Lawyer makes case for trying terrorists in New York
Longtime Fresno lawyer Phil Fullerton says it's the right decision to hold the trials of the five terrorists in federal court in New York: "Political attacks on the Obama administration's decision to hold the trial of five terrorists in federal court in New York rather than have a trial before a military tribunal is an assault on the very foundation of our republic: the right to obtain a fair trial for all, even the most despised, and the belief that this will occur."
Let's hear what readers of Opinion Talk think about the points Fullerton makes in his commentary and whether it's a good idea to try the terrorists in New York.
Jerry Brown rules legislators' salaries can be cut
California Attorney General Jerry Brown ruled Thursday that the California Citizens Compensation Commission can cut the salaries of state lawmakers, setting in motion an 18% pay cut for members of the Assembly and Senate. The salary reduction will take effect Dec. 7, and reduce legislators' pay from $116,208 a year to $95,291.
Lawmakers, who along with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, have apporved pay cuts for state employees, ironically battled against their own pay being reduced. That brought on criticism that the legislators were being hypocritical -- asking everyone but themselves to sacrifice during the state budget crisis.
They even put up front-men to do their anti-pay-cut dirty work. The lawmakers' backers contended that the citizens commission did not have the authority to cut the pay in mid-term. They sought a legal opinion from the attorney general on the legality of the commission's action. Legislators could challenge Brown's opinion in court, but that would really be bad form as they approach the 2010 elections.
Here's part of Brown's opinion:
"In response to your question as to whether the California Citizens Compensation Commission can reduce the salaries of legislators during their terms of office, the short answer is yes."
Obama popularity falls as independents flee Democrats
The news is not good for President Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats on the political front. Obama's popularity has dropped below 50% in public opinion polls and independents, who often provide the margin of victory in national elections, aren't backing Democratic policies.
That suggests big problems for Democrats in next year's mid-term elections. Politico.com points out that just 14% of independents approve of the job Congress is doing. That's a referendum on the Democrats because they control the House and the Senate.
Here's more from Politico.com:
Mounting evidence that independent voters have soured on the Democrats is prompting a debate among party officials about what rhetorical and substantive changes are needed to halt the damage.
Following serious setbacks with independents in off-year elections earlier this month, White House officials attributed the defeats to local factors and said President Barack Obama sees no need to reposition his own image or the Democratic message.
Since then, however, a flurry of new polls makes clear that Democrats are facing deeper problems with independents--the swing voters who swung dramatically toward the party in 2006 and 2008 but who now are registering deep unease with the amount of spending and debt called for under Obama's agenda in an era of one-party rule in Washington.
A Gallup Poll released last week offered a disturbing glimpse about the state of play: just 14 percent of independents approve of the job Congress is doing, the lowest figure all year. In just the past few days alone, surveys have shown Democratic incumbents trailing Republicans among independent voters by double-digit margins in competitive statewide contests in places as varied as Connecticut, Ohio and Iowa.
The Amtrak trip to San Diego is about two hours longer than driving, but it's a lot less stressful than maneuvering your car through Southern California traffic. I visited my daughter in San Diego over the weekend to see her new apartment, and took the train down on Saturday and returned on Monday.
The biggest downside to traveling south from Fresno by train is that you must take the bus from Bakersfield to Los Angeles' Union Station. But the trip from L.A. to San Diego is along the coast and you get a great view of the ocean out of your window. The photo above was taken with my cell phone out the train window.
It costs $48 each way so the train is close to what you would pay for gas from Fresno to San Diego. That's a drive I've made many times, and the train was a nice change. You can connect your computer or just enjoy the scenery. Now I'm sounding like an ad for Amtrak. That's OK. I'm a believer in train travel.
I can really relate to this column last week by Paul Silva: Tethered by texts -- new parent/child bond:
"On a typical weekend, I type more words to my younger son than I speak to him."
But unlike the author -- "This is not an optimal form of communication for me. I am a middle-aged, technologically challenged man with slow thumbs and bad eyesight." -- I have become quite proficient at this means of communication, perhaps to my children's dismay.
Yeah, they have phones, but they don't always answer them. But my son in college in Nebraska will almost always text me back within minutes.
I will use any tools at my disposal to try to keep lines of communication open. Over the years, we've progressed through e-mail, Yahoo messenger, texting and Facebook. Whatever works.
With three adults, two teens and an elementary student in our house and a young adult halfway across the country in college, things can get a little crazy. You can't always count on them seeing a note stuck on the refrigerator.
Opponents of state water bond have a year to pick it apart
UPDATED
The water bond passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to repair California's water system. Most Californians don't think there's a water crisis because they can turn on their taps and sprinklers and out comes the water. But one break in the crumbling water infrastructure could end the endless water supply for many Californians.
The problem is most water users are in urban neighborhoods and they seldom grasp the gravity of the issue. These are the same folks who don't understand where milk comes from or think their produce magically shows up in the grocery store.
The !11.1 billion water bond isn't perfect (there's $2 billion in pork), but disaster is ahead if we ignore the water crisis. The bond would fix the Sacramento-San Joaqun Delta, an estuary that is crucial to water flowing south to the San Joaquin Valley and into Southern California. We also need dams to store the extra water we get in wet years to be used in dry years, such as the recent drought. There are other water system plumbing fixes.
Yes, there's pork in this bill, but the vast majority of the bill is crucial to California's economic survival. If you think $11.1 billion is costly, wait until the Delta fails, the levees break and we can't move water south. Now that will be costly.
I write about the bond's political problems in my column today. Click here to read the column.
A recent Bee letter writer criticized police officers. Not surprisingly, that brought on a barrage of letters in support of the police. You can read the letters by clicking here.
"In response to V. Diane Corbin's question, "What would you tell your child about police officers?": I tell my children that they are brave and courageous women and men who put their life at risk every day to protect our community."
Here are the passages from Corbin's letter that caused the reaction from other letter writers:
"In the good old days, when I was in first and second grades, our books had stories about the nice, helpful policeman, and even had pictures of a small child holding the hand of the policeman. Do any of you remember those pictures and stories? "Our friend, the policeman."
"How life changes. Would we now encourage our children to run up to the policeman and hold his hand? I would tell my child, "Run for your life!" What would you tell yours?"
Maria Shriver pushes ice cream on Stephen Colbert's show
In this five-minute video clip, California First Lady Maria Shriver touts ice cream called "Lovin' Scoopful" on The Colbert Report to benefit Special Olympics. Shriver also is asked about her recent illegal cell phoning, whether the job of California First Lady is really that interesting, and her husband's odd breakfasts. Special Olympics is a great cause, and I might just buy a half-gallon of "Lovin' Scoopful."
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will visit troops in Iraq next week, according to The Sacramento Bee. Schwarzenegger visited the troops before he was governor, but this will be the first time he'll go as California's chief executive.
Here's more from the SacBee story:
Schwarzenegger previously visited troops on United Service Organizations-sponsored tours in 2002 to Bosnia to preview his movie, "Collateral Damage," as well as in 2003 to Iraq to show "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines."
"He's been wanting to visit the troops for the last few years but hasn't had the opportunity to," said Schwarzenegger communications director Matt David. "He thought now would be a good time to make a short trip over there."
The governor will be in the Middle East for a couple of days, David said. Asked whether Schwarzenegger planned to make any other stops, David said it was possible but that the governor had no further plans at this point. He said he could not provide more specifics for security reasons.
"Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die." ~Dwight D. Eisenhower
On this day, I give thanks to all who have served our nation.
HandsOn Central California is partnering with the city of Fresno to host Serve Fresno Day beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday. This is a time when families, businesses, church leaders and community members join together as part of a movement to strengthen families, our community, local businesses and non-profit organizations.
Serve Fresno Day ushers in the holiday season of giving and is a reminder that giving back to our community makes us all better. More than 500 volunteers and at least nine charities will participate in projects that include preparing 10,000 meal boxes for Thanksgiving, volunteering at a local retirement home, sprucing up the Marjaree Mason Center and collecting food for the Catholic Charities' food drive.
The kickoff on Saturday will be at Macy's north parking lot at the Fashion Fair shopping center. Mayor Ashley Swearengin and representatives from HandsOn Central California will be there to thank the volunteers prior to them going to their various projects.
I love San Francisco. But I sure couldn't live there if my car were my primary mode of transportation. The great thing about a big city like San Francisco is you can function, even thrive, without a car.
I just spent the weekend there, the second one I've spent there in the past month. The first trip, I travelled there by charter bus, got around mostly on foot (literally, as I was there to run the Nike Women's Half Marathon) and didn't miss my car one bit.
I returned this past weekend with my 6-year-old daughter, for a 49ers game. After the game we spent Sunday night at a hotel near Union Square. After a harrowing 15-minute drive (I'm not a good big-city driver) from Candlestick to downtown, I left the car with the valet and never looked back, until we were ready to head home yesterday afternoon.
Besides charm and price, I specifically chose the hotel I did for its proximity to public transportation and some sights I wanted to share with Katie. From there, we walked to dinner Sunday night, then Monday caught a subway/bus to Golden Gate Park, where we visited the California Academy of Science, took a cable car from Powell and Market to Fisherman's Wharf, then walked back to our hotel via North Beach.
I wish public transportation options were as ideal here. Things are just too spread out to make walking as attractive an option. The bus/bike flexibility offered by FAX helps improve the commuting options, but I think we built out for too long to ever achieve that big city, pedestrian friendly vibe. The tradeoff, I guess, is that our traffic isn't as bad -- for now.
Is Schwarzenegger getting public-policy ideas from his movies?
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger offered an idea Monday that he says might have less political opposition than building a peripheral canal to transport water around the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. It would be an underground canal -- similar to the one in his movie "Total Recall." The governor actually mentioned the movie during his appearance before the Fresno Bee editorial board Monday afternoon.
It sounds fascinating, although I admit to getting my engineering expertise from the movies, just like the governor. He said there is technology available involving sophisticated tunneling machines. "We used it in 'Total Recall,' one of our movies, a machine similar to that."
So Schwarzenegger was tunneling in a movie and now it's one of the peripheral canal alternatives. You gotta love the convergence of movies and state politics. The governor said his staff is studying which alternative is the most cost effective. He also said that if farmers won't sell their land for an above-ground canal, the underground canal could be the only other option.
It would be an engineering challenge. Lester Snow, the governor's water expert, told the editorial board that the underground canal would be 110 to 150 feet below the surface and 33 feet in diameter. There would actually be two tunnels that would transport the water under the Delta.
"It bores through the land and cements the wall as it goes," said Schwarzenegger. He said this machine is bigger and better than the one used in his movie.
My first thought is how can that be cheaper than an above-ground-canal, which is not totally encased in concrete like an underground canal would have to be? Then there's the possible earthquake risk to an underground canal.
But I like the tie-in to a movie. Maybe the governor could do a reality film about building an underground canal and bring back the "Total Recall" tunneling machines. Proceeds could pay the debt service on the $11.1 billion water bond.
Schwarzenegger discusses a range of issues at Bee editorial board meeting
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gave his take on California's water challenges, the state budget problems and who might be the next lieutenant governor during a 61-minute meeting with The Bee's editorial board Monday. He went to The Bee after signing a part of the water reform package during a ceremony at Friant Dam. We streamed the editorial board meeting live and the governor even took a few questions from citizens via Twitter.
You can watch the video, which is embedded in this posting. Click on the arrow.
Schwarzenegger going to Friant Dam today to sign water bills
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will be at Friant Dam at 2 p.m. today to sign the package of water reform bills. The package includes an $11.1 billion bond to build dams and pay for other water infrastructure improvements. The bond will have to be approved by voters at next November's general election. One problem for the governor: The bond contains more than $1 billion in pork, which was added on to get needed votes from lawmakers last week.
Click here to read an Associated Press story about the earmarks in the bond measure.
The Sierra Club is opposing the bond because it contains money for dams. Click here to read the Sierra Club statement.
Today's editorial discusses the many failures of the parole system that led to the kidnapping and holding of Jaycee Lee Dugard for 18 years. There were many missed opportunities for parole agents to discover that Dugard was being held captive by Phillip Garrido.
"The system failed miserably with Phillip Garrido, with tragic consequences for Jaycee Lee Dugard. The inspector general's report offered valuable ideas on where parole agents fell short.
"But we also have to take a hard look at the system in which they work. It's needs reforming."
Catholic, Lutheran bishops call for health care reform
Mark W. Holmerud, bishop of the Sierra Pacific synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and John T. Steinbock, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno, wrote a commentary in today's Fresno Bee calling on Congress to reform health care. You can click here to read the entire commentary.
Here are their opening paragraphs:
As Congress debates the final version of health care reform in America, our representatives must remember the central teaching of the Bible and the world's major religions; we are our brother's keeper, called to protect the life and dignity of all.
Jesus lived this, reaching out to all people, especially the needy, as in Matthew 25, where he identifies with the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger and the sick. This is our moral compass. We pursue justice for the vulnerable and the most needy because it is right.
In providing health care, we have shifted from this fundamental principle. Our current broken system allows profit and economic status to define who lives and who dies, who gets that life-saving procedure or drug and who does not, who gets preventive care and who goes to the emergency room with a life-threatening condition.
Comedian Paul Rodriguez had some funny lines about water deal
Comedian Paul Rodriguez, who helped lead the California Latino Water Coalition, appeared with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at an event in Los Angeles today. He suggested the next dam be named after Schwarzenegger, and talked about the water coalition:
Some of you are wondering, what the hell am I doing here? I ask that myself. I farm a little outside of Fresno, and when the water problem became very acute we got together, a bunch of (us and) formed the Latino Water Coalition and figured out what we can do.
We found a friend in Sacramento. The Governor was able to use his muscle, both figuratively and metaphorically, to wrangle these people together. And this is historic legislation and I think there will be something that this will truly be -- he will be remembered. I think we're going to name of the dams after you. It's going to be a big dam, Schwarzenegger Dam. I can see it now.
We started to lobby, the Latino Water Coalition -- by the way, you don't have to be Latino to join, you just need $5. Very easy membership. One of our members is Caucasian, we use him as a co-signer. We got together, we lobbied the 26 Latinos of the Latino Caucus and got them together.
This is a group that you couldn't get them to agree on lunch, but when it came down to it, water was important, so important they got together. And we're very, very proud of all of the members of the House and the Assembly. We're very happy to be part of this day.
Governor says state can handle debt service on $11.1B water bond
One of the criticisms of the $11.1 billion water bond is that California has passed so many bonds that the financially strapped state won't be able to handle the annual debt service on this huge bond. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the bond is structured in a way that will make the debt service feasible.
Schwarzenegger and bond supporters have two big problems: The first is selling the measure to voters at the November 2010 election when the citizenry is expected to be in a rebellious mood. The second is the bond should have cost $9.4 billion, but was loaded up with extras (pork) to get the votes of lawmakers who were on the fence in supporting the historic measure. Opponents will be pointing out the pork in this bond measure during the campaign.
But we need this bond package for many reasons, including providing enough water for San Joaquin Valley farmers to grow their crops. We also need to restore the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and have enough drinking water for the state's growing population.
You can't argue that we need to build dams for more storage capacity and then argue that we shouldn't pass a bond to pay for the dams. That would put you on the same side as the environmentalists who oppose this bond because it would help build dams for Valley farmers. So now the environmentalists are in the fiscally conservative camp, claiming the state can't afford the bond.
Legislators told reporters after the passage of the water package that the bond has been written so only about half could be sold before July 1, 2015, which would reduce the early impact on the state's general fund.
The chart below shows the state's debt service. The blue is the existing annual debt service. The maroon is the debt service for the water bond.
Maldonado appears to have inside track on lieutenant governor appointment
Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, has moved to the top of the lieutenant governor list. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will make the appointment now that Democrat John Garamendi is going to Congress. That shows the lack of clout in the Lt. Guv job, by the way. Garamendi would rather be one of 53 members of Congress from California than lieutenant governor. That's why this job is referred to as "Light Guv."
That said, a lot of politicians want the job. Former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown might even come out of retirement to take the mostly ceremonial post. Capitol insiders have been passing the rumor that Brown wants the job. Finally, a lieutenant governor with some personality. But bet your money on Maldonado.
The choice of Maldonado would have something for Democrats, who must confirm the selection in the Senate. The Democrats might do that for the chance of winning Maldonado's 15th District Senate seat. No other Republican candidate for the appointment can offer Democrats that exchange.
But it's no sure thing that the Democrats would win that Senate seat because Assembly Minority Leader Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, might try to jump to the Senate in the special election.
The governor also owes Maldonado something for providing a key Republican vote for the budget. The GOP members didn't like that vote, and might like trading Maldonado for a conservative they can count on.
Other possible candidates for the lieutenant governor appointment are Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto; Assembly Member Mike Villines, R-Clovis; former Rep. Tom Campbell, a GOP candidate for governor, and former Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg, a Democrat who would be a placeholder until the 2012 election.
But wouldn't it be fun with Willie Brown as lieutenant governor?
Cogdill shows his negotiating skill in water package
UPDATED
State Sen. Dave Cogdill, the Modesto Republican, played a crucial role in representing San Joaquin Valley water and farming interests in the historic water legislation passed this morning by the Legislature. He kept the negotiators' attention on the need for a bond to pay for storage facilities, including dams and water banks. That's no small thing in the legislative talks, with so many political divisions involving water.
This is part of what Cogdill had to say after the package of bills was passed:
"Today's historic agreement is the most significant step that the state has taken in decades to invest in its crumbling water infrastructure. Nothing is more important to the state's economic prosperity than ensuring that we have water to meet California's needs now and into the future. With this plan, we can improve the state's water supply and protect the environment, without destroying our economy. ... This agreement also delivers on the expectation that California taxpayers have for lawmakers to put aside partisan differences to achieve common sense solutions that benefit the entire state."
State Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, also is praised for his work on the water package in this Bakersfield Californian editorial.
Here are other quotes on the water package from Fresno-area politicians:
-- Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin:
"This is an historic step that is profoundly important to the future of Fresno, the San Joaquin Valley and the entire state of California. Our region and our state simply could not succeed if we didn't address our water infrastructure challenges. This action should serve as a real turning point in making sure that we have water to meet our needs, both now and in the future. Our Valley legislators deserve our strong praise for continuing to push this complex and contentious issue forward. I also want to particularly commend Gov. Schwarzenegger for his commitment and leadership on this issue."
-- Fresno Council Member Henry T. Perea:
"I really believe that this has been a bipartisan effort to come up with the best possible water reform. When these bonds come before the voters next year I urge them to vote yes and help us start a new era of water management policy in California."
Swearengin names former police officer as Fresno's first police auditor
UPDATED
This just in from Mayor Ashley Swearengin's office: "Eddie J. Aubrey of Federal
Way, Wash., who has 29 years of public service experience as a former police officer,
deputy prosecuting attorney and judge, as the city of Fresno's first director of the Office of Independent Review."
This is what city officials said in their news release Wednesday:
"As director of the Office of Independent Review, Aubrey will work independently of the Police Department chain of command to provide City policymakers and the public with an objective, third-party analysis of internal investigations to ensure those investigations are conducted in a thorough, fair and unbiased manner.
"The role of independent reviewer requires excellent analytical skills, research ability, investigative skills, knowledge and experience in the profession of law enforcement, problem-solving, integrity, forthrightness, innovation, transparency and effective communication," Souza said. "Eddie Aubrey has demonstrated throughout his career that he possesses all of those essential characteristics."
Mayor Swearengin also said Aubrey's background will put him in a "unique position" to carry out the responsibilities of the independent reviewer.
"Eddie Aubrey's experience as a police officer, prosecutor and judge will give him a
360-degree view of the issues that the independent reviewer will be called upon to
address," Mayor Swearengin said. "Combined with his integrity, excellent communication skills and strong commitment to reaching out to the community, he will be a catalyst in ensuring that there is trust between law enforcement and Fresno residents."
Warning: The Eye-Q Two Cities Marathon is this weekend
That means there will be some disruption to the normal traffic flow this weekend, especially from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday morning, in Northeast Fresno and Clovis. Plan ahead: How will you get to your church that morning, if that's part of your Sunday routine?
A lot of people complained about the road closures and disruptions last year. This year, the course has been changed -- Willow Avenue will be open during the entire race this year. Other streets will open as soon as the race passes, instead of staying closed until 2 p.m.
Two Cities Marathon Road Closure Schedule (Fresno)
Friant Road (Audubon to Willow) Closed 5:00 am - 2:00 pm
Teague at Willow intersection Closed 6:00 am - 11:00 am
Shepherd Ave (Friant to Willow - eastbound) Closed 6:00 am - 8:30 am
Shepherd Ave (Friant to Willow - westbound) Closed 6:00 am - 11:30 am
Cedar at Shepherd intersection Closed 6:00 am - 11:30 am
Maple at Shepherd intersection Closed 6:00 am - 11:30 am
Chestnut at Shepherd intersection Closed 6:00 am - 11:30 am
Audubon (Friant to N. Del Mar - westbound) Closed 5:00 am - 2:00 pm
Two Cities Marathon Road Closure Schedule (Clovis)
Peach Avenue and Alluvial Avenue at the Old Town Clovis Trail Crossing
Pollasky between Old Town Trail Exit (north of Sierra near Dewitt) & Eighth (partial between Sierra / Dewitt)
Clovis Avenue both north and southbound between Eighth Street and Fifth Street
Clovis Avenue southbound between Fifth Street and Sierra Avenue
Eighth Street between Pollasky Avenue and Clovis Avenue
Fifth Street between Pollasky Avenue and Sunnyside Avenue
Sunnyside Avenue between Fifth Street and Davis E. Cook Way
Tollhouse Avenue between Sunnyside Avenue and Fowler Avenue
Fowler Avenue southbound between Tollhouse Avenue and Los Altos Avenue
Clovis Adult School -- Los Altos Avenue and David E. Cook Way
Willow Avenue will remain open at all times during the event and is the main north and southbound route.
A complete list of road closures and times is listed below and can also be found on the city of Fresno website at www.fresno.gov/traffic.
The road closures are the bad news. The good news is that this event is back, and bigger than it was last year, its inaugural year. Last year, it was limited to 3,000 runners. This year, 5,000 will take to the streets (it's at 96% capacity right now, and is expected to sell out this week).
The number of volunteers has been increased as well (I'll be one of them, working at the expo on Saturday), in hopes of smoothing out rough spots and achieving a balance between keeping runners satisfied so they'll want to come back and do this again, and making residents happy so they'll want to support this event.
Why should Fresno and Clovis residents embrace this event? Because runners travel, from other states and even other countries to take part in races that are well-run, well-supported, scenic, in a temperate climate, on a flat, fast course, any number of reasons. And while those runners are here, they support our hotels, our restaurants, our economy.
So go out and cheer on the athletes. Plan ahead and be patient if road closures delay your travel a little. Recommend good restaurants to people visiting our area. And invite them back next year.
Supporters of gay marriage lost a crucial vote in Maine Tuesday in an election that had national implications on the trend toward acceptance of same-sex marriage. Maine's voters repealed a state law that would have allowed same-sex couples to wed. But this is what has supporters of gay marriage worried: The issue has been defeated in all 31 states in which voters have had a chance to cast ballots on the question.
The polls had the measure close in Maine, but the opponents of gay marriage were able to pull ahead at the end. The final vote was not close with the measure going down on a 53% to 47% vote.
It was a year ago that voters in California overturned same-sex marriage when they passed Proposition 8.
Schwarzenegger administration responds to blog criticism of Bay Bridge fiasco
In response to my blog posting on Sunday criticizing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his administration for the problems on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and other infrastructure challenges in the state, the administration just emailed this statement. It is from Dale Bonner, the governor's cabinet secretary for California's Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.
Opinion Talk Blog Editor and Readers,
As Sacramento nears a monumental water deal to rebuild our state's aging water infrastructure to ensure water reliability for more than 23 million Californians, it makes little sense for The Bee to attack the Governor's infrastructure credentials.
The Governor takes matters like those of the emergency closure of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge very seriously. Public safety is this Governor's top priority. Caltrans took the necessary precautions to test the Bridge repairs and ensure driver safety. The Governor and I take the commutes of more than 280,000 people very seriously -- but even more important are the lives and safety of those commuters.
It's no secret that the bridges in the Bay Area need to be upgraded, as do several other infrastructure projects in the state. That's why in 2005, the Governor signed AB 144 to complete and finance the construction of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and to contribute an additional $630 million in state funds for seismic retrofitting for Bay Area bridges. Caltrans worked along with federal, seismic and academic inspectors who signed off on the repairs before the bridge re-opened to ensure public safety.
In 2006, the Governor supported and won voter approval for $42 billion in general obligation bonds for education, housing, levee repair, flood control, parks and transportation. Further, the Governor formed the group Building America's Future with Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2008, and they've lobbied the White House to spend more than $1.6 trillion in infrastructure investment in the next five years, as well as to make infrastructure improvements a key component in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - through which the state has captured billions of dollars to repair and improve highways and roads.
To say that there is lack of concern for an event like the emergency closure of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge or for the state's infrastructure is absurd. Caltrans worked along with federal, seismic and academic inspectors who signed off on the repairs to ensure public safety, and I'm happy to report that as of this morning, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is open for travel.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could be choosing his own lieutenant governor if a special congressional election goes as predicted on Tuesday. Lt. Gov. John Garamendi is expected to win the 10th Congressional District seat, That would vacate the lieutenant governor's post.
The Sacramento Bee reports a long list of possible appointments, including Assembly Member Mike Villines, R-Clovis, and Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto. Here's more from the SacBee story:
Political consultants have thrown out several names as possibilities. Chief among them has been state Sen. Abel Maldonado, a moderate Republican from Santa Maria who provided a crucial budget vote in February and who often advocates on the governor's behalf.
Another possibility is Assemblyman Mike Villines of Clovis, who was replaced as Assembly Republican leader this spring after striking a tax-hike budget compromise with Schwarzenegger and Democrats. For the same reason, some have mentioned ousted Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill of Modesto as a possible pick.
But there's a catch: Any nominee must avoid rejection by majorities in the Senate and Assembly, which means Democrats have a huge say. In 1989, for instance, now-Rep. Dan Lungren made it through the Assembly as Deukmejian's nominee for attorney general but couldn't get past Senate Democrats.
Radio talker Rush Limbaugh said on Fox News Sunday that President Barack Obama has a big ego. This is a subject that Limbaugh has some expertise in.
"I think he's got an out-of-this-world ego," said Limbaugh. "He's very narcissistic. And he's able to focus all attention on him all the time. That description is simply a way to cut through the noise and say he's immature, inexperienced, in over his head."
The AP reported that Obama adviser David Axelrod responded for the administration.
"I think it's a surreal day when you're getting lectures on humility from Rush Limbaugh. ... The fact is that he is an entertainer. The president has to run the country," Axelrod said.
One of the raps against the Schwarzenegger administration is the lack of attention to details on matters affecting the daily life of Californians. The emergency closure of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is the latest example. The bridge was shut down after two rods and a crossbar broke Tuesday evening, with a couple of tons of the bridge landing in the traffic lanes.
This was the result of shoddy construction over Labor Day on work overseen by the state Department of Transportation. Caltrans has no idea when the bridge will reopen, even with crews working around the clock to repair the latest damage. This afternoon a Caltrans spokesman said motorists should not plan on using the Bay Bridge for their Monday morning commute.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger needs to assure Californians that he's taking the Bay Bridge fiasco seriously and will move quickly to see that that state's infrastructure isn't endangering residents. This should be a wake-up call to fix the state's bridges, levees and related infrastructure. The state's politicians invariably wait for a crisis before fixing infrastructure problems. Why haven't we heard more from Schwarzenegger on this?
But it seems that it's business as usual in Sacramento. I'd like to see a little more sense of urgency out of the governor. What other bridges, levees and freeways are about to fail? Where is the independent investigation of the Bay Bridge construction problems?
The Amtrak trip to San Diego is about two hours longer than driving, but it's a lot less stressful than maneuvering your car through Southern California traffic. I visited my daughter in San Diego over the weekend to see her new apartment, and took the train down on Saturday and returned on Monday. 
I can really relate to 
"Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die." ~Dwight D. Eisenhower
I love San Francisco. But I sure couldn't live there if my car were my primary mode of transportation. The great thing about a big city like San Francisco is you can function, even thrive, without a car.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger offered an idea Monday that he says might have less political opposition than building a peripheral canal to transport water around the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. It would be an underground canal -- similar to the one in his movie "Total Recall." The governor actually mentioned the movie during his appearance before the Fresno Bee editorial board Monday afternoon.
This just in from Mayor Ashley Swearengin's office: "Eddie J. Aubrey of Federal
That means there will be some disruption to the normal traffic flow this weekend, especially from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday morning, in Northeast Fresno and Clovis. Plan ahead: How will you get to your church that morning, if that's part of your Sunday routine?![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=e807dd9a-c76d-46fa-84f2-142d94e2a480)