Perhaps It Would Have Been Smarter to Give Only $160,000

Dear XXXX, 2010:

What an amazing year for politics. America turned right while California veered left, leaving Democrats in charge of every statewide office and with their highest legislative numbers since the post-Watergate blowout year of 1974. And yet, voters rejected two tax increases on the California ballot while making it more difficult for Democrats to raise taxes disguised as fees.    Read more »

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Solicitations for Campaign Contributions Seem to Never End…

(Editor’s Note: Assemblyman Mike Feuer was elected to his third and final term in the Assembly in November. The Secretary of State reports that as of October 16, 2010 he had $189,728.17 in his campaign kitty. The $3,200.00 is needd for what purpose?)

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Another Legal Confrontation Over the Sale of State Property

Eclipsed by the Schwarzenegger administration’s proposed $2.3 billion sale of 11 office buildings to a group of private investors is a similar effort to sell the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

And like the sale of the office buildings – stayed at least through December 29 by an appellate judge on December 13 – the deal inked between the state and Facilities Management West to sell the fairgrounds for $96 million is being challenged in court.    Read more »

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Lawmaker Seeks More Public Notice of Legislative Meetings

Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries is some kind of killjoy.

Not only has the Riverside Republican introduced a constitutional amendment that would require the Legislature to meet only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. but he’s also introduced a second constitutional amendment to require public notice of hearings and the meetings of either house.    Read more »

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Judge Refuses to Block $2.3 Billion Sale of 11 State Buildings

Read about it here.    Read more »

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Another Tidbit About the State’s Sale of 11 Office Buildings

One of the principals of Antarctica Capital Real Estate, a group of investors who banded together to bid on the state office buildings, is Rich Mayo. This is the sixth paragraph of his biography at Spyglass Realty Partners, the firm he heads:

“As an appointee of former Governor Pete Wilson, Rich was responsible for overseeing the privatization of the State of California’s 35 million square foot real estate portfolio.    Read more »

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More Information On Who Is Buying 11 State Office Buildings

Besides the two principal partners slated to purchase 11 state office buildings – some 7 million square feet – for $2.3 billion, there are an additional nine equity investors involved in the deal.

In assessing the bid of Antarctica Capital Real Estate, an entity formed to bid on the buildings, and Houston-based Hines Interests, the state focused mainly on a simple determination of whether the team of investors was able to come up with the $2.3 billion.    Read more »

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E-Mail Salvoes Volleyed by State GOP And Democratic Parties

This missive from State Democratic Party Chair John Burton started the exchange:

As might be predicted, Repubicasns expressed some umbrage over being likened to international terrorists. Their response:

(Editor’s Note: Imagine the tone of these two e-mails if California wasn’t basking in the Era of Post-Partisanship.)

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Signage for Sale — A New Twist on Public-Private Partnership

California motorists could be urged to tank up at Chevron, use parts from Napa Auto, shop at Office Depot or upgrade their Mac under a proposal by Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger to allow advertising on the changeable message signs lining the state’s freeways.

The idea is one of the GOP governor’s proposals to erase the current fiscal year’s estimated deficit of $6 billion.    Read more »

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Maria Shriver’s Statement on the Death of Elizabeth Edwards

“Arnold and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my dear friend, Elizabeth Edwards. My heart goes out to her loving family.

Elizabeth was a mighty warrior, and I’ve long admired her courage, her compassion and her personal quest for truth. She was a public servant, a dedicated mother, a tireless advocate and a loyal friend.    Read more »

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