Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
Meg Whitman
Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
February 22, 2010
Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman polished her fiscal conservative credentials this morning by announcing a key endorsement from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association’s political action committee.
Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau
Monday, February 22, 2010
(02-22) 04:00 PST Sacramento —
California’s dire and ongoing budget predicament is raising a tough – and touchy – question about the state’s finances, one that some at the Capitol do not want discussed: Is California bankrupt?
Leaders and would-be leaders from both major parties have raised the b-word in the past weeks, and the Golden State is frequently labeled as bankrupt by people nationwide.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
As California stumbles through its continuing budget crisis, 60% of likely voters in the state now believe it would be better if most incumbents in the state legislature were defeated in this November’s elections.
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in California finds just 17% think it would be better if most of the legislative incumbents were reelected. Another 23% are undecided.
Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Republicans and 60% of voters not affiliated with either major party say it would be better if most incumbents were defeated, a view shared by just 52% of Democrats.
Josh Dulaney, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/21/2010 04:58:26 PM PST
RIALTO – The top manager believes the city could face a financial crisis in three years unless employee bargaining groups agree to sweeping concessions.
“It is a 36-month window,” City Administrator Henry Garcia said. “I don’t anticipate new revenue to occur of a significant nature.”
Garcia said the city’s General Fund budget is at $53 million with roughly $31 million in economic reserves.
By Ed Mendel
A new bill makes yet another attempt to crack down on public pension “spiking,” a bag of tricks that last year famously gave two Contra Costa County fire chiefs monthly pensions far larger than their salaries.
The chairman of the Assembly public employees retirement committee, Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, wants to add spiking to his reform bills aimed at regulating “placement agents” paid big fees for helping investment firms get pension funds.
February 22, 2010
When “Level the Playing Field 2010” – the Democratic, pro-Jerry Brown independent campaign committee – launched their first ads against Meg Whitman, the Armies of eMeg immediately accused the group of meddling in the Republican primary race for governor in a bid to help Steve Poizner.
Team Whitman pointed as precedent to the ad campaign run by the Gray Davis’s consultants against former L.A. Mayor Dick Riordan starting in January 2002. That attack helped cause Riordan’s support to collapse in the GOP primary, leaving Davis facing a weaker general election candidate in conservative businessman Bill Simon.
By Andrew McIntosh
amcintosh@sacbee.com
Published: Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1A
When the former chief executive for CalPERS, Fred Buenrostro, moved the giant pension fund into the clean energy and technology sector three years ago, two of the businessmen who ultimately benefited were friends.
Al Villalobos, a former CalPERS board member who was so close to Buenrostro that he hosted his wedding, will pocket $432,800 in sales commissions for helping Enlink Geoenergy secure investment money from one of a half-dozen smaller clean energy technology funds backed by CalPERS.
Wendy Leung, Staff Writer
Created: 02/21/2010 06:02:00 AM PST
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Mayor Don Kurth, the newest member of the City Council, has been busy welcoming the newest member of his family.
Nearly two years into a sometimes emotional adoption process, Kurth and his wife, Dee Matreyek, have succeeded in bringing home a baby girl.
“I think it’s fair to say we’re both having the time of our lives,” Kurth said.
10:03 PM PST on Sunday, February 21, 2010
By MICHELLE L. KLAMPE
The Press-Enterprise
The Temecula Valley Unified school board will consider eliminating nearly 150 teaching and counseling positions at a special meeting Tuesday.
The board also will consider approving furloughs, pay freezes and other cost-cutting measures during the meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. in the district conference facility at 31350 Rancho Vista Road.
Choice by 20-year veteran could shake up LL council
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/21/2010 06:02:37 AM PST
LOMA LINDA – City voters head to the polls June 8, but it’s unclear if a longtime councilman will seek another term.
Floyd Petersen, who has served on the council for 20 years, won’t say whether he will run for another four-year term.
“I haven’t pulled papers yet,” Petersen said. “That’s the only comment I would make now.”