U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's latest piece of legislation seeks to set aside $1.3 billion for California's water supply.
The Bee's Christopher Cadelago reports: "Moments before release of a crucial snowpack survey Wednesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein warned against loosening the mandatory water restrictions imposed last year by Gov. Jerry Brown."
“I think it’s premature right now,” the California Democrat said Wednesday afternoon. “I think we need to see what happens in April ... an important month for water.”
"Feinstein met with The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board to build support for her latest big piece of water legislation. Feinstein, who wants to spend up to $1.3 billion for desalination, recycling, storage and grants, said in long run the objective is to be prepared as the state population grows and the climate changes."
San Diego's mayor has been found guilty of harassment. Unfortunately for his victim, she won't be receiving compensation.
LAT's Dana Littlefield reports: "After deliberating for a little more than two hours, a San Diego jury said Wednesday that former Mayor Bob Filner had harassed a longtime city parks employee because of her gender, but found the harassment was neither serious nor pervasive."
"The San Diego Superior Court jury also determined that no sexual battery occurred during the April 2013 incident, in which Stacy McKenzie claimed the then-mayor touched her breast and buttocks during an event at a Mission Bay park"
"McKenzie, 52, was not awarded damages."
In an effort to further minimilize the wage disparities in California, Gov. Brown is trying to enact a plan that would raise the minimum wage to fifteen dollars an hour.
AP's Don Thompson in the OC Register: "California state lawmakers are poised to enact the nation's highest statewide minimum wage on Thursday, with gradual increases to $15 by 2022."
"Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic legislative leaders are promoting the boost as a matter of economic justice, and as an example to a nation struggling with a growing divide between rich and poor."
"There's no doubt in this country the gap between the better off and those that struggle at the bottom of our economic world has grown bigger and bigger, and it is quite incredible that there is so much power, so much wealth, and so many people struggling," the Democratic governor said as he unveiled his agreement with labor unions. "You've got a Congress that doesn't get it, that's so out to lunch....""
Meanwhile, the L.A. Times asks "what if?" about the Trump campaign.
From Phil Willon, Patrick McGreevy and Christina Bellantoni: "California’s traditionally ho-hum primary election is about to get whipsawed by the frenzy surrounding the 2016 presidential campaign. Because California may decide Donald Trump’s fate as the possible Republican nominee, the high-stakes contest is expected deliver a surge in voter turnout that could shake up races up and down the ballot."
“I think if Donald Trump is on the ballot, all the rules are out the window,” said Bay Area Democratic consultant Katie Merrill. “It’s a mad-as-hell-and-we’re-not-going-to-take-it-anymore electorate.”
"Here are a few possible twists and turns to keep an eye on in the June 7 primary."
Speaking of anti-Donald movements, GOP strategists are still devising a way to hopefully stump the Trump.
Christopher Gadelago writes for The Bee: "A trio of veteran GOP strategists is leading a new California effort to deny Donald Trump the Republican presidential nomination."
"With mail-in voting for the state’s June 7 primary set to begin in early May, Rob Stutzman, a Sacramento-based consultant who worked for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and recently volunteered for the Bush campaign, said anti-Trump forces hoping to act as a backstop cannot afford to wait too long to engage."
"Stutzman said Trump’s nomination would be an “absolute disaster” for the party, and said he doubted the billionaire businessman could win in November."
And from our "Politics is Show Business for Ugly People" file comes word of a weird safety Tweet from the State Department, which suggested that unattractive folks are more likely to be mugged overseas than others.
"Not a '10' in the US? Then not a 10 overseas. Beware of being lured into buying expensive drinks or worse—being robbed. #springbreakingbadly," it read."
"Soon after, people across Twitter made fun of the poorly thought-out tip."
"Stop spending my tax money on calling me ugly," tweeted lonelygirl15."
Others, like actor and writer B.J. Novak from The Office tweeted: "What about being "hot in Cleveland," is that real?"
Definitely not ...
