California's Legislature failed to act, so a coalition of health experts, the state’s schools chief and a politically active billionaire who may have designs on elective office have launched a petition drive to qualify an initiative for the November ballot that would raise the cigarette tax by $2 per pack.
From the LAT's Patrick McGreevy: "The measure would reduce smoking and raise money to expand treatment services for Medi-Cal patients, support anti-smoking campaigns and boost medical research, said Tom Steyer, co-chairman of the Save Lives Coalition."
"You can’t sugarcoat it: Smoking is deadly," said Steyer, a billionaire and possible 2018 gubernatorial candidate who has contributed $1 million toward the initiative campaign..."
"The proposal would also extend tobacco taxes to electronic cigarettes, whose use by teenagers tripled between 2013 and 2014, Torlakson said during a news conference at C.K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento, where he met with students who talked about their use of the devices."
Speaking of Steyer, he wrote a hefty $250,000 check to the California Democratic Party.
From the Bee's Christopher Cadelago: "Party officials said most of the contribution will go to fund a digital organizing tool for activists across the state to boost the number of registered voters, as well as engage existing voters and potentially increase Democratic turnout in 2016."
"The party’s program, called Mobilize, Organize, Elect – like nearly every campaign data-driven venture in California – is powered by Political Data Inc. Steyer said the grassroots organizing effort will ensure the voice of the people is heard in November."
"Though Steyer is not planning a ballot measure of his own, he’s been active in California and other states ahead of the fall election. Last week, the former hedge fund manager was named co-chairman of the Washington-based Latino Victory Fund."
Will the Super Bowl provide a backdrop for protests throughout the Bay Area, given one group's recent, temporary shutdown of the Bay Bridge? Inquiring minds want to know.
From the Contra Costa Times' Matthias Gafni: "In light of a protest group's successful shut down of the Bay Bridge Monday, and previous transit-oriented takeovers of BART and local freeways, law enforcement plans to be vigilant and high-profile next month as the big game approaches. Super Bowls past have seen protests and picketing, but never actions that have choked traffic and regional movement."
"Meanwhile, activists in a region synonymous with fervent, and often times disruptive, protests have hinted at actions targeting the Super Bowl and its weeklong festivities."
"I would not be surprised considering our history in the Bay Area with police killings that there will be some actions," said Cephus "Bobby" Johnson, uncle of Oscar Grant, who was shot and killed by a BART police officer on New Year's Day 2009. "I'm behind any action that speaks to police terrorism. I'll always support something with respect to that."
We noted earlier the rise in the water level in the Folsom Reservoir east of Sacramento, but here's an even more dramatic index of flowing water: The sudden rise at Lake Oroville.
From the Chronicle's Amy Graff: "El Niño is officially here, and the recent soakings walloping Northern California are recharging California's drought-ravaged reservoirs with water."
"Folsom Lake east of Sacramento rose 44 feet in the last month, and even more impressive, the elevation at Lake Oroville shot up a dramatic 20 feet in only six days."
"Lake Oroville, the second-largest manmade reservoir in California after Shasta, registered its lowest elevation ever at 645 feet above sea level on Sept. 7, 1977. Last year, on Dec. 9, the lake came close to this record, dipping down to 649 feet. But the recent storms are replenishing the lake, and the elevation on Jan. 19 was 694 feet.
"We had over three inches of rain locally in Oroville over a two day period," Wright said. "The ground was already wet on the surface from the past storms so that allowed for this heavy rain to provide more runoff."
State Attorney General Kamala Harris, who is running for the U.S. Senate this year, said she is investigating whether Exxon Mobil lied to its shareholders about the risk to its business of climate change.
From the LAT's Ivan Penn: "Harris' office is reviewing what Exxon Mobil knew about global warming and what the company told investors, a person close to the investigation said."
"The move follows published reports, based on internal company documents, suggesting that during the 1980s and 1990s the company, then known as Exxon, used climate research as part of its planning and other business practices but simultaneously argued publicly that climate-change science was not clear cut."
"Those documents were cited in stories by reporters for Columbia University Energy and Environmental Reporting Fellowship, published in partnership with the Los Angeles Times. The nonprofit InsideClimate News also published several stories based on the documents."
And from our "Definitely Not Top Gear" file comes word that the Pope's black Fiat is on the auction block. Our prayers are with anybody who buys it.
"A black Fiat that was used to transport Pope Francis during his visit to Philadelphia will be auctioned off at the Philadelphia Auto Show."
"The black Fiat 500L will be up for auction during the auto show's Black Tie Tailgate on Jan. 29 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center."
"We are delighted to have Pope Francis' Fiat 500L on display for the entirety of the Philadelphia Auto Show and we are excited to add this auction component to the Black Tie Tailgate," Philadelphia Auto Show Chairman David Kelleher said in a statement. "The Auto Show is proud to provide this platform to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the World Meeting of Families - Philadelphia 2015 for the auction of the Papal Fiat 500L."
"A second black Fiat 500L used by the Pope while in Philadelphia will be on display for the duration of the show, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 7. The Archdiocese has the option to offer it for sale."
There's a sucker born every minute....
