Is using taxpayer money to lobby for more tax money a good return on investment? Local governments think so, apparently.
Ben Baeder reports for the Whittier Daily News: “Water districts, city councils and school districts spend more than bankers, pharmaceutical companies, health care or any other category, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office. In all, local governments spend about $45 million annually to influence the 120 elected state lawmakers and a host of other bureaucrats and political appointees who influence state politics.”
“And those figures don’t count money from public employee unions or public private partnerships.”
Former Assembly Speaker John Perez calls for a recount in his evidently lost bid for state controller.
John Myers reports for KQED: “Pérez missed the second and final spot on the fall ballot by 481 votes in the last tallies reported less than a week ago. If those numbers hold, Yee will face Republican Ashley Swearengin, the incumbent mayor of Fresno, on November 4. Swearengin won more than 1 million votes in the last count of ballots, more than any candidate in the race to be California’s next chief fiscal officer.”
“Pérez’s decision means that beginning on Monday, local elections officials will take another look at ballots in Kern; Imperial; San Bernardino; Fresno; San Mateo; Orange; Ventura; Los Angeles; Riverside; Stanislaus; Tulare; Napa; Kings; Lake; and Merced counties.”
The Valley Transportation Authority is at odds with Milpitas city officials over the timeline for expanding BART to Silicon Valley.
Mike Rosenberg reports for The Mercury News: “The fight between the transit agency and the city arose after VTA proposed a new plan to close a small stretch of the main east-west Dixon Landing thoroughfare during construction. That plan angered local businesses and city officials who say traffic flow on the road is already very difficult.”
“Last month, in an unusual move, the city of Milpitas denied VTA's work permit request and told the agency to find a way to do the work while closing only part of the four-lane road, even if it means construction will take longer.”
In selecting judicial appointees, Gov. Jerry Brown goes against the tide.
Maura Dolan reports in the Los Angeles Times: “In making a batch of appointments last weekend to two appellate courts, Brown chose both experienced jurists and a neophyte, suggesting he would cast a wide net to fill two seats on the seven-member state high court.”
“For decades, the court has had only one Democratic appointee, but Brown will soon have three people of his choosing on the court, and if re-elected, he may get a fourth in a second term.”
Civil rights leaders call for a federal inquiry into a highway altercation involving a California Highway Patrol officer.
Paloma Esquivel and Frank Shyong report for the Los Angeles Times: ““Obviously, we were horrified by what we saw,” Hutchinson said. “We really want to see a commitment from the CHP to zero tolerance by any officers in the use of excessive force against civilians.””
“Hutchinson said he has called on the Justice Department to conduct its own investigation. An attorney representing the family of Marlene Pinnock called for the officers involved to be punished.”
Private eyes find ways to cut water waste during California's historic drought.
Beck Bach reports in the Santa Cruz Sentinel: "He's not looking for hidden weapons or suitcases stuffed with drug money. He's on the hunt for water waste."
"Mathers and other water auditors will come to your home free of charge, thanks to programs offered by most Bay Area water districts -- all of which are trying to save every drop during one of the worst droughts to strike California in decades. The districts now are scrambling to meet demand as the number of calls for water-saving help soars."
Sacramento residents have begun to let their lawns die as a means for combatting water scarcity.
Hudson Sangree reports in the Sacramento Bee: "The city of Sacramento currently limits residents to running their lawn sprinklers two days a week, which should be enough to keep lawns alive and green, according to landscaping and water experts. Letting lawns die is a personal choice, not an imperative, they said, but ignoring the watering restrictions is irresponsible and could lead to firmer limits if it doesn’t rain soon."
"“If 2015 is a dry year, we could find ourselves in a catastrophic situation,” said Tom Gohring, executive director of the Water Forum, a group of local governments and water agencies that promotes sustainable water use in the Sacramento region."
