Outnumbered, image by Hernan E. SchmidtDuring one unremarkable time period of four weeks, the number of political filings was roughly 12 times greater than the total number of people working for the agency charged with overseeing the accuracy and legality of those very filings. And that was a slow month.
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly85. Michael Pimentel
Transportation was another sector seemingly doomed to be a budget casualty this year when Gov. Gavin Newsom froze $2.4 billion in state transportation funds in April. One problem: local transit agencies had already begun huge projects based on expectations of getting those funds as part of a $5.1 billion transportation funding deal
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly46. Mary Kennedy
If you’re looking for legislative drama, nothing beats the public safety committees, with their high-profile votes on drugs and crime. But while the hearings in the Assembly are often contentious and/or dysfunctional, there’s no such drama on the Senate side and that seems to be due in large part to Mary Kennedy,
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly14. Rick Rivas
The younger brother of Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Rick Rivas is widely regarded as the power behind the throne in the lower house. While Rick draws a salary as a vice president with the American Beverage Association, he has his considerable clout because he is the Speaker’s closest confidant, weighing in on
Digitized athletes, image by Marko AliaksandrAlthough two sports betting ballot measures went down in flames last year, some forms or derivatives of sports betting are not only legal in California, but at least one tribe with a casino is facilitating it. The key to understanding how this could be is to understand that “sports betting,” in the broadest sense, can take many different forms.
L to R, Steve Swatt, Susie Swatt, Jeff Raimundo, Becky LaVally. Photo courtesy of Steve SwattJeff Raimundo – news reporter, political consultant, author and tireless community volunteer — passed away last week after a tough three-year battle with prostate cancer.
Image by iQoncept via ShutterstockThe system established by the Political Reform Act is still so complex and so confusing that it’s difficult – if not downright impossible – to drill down on how much a special interest has spent to specifically influence a specific issue.
Michael Dyar, photo by Scott Duncan, Capitol WeeklyMichael Dyar, 28 is legislative director for Assemblymember Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, where his duties include crafting legislative packages, overseeing co-author requests and training new staff.
Image by udra11 via shutterstockCalifornia governments up and down the state spend millions in taxpayer dollars to lobby government officials in Sacramento.
Image by Natasa Adzic via ShutterstockCalifornia’s Proposition 209, passed in 1996, ended the consideration of students’ race as one factor in public higher education admissions, but did not apply to private colleges and universities. The Supreme Court’s recent landmark decision ended that distinction.