July 22, 2015

22Jul

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Political Briefs

Top stories

Report: Pot legalization in California presents trade-offs — A blue-ribbon panel says curtailing the illegal marijuana market in California should be the primary goal of legalizing the drug’s recreational use in the state, and not developing another tax source. In a 93-page report released Wednesday, the panel chaired by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom presents a wide range of choices and competing interests involved as advocates work to bring a recreational use initiative to voters next year. AP articleLA Times articleSacramento Bee article

Dan Walters: Democrats’ hopes to add legislative seats look scant — From a partisan standpoint, therefore, 2016 looks like a status quo year, and with modification of term limits, the mandatory turnover that’s been a feature of legislative politics will slow markedly. After next year, the next time an Assembly member will be termed out is 2024. Walters column in Sacramento Bee

Gov. Brown

Jerry Brown’s climate warning: ‘We are talking about extinction’ — Gov. Jerry Brown, issuing an ominous appeal on climate change, said Tuesday that the world may already have “gone over the edge” on global warming and that humanity must reverse course or face extinction. Capitol AlertLA Times article

 

Jerry Brown in demand, squinting on rooftop in Rome — Gov. Jerry Brown is about as close as it gets to being a climate change celebrity, and in the Eternal City he has been in high demand. This means media interviews – lots of them – and, even in less than ideal conditions, Brown has taken advantage of the platform that he has. Capitol Alert

Valley politics

Valley Edition: Rep. David Valadao on hopes of House water bill becoming law – Written by Hanford Republican David Valadao, and co-sponsored by Fresno Democratic Rep. Jim Costa, the bill would change the way the government manages water in the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta and threatened species. It would also make major changes to the plan to restore the San Joaquin River. KVPR report 

Vote an example of imbalance in Merced, advocate says – The Merced City Council was not able to make a decision on a bond related to public improvements on the north side of town during this week’s meeting because too many councilmen had to recuse themselves from the vote. The council perhaps unwittingly provided an example of the benefits of a move to districts for local elections, a process the city is undergoing. Merced Sun-Star article

 

Statewide politics/Ballot Measures

New initiative adds twist to tax reform debate – It’s hard to know whether a new initiative filed with the attorney general’s office last week is the latest frivolous ballot proposal destined to fall by the wayside, or an important new contributor to the debate over long-term tax reform in California. Maybe it’s both. Grizzly Bear Project article 

Nonprofit leaders propose tax to fight poverty – Less than a month after California lawmakers approved a state budget that included more money to help people in poverty, leaders of several Southern California nonprofits have proposed a November 2016 ballot measure that would target hundreds of millions of dollars at additional anti-poverty efforts. Sacramento Bee article 

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla pushes voter reforms — California Secretary of State Alex Padilla wants to increase the number of voters in the Golden State. That’s why he is backing several new measures that would overhaul the state’s election system. They include a new bill that would expand the state’s “motor voter” provisions and another that would expand vote-by-mail and early voting opportunities. KVPR report

Immigration

Steinle’s father tells Senate U.S. needs new immigration approach – Pier 14 shooting victim Kathryn Steinle’s father pleaded before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday that his daughter’s death not “be in vain” and urged Congress to pass tough new laws targeting criminal immigrants. San Francisco Chronicle article 

Farrell wants changes in how San Francisco treats immigrant suspects – Farrell will ask the city attorney to draft legislation requiring the sheriff to receive confirmation from the district attorney’s office that it will prosecute an outstanding warrant before seeking the transfer of an inmate from another jurisdiction. San Francisco Chronicle article 

Pelosi, Lofgren urge top federal cops to review detainer policies– In the wake of a national firestorm over the San Francisco murder of Kate Steinle, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, have urged top federal law enforcement officials to review policies and practices regarding detainers of criminal undocumented immigrants, saying that “rigid adherence” to current policies “may not actually serve the interests of justice.” San Francisco Chronicle article

Archbishop urges leaders not to scapegoat over Kathryn Steinle’s death — Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone said Monday that the death of Kathryn Steinle should not be used as a justification to malign immigrants in the United States and urged local and federal officials not to “punish all immigrants for the transgressions of a small minority.” LA Times article

Nearly 900 become new Americans in Fresno ceremony — In one generation, Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s family went from being immigrants, cooks and house cleaners to public servants helping to determine the future of California. Fresno Bee article

Other areas

Joel Fox: Could California decide Republican presidential nominee? — Given the large field of Republican presidential candidates, no clear frontrunner and the real possibility that delegates will be dispersed among many candidates during the primary season, it is conceivable that California Republican voters in the June primary could provide the needed delegates for one of the candidates to secure the nomination. Fox in Fox & Hounds

Sacramento Bee: House Republicans target a bank that boosts exports, jobs – Led by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, conservative House Republicans have embarked on a crusade to kill the obscure but important Export-Import Bank. Sacramento Bee editorial

 

California reckons with honoring complicated past — At a Capitol hearing last week, Assemblyman Don Wagner voiced a concern that has been on the minds of many in the debate over stripping the names of Confederate leaders from California schools and roads: How far is too far? Capitol Alert

News Briefs

Top Stories

 UC Merced leaders make case for growth — Saying their crowded campus needs to expand, UC Merced leaders Tuesday presented plans to construct new classrooms, dorms and labs over the next five to seven years — and to enroll nearly 4,000 more students. They portrayed the $1-billion proposal to the UC regents as a safety valve for the entire UC system, allowing it a way to enroll more California students. LA Times article

1,231 in Fresno still water daily, but many others now conserving — More than three-quarters of the folks who were watering every day in early June changed their ways by early July, say Fresno water leaders. In June, 5,560 customers were watering daily — using millions of gallons of water in violation of the city’s rules which only allow twice-a-week landscape irrigation. This month, the number dropped to 1,231. Fresno Bee article

 Clovis issues $125,000 in water fines on June bills – Clovis is sending a message to residents and business owners not managing a 36% cut in water consumption required by the state. For its June billing cycle, the city hit customers with $125,197 in fines, said Luke Serpa, the city’s public utilities director. Fresno Bee article

 

Jobs and the Economy

 More U.S. children living in poverty than before recession – A new report on child welfare that found more U.S. children living in poverty than before the Great Recession belies the fanfare of the nation’s economic turnaround. AP article 

Human Services audit, public safety spending dominate Kern budget talk – Kern County’s budget still has a few rough corners. Supervisors spent most of Tuesday morning grinding a few of them down, but won’t polish the final spending plan until late next month. Bakersfield Californian article

Fresno Food Expo shows off the Valley’s best food and drink — The Fresno Food Expo’s public event is gaining a reputation as one of the premier food and drink celebrations in the San Joaquin Valley. And this year’s lineup of food companies is expected not to disappoint. Artisan dark chocolate, creamy sheep’s milk cheese and a crisp pilsner with a subtle cucumber flavor are among the new products being showcased. Fresno Bee article

Tulare Outlet Center seeks council’s financial backing – The Tulare Outlet Center is seeking financial backing from city council to improve signage and visibility for the shopping destination. As part of a project valued at $720,000, the Tulare Outlet Center owners, Garrison Investment Group, want to improve the on- and off-site signs and the clock tower, which advertises the shopping center to motorists driving along Highway 99. Visalia Times-Delta article 

The State Worker: California’s fight with itself for the future – State government’s generational challenge: Recruit and retain millennials. Sacramento Bee article

Business park at Stockton airport progresses – Although a groundbreaking date still has yet to be determined, a business park project at the Stockton Metropolitan Airport has taken another step forward. Stockton Record article

California oil refineries’ gross profits nearly double in 2015 – As Los Angeles drivers shelled out more than $4 a gallon at the pump in recent weeks, the state’s oil refineries pocketed record amounts of money — as much as $1.17 a gallon in gross profits. From Jan. 1 to July 6, oil refineries almost doubled the typical amount they collect on a gallon of gasoline, state data show. LA Times article

Water rates sought for Visalia, Selma — California Water Service Co., which operates the municipal water services in Visalia and Selma, is applying to the California Public Utilities Commission to boost the rates it charges for water in communities across the state. Fresno Bee article 

Merced County supervisors can opt to use form before granting discretionary funds – The Merced County Board of Supervisors made an attempt Tuesday to increase transparency regarding discretionary funds but didn’t vote to attach any teeth to the process. Merced Sun-Star article

Stanislaus County Fair crowds top last year by 7 percent – The Stanislaus County Fair reported nearly 249,000 people through the gates over a 10-day run ending Sunday, a 7 percent jump over 2014. The figure is 5 percent shy of the record attendance of 261,089 in 1989. Modesto Bee article

Gallo buying Asti winery in Sonoma County – E.&J. Gallo Winery is buying a premium Sonoma County producer that dates back 134 years and was once known as Italian Swiss Colony. Gallo, based in Modesto, is paying an undisclosed sum for Asti Winery, including 275 vineyard acres and its current brand, Souverain. Modesto Bee article

LA County supervisors agree to boost minimum wage to $15/hour by 2020 — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, leaders of the nation’s largest local government, voted Tuesday to raise the minimum wage from $9 an hour to $15 over the next few years in county unincorporated areas. LA Times articleSteve Lopez column in LA Times

Enforcement of new LA minimum wage law will be challenging – There was plenty of cheering last month when Los Angeles leaders signed off on an ordinance that will kick the city’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by the year 2020. With the enthusiasm also comes concern —  especially among immigrants, who are the majority of low-wage workers — over just how the city aims to enforce the pay hike. KQED report

Peter Tateishi: Raising minimum wage is a bad idea at the wrong time for Sacramento – The president and CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce writes, “Sacramento will put itself at a competitive disadvantage at the very time it is trying to bring new businesses and expand existing ones. Some chamber members stated they will simply move to surrounding cities such as West Sacramento or unincorporated Sacramento County if an increase is enacted.” Tateishi op-ed in Sacramento Bee 

Sacramento-region luxury home market heating up – The Sacramento region’s upscale home market continued to heat up in this year’s second quarter. There were 166 closed luxury home sales in the greater Sacramento region in this year’s second quarter, a 37 percent increase over the previous year, according to Lyon Real Estate. Sacramento Bee article

San Francisco proposing new housing development fee to expand transit – Mayor Ed Lee’s administration is looking to tap into the city’s housing boom to help bankroll $1.2 billion in transit improvements over the next 30 years. San Francisco Chronicle article 

Madness: Revitalizing Sequoia Mall isn’t so crazy — The Sequoia Mall in Visalia has long been perceived as a stagnate shopping center of shuttered shop doors and shiny floors, which pristine appearance only serves as further evidence that the floors have remained free from any footsteps. The idea of revitalizing the place has been called a crazy one by many, so it only seems right that such an undertaking has been embraced by a little party shop called Madness. Visalia Times-Delta article

Agriculture/Water/Drought

Board approves nonprofit to distribute emergency water aid in Merced County – The Merced County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved Self Help Enterprises to install and maintain emergency water distribution systems to county residents whose wells have dried up. Merced Sun-Star article

Groundwater law inches forward – Local water districts are closer to coming to grips with sweeping 2014 legislation that for the first time requires all groundwater pumping in California to be done sustainably. In Kings County, that means that chronic groundwater overdraft stemming from too much pumping and not enough recharge will have to slowly be brought in line until a 2040 deadline to bring groundwater use and recharge into balance. Hanford Sentinel article

Twice-a-week watering limit could be next for LA — Los Angeles water officials laid the groundwork Tuesday for new restrictions that would limit sprinkler use to two days a week if the city fails to meet its mandatory conservation targets. LA Times article

Santa Barbara to spend $55 million on desalination plant as drought ‘last resort’ – Santa Barbara City Council members on Tuesday unanimously approved spending $55 million to reactivate a mothballed desalination plant that could provide the city with nearly a third of its drinking water. LA Times article

Curtis Park lawns spark debate during drought – The social networking website Nextdoor is great for catching up on petty crime, lost pets and garage sales in the neighborhood. But if you want to really stoke up the online conversation, try calling out your neighbors for their green lawns. Sacramento Bee article

The ‘almond doctor’ says salt is slowly crippling California’s almond industry – By now most people know that almonds use a lot of water, about one gallon per nut. Most growers are relying on groundwater even more this year because their surface water has been cut off because of the drought. But as Valley Public Radio’s Ezra David Romero reports that brings a different problem all together, one that an “Almond Doctor” is trying to solve. KVPR report

McCaffrey Homes opens Liberty Square with water-wise landscape designs — At McCaffrey Homes’ new northwest Fresno development called Liberty Square, the Fresno builder gives buyers a new way to look at landscaping. The model homes in the 124-home development, at Hayes and Herndon avenues, uses drought tolerant plants like dwarf olives, lavender, agave and succulents to create lush yards that don’t need a lot of water to survive. Fresno Bee article

 

Criminal Justice/Prisons

Fresno Bee: Smack Fresno police memorial vandal with graffiti-cleanup sentence – Defacing a public memorial does nothing to foster a cause. It merely reveals lack of character and clarity of thought by the person responsible for the vandalism. Sumner is scheduled to be sentenced July 23. We recommend that the judge assign him community service cleaning up graffiti. Fresno Bee editorial

Suspect in east Modesto homicides remains incarcerated in San Jose – The primary suspect in the gruesome killings of his girlfriend, their infant daughter, his mother and two other children over the weekend in Modesto’s Village I subdivision apparently had no prior criminal history. Modesto Bee article‘Talking with children about violence’ in Modesto Bee

Single bullet killed Farmersville man – A man killed Friday night during a fight with officers inside the Farmersville police station died of as single gunshot wound to the chest. Visalia Times-Delta article

Claim against Tulare police alleges false arrest, imprisonment – A Lindsay woman has filed a claim against the Tulare Police Department alleging personal injury and damages stemming from what the Bakersfield-based attorney firm representing her calls a false arrest and imprisonment on May 20, setting up the possibility of a civil rights violation lawsuit. Visalia Times-Delta article

Video of arrest of homeless man in wheelchair sparks criticism – A video of police firing beanbags and a Taser at a homeless man in a wheelchair has drawn criticism from a skid row advocacy group, which said officers escalated force against someone who posed no threat. LA Times article

LA Police Commission clears sergeants in death of Omar Abrego — The Los Angeles Police Commission ruled Tuesday that two LAPD sergeants acted within department policy last year during a violent arrest of a South L.A. man who died the next day. LA Times article

Education

CSU extends 2 percent raise to top executives – A 2 percent raise for California State University employees authorized earlier this year will extend to 30 of the system’s top executives, including the new president of California State University, Sacramento, Robert Nelsen. Sacramento Bee articleLA Times article

College ratings system proposed by Obama is scrapped – White House officials say that pushback from the higher education industry and congressional Republicans did not lead to the retreat. Instead, they say they could not develop a ratings system that worked well enough to help high school seniors, parents and counselors. LA Times article

Key education bills still in play as legislators take summer break – When they return in mid-August, lawmakers will take final action on key bills that remain very much alive: suspending the high school exit exam; expanding preschool for low-income children; and creating new options for high school students to take community college courses. Here’s an updated look at legislation that EdSource has tracked. EdSource article

Teacher training course aims to boost students’ college readiness – A California State University reading and writing course originally designed to help 12th-grade English teachers prepare more seniors for college-level coursework is expanding into lower grades – a shift that reflects the Common Core’s increased emphasis on college readiness. EdSource article

Manteca board votes against trustee censure – After weeks of delays, Manteca Unified School District trustees voted not to censure board Vice President Sam Fant at a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday evening. Stockton Record article

Larry White: Myth of failing schools – All of us must recognize that the degree of poverty and illiteracy among major portions of our community are exceedingly overwhelming. The hole that is dug prior to school is too deep for the school system to help fill. If members of our society desire to see a “happily ever after” to this fairy tale of “failing schools,” they must be willing to invest in improved educational outcomes for all segments of our community. White column in Stockton Record

Grand jury accuses Parlier Unified superintendent, trustees of wasting money — The Parlier Unified School District superintendent and board of trustees must make better financial decisions to ensure the success of their students, the Fresno County grand juryreported Tuesday. Fresno Bee article

Energy/Environment

As California pumps out oil, Gov. Brown says world must cut back — One-third of the world’s oil must stay in the ground if humanity hopes to avoid the worst effects of global warming, Gov. Jerry Brown told a climate conference at the Vatican Tuesday. San Francisco Chronicle article

Firefighters to drone operators: Stay out of our way – Such drone flights — whether for sport or for money — have become a problem for firefighters trying to battle California wildland blazes with their own aircraft, according to officials. This week, two state legislators announced they had drafted a pair of bills that could lead to increased fines and jail time for drone scofflaws, while allowing firefighters to destroy wayward devices with impunity. San Francisco Chronicle article

Environmentalist group sues Hanford over Mussel Slough apartment project – A local environmentalist group is suing the city of Hanford for allegedly sidestepping state environmental laws during the recent approval of an apartment complex on Centennial Drive. Hanford Sentinel article 

Health/Human Services 

Tulare County may restrict where to use e-cigarettes – Those who “smoke” electronic cigarettes might not be able to do so in restaurants or wherever smoking of tobacco is banned in Tulare County. Visalia Times-Delta article

United Way branches in Fresno, Madera counties unite — United Way of Fresno and its neighboring Madera County branch have teamed up to provide more programs and services, according to United Way Worldwide. Fresno Bee article

Cellphone ordinance puts Berkeley at forefront of radiation debate — Leave it to Berkeley: This city, which has led the nation in passing all manner of laws favored by the left, has done it again. This time, the city passed a measure — not actually backed by science — requiring cellphone stores to warn customers that the products could be hazardous to their health, presumably by emitting dangerous levels ofcancer-causing radiation. New York Times article 

Tobacco ad rules repealed — San Diego repealed many of its tobacco advertising restrictions on Tuesday because they appear to violate First Amendment “free speech” protections and some other federal regulations. San Diego Union-Tribune article

Land Use/Housing

Bakersfield council to hear appeals of two controversial projects — Two controversial, recent approvals by city boards — one for a northwest shopping center widely believed to include a Walmart market, the other for a modern apartment complex downtown — are being appealed to the Bakersfield City Council on Wednesday. Bakersfield Californian article

Jerrold Jenson: No goats or chickens on Visalia residential lots – The Visalia resident writes, “The bird flu virus, along with salmonella and E. coli germs, could soon be coming to your neighborhood. A local political group called “Urban Farmers for Food Freedom” is seeking signatures on a petition that will allow Visalia residents to keep up to six chickens and four miniature goats on our residential lots. Will pigs, sheep and ponies be next on their agenda? Jenson op-ed in Visalia Times-Delta

Zone change OK’d for north Merced apartment complex — The Merced City Council has approved a zone change that will allow a developer to put an apartment complex on a parcel on the north end of town that was zoned for houses. The two-story complex would be advertised to UC Merced professors and graduate students in particular, according to John Hinchey, director of real estate for Steiner Development Inc. in Atwater. Merced Sun-Star article

Transportation

Modesto leaders get preview of Pelandale interchange — Motorists driving Highway 99 don’t get to see the “real Modesto,” said Bill Sandhu, city Public Works director, as he showed Modesto government and business leaders around the Pelandale Avenue bridge that will open Friday afternoon. Modesto Bee article

Electric buses head to Porterville — By this time next year, two brand new all electric buses will be rolling down the streets of Porterville. The move away from diesel and hybrid buses is part of efforts to clean up the valley’s air. KVPR report

Other areas 

Grand jury: Fresno needs better code enforcement to end blight — The city of Fresno must do a better job of getting property owners to fix up blighted homes, the Fresno County grand jury said Tuesday. To that end, the grand jury said the city must ramp up its data collection and approve more funds for code enforcement. Fresno Bee article

Stockton disputes grand jury report – Officials defended the city’s waterworks operations on Tuesday, disputing portions of a highly critical grand jury report that blamed staffing vacancies for a shutdown of the city’s new $220 million Delta drinking-water plant last year, among other problems. Stockton Record article 

Grand jury: Sanger’s political divisions ‘deep and deeply personal’ – After conducting a lengthy investigation, the 2014-15 Fresno County grand jury issued a 12-page report Tuesday detailing “political turmoil” that has rocked Sanger’s local government and, according to the grand jury, “threatens” the city’s economic recovery. The Business Journal article

Livingston hires new city manager – Livingston City Council unanimously hired its next city manager on Tuesday, a position held by an interim since February. Eddie Duque, 48, has worked in the public sector for more than 16 years. He agreed to a three-year contract of $140,000 annually, plus car, phone and insurance benefits. Merced Sun-Star article

Activists claim victory over end to elephant rides at fair — Years of bitter debate over whether elephants belong at the Kern County Fair ended Monday night when the attraction’s owners informed management they would not return this year, just three months after winning a contract extension from the fair board. Bakersfield Californian article

SJ Pride Center rallies outside City Hall in response to recent incidents – About two dozen members of Stockton’s LGBT community asked for greater public support Tuesday night from the City Council after recent incidents including a strongly worded letter written by a Stockton police lieutenant in opposition to gay marriage, and the exclusion of two female graduating seniors from the Lincoln High School yearbook because they wore masculine clothing. Stockton Record article

Collapses in Berkeley, Folsom invite scrutiny of building laws – After recent fatal collapses of an apartment stairwell in Folsom and a balcony in Berkeley, officials said rotted wood failed to support the weight of the victims. While building experts don’t know how widespread the underlying conditions are, they say problems are common enough that another building failure could happen and that lawmakers and the construction industry should work together to find solutions. Sacramento Bee article

Effort to remember ‘a hero of Stockton’ – Search for the name Larry Itliong online and there’s no shortage of results. There’s a scholarship in his name, an affordable housing project in Los Angeles named after him, a school in Union City will be renamed the Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School in September, and on June 30, Gov. Jerry Brown declared Oct. 25 Larry Itliong Day. Stockton Record article

Mayor Harvey Hall bobbleheads are go — Put him in, coach — Mayor Harvey Hall is ready to play. It’s been two years in the making but Friday is finally Mayor Hall Bobblehead Night at Sam Lynn Ballpark, when the Bakersfield Blaze square off against the San Jose Giants in the second of a four-game series. Bakersfield Californian article

Grizzlies will become the Fresno Tacos for Taco Truck Throwdown Night — The marketing team of at the Fresno Grizzlies continues its season of being unapologetically Fresno by taking the ultimate branding risk. The team is changing its name. For one game at least. Fresno Bee article

Valley Editorial Roundup

Fresno Bee – Defacing a public memorial does nothing to foster a cause. It merely reveals lack of character and clarity of thought by the person responsible for the vandalism. Sumner is scheduled to be sentenced July 23. We recommend that the judge assign him community service cleaning up graffiti.

Modesto Bee – Gov. Brown and the Pope confront the “troglogytes.”

Sacramento Bee – Led by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, conservative House Republicans have embarked on a crusade to kill the obscure but important Export-Import BankWarning signs aren’t enough at Discovery Park.

Upcoming Events

  • The Better Blackstone Association will hold a street festival, “Come Imagine the Possibilities for Blackstone …,” on Friday, Aug. 7, at the Susan B. Anthony school parking lot in Fresno from 5-8 p.m. More information: Call (559) 485-1416or email info@betterblackstone.com.
  • West Hills Community College District will hold an event, “Shifting Ground — Adapting the San Joaquin Valley Economy to a Changing Climate,” on Oct. 8 at Harris Ranch in Coalinga. Senior leaders from business, agriculture, government agencies and nonprofits will gather to launch immediate actions and provide near-term guidance to create next generation jobs in a region battered by drought and struggling with multiple challenges. Visit www.essentialelementsseries.comfor details of this no-fee policy series.

Interactive

Next 10: UPDATED California budget challenge – For the first time in a decade, California’s budget is largely in balance.  However, the state has outstanding debts of $28 million, not counting long-term pension and retiree health care costs.  Budget choices affect us all.  Take the Challenge and decide how much should be spent on programs and where the money should come from.  Next 10 California Budget Challenge

Next 10: Federal budget challenge — The Federal Budget Challenge is based on The Concord Coalition’s Principles and Priorities budget exercise, which has been used in numerous town hall meetings across the country by members of Congress from both parties, as well as in hundreds of high school and college classrooms.  Next 10 Federal Budget challenge at www.federalbudgetchallenge.org.

Next 10: California Water Challenge – As our state faces some of the most severe drought conditions in its history, Next 10 wants to issue a new challenge to Californians: can you create a plan to make sure there’s enough water for everyone?  Next 10 California Water Challenge

LEGISLATORS’ VOTING RECORDS: How often has a California legislator broken party ranks, abstained or switched sides? The Sacramento Bee has a database of the voting records of every member of the state Senate and Assembly. Enter a lawmaker’s last and first names to see how he or she voted, or enter a bill number to see how every legislator voted on it. Check it out at this link.  http://www.sacbee.com/votingrecord/

Maddy Institute Updates List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials – The Maddy Institute has updated its list of San Joaquin Valley elected officials.  The list is available here.

Maddy Institute on Facebook and Twitter – To learn about Maddy Institute activities (e.g. The Maddy Report tv show, The Maddy Associates’ Luncheons, the Maddy Legislative Intern Program), become a fan of the Maddy Institute on Facebook or log on to http://twitter.com/MaddyInstitute. And if you have a Facebook or Twitter account, please add us and follow us!

The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.

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