegations were first reported by the Center for Investigative Reporting."
"Ten other women have alleged to the prisoner advocacy group Justice Now that they were sterilized improperly in procedures other than tubal ligation, including having their ovaries removed."
"The operations were performed at outside hospitals and medical facilities by doctors under contract with the corrections department. Medical directors at the prisons recommended and approved the tubal ligations, Hayhoe said. Corrections officials found no evidence of sterilization performed on male prisoners."
No one knows what exactly what he did, but San Diego Mayor Bob Filner is on the hot seat, accused by former political allies of sexual harassment. His accusers have demanded his resignation, but he says no way.
From the U-T's Craig Gustafson: "The next step in the Mayor Bob Filner saga will be determined at 11 a.m. Monday when the three former political allies who first said he should resign based on unspecified sexual harassment allegations hold a news conference outside San Diego City Hall."
"While the drama continues to play out, there’s no shortage of possible contenders quietly jockeying to replace him should he resign or be recalled. Many political insiders view Filner’s resignation as an inevitability as several top Democrats and Republicans have called on him to resign for the good for the city and the party although Filner has given no indication he plans to step down."
"Filner has all but dared his accusers to file formal complaints by promising a full investigation and saying Friday he is “confident that a fair and independent investigation will support my innocence with respect to charges of sexual harassment.” That came a day after he apologized for “inappropriate and wrong” behavior toward women, including city employees."
And from our "Night on the Town" file comes the tale of the Sonoma County politico Efren Carrillo, who got nabbed wearing only his socks and briefs outside a woman's home in the middle of the night.
"Although Santa Rosa police arrested him on suspicion of burglary and prowling, they believe his intent was to commit some type of sexual assault, according to Sgt. Terry Anderson."
"Carrillo was wearing nothing but his socks and underwear and was carrying a cellphone when officers responded to a 3:40 a.m. 911 call in the area of Stony Point Road at West Third Street, within a block of Carrillo's rented Brockhurst Drive apartment."
"He was booked at Sonoma County Jail at 10:10 a.m. and was released on $40,000 bail within two hours. He has a court hearing scheduled for Thursday."
