Politics
Friday, February 3, 2012
Friday's Best Quotes: On Komen, Using Taxpayer Funds to Lobby, and the Bay Citizen Merger
Politics / Health & Medicine / Transportation Robert Gammon — Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Best quotes of the day:
1. “We want to apologize for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives,” tweeted by Susan G. Komen foundation.
Friday’s Top Stories: Komen Changes Mind on Planned Parenthood; Bay Citizen and California Watch Are in Merger Talks
Media / Politics / Health & Medicine Robert Gammon — Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 9:58 AM
Today’s top stories:
1. The Susan G. Komen foundation, a breast cancer organization that was under siege for its decision earlier this week to defund Planned Parenthood, reversed course today, The New York Times reports. In a statement, the Komen foundation said it had changed its policies and would continue to fund Planned Parenthood. Earlier this week, Komen had said that it wouldn’t give money to any nonprofits that were under “investigation.” But today, Komen said it was altering that policy to clarify that the investigation would have to be criminal in nature and not political. Congressional Republicans, who want to kill Planned Parenthood because it provides abortion services, had launched an investigation of Planned Parenthood, but the probe is widely considered to be nothing more than a political stunt.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Thursday’s Best Quotes: On No Snow, SmartMeters, and HoJo
Politics / Environment / Occupy Robert Gammon — Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Best quotes of the day:
1. "It's time to be concerned," said Maury Roos, the state's chief hydrologist on the fact that this year's snowpack is only 37 percent of normal.
2. "We're not going to stop. We're not going away," said Josh Hart, a Santa Cruz County resident and organizer of a grassroots group called Stop Smart Meters. "People are going to refuse to pay these fees. You're going to see personal injury lawsuits and class-action lawsuits."
3. "If one house on a block opts for an analog meter, the question is, should all the homes on the block share the cost for sending a meter reader to that one house?" said PG&E Chief Customer Officer Helen Burt. "We don't think so."
In Light of the Komen-Planned Parenthood Flap
Politics Ellen Cushing — Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 9:48 AM
Here's a friendly reminder:
(h/t Xeni and everyone else in the universe)
Also: everyone should read this great MoJo piece from '09 about pinkwashing!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
City of Berkeley Takes Steps to Move Its Money to a Local Bank
Politics / Occupy John C. Osborn — Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 4:03 PM
In what could well be one of the more significant consequences of the Occupy Wall Street movement, Berkeley may become one of the first cities in the country to pull its assets out of a major bank — in this case, Wells Fargo — as response to its role in the financial meltdown.
The city council unanimously decided to review the feasibility of transferring its $300 million or so in assets from the bank to either a local bank or a credit union, and whether an institution of that size would be able to handle the banking transactions required of a medium-sized city.
Wednesday's Best Quotes: On Stay-Away Orders, Oakland's Finances, and Apple's Domination
Politics / Business / Occupy Robert Gammon — Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 11:30 AM
The best quotes of the day:
1. "While we respect every citizen's right to protest peacefully, we will not tolerate individuals who come to Oakland with an organized strategy to riot, clash with police officers, vandalize property and wreak havoc upon the city," Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley said in a statement.
2. "It's unconstitutional," said attorney David Briggs, whose client, Mario Casillas of San Bruno, an Oakland Occupy protester, is charged with two felony counts of assaulting a peace officer and is subject to the stay-away order. "They have a right to freedom of assembly, the right to free speech. The stay-away order has nothing to do with the charges."
Wednesday’s Top Five Stories: Oakland Saves Funding for Fairyland and Zoo; Judge Issues Stay Away Orders to 12 Oakland Occupiers
Politics / Law Enforcement & Crime / Occupy Robert Gammon — Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 9:11 AM
The top five stories of the day:
1. The Oakland City Council spared Fairyland and the Oakland Zoo from budget cuts last night, but went ahead with layoffs, eliminating 105 jobs and letting 80 workers go, the Chron and Trib report. The council was forced to cut $28 million from the city’s budget because of the elimination of redevelopment. City Administrator Deanna Santana had originally proposed to slash funding to Fairyland and the zoo, but the council avoided those cuts through a series of budget maneuvers that includes the sale of a former fire station.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday Must Read: Occupy Oakland Vandalizes City Hall; Dems Have Good Shot at Taking the Senate
Politics / Environment / Occupy Robert Gammon — Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 7:59 AM
Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. Occupy Oakland protesters used a crowbar to break into City Hall on Saturday night and then vandalized the historic building after a demonstration turned into chaos, the Chron and Trib report. The demonstrators grew angry after police blocked them from taking over the vacant Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, a publicly owned building on Lake Merritt. Protesters also streamed into the Oakland YMCA on Broadway while people were working out inside the facility. Mayor Jean Quan said the protesters had acted as if they were throwing a “tantrum,” and were treating the city as if it were their own “playground.” But protesters contended that Oakland police had overreacted.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Friday Must Read: Sorry Planet, But More Toll Lanes Are Coming and Probably More Suburban Sprawl, Too
Politics / Environment / Transportation Robert Gammon — Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 8:02 AM
The top five stories of the day:
1. Bay Area transportation officials are continuing their love affair with toll lanes, bringing the controversial lanes to the South Bay on Interstate 880 and 237, the Mercury News reports. Caltrans also hopes that the installation of toll lanes, which allow solo motorists to drive in the carpool lane for a price, will go much more smoothly than it did on I-680 in Fremont and Sunol. Although the jury is still out on whether toll lanes actually relieve traffic congestion, transportation officials plan to eventually extend them into carpool lanes throughout the region. But what the Merc doesn’t report is that toll lanes could inspire even more people to get into their cars and not take mass transit to work, thereby worsening the Bay Area’s greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Bay Area officials also are moving forward with plans to extend BART to Livermore, even though such rail extensions — along with toll lanes — could spur even more suburban sprawl by making it easier for suburban commuters to get to work. The CoCo Times reports that the Alameda County Transportation Commission, which is dominated by elected officials from suburban areas, voted overwhelmingly to include the $400 million BART to Livermore proposal in a sales tax measure that would go before East Bay voters. Commissioner Keith Carson, who represents Oakland and Berkeley, was the lone vote against the plan, saying more money should be spent on urban bus systems.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thursday Must Read: College Students Are More Liberal Than Ever; State to Adopt Strict Clean-Air Rules
Politics / Education / Environment Robert Gammon — Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 9:49 AM
Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. College students across the nation are becoming increasingly more liberal, as conservative students are now embracing progressive views, the CoCo Times reports, citing a new major study from UCLA. A record 71.3 percent of freshmen students said they approve of same-sex marriage, and opinions on marijuana legalization, affirmative action, abortion, and immigration have steadily moved toward the left in the past few years.
