Federal Money for Public Schools — On-Hand but Undelivered.

More than two weeks ago, California received $1.2 billion of the roughly $4.9 billion in federal stimulus money for public schools – but the funds can’t be given to schools without legislative approval which could delay delivery of the money until May 9.

The $1.2 billion — $562.5 million for low-income pupils, $634 million for students with special education needs and $13 million for nutrition programs — is of major benefit to larger, urban school districts, which have the biggest populations of low-income and special needs students.    Read more »

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Smiling Faces at the Franchise Tax Board

Income tax collections for April nearly doubled on April 16 as the Franchise Tax Board logged $950,762 boosting the month’s tally from $1.3 billion to close to $2.3 billion.  

As the state’s largest month for income tax revenue, April is key to the state’s fiscal condition. Lower-than-anticipated collections mean a bigger budget cash shortfall.    Read more »

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San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris

The first in a series of Interviews with statewide Democratic candidates who will be attending the Democratic State Convention in Sacramento, April 24 — April 26.   Kamala Harris is the first female District Attorney to be elected in San Francisco, the first elected African American District Attorney in California and the first Indian American elected District Attorney in the country.    Read more »

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Guest Post: Pete McCloskey on His Friend, Jerry Waldie

(Pete wrote this essay a week or so before Jerry died and showed it to Jerry, who loved it. It will be appearing in this week’s Mountain Democrat. Best — Helen McCloskey)

There is a man amongst us who, like one of the ancient Redwoods, stands taller than most.

His name is Jerry Waldie.    Read more »

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Hats Off to the Other Economic Stimulators

What a touching Disney-esque moment. Down-right heart-warming. Like living inside a Norman Rockwell painting.

Thousands — possibly tens of thousands — of American and non-American families brought their own economic stimulus plans to the nation’s capitol the weekend commencing April 10.

Compared to their generosity, the Lucas Family Economic Stimulus Plan (LFESP) was the equivalent of tossing a thimble of water into Lake Shasta.    Read more »

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Life in the White House — Bipartisan Equalizer

As one would expect, a large portion of Washington D.C.’s  National Portrait Gallery is devoted to the presidents of the United States. All get a spot, even the nebish ones. 

One of the great unifiers — whether Democrat, Republican, Whig, No-Nothing or Federalist–  is the conclusion of the occupants that a turn in the White House of four or, worse, eight years is not walk in the park.     Read more »

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Cafe Zorro, Loomis

You’ve got to be driven to visit Café Zorro, figuratively and, if lucky, literally. The casual Italian eatery is in Loomis and then a jog to the left and a jog to the right to 5911 King Road off the main drag, which isn’t exactly a bustling metropolis to begin with.    Read more »

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Continued LFESP Investment

Boston, Massachusetts  — Here in the land of the bean and the cod, where the Cabots speak only to Lodges and the Lodges speak only to God, the thrust of the Lucas Family Economic Stimulus Program (LFESP) has been broadened.

Previous stimulus investments in New York City and New Jersey were multi-pronged, including direct cash infusions for transit, railroads, airlines, restaurants and the arts.    Read more »

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The First Week of April Tax Receipts

 A lot can change between now and the end of April, the largest revenue collection month for the state. But a look at the first eight days of the month isn’t exactly banner news for the state’s fiscal health.

In 2008, not exactly a boom year either, $703,166 in personal income taxes was paid in the first eight days of the month.    Read more »

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Economic Stimulus — Step Up, Act Locally

As some small recompense for the $50 billion in direct and indirect economic stimulus President Obama and Congress claim are coming to California, the Lucas Family is doing its part to economically stimulate other parts of the country.

On April 4, the Katherine Irene Lucas East Coast College World Tour 2009 began.    Read more »

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