A Fundamental Question Remains Unanswered in This Release

 

Senator Mimi Walters Taps New Chief of Staff

SACRAMENTO – Senator Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Hills) announced that Garth Eisenbeis, most recently her Legislative & Capitol Director, will be her new Chief of Staff.

“Garth provides the type of talent for us to move forward in 2012. He has served me and my constituents well as my Legislative Director and will provide continuity for the entire staff,” Walters explained.    Read more »

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Thanks to the National Park Service, Three State Parks To Stay Open — At Least Temporarily

Three state parks slated for closure will stay open – at least for one year – under an agreement announced Oct. 6 by the National Parks Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

The parks are:

Tomales Bay State Park, located within both Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area,

Samuel P.

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September Personal Income Tax Receipts Beat Predictions

Income tax collections for September appear to have exceeded the nearly $4 billion expected by state budget writers.

Although a relatively small factor in determining whether up to $2.5 billion in triggered spending cuts – almost $1.9 billion to public schools — will need to be imposed in January, meeting revenue estimates certainly doesn’t worsen the state’s fiscal situation.    Read more »

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The First Televised Presidential Address Aired October 5, 1947

From:

 The Writer’s Almanac, With Garrison Keillor 

President Harry Truman broadcast the speech from the White House. His subject was food conservation.

Europe was still reeling from World War II food shortages and faced a winter famine brought on by regional droughts, floods and unseasonable cold.

Backing measures proposed by the Citizens’ Food Committee, Truman called on America’s farmers and distillers to reduce grain consumption and asked the American public to do their part by observing “meatless Tuesdays,” going without poultry and eggs on Thursdays and eating less bread.    Read more »

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As Many as 20 State Parks Could Be Spared from Closure

As many as 20 state parks could get a reprieve from closure under a bill signed October 4 by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The bill authorizes the state Department of Parks and Recreation to sign contracts with nonprofit groups to operate state parks if that agreement will keep the park open.

“Particularly in these tough economic times, creative public/private partnerships are an essential tool in providing ongoing protection of, and continued access to, these treasured public assets,” said Assemblyman Jared Huffman, a San Rafael Democrat who authored the measure, AB 42.    Read more »

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Gov. Brown Commutes Potential Death Sentence for Boating and Waterways Commission

California’s Credit Union Advisory Committee and the state Boating and Waterways Commission gained at least a temporary reprieve Oct. 3 when Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed legislation that could have eliminated the two.

The Democratic governor objected to one legislative body – the 10-member Joint Sunset Review Committee – making decisions on the size of the executive branch.    Read more »

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Corgis Lobby Their Soul Brother, Sutter, To Urge His Folically Challenged Master to Sign AB 376, a Bill Banning Shark Fin Soup.    Read more »

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Someone Needs to Lock Up the Governor’s Paper and Pens

A more than two-and-one-half year ordeal for the Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest has ended and it can stuff the mountain lion carcass it has wanted to put on display since 2008.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation September 30 that grants the museum – and others who wish to display dead mountain lions for “scientific or education” purposes – an exemption from 1990’s voter-approved California Wildlife Protection Act that bars both the hunting of mountain lions and possession of their carcasses.    Read more »

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The Streets of Los Angeles

California’s largest city was officially founded in September 1781. As clichés go, sleepy hamlet would be the most apt. There were 44 original settlers, evenly split among adults and children.

Over the years, it became an agricultural and cattle ranching center.

The 1834 wedding of Maria Alvarado to Pio Pico, last governor of Alta California under Mexican rule, was attended by all 800 residents of the pueblo.    Read more »

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From the “Time Marks On” Files of California’s Capitol…

Take a look at the three gentlemen in the photo. Who are they? (Clue at left.)

Two of them are dead now, sad to say. The third — the one who looks like he stole Tom Cruise’s eyebrows — is still around though.

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