Bullet train could be cool

But Dan Walters says no. Unless it serves the congested Hwy 99 corridor through the Central Valley's busiest 'burbs. But then we're encoraging sprawl, right?

Eh, the housing market crash should slow that down a bit. I still think it'd be great to travel between Nor and SoCal so efficiently.

Clinton to Dems: get over it.

Addressing the concerns that a drawn-out nomination battle might hamper Dems in the fall, former President Clinton says "p-shaw." Or something along those lines:

That has stirred fears that the intense – often vitriolic – skirmishing between their campaigns may last until this summer's Democratic National Convention in Denver, leaving the winner severely wounded and vulnerable to defeat by presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in November.

But Sunday, Clinton reminded nearly 2,000 activists that he won election in 1992 despite emerging from the Democratic primary "so beat up, worked over and chewed out" that he at first badly trailed both President George H.W. Bush and independent candidate Ross Perot.

"There is somehow a suggestion that because we're having a vigorous debate … we're going to weaken the party in the fall," Clinton said.

To market, to market

As long as they're there . . .

The Bee looks at area small grocers and their battle to stay in business in the face of competition from the big guys.

And there's new competition on the way:

The next chain coming to Sacramento, Fresh & Easy, is poised to make things tougher for independents. Its British-based parent company, Tesco PLC, is spending about $2 billion to open at least 200 stores in California and the Southwest. Last month it announced plans for at least 19 stores in the greater Sacramento area.

I'm in favor newer, smaller stores, if they are on a neighborhood scale. There's nothing really in much of the midtown/downtown Sacramento core. There's a nice shiny new Safeway, but not much most people can just walk down the block too - unlike other bigger cities like SF or NY.

Of course, the problem with most smaller stores are the prices. I haven't seen too many cheaper ones out there. I'd love to personally keep Corti Bros. in business, but , well, I don't want to pay extra for Cheerios. They still have me at "deli counter" though.

Think You Can Solve the Budget Problem

If you think you can solve the budget crisis, check out the next 10 challenge.

It's like a game. Only, harder than SuperMario Brothers.

Hallmark Doesn't Make These Cards

An LA company is specializing in making greeting cards for inmates.

Finding it hard to express just the right sentiment to your loved one in prison? A Los Angeles company may have the answer. Attorney Terrye L. Cheathem noticed a market Hallmark wasn't serving and founded Three Squares Greetings, which provides cards for inmates.

"With more than 2.5 million people incarcerated in the Unites States today, I saw that there was a tremendous need," she said.

Hmm, I see a tremendous need too...

One greeting:

"You had the choice to be 'naughty or nice.' And you chose ... Oh well, now you have to do your time."

Local races hit your mailbox

Have you received any Mayoral Mail yet? Ursula over at Metroblogging Sacramento gets a non-glam-o-gram from Heather Fargo. Guess the season is open!

Counterpoint: Make mom walk

Don't worry, things here in the tank are always cheery, but good fish can disagree on policy.

Pregnant women aren't diabled, even temporarily. I like the stores that offer family and pregnant women, I'm down with that. But there is widespread abuse by some physicians when it comes to handing out temporary disability parking placards. As far as I know, a physician could give someone the note necessary to get a temporary placard if needed. Some pregnanies lead to more limitations than others.

I could be wrong on this: but I don't think anyone gets an automatic placard, even the visibly disabled (not visually, visibly, like in a wheelchair, etc). Anyway, I could be wrong on that, but still, there are very few if no classes of people who automatically get access to disabled parking spots.

I liken this to letting stupid hybrid cars into the stupid carpool lanes. That's not why they were invented.

Anyway, I'm glad it was killed because I think it could have done harm to those who truly need the access.

Update: found the article. And this is 100% correct:

The Department of Motor Vehicles said pregnant women already can obtain disabled placards if their doctors diagnose major mobility problems.

"Pregnancy is not itself a disability and, secondly, we are creating an issue for the disability community without offering a solution," said Charlotte Newhart of California NOW and the American Association of University Women.

Showing that he's missing the point, the sponsor, Chuck DeVore, an OC Republican says:

his bill would assist women who are not necessarily disabled but are having a particularly painful day, or have swollen feet, or have given birth and find themselves struggling to switch their newborn from a car seat to a stroller in a parking lot with cars jetting by.

A bad day? We all have bad days. Pregnant women should be glad their bad days are limited and not permanent. It's rare that bad public policy that is otherwise a bit pandering and fluffy actually gets killed. Good work, guys.

No Parking for Pregnant Women

A bill heard in the Assembly yesterday would have given pregnant women 'temporarily disabled' parking passes for the last 3 months of pregnany and the first 2 after.

But the Assembly killed it, because, you know, those five months are such a joy for women already.

"Most women, not all women, in pregnancy should be physically active," said Shannon Smith-Crowley of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' California chapter.

So, we're going to force them to be, by god.

Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, D-Stockton, cast the only yes vote. "I just think it does no harm to give women who need it, when they need it, the ability to do it," she said.

If only more Assemblymembers voted with the 'does no harm' standard.

Gangs, Gangs Everywhere?

The gang injunction in West Sac was examined again yesterday in a hearing.

It would prohibit 'gang members' from gathering in public, intimidating witnesses and possessing weapons, graffiti tools, drugs or alcohol. It also would impose a 10 p.m. curfew. But how do you know someone's a gang member? Apparenlty, if they live in Broderick or Bryte and wear baggy pants?

Last April the state appeals court struck down the injunction. And now prosecutors are asking for a temporary one. And opponents are saying there isn't a gang problem.

But a team of a dozen defense lawyers countered with 98 statements from West Sacramento residents saying they were unaware of the gang problems detailed by law enforcement.

"The public doesn't believe this is a public nuisance," attorney Mark Merin told the judge.

It seems to me ignorance of a problem doesn't mean there isn't one. There are better arguments to make against the injunction

The hearing will go on for the next few days and will, inevitably, be wierd.

One witness who probably won't testify is Rick Gore, a senior investigator with the prosecutor's office, who in a recent seven-page memo accused District Attorney Jeff Reisig of seeking the gang injunction for political gain and committing misdeeds to get it.

Merin said in court Monday that the defense team had sought out Gore to testify but could not locate him. [Deputy D.A.] Linden said Gore is on medical leave and could not be forced to come to court.

I bet.

No getting out of jail free

Man, that sucks: Freed SLA member Olson rearrested to finish prison sentence:

State corrections officials said they released Olson early because of a "clerical error." They said she must now return to a women's prison in Chowchilla to serve as many as two more years for her role in crimes including the 1975 murder of a Carmichael woman during a bank robbery.

Ugh. CDCR regrets the error. I bet. They sent 8 corrections officers to get her at the airport right before she was due to depart for Minnesota to see family. Her lawyer is pissed.

Alberto Roldan, general counsel for the corrections agency, said Olson's sentencing is "extremely complicated" because of all the changes to California sentencing law since the crimes were committed in the mid-1970s. He said time was wrongly shaved off Olson's sentence in 2004 but not noticed until media coverage heated up following her release on Monday.

Anyone else have the image of dude at home watching KCRA and going "wait, she's out already? Hmmmm."

Says the husband of the incarcerated's victim: "'Of course, I like to see people who commit crimes brought to justice. … But I feel the thing is over with and life has to go on.'"

Speaking of flooding

I hope your car comes equiped with a flotation device if you're planning on driving 5 through downtown. Apparently it is falling apart. Everyone swim for it! I hate flooding as much as the next girl, but oh dear god:

They will partially close I-5 for weeks at a time – risking massive traffic jams – to rip out and rebuild much of the freeway.

The project is scheduled to start the last week of May.

The project area runs from Richards Boulevard on the north to the Highway 50 interchange on the south.

Yikes!

Who could blame me

For thinking this headline would be about Natomas: Historic Flooding Predicted.

Maybe not this time, but it's certainly possible, isn't it.

How's that levee work going?

Don't do the crime if you can't pay the fine

Senator Migden has been hit with a $350,000 fine from the FPPC.

That amount could buy, like, an entire block in North Natomas. Maybe two.

So who's having a worse week: Migden or Denham?

They're comin' for ya, Chuck

Or Jeff, to be more precise.

Yup, the Central Valley's own Jeff Denham is joining the rank of the few, the proud, the recalled. Facing a recall election, anyway.

Guess you shouldn't have voted no on the budget, eh, Jeffie?

To be fair, though, while I'm all for sticking it to Republicans generally, and especially those that cause long budget impasses, I can think of better uses for Democratic money right now. Seriously. Last year's budget is last year's budget. It's problems were last year. It's villians and heroes are long forgotten by the public (as if they knew back then). So why the pound of flesh now?

It's hard being a Republican, isn't it. If you vote against the budget, we'll come get you. If you take one for the team and vote for the budget, your own party will get you in the primary. Bummer.

Place Your Bets

Last year, in Riverside County, Margaret Hamblin, 73, and Cari Gardner, 39, were arrested on charges of operating a $50 March Madness betting pool at an Elks Lodge in 2006. Who knew you had more to lose than your money when you picked your bracket.

But never fear: new state legislation would de-criminalize social betting pools.

Just probably not in time for this year's Tournament. So watch your backs.

Fired by Fax

Two former candidates for the speakership found themselves stripped of their chairmanships instead. That's gotta sting.

It's all part of a restructuring under new Speaker Karen Bass. Though why exactly is unclear.

The AD 8 Endorsement

It seems the Cabaldon endorsement might get pulled from the consent calendar. Even though he got the 70% that is noted below, there's still alot of contestation (is that a word?)

It seems to me both sides did some politick-ing and now the losing side is angry they didn't do it as well. It doesn't seem fair though to pull something from the consent calendar, though, when their campaign got the necessary votes.

The whole process is a little nuts, though. And, you know, totally democratic.

Pre-endorsement fun in the 8th

Here's a report on the quiet action at the pre-endorsement meeting of the AD 8 committee. It what wasn't too much of a race, contender Christopher Cabaldon secured the necessary numbers to avoid a convention caucus in a few weeks.

For the pre-endorsement process, it's not a matter of just getting more votes - a candidate has to clear 70% to avoid having to do everything again at the convention. So it's just a benefit for candidates. Of course, would-bes can call for a do-over, but it seems from the report that it isn't likely here.

From Bad To Worse: Could Natomas and Oak Park swap places?

It's like the real estate version of an unholy mating between The Parent Trap and A Nightmare on Elm Street: planners think today's suburbs are well on their way to becoming tomorrow's slums:

As Leinberger notes, new suburbs tend to be situated far from public transport, social services and commerce, so they are particularly bad places for people who can't afford cars. The housing stock isn't terribly flexible. Compared to the sturdy older buildings in the city that got chopped up into apartments, it's not easy to take a production-built house with three bedrooms and turn it into good multifamily housing. What's more, the neighborhood infrastructure isn't designed for higher density or commercial uses: The streets are often thinner, the pipes and drainage not built for heavier use.

Newer suburbs are also financially vulnerable: They depend on developers' fees and property taxes to pay for the communities. "When the growth stops and the property values fall," says Leinberger, "suddenly you're going to have this wicked situation where social costs are rising as funding dries up, but without any other tax sources from commercial or industrial activity."

Uh-oh, I think we're kinda screwed. The good news is that the trend toward more urban development is greener and healthier - "walkable" neighborhoods will be the rage of the future.

But that doesn't help poor Natomas, does it. It's been built and what's been built is bad. That should mean hope for Oak Park though, its smaller scale and proximatey to the city center should help it, right?

I would think cities like Tracy - which are like one big Natomas - probably have the most to fear.

Don't Miss the Fun

To Wake the Dead will be the Woodland Public Library's annual benefit this Saturday at 6:30.

Don't miss out on the fun, which features all the different city officials.

Beware of the Bee?

State workers protested outside the Bee in response to the Bee's publishing of a database of state employees' salaries.

Because, you know, the public shouldn't know that kind of information.

Bye-Bye Liz Hill

The Legislative Analyst, Liz Hill, will be retiring at the end of the year.

That's the same Liz Hill who had to come up with a non-partisan budget analysis. I bet she wants to retire.

Where the law can't reach

Creepy bastards are taking photos of kids at average high school sporting events and posting them online where they can attract graphic commentary.

But taking photos at public events isn't illegal. It would be hard to impose a ban on photographs - especially in the age of cell phone cameras and digital technology.

Some experts say civil, rather than criminal, courts hold the only good option for parents:

Margaret Johns, a law professor at UC Davis, said people who post such pictures on adult Web sites could be sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress or, possibly, violating privacy for monetary gain.

Winning would be no slam-dunk, according to Johns, who said that a distress-based suit would have to show conduct that was extreme, outrageous, highly offensive and caused severe emotional distress.

"Those are tough requirements. … But I think that publishing a kid's picture on an adult Web site is beyond all bounds of decency, or at least a jury could think so," Johns said.

Of course, finding out whom to sue might be a problem since untangling website ownership and the true identities of those loading content and comments can be nearly impossible - or at least involve costly computer forensics work.

One legislator has proposed has proposed AB 2104 to outlaw posting "a minor's photo, without consent, on a Web site containing obscene matter. Violators could be jailed for one year and fined $5,000." I can see the word "obscene" being a sticky one, though.

We know it when we see it, right?

Anything, if run through the right filter (in someone's mind or on a website) can become obscene. People viewing these websites could just as easily find Flickr photos of random kids and use them to the same ends. That's the world. The world kinda sucks like that. It's not that it isn't worth trying to stop this kind of activity, but just saying "there oughtta be a law" simply doesn't work.

The law can't reach everything.

Nonsensical post of the day - Nonpolitical edition

Woman sat on toilet for two years.

See, I don't think we'll ever hear more of this story because there probably won't be an answer to why this woman sat on a toilet for two years. But it's one of those stories I wish were fictional because I want an answer.

Maybe someone else can write one.

If you do, give me credit for the idea.

{Insert Post Here}

There is no way to really address this story without talking about the substance of the comments in question.

There is no way to really talk about the substance of the comments in question because if there were, she wouldn't have had to quit the campaign.

She had to quit the campaign because we are incapable of having an actual conversation in this country about race or gender without someone feigning shock and horror and chasing the speaker away.

We've come so far this year, yet we fall so far short of true progress.

Don't work for me

Dear would-be public employee:

This is just some friendly advice. I know you have a lot of options when it comes to where you accept employment and I think, perhaps, you should know that coming to work for me might not be the best idea. I feel crazy telling you this because I'm guessing you'll accept my advice, and we'll be left with some of your lesser-qualified fellow candidates for this position.

You see though, since you work for me, I think you should know that I don't really feel like paying you that much. If you worked for some other people with their private funds, you could make a lot more. And we don't really do that other stuff - company picnics or fundraisers or whatever - like the other guys do. See, we feel you should be GRATEFUL to be able to serve in this position. In fact, all the charity you need to worry about is the charitable donation of your time and energy for less-than-market wages. We're not part of the market. The market is for other people.

You should know too that if the budget goes south or anything else goes wrong, I'll probably blame you for it: for taking all the money and living off my dime. I may also use you as an example of why we need more money, to give it to you, but at the first sign of trouble, I will jump all over you and demand you give much of it back.

I hope you still want to work for me. I'll act like whatever I learn about you is the biggest shock to me and toss you in front of the bus at all available opportunities.

Thanks,
The Public

Can someone explain why this office even exists?

Jack O'Connell can overpower an appeals court, notes today's Roundup. It's true!

"Countering a potentially precedent-setting appeals court decision that bars parents from educating their children at home if they lack teaching credentials, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell on Tuesday affirmed families' right to home school," writes Seema Mehta in the Times.

"'There's no cause for alarm,' he said Tuesday.

"'I want to assure parents that chose to home school that California Department of Education policy will not change in any way as a result of this ruling,' he said in a written statement. 'Parents still have the right to home school in our state.'

So, if you're keeping score at home, apparently the state superintendent can simply ignore the state appeals court.

Wow, you're totally protected from losing the fundamentalist parent vote, Mr. O'Connell. I'm sure you, as a Democrat, had a lot to fear on this subject area.

And should the guy who is in charge of - well, wait, is he in charge of it? who is? anyway - be avidly insisting parents can keep their kids OUT of it? In fact, doesn't he have more to fear - politically - than pissing off parents?

Like what about pissing off CTA? 'Cause that can't be good.

Of course, the above is a bit of a choosy representation of the whole story:

The state Department of Education now allows home schooling as long as parents file paperwork with the state establishing themselves as private schools, hire credentialed tutors or enroll their children in independent study programs run by charter or private schools or public school districts while still teaching at home.

The education department does little to enforce those provisions and insists that it is the local school districts' responsibility. In addition, state education officials acknowledge that some parents home school their children without the knowledge of any educational entity.

O'Connell repeatedly refused Tuesday to rule out requiring parents to enroll their children in a formal program.

So what O'Connell is really saying - against a backdrop of lax enforcement - is that it's just business as usual.

I think we should pare down the total number of constitutionals in the state.

Get Your Kidney Tested

Today is the first of two days of kidney screening over at the Capitol's front lawn.

Results from last year:

Thirty-eight percent of those tested had high total cholesterol, 25 percent had high blood pressure or hypertension, two people were shown to have possible kidney disease and one person had high blood pressure, kidney disease and diabetes -- with the latter two unknown prior to the screening.

3rd District Congressional race rhetoric heats up. Kinda.

Democratic candidate Bill Durston takes on third-district Representative Dan Lungren in a new radio ad that takes Lungren to task for being soft on torture. Or strong on torture. He likes torture anyway - or at least - likes a broad definition of aggressive interrogation techniques.

Mmm, that's warm and fuzzy.

The Bee's Ad Watch analysis reports that Lungren doesn't really take issue with the Durston ad's assertions. The ad is airing on liberal radio though, so it won't do much more than catch the base's attention and maybe pull in some cash which Durston sorely needs.

Good luck!

Is there a Penn State vs. State Pen joke here?

There must be since we're talking about huge increases in the state's private prison bills:

Private prisons generally house lower-risk, healthier inmates in the final 18 months of their terms. It's a class of prisoner that costs less to incarcerate than the dangerous, the sick and the long-term who require added expenses for things such as security and medical care.

On a recent visit to the Golden State facility, 25 miles north of Bakersfield, inmates lauded the prison for its easier feel, which they said contrasts sharply with the oppressive environment of state institutions marked by overcrowding, violence and control.

"Right here is love, compared to where I've been," said inmate William Cook, 27, of Newark, who previously walked the yards at San Quentin, Pleasant Valley and Lancaster. "Here you get all the football games, you get movies every day. It's real easy to do your time here. You don't have to worry about nothing – no politics right here."

Dude, it IS like the difference between public and private colleges, isn't it? Private prisons have perks. Public prisons have to provide services to more people and the quality suffers. This is just weird.

The article certainly adds fuel to the anti-union fire too: the high bill comes from privates' desire to raise guard pay rates from around $10 to around $15 per hour.

State correctional officers - you know, the CCPOA guys - start at $35 an hour. And that doesn't include all that overtime and other benies. Yikes! Maybe privates can do everything better than publics - in any arena.

I know, I know, these are the easy criminals they are guarding - not the crazy sick and dangerous guys in state facilities. Still, that's quite a price difference, no?

Oh right - that's why CCPOA hates private prisons.

The private guys aren't really cops though - no batons, no guns, no POST certificates.

I don't think we think nearly enough about prisons or prisoners. We get lots of coverage about costs and guards though.

Too Late

Yesterday was the filing deadline. So if you were planning on running for State Senate or Assembly, ooh, too late.

That didn't stop alot of other people from filing.

And in Alameda students walked out of class to protest budget cuts.

Let's hope some students here don't get the same idea. Or maybe it'd be better if they did.

UCD's bomb scare

UCD had a bomb scare this morning.

It's all very unclear right now. But the news said the students had to sleep in the dining hall.

That's kind of similar to when I was in school.

And the Race Goes On

So when they said Super Tuesday was going to decide it, it didn't really decide it. Then they said yesterday would decide it. And it didn't really decide it.

Now, the battle goes on.

Clinton won the key Texas and Ohio last night. But not by enough to end this. And just enough that she isn't going to back down.

Because spending all our time and resources on the democratic primary is definitely the way to go.

KJ

Kevin Johnson's really really running for Mayor.


Don't you enjoy how it takes like 5 times before someone really really announces.

How Much DO They Make?

Have some fun with this tool to find out how much any state worker makes.

But then feel overwhelmingly depressed when you realize some little 20-something recent college grad assistant makes more than you.

Oh, and also, everyone on the state's payroll is making more.

It's good we're not in a budget crisis or anything.

Breaking News: Lockyer gets ink!

No really. I could hardly believe it myself - but there he was, the State Treasurer, quoted directly, bright as day. Nutty!

And you thought he'd taken a step down going from AG to Treasurer. He's sure to prevail in the next race for governor now!

More big fish news

From The Roundup, a link to the Chron's political columnists' (gossipmongers?) take on the Assembly leadership vote last week.

(Skip past the opening bit about the Nader/Gonzalez ticket. It'll either make you angry or stupid. Or stupid angry. So really, save yourselves.)

The play came to a head Wednesday afternoon, with Núñez and Bass calling in uncommitted Democratic lawmakers one by one and telling them this was their chance to get on the bandwagon.

If there's one thing Dems love, it's a band . . . wagon.

Anyway, the question now is about timing: Bass only has so much time left on her term limits clock. Nunez has indicated he's willing to hand over the office sooner rather than later, but define sooner. At the very least, the change can't be as acrimonious as the transfer from Villaraigosa to Hertzberg. Not pretty, from what I heard.

And speaking of Villaraigosa, some people aren't happy by his time spent on out of LA on the trail for Hillary Clinton. I think LA's probably better off with less Antonio time, but he DID technically seem to want the job, so he should probably stick around and do it. Not sure how much more I think of Hillary if she counts him among supporters, but oh well, what can you do.