CaliforniaCityNews.org

The Rising Threat Of Metal Theft Continues To Plague Cities While Powerful Special Interests Work Against Local Control In The Fight To Stop It

The following is a guest editorial by Assemblyman Tom Berryhill.

There are few cities in California who haven’t been dealing with the issue of metal theft.  Schools have been hit, utilities have had their lines stripped, and manhole covers are being stolen. Fire hydrants are rendered useless when thieves steal the brass couplings and firefighters are unable to connect during emergency calls. These thefts are costly in terms of replacement and staff time committed to replacing these items.

My staff and I have been working on this issue literally since I was sworn into office.  Our efforts to deter metal thefts by banning cash payments and requiring documentation of transactions while still allowing local governments to pass ordinances to meet their local needs have been opposed by the powerful recycling lobby.

In the meantime, there are many local governments who have done an admirable job of passing strong ordinances which are working well at the local level to help address metal theft. Unfortunately, the recycler lobby is pushing to have all local ordinances preempted and replaced with weaker state law – a direct assault on local control and cities abilities to determine their best solution to this growing problem. 

AB 844 will require recyclers to adhere to the following:

• Pay by check with a 3 day hold.
• Government issued photo ID required.
• Photo of materials required.
• Transactions under $10 are exempted.
• Local ordinances are protected.
• Current penalties are left intact.
• Restitution including collateral damage to victims by those convicted of metal theft.

Mr. Mayor Is A Freshman

How strong is the voters desire for change this year? Strong enough for a 19 year-old freshman at the University of Oklahoma to be elected Mayor of Muskogee in Oklahoma. We reported earlier this week on California student governmets considering enacting campaign finance reforms...today we explore the electability of college freshman...The Associated Press Reports.

This may also be the first news we've reported on that has also been covered by MTV.com

TODAY: Governor to Hold Conference Call on Local Issues -- And You're Invited!

Local government officials are invited to participate in a local government and housing stakeholder briefing call to discuss the Governor's May Revise Budget Proposal on Thursday morning.  This is an opportunity to hear from senior officials in the Governor's Administration the day after the budget is released -- don't miss out! 

Here's the details:

Thursday, May 15, 2008
Time: 11:00 AM
Call-In Number: 1-888-399-7388
Pass Code: local

Vallejo city workers offer to cut pay

In a joint statement, three Vallejo employee unions said police officers and firefighters would sacrifice 6.5 percent of their salaries for a year and give up raises totaling 11 percent for the next two years. General workforce employees, represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, would give up 3 percent of their salaries for a year and forego anticipated raises of 10 percent over the next two years, according to the unions. The Story in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Story developing....

If There Was Ever A Case To Be Made For Campaign Finance Reform...This Is It

Our regular readers know that we here at CCN are ardent opponents of campaign finance laws that limit a candidate's ability to raise and spend money. Besides the obvious infringements on political free speech, the laws of unintended consequences that result from these silly restrictions are no laughing matter.

Candidates are forced to scramble for money instead of votes and, more perniciously, independent expenditure committees take the candidates out of campaigns as they spend limitless amounts of money for or against candidates who are restricted from doing the same.

As you can see we feel strongly about it, especially after having run dozens of campaigns.

However, we have finally found the exception to the rule: Student government campaigns. Now prized as resume builders for going to college, many aspiring politicos are pulling all the stops to get elected - spending hundreds of dollars to get just one more vote than the opponent.

Sounds like term limits are right around the corner. Story in the Orange County Register.

UPDATE: City workers hit OT jackpot

The Los Angeles Daily News covers the ever growing government salary roles of Los Angeles in this second of a two part series aimed at showing the growth of higher range salary levels in LA.

More than two-thirds of Los Angeles city workers earned overtime last year, totaling $355 million, even as the mayor issued a directive to curtail such payouts, a Daily News review has found.

More than 29,000 employees worked overtime in the 12 months through April, with nearly 1,500 earning more than $50,000 each in overtime pay alone.

How “Doing What You Say” Can Bring the Voter Support You Need

The following is guest editorial by Catherine Lew, a Campaign Consultant and President and CEO of the Lew Edwards Group.

There is no question that attempting a municipal revenue measure in California is tough. The passage of these types of measures, whether they require a simple majority of all voters, or two-thirds requirement, are among the most difficult in the country to win.

To make matters more challenging, the political climate in California continues to be dynamic and fluid. You may be wondering whether your City can even be successful, in an era of a state fiscal crisis, rising gas prices, and food rationing.

Despite this challenging environment, cities can be successful at the ballot box. Analysis of recent successful municipal revenue measures has shown that voters understand that NO help is coming from Sacramento, and want to protect and maintain their local services. 

However, voters also want to ensure that:

1. any new local funds generated cannot be taken away by the State;
2. the City itself has done everything it can to “trim-the-fat” and is operating in a fiscally responsible manner; and
3. after a measure is passed, the public continues to be informed about how funds are being spent.

Opting to pursue a local Revenue Measure is one method of assuring voters that the resulting revenue will not be taken by the State.

Willdan Group Consolidates Under One Banner

Willdan, a leading provider of outsourced services to public agencies, has recently announced that it is blending the identities of its operating divisions into a single, unified brand.  You may be used to working with a number of Willdan companies in your city, here's how the change will affect them:

Engineering services are provided through Willdan Engineering (formerly Willdan), Willdan Geotechnical (formerly Arroyo Geotechnical), and Willdan Resource Solutions. Willdan Resource Solutions is their newest operating division and provides environmental consulting services.

Public finance services are provided by Willdan Financial Services (formerly MuniFinancial), and homeland security services are provided through Willdan Homeland Solutions (formerly American Homeland Solutions).

In a press release, Willdan CEO, Tom Brisbin was quoted "We are unifying the Willdan brand because we now operate as one company... This significant change enables us to more effectively recognize and capitalize on the collaboration opportunities among our three business segments: engineering, public finance and homeland security.  Acting together as one team makes us more effective in marketing our diversified services, and most importantly, in serving our clients.”

Further information about Willdan’s operating divisions and services can be found through their website at www.willdan.com.

San Jose retirement officials' pricey travel paid at pensions' expense

Never a paper to disappoint on the investigative journalism front The San Jose Mercury News weighs in on the costs of travel that pension executives spend on the pensioners dime. While it's true that the costs of $300-plus a night rooms are a mere fraction of a percent of most public pension funds the SJ Mercury News questions the need to travel to exotic locations for pension conferences - Las Vegas, Hawaii and Alaska to name a few.

Vallejo Just the Start?

CCN feared last week that Vallejo's bankruptcy could be but the beginning of financial hardships for cities across the state.  The SF Chron echoed our sentiments Sunday (finally, we beat them to it) in which the paper called Vallejo "a test case for thousands of floundering cities desperate to unload their extravagant public employee contracts."

The Chron interviewed an advisor to Orange County when it entered bankruptcy, who noted "There's a wave of this coming across the U.S... What happens in Vallejo could definitely set a precedent."

Read on...