CaliforniaCityNews.org

Public Split on Trusting the Legislature or Britney Spears with Budget Choices

In the latest blow to the California legislature's psyche, a recent poll by Wilson research demonstrates that the public is basically split on whether to trust our elected legislature, or Britney Spears with the budgetary decisions.  An excerpt from the poll as shared by CCN friend and political consultant Tab Berg:

Q17:  And, who do you think would do a better job handling your family's budget [ROTATE] California legislators or Brittany Spears?

1.    California Legislators   35%
2.    Brittany Spears          31%
3.    Don't Know/Refused   34%

Bear in mind, this is not a website poll or other informal kind of 'push-polling' -- it's a professionally administered poll by a respected firm.   Tab Berg wrote an opinion piece reacting to this latest disgrace on the conservative Flashreport blog that is worth a read. 

And the longer we look at these numbers, the crazier it sounds.  Maybe the most troubling part is the 34% of respondents who can't decide between the two!  Maybe they want to go re-watch the clip of Brittany shaving her head before making that call for sure. 

Concord Makes National News with "Charlie Brown" Christmas Tree

Budget cuts.  Good Grief!

Concord has been making national new2s, from Forbes to ABC, for a town Christmas Tree that bears a striking resemblance to one of the nation's most famous and loved icons -- though the comparison might not be all that flattering. 

"Officials said budget woes forced them to forgo a freshly cut, full-bodied tree for one that was already growing in a city plaza...City officials hope their tree reminds all who see it of the true spirit of the season, just as Charlie Brown's did for the Peanuts characters." 

We've got a video down below, you be the judge.  The switch is saving the city over $20k, is 'green' in terms of its energy consumption and has offered a local shelter an ideal venue for a blanket drive -- Linus would surely approve.  Some reactions from Concord residents:

"This thing looks like it's dead and it's leaning over," Concord resident Bill Gram-Reefer said to ABC News. "It just doesn't evoke a Christmas tree to me."  Or..."It's unique! It's a unique tree, and no one else has anything like it," remarked resident Jo Ellen Keith.

You can also read more from ABC or Forbes or catch the clip from KTVU below...

Defeated Councilman Collects Unemployment

Who ever said "to the winner go the spoils"?  Former Rosemead councilman John Nunez lost his council seat in march, but the stipends keep on coming -- only now they're from EDD.

Nunez has so far collected $11,250 in unemployment, and he continues to collect $450 a week, despite the objections of city officials. 

Read more in the San Gabriel Valley Trib.

CA Cities Fare Well on Standard & Poors List of 'AAA' Cities

Here's a odd one... despite the dire financial times, California cities actually fared pretty well in a Standard & Poors report on AAA rated municipalities across the nation.  As the Capitol Weekly reported Monday, "The venerable credit rating agency's latest listing of 169 "AAA" cities includes 25 in California, the most of any state (Massachusetts is second with 21), and 12 of the 25 are new to the list this year."

It's an interesting read, and Standard & Poors notes some interesting conclusions.  While geography and population don't seem to matter much (San Jose was the only large CA city to make the list), one strong indicator did reveal itself: "Profiles Generally Reflect High Incomes And Low Debt Ratios." 

Hmm.  Did anyone in the Capitol read this report?  Take a look yourself here.

Vallejo Mayor Under Fire for Comments on Gays

If you thought bankruptcy was the only tough issue in the Vallejo, you'd be wrong.  Mayor Osby Davis, who won election in a razor close (two votes) campaign against an openly gay candidate, is now the focus of a national backlash for comments saying gays are "committing sin and that sin will keep them out of heaven."  He made these remarks in an interview with the New York Times.

Davis has attempted to walk back the remarks (see video below), but is now the focus of protests and outcry. 

Read the original NYT article here, as well as the reaction here.  The Vallejo Times Herald printed an a series of letters asking the mayor "What were you thinking" just before the holiday last week, and then again on Friday.

Santa Cruz Regains Upper Hand in 'Surf City' Tussle with Huntington Beach?

The long running 'feud' between Santa Cruz and Huntington Beach is one of our favorite plotlines in covering local government in California, and we've got an intriguing new development.  The Kawānanakoa family, who represent the heirs to the throne of the now defunct Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and descendants of the chiefs of Waimea, have awarded Santa Cruz city officials with a plaque  "honoring three island princes who introduced surfing to the mainland when they first paddled out at the San Lorenzo River mouth in 1885."

The San Lorenzo River, of course, runs through Santa Cruz, and nowhere near Huntington Beach.  Though the legal claim to the Surf City moniker was awarded to Huntington Beach several years ago, Santa Cruz is now saying its regained the 'upper hand.'  Far out.

Read more from the San Jose Merc. 

City Manager Nabbed in Vice Sting

Yikes.  El Monte City Manager Jim Mussenden has been caught in a prostitution sting, and has resigned.  The city has named an interim replacement, and word is Mussenden called each councilmember personally to apologize.

Another oddity out of this story, as reported by the LA Times, several community members showed up to support  Mussenden at a hearing to name his replacement.  One informed the city council, "These things happen with men... None of you are fit to sit on an ethic committee."

Read more in the LA Times.

Update: Newark Mayor to Visit the Tonight Show to Settle Feud

Just a quick update for those of you following the amusing feud between Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien.  Mayor Booker will be making an appearance on Friday night's Tonight Show.  Will they bury the hatchet, or ratchet up the feud?  It's all in good fun, so we're hoping for the latter.

Sac Mayor Robbed on Visit to SF, But There's a Happy Ending for KJ

The news has traveled pretty fast, so we're admittedly a little late on this one, but former NBA standout and current Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson was robbed during a trip to San Francisco over the weekend, and in the midst of a good deed, no less.

The following is excerpted from KJ's blog:

"I didn’t expect to be a crime victim on the streets of San Francisco. Nobody does. But it happened, on a beautiful evening this past weekend near Union Square. As crimes go, it could have been much worse. I was helping an elderly man when somebody sneaked up behind me and stole my garment bag. I lost a nice suit, a nice pair of shoes and overnight toiletries. Not the end of the world, but frustrating.

The real crime was the vulnerability of it all, the idea that I could leave my bag on a crowded street, turn my back for 30 seconds and have my stuff stolen."

If KJ hadn't made his living making steals on the hardwood, we could have forgiven his naivete.  Ok, bad joke, but there is a happy ending to the whole thing.  When the thieves realized who they'd robbed, they actually returned the stolen goods. 

Update: The War on Conan

Last week, the feud between Newark Mayor Cory Brooker and Late Night Host Conan O'Brien reached a fever pitch.  First, Brooker banned Conan from the Newark Airport... then extended the ban to the entire city, all of its sister cities around the globe, and ultimately the entire state of New Jersey: