Comes Now the Scarlet PSG

Paid collectors of signatures to place measures on the California ballot would be required to wear badges (Queue Treasure of the Sierra Madre) under  a bill sent by the Legislature to Gov. Jerry Brown on August 18.

The measure — SB 448 by Sen. Mark DeSaulnier — is aimed at helping “address serious abuses of the initiative process by giving the public critical information they need when signing a petition,” according to the Concord Democrat.    Read more »

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Temperance, Methodists, Compton and Richland Farms

Compton is the second oldest city in Los Angeles County.*

It is named after Griffith Dickenson Compton, a Methodist minister who led a group of 30 pioneers to the area in 1867.

(At left, with his wife.)

Previously, Compton – population 96,455 in 2010 – was part of the 75,000-acre Rancho San Pedro, which was deeded in 1784  by the Spanish crown to Juan Jose Dominguez, a soldier.    Read more »

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Do Self-Checkout Stands Make It Easier for Minors To Buy Alcohol?

Despite lockout mechanisms that require proof of ID for all alcohol purchases, self-service supermarket checkout stands make it easier for minors to buy booze.

Therefore, all sales of alcohol must occur only at traditionally staffed checkout stands.

That’s the logic and policy change in AB 183 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a San Francisco Democrat.    Read more »

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Where Tarzana Gets It’s Name

The land comprising today’s Tarzana in the San Fernando Valley was originally part of the San Fernando Mission, consecrated in 1797.

One hundred years later, the area was a large wheat farm.

In 1909, Gen. Harrison Gray Otis entered the picture. The founder and publisher of the Los Angeles Times, Otis was an investor in the Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company, which had purchased the land around present-day Tarzana.    Read more »

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Twenty Working Days Left in the Legislative Session But Plenty of Time for Fundraisers

There are 98 fundraisers scheduled for the remainder of the legislative session, which begins August 15.

That’s 98 — so far.

Critics say lawmakers are shamelessly shaking down well-heeled interest groups at a time when the fate of legislation those groups care about depend on the votes of the contribution-soliciting politicians.    Read more »

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State Short of Cash Collection Estimates by Nearly $539 Million, Controller Says

The state’s July revenues were down $538.8 million — 10.3 percent — below projections from the recently passed state budget, according to a report on the previous month’s cash balance issued August 9 by State Controller John Chiang.

“While July’s revenues performed remarkably similar to last year’s, they still did not meet the budget’s projections,” said Chiang in a press release.    Read more »

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Voting Changes for New Citizens, Write-In Candidates and Mail-In Ballots

August 8 is California Voter Day – at least for Gov. Jerry Brown.

The Democratic governor signed seven bills changing everything from the ability of new citizens to vote to how votes for write-in candidates are counted.

All seven are non-controversial Assembly measures although similar measures had been vetoed by former Gov.    Read more »

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Bill Vetoed to Add the Homeless to List of Those Protected From Violence

While agreeing that the state’ estimated 157,000 homeless are subject to violence and intimidation, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed legislation August 5 that would have expanded the protections of some of the state’s civil rights and hate crime laws to persons who are homeless.

“It is undeniable that homeless people are vulnerable to victimization but California already has very strong civil and criminal laws that provide sufficient protection,” the Democratic governor wrote in his veto message.    Read more »

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Temporarily Closed Roseville DMV Office to Close Permanently — In Theory

Among the state property slated for disposal in the indefinite future is the Roseville Field Office of the Department of Motor vehicles.

It was added to the state’s “For Sale” list in 2010. The state hopes to reap $1 million from the sale.

This is the same office that was closed July 26th through August 1 after a student driver crashed into the building, creating a 4-foot by 5-foot hole.    Read more »

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More Properties Placed on the State’s Not Exactly Brisk “For Sale” List

Six sites have been added to California’s list of surplus properties and two removed under legislation signed August 4 by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The measure – AB 1272 by Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, a Torrance Democrat – is the annual compendium of properties the state Department of General Services wishes to dispose of.    Read more »

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