Happy Birthday Governor Pardee!

Republican George Cooper Pardee – born July 25, 1857 in San Francisco –probably couldn’t be elected governor today.

At least not as a Republican.

The political progenitor of the progressive agenda that bloomed under his successor Hiram Johnson, Pardee was a Republican in the Teddy Roosevelt mold.

His “liberalism” and willingness to increase taxes would almost certainly doom any chances of his nomination in 2012’s Republican party.    Read more »

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Constitutional Conflict? Not to Worry

A person convicted of a felony for giving or accepting a bribe, or stealing or embezzling public funds cannot be a candidate for state or local office under a new law signed July 24 by Gov. Jerry Brown.

 “The intent of this bill is to create accountability and ensure that we are setting a high ethical standard for those seeking to represent Californians by running for public office,” said Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, a Los Angeles Democrat who authored the measure, AB 2410.    Read more »

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“A Highway that Will Serve as a Model for the Future Development of Freeways in California”

 On July 20, 1940, a 3.7-mile section of the Arroyo Seco Parkway opened to vehicle traffic.

It was not only California’s first “freeway” – a high-speed divided road with onramps and off-ramps – but also the first to be built in the urban Western United States and a prototype for future super highways.    Read more »

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More on State Parks

This from the Brown Administration:

Investigation and Audit of State Parks and Recreation Department Launched in Response to Budget Irregularities and Fiscal Mismanagement 

Governor Accepts Resignation of Parks Director and Orders Resources Secretary to Conduct Sweeping Review of Parks Management 

SACRAMENTO – At the request of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.,    Read more »

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State Parks Director Resigns

Here’s the Sacramento Bee‘s acount.    Read more »

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June Revenues $622 Million Above Estimates

Tax collections from June, now the state’s largest month for receipts, were more than $11.7 billion — $622 million above estimates by state budget writers in May. 

Since January, revenues are ahead of projections by $540 million chiefly because of higher-than-anticipated income tax payments, according to the Department of Finance’s July bulletin.    Read more »

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Regulation of Commercial Balloon Companies Stays Local

Commercial hot air balloon operators won’t be returning to regulation by the state Public Utilities Commission In January, thanks to legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The measure – AB 1524 by Assemblyman Michael Allen, a Santa Rosa Democrat — permanently exempts the balloon companies from PUC jurisdiction as long as the companies carry a minimum of $1 million in liability insurance.    Read more »

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California Cockfighting Crackdown

Fines for Californians guilty of staging cockfights or training roosters to be gamecocks will double in January from $5,000 to $10,000 thanks to a new law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown July 13.

The move is an attempt to curb the illegal fights of which there have been 100 major arrests in 35 counties involving more than 20,000 live or dead birds.    Read more »

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London July 12, 1962

From The Writer’s Almanac:

Fifty years ago, a band called The Rollin’ Stones played their first gig.

A few months before, guitarist Brian Jones placed an ad in Jazz News, a local nightclub newsletter, announcing auditions for a rhythm-and-blues band. Two London flatmates named Mick Jagger and Keith Richards joined the band.    Read more »

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“Put the ‘Fun’ Back Into Fundraising”

(Editor’s Note: This is the text of an email received from Ravi Singh, the CEO of ElectionMail, which bills itself as being able to do just what the headline says.

Singh also offers information in the email about the average online donor. They are 55 years of age, contribute $60, make 1.87 donations annually and contributions are 100 days apart.    Read more »

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