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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Jerry Waldie…In His Own Words

(Jerry Waldie was a thinker, among many other things. He enjoyed expressing those thoughts in the elegant, somewhat mannered language of his era. Below are two pieces, an essay and a personal reflection. The essay, on the hypocrisy of the Republican reaction to President Obama’s economic stimulus plan, is regrettably published posthumously.    Read more »

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Guest Post: The Very Possibly True Story of Nestle J. Frobish, Chair-Creature of the World Wide Fair Play for Frogs Committee

(Editor’s Note: This was e-mailed to the chief correspondent of California’s Capitol who, naturally, is on the East Coast and unavailable to be of any assistance — scant difference from when he is on this coast. The following guest post is presented here with minor, non-substantive edits to the introduction.)

Dear Friends of Jerry Waldie:

Jerry was my friend and client in the course of our mutual interest in frog when we published “Fair Play for Frogs.”    Read more »

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Jerry Waldie — Congressman, Assembly Majority Leader, Humorist — Dead at 84

Jerry Waldie, the East Bay congressman who introduced Articles of Impeachment in 1973 against President Richard Nixon, carried the 1966 bill creating a full time California Legislature and was an unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 1974 is dead. He was 84.

Principled, conscientious and thoughtful, Waldie also wrote one of the funniest – if not the funniest — political books ever written, Fairplay for Frogs.    Read more »

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Sakura — Straight-Up Japanese

Sakura, the menu informs, is the name of the ornamental cherry tree so beloved in Japan.

There’s nothing ornamental about this no-nonsense eatery located on the J St. side of the 920 9th St. office building.

Seventy-some sturdy chairs are tucked under solid tables whose edges are numbered with street address stick-em dealies from ACE hardware.    Read more »

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March Badness

While not one of California’s big revenue-generating months, comparing this year’s March collections with prior years offers further evidence that when lawmakers and the governor revisit the state budget after the May 19 special election the situation will be worse, not better.

Because of taxes due on the 15th, April is the state’s biggest revenue generating month and balances on hand on the 30th will reveal a lot more about California’s fiscal condition.    Read more »

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