A hot issue in the Capitol is California's cap-and-trade auction program to combat global warming. But cap-and-trade is under legal challenge, the auction's profits are dwindling and the outlook is uncertain. One possible solution for Gov. Brown: Go to the ballot and place the issue before voters to extend the program.
From the Bee's Jeremy B. White: "The fight to extend California’s climate change program could mean putting the issue before voters, a top aide to Gov. Jerry Brown said on Thursday as the governor launched a new ballot measure committee."
"In publicly proclaiming the possibility of shifting from the Legislature to the ballot box, the Brown administration underscored its commitment to fortifying its climate change efforts, which the governor has placed at the center of his fourth and final term, despite resistance from some legislators."
"As the legislative session accelerates into its final stretch, the fate of California’s cap-and-trade system has dominated talk at the Capitol. Established under the auspices of a 2006 bill, the system requires businesses to buy permits for the climate-altering emissions they put into the air."
READ MORE related to Environment: Gov. Brown opened a committee yesterday. Melanie Mason with the LAT; SoCal gas hopes to reopen gas field that leaked by September -- Sharon McNary with KPCC; Efforts to give big development projects environmental relief passes the assembly with overwhelming support -- Liam Dillon with L.A. Times
Meanwhile, a California Board of Equalization aide is resigning after posting an image geared towards Hillary Clinton deemed as threatening.
Sac Bee's Jim Miller writes: "An aide to California Board of Equalization member Diane Harkey has resigned over posting to Twitter this week a picture of a hangman holding a noose with the message, “I’m Ready for Hillary."
"Nathan Miller, deputy district director in Harkey’s Riverside office for the tax board, submitted his resignation Thursday, according to Harkey’s office. Miller, a longtime Republican activist in the Inland Empire, also is vice president of the Riverside Community College District."
"Wednesday’s tweet came from the account of the Riverside County Republican Party, according to The Press-Enterprise, which first reported the story. The tweet has since been removed."
Big Gas is back in the news after advocacy groups accuse refiners of market-manipulation and price gouging in California.
Ivan Penn reports in L.A. Times: "A consumer advocacy group accused oil refiners of intentionally keeping California’s gasoline prices higher than in the rest of the nation to bolster profits, despite growing inventories and falling wholesale prices."
"Consumer Watchdog argued Thursday that per-gallon pump prices should be lower than the current $2.69 statewide average — $2.72 in the Los Angeles area — about 60 cents higher than the nationwide average, as measured by the AAA daily price survey."
"Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, said the oil industry has attributed high retail gasoline prices to high state taxes, fees and California’s special blend of environmentally friendly fuel — factors that state regulators also point to as contributing to expensive gasoline. But Court believes the problem stems from oil industry price manipulation."
READ MORE related to Economy: Torrance oil refinery scoffs at consumer group's 'smoking gun' claim on gasoline price fixing -- Nick Green with the Daily Breeze.
A California crime saga comes to a dramatic conclusion after Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow receives Life-and-then-some in prison for his collusion in murder, racketeering and bootlegging.
The Chronicle's Bob Egelko writes: "Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow, sentenced to life in prison for racketeering and murder as the leader of a venerable Chinatown community organization, said Thursday he was an innocent victim of dishonest prosecutors, a biased judge and incompetent defense attorneys."
"You got the wrong man,” Chow, 56, said in a discourse in San Francisco federal court that lasted more than an hour before a judge pronounced his sentence. “I’m not apologizing (for) a crime I had nothing to do with."
"Chow, the lead prosecutor responded, was only showing his tendency to blame others for his wrongdoing. And U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said the evidence presented during an eight-week trial amply proved Chow’s guilt."
As the SFPD tries to recover from myriad scandal in the news lately, a new blow is dealt to the department's community outreach: a new photo making light of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Vivian Ho with The Chronicle reports: "The union representing San Francisco police officers published a photograph of two dogs in its monthly newspaper that critics say belittles the Black Lives Matter movement and raises questions about the police force’s commitment to repairing its relationship with communities of color."
"The picture, which appeared on the back page of the August issue of the San Francisco Police Officers Association Journal, shows a pair of Labrador retrievers, one black and one white. The black dog has a sign around its neck reading, “Black LabsMatter,” while the white dog sports a sign reading, “All Labs Matter."
"The photo, submitted by a union supporter, is accompanied by a plea from the union: “Maybe it’s time we all just sit back and tone down the rhetoric,” a reference to many months of heated national debate over police shootings and, recently, the targeted slayings of police officers."
SEE MORE in Public Safety: Hundreds attend funeral for slain SDPD officer Jonathan de Guzman -- Debbi Baker with San Diego News-Tribune
And now for another page from our 'Gotta Catch 'Em All!' file ...
The pokemon are rebelling against their human captors, as pikachus took to the street this past week to capture humans and turn the tables on Pokemon GO players.
UPI: "BASEL, Switzerland, Aug. 4 -- A group people dressed as Pokemon mascot Pikachu sought revenge on Pokemon Go players in Basel, Switzerland, as the city hoped to use the game's popularity to attract tourists."
"A prank video shared to YouTube by fadeoutTrashTV showed the group dressed in Pokemon-themed unitards "taking revenge" on citizens for playing the smartphone game Pokemon Go by bombarding them with human-sized pokeballs."
"The group used a large slingshot to launch the giant inflatable balls at unsuspecting bystanders, often seen carrying their phones."
And for the person who had the worst week in California, #WorstWeekinCA, our choice is Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva, who was arrested for crimes against children.
Roger Phillips with RecordNet writes: "Anthony Silva was arrested Thursday morning at his Mayor’s Youth Camp in Silver Lake and charged with playing strip poker with naked teenagers, providing alcohol to minors and illegally recording the activities that are said to have occurred at last year’s camp in the wee hours of Aug. 7, 2015."
"Five unmarked law enforcement vehicles rolled onto the rustic grounds of the Stockton Municipal Camp at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday, two of them parked so they would block the one-lane road to enter and exit the site. The smell of pine trees perfumed the cool morning air."
"Thirty minutes later, without incident, Silva was driven away by officers in one of the unmarked vehicles and taken to the Amador County Jail, where he was booked by Amador County sheriff’s officers."
