State senators approved a measure to alter the dated definition of marriage under California state law.
Don Thompson reports for the Associated Press: “SB1306 would remove from the state Family Code language that marriage must be “between a man and a woman.” It would substitute gender-neutral language, define marriage as a personal relation arising from a civil contract between two persons, and remove limits on the state recognizing the validity of same-sex marriages performed outside of California.”
In an extensive interview with the new political team behind KQED, Gov. Jerry Brown touched on major issues facing lawmakers – from affirmative action debates to political corruption.
John Myers reports for KQED: “And he defended his administration’s approach to fracking, a hotly debated method of oil drilling that uses high pressure water to loosen underground oil deposits.”
“The governor also touched on the debate over a new state budget reserve fund, the debate over entrenched poverty in California, and his own style of politics and governing.”
The tense relationship between California’s legislative leaders culminates as Darrell Steinberg and John A. Pérez reach the end of their tenures.
Anthony York reports in Capitol Weekly: “But Steinberg, who has endorsed Yee in the controller’s race, effectively said on Monday he is not willing to work on an accelerated timeline that would be politically advantageous to Pérez. It was the latest in a series of squabbles between the two leaders over the last several years.”
Speaker Pérez takes a moment to reflect on his nearly four years as leader of the state Assembly.
Ben Adler reports for Capitol Public Radio: “Looking back over his tenure as speaker in an interview with Capital Public Radio, Pérez takes credit for helping turn the state budget around.”
“Some say that the banks were too big to fail. California wasn’t too big to fail. And we had to take very tough decisions to make sure that California didn’t fail,” he says.”
President of the Los Angeles NAACP has resigned amid the scandal surrounding disgraced Clippers owner Donald Sterling.
Angel Jennings reports for the Los Angeles Times: “In his letter of resignation Thursday evening, Jenkins said the “legacy, history and reputation of the NAACP is more important to me than the presidency. In order to separate the Los Angeles NAACP and the NAACP from the negative exposure I have caused … I respectfully resign my position as president of the Los Angeles NAACP.”
The country’s first crowdsourced legislation was approved by the California state Assembly yesterday on a unanimous vote.
Melanie Mason reports for the Los Angeles Times: “"Typically, the public perceives that bills are drafted by special interest groups in a smoke-filled back room," Gatto said. "But this was a bill that was drafted entirely on the Internet with maximum transparency, and anybody could participate as long as they had an Internet connection."
“By narrowing the bill's focus to the probate code, the measure was kept deliberately dull, designed to attract legal specialists instead of political ideologues.”
City Council members of Carson have decided to cease their temporary ban on oil drilling.
Christine Mai-Duc reports for the Los Angeles Times: “In a statement, Bill McFarland, an Occidental representative, applauded Carson for letting the moratorium die, saying it demonstrates "that the city continues to recognize the value of an industry that brings safe projects and good jobs to the community."
“Carson Mayor Jim Dear and Councilman Elito Santarina voted against extending the moratorium, saying they believed it would be in the city's best interest to negotiate with Occidental officials over specific provisions in an enforceable contract. Councilman Mike Gipson, who expressed similar sentiments, abstained.”
The head of the state’s toxic-substance regulator announced she is leaving her post at the end of the month.
Jon Ortiz reports for the Sacramento Bee: “Debbie Raphael, director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control, is stepping down from a job she has held since 2011 to take over as director of San Francisco’s Department of the Environment. She will get about a $20,000 raise from the $141,000 she earns annually now, according to state controller’s office data.”
From our “Too Cute” file, the San Francisco Zoo is welcoming a new red panda baby!
SFist reports: “Red Pandas, in case you're not up to date on your taxonomy, are not that closely related the black and white Giant Pandas. They're actually part of the superfamily Musteloidea and are more similar to mustelids like weasels and otters. Red Pandas have a charming waddling gait and generally enjoy a solitary life of daytime naps and nighttime meals of bamboo, birds, eggs and other lesser mammals.”
