In a speech to federal judges, Governor Jerry Brown made the case that California’s crime laws are too arbitrary, have flooded the prison system and should be revised. Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times:
“Over the course of half an hour, he outlined his belief that the fixed-length criminal sentences he approved as governor three decades ago have glutted state prisons with long-stay offenders.
“He called for at least a partial return to times when parole boards alone decided an inmate was ready to be freed -- a system that Brown acknowledged was largely dropped for being arbitrary and harsh on racial minorities. Except for those sentenced to life with parole, inmates now serve set terms fixed largely by law.”
And, another Brown story, this time a special AP report in the New York Times outlining the guv’s request that the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources check to see if there was any oil on his family’s NorCal property. Brown’s spokesman says there was nothing inappropriate about the request, but for a governor building his street cred as an opponent of climate change: awkward…
“After a phone call from the governor and follow-up requests from his aides, senior staffers in the state's oil and gas regulatory agency over at least two days produced a 51-page historical report and geological assessment, plus a personalized satellite-imaged geological and oil and gas drilling map for the area around Brown's family ranchland near the town of Williams.
“Ultimately, the regulators told the governor, prospects were "very low" for any commercial drilling or mining at the 2,700-acre property, which has been in Brown's family for more than a century.
“Through the state's open records law, The Associated Press obtained the research that state regulators carried out for Brown, and the emails among senior oil and gas regulators scrambling to fulfill the governor's request.
“Brown spokesman Evan Westrup declined to discuss the work for the governor, referring the AP to California's Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources. That agency said the work was a legal and proper use of public resources — and no more than the general public would get. But oil industry experts said they could not recall a similar example of anyone getting that kind of state work done for private property.”
The Service Employees International Union, California Teachers Association, California Hospital Association and the California Medical Association are in negotiations to merge competing ballot propositions that would extend Prop 30’s taxes. Christopher Cadelago, Sacramento Bee:
“’These groups are continuing to discuss the final aspects of this new initiative, outreach with other allied groups and do the research and due diligence necessary to ensure its passage,’ Democratic strategist Gale Kaufman, who is working with the CTA and SEIU, said in an emailed statement Wednesday.
“There are currently two main tax measures. One, by SEIU and the CTA, would extend the income tax portion of the measure until 2030.”
A law requiring all crisis pregnancy centers in California to post a single page notice that the state provides access to free or low cost family planning services – including abortions – is being challenged in court. Kelly McEvers, NPR:
‘The latest front in the debate over religious freedom is all about an 8 1/2-by-11-inch piece of paper.
“This particular piece of paper is a notice — one the state of California will soon require to be posted in places known as crisis pregnancy centers. These resource centers, often linked to religious organizations, provide low-cost or free services to pregnant women, while encouraging these women to not have abortions.
“The new notice is mandated by the Reproductive FACT Act, and would make it clear that abortion is legally available in California.”
The California Faculty Association announced Wednesday that nearly 95% of members had voted to authorize a strike if an agreement with the California State University system cannot be found. Ed Joyce has the story at Capital Public Radio:
"’The result of the California Faculty Association (CFA) strike vote is not unexpected,’ said Toni Molle, with The California State University Office of the Chancellor. ‘Similar authorizations were requested and approved by CFA members in prior CSU/CFA negotiations, and the strike authorization vote has now become a routine part of CFA’s post-impasse negotiation strategy.’
“Molle says the approval of the strike vote ‘gives CFA’s leadership the authority to initiate a strike or other concerted activities in the event that the parties do not reach an agreement at the conclusion of the statutory impasse procedure.’
“She says the CSU remains ‘committed to the collective bargaining process and reaching a negotiated agreement with the CFA.’”
California’s Fair Political Practices Commission is considering a rule change that would mean removing some financial disclosures submitted elected officials after 7 years. Journalists and transparency activists are not happy with the proposal. Josh Richman, Political Blotter:
“[In] a state where lots of people often hold one or more public offices for way longer than seven years, that seems like a bad idea.
“The proposed rule change would require that Form 700 Statement of Economic Interests disclosures and records of behested payments – charitable contributions directed by a public official to a charity of their choice – be taken off the Fair Political Practices Commission’s website after seven years.
“Keep in mind that even in this age of term limits, a person can serve up to 12 years in the Legislature and up to eight years in a particular statewide constitutional office – though many politicians play “musical chairs” through several such posts for careers spanning decades.”
And finally, the amazing story of how jaywalking became a crime (great photos, too.)
“It's strange to imagine now, but prior to the 1920s, city streets looked dramatically different than they do today. They were considered to be a public space: a place for pedestrians, pushcart vendors, horse-drawn vehicles, streetcars, and children at play.
“Pedestrians were walking in the streets anywhere they wanted, whenever they wanted, usually without looking…. During the 1910s there were few crosswalks painted on the street, and they were generally ignored by pedestrians.
“As cars began to spread widely during the 1920s, the consequence of this was predictable: death. Over the first few decades of the century, the number of people killed by cars skyrocketed….
“[Automakers] dealers, and enthusiast groups worked to legally redefine the street — so that pedestrians, rather than cars, would be restricted.”
