April 14, 2009 Open Thread

Did you finish your taxes? Better get them in, the state needs your money. Maybe toss in a tip for your favorite state employee.  Here we go with the links

  •  Yahoo is laying off more workers. But the say the best comopanies of the next tech wave emerge from the recessions, so maybe we're about to see the next big thing from Silicon Valley.
  • Our Congress critters aren't the best at getting federal dollars. Well, we probably knew that already, as we are a big net donor state, but now we know how bad. 49th to be exact.
  • The investigation into the murder of former Oakland Post editor Chauncey Bailey is under some scrutiny, with allegations of insubordination and misconduct being bandied about. A former handyman for the Your Black Muslim bakery has been charged in the murder, but there is a lot of speculation about some leaders of that group being involved in the murder.
  • Carla Marinucci is quite skeptical that Nevada can be a model for California's state government despite California Republican suggestions otherwise. She points out that Nevad's state government spends the lowest per capita on its citizens, rates terribly on quality of life issues, and Las Vegas is now the biggest US city without an art museum. Yeah, let's get moving on becoming that.
  • Once and future(?) AD-15 candidate (and Walnut Creek mayor) Abram Wilson is scheduled to speak at the Pleasanton tea-bagging event.  Nothing shows that you care about the district and about state government than throwing food products on the ground with some right wingers.  I don't know if Mayor Wilson noticed, but the sitrict now has a 4.6% Democratic registration advantage.  Perhaps cowtowing to the right isn't the best way to get elected in such a district.

April 14, 2009 Open Thread

Did you finish your taxes? Better get them in, the state needs your money. Maybe toss in a tip for your favorite state employee.  Here we go with the links

  •  Yahoo is laying off more workers. But the say the best comopanies of the next tech wave emerge from the recessions, so maybe we're about to see the next big thing from Silicon Valley.
  • Our Congress critters aren't the best at getting federal dollars. Well, we probably knew that already, as we are a big net donor state, but now we know how bad. 49th to be exact.
  • Film production in Los Angeles has run away and hid, down 56% in the first quarter. TV production is way up, but that's a misleading statistic, because it's compared with the first quarter of last year, during the writer's strike. Really bad news for industry workers.
  • The California Budget Project takes ann in-depth look at Prop. 1D. Alternatively, you can look at the Calitics endorsements!
  • The investigation into the murder of former Oakland Post editor Chauncey Bailey is under some scrutiny, with allegations of insubordination and misconduct being bandied about. A former handyman for the Your Black Muslim bakery has been charged in the murder, but there is a lot of speculation about some leaders of that group being involved in the murder.
  • Carla Marinucci is quite skeptical that Nevada can be a model for California's state government despite California Republican suggestions otherwise. She points out that Nevad's state government spends the lowest per capita on its citizens, rates terribly on quality of life issues, and Las Vegas is now the biggest US city without an art museum. Yeah, let's get moving on becoming that.
  • Steve Poizner engages in some serious concern trolling with Jerry Brown and Antonio Villaraigosa, though I confess that I would love to see the Democratic front-runners debate someone serious about Prop. 1A, not a See-and-Say with only one working phrase (“No new taxes! No new taxes!”)
  • Once and future(?) AD-15 candidate (and Walnut Creek San Ramon mayor) Abram Wilson is scheduled to speak at the Pleasanton tea-bagging event.  Nothing shows that you care about the district and about state government than throwing food products on the ground with some right wingers.  I don't know if Mayor Wilson noticed, but the district now has a 4.6% Democratic registration advantage.  Perhaps cowtowing to the right isn't the best way to get elected in such a district.

5 thoughts on “April 14, 2009 Open Thread”

  1. Nevada can be a model for California’s state government despite California Republican suggestions otherwise.

     I say take California Republicans up on this.  The Nevada Supreme Court threw out a constitutional amendment to require a 2/3rds vote for increased taxes (if only our court had done the same–Rose Bird did vote to hold Prop 13 unconstitutional).

  2. Dan Kirby lost his Monrovia City Council seat in a local election yesterday.

    But my understanding is that he could still be appointed to his city council (again).

    Dan’s previous appointment to city council followed his 2003 election loss, and was awarded even though another losing candidate, Pam Fitzpatrick, won more votes than Dan in that election.

    Why do I care?

    During Dan’s first term on city council, he also managed to pull down $88K/yr working for Ron Prentice’s California Family Council (and according to CFC Form 990s, Dan was putting in 40 hrs/wk for the CFC during the years he served on the Monrovia City Council).

    All the while maintaining his employment with Rio Hondo Prep.

    Not to mention Dan’s apparent good fortune at having the Yes on 8 campaign choose his “Patriot Design” as a vendor.

    Dan apparently likes to keep busy.  Good for him.

    But, if Dan is re-appointed this time around, I’m gonna wonder: why’s it so darn important that Daniel J. Kirby keep his seat on the Monrovia City Council? I mean, it’s obviously not important to Monrovia’s voters, who’ve rejected him twice now.

  3. film production will always follow the exchange rate, not tax breaks. if LA, with all its advantages, is experiencing a downturn, it’s ludicrous to think those folks will come to SF, with all the problems.

    plus as more and more dramas and such are replaced with low-budget “reality” shows, you’ll see less productions because of that as well….

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