Water, Water, Everywhere, But Now We Stop And Think
By Sheila Kuehl
(First of a series of three essays describing the five separate pieces of water legislation recently passed by the California legislature and signed, in many public events, by the Governor)
Overview
Given the breathless tone of the several press reports on the "great California water reform package", you would have thought the Legislature had parted the waters, rather than simply passing five water bills. The lead-up to the passage had been long and dramatic.
The Governor, who is extremely concerned about what he calls his "legacy", that is, the fact that, so far, he doesn't really have much of one, insisted that the Legislature very quickly come up with a package of bills to reform governance over the allocation, conservation and pricing of water in the state.
UC President and Regents Are Dismantling a Great Academic Institution
By Jelger Kalmijn
University Professional and Technical Employees, UPTE-CWA
The achievements of UC faculty, staff and graduates would be a list too long to recount and too prodigious to measure. We have reaped abundant results from the seeds laid by The Master Plan for Education adopted in the 1960’s. Using the current state budget shortfall for cover, the new regime at the helm of UC seeks to undo this visionary public policy in order to turn a quick profit.
This week, the strike by the research and technical workers in UPTE-CWA at UC Berkeley combined with a student and faculty walkout and planned protests at the Regents meeting in Los Angeles show escalating discontent with UC President Mark Yudof and the Regent’s new corporate-oriented vision for UC.
Residential Foreclosures Are An Economic Cancer. Banks Have The Cure And Won't Use It.
By Assemblyman Pedro Nava
In California, the mortgage delinquency rate has jumped to 10.2 percent, from 5.8 percent in 2008. The financial institutions who caused this crisis continue to ignore its severity and their role in any potential recovery. Thus far, the solutions offered have been a gamut of voluntary programs that still place borrowers at the distinct disadvantage of having to trust their lenders.
Earlier this year, the federal government rolled out the Home Affordable Modification Program ( HAMP ) to encourage servicers to offer sustainable modifications. The latest round of data, which covers the beginning of the program to the month of October, finds that only 20% of those eligible have received trial loan modifications. You have to be 60 days delinquent before you are "eligible." Of those borrowers in the most trouble, less than one quarter have received a trial modification.
Holiday Shopping? Ten Timely Tips
By Paul Stephens
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is pleased to offer these ten timely tips to protect you and your privacy during the holiday season. You may be shopping more frequently and under more crowded and frantic conditions. Follow these tips to help avoid scams and rip-offs. Be a privacy-smart consumer!
1. Don't Debit. Don't use a debit or check card to pay for your purchases. These cards typically put consumers at much greater risk than credit cards because they offer fewer consumer protections in the event of a loss. Because these cards access funds directly from your bank account, your money may remain missing while you and your bank sort out any theft, which could mean bounced checks, late fees, and
numerous other problems. Your checking account (and related savings accounts) could be wiped out in minutes.
Will CTA Put A Split-Roll Initiative on the 2010 Ballot?
By Robert Cruickshank
For several years now the California Teachers Association, one of the state's largest and most powerful labor unions, has been considering the idea of putting an initiative on the ballot to close the loophole in Prop 13 that gave commercial property owners the same protections as residential property owners. Now they are closer than ever to bringing it before voters.
Earlier this month, CTA filed two initiatives to close that loophole. They are both pending at the AG's office for title and summary. Here's how they'd work:
• Tax commercial property at fair market value, and frequently reassess property taxes at fair market value (instead of locking in a value and rate, as Prop 13 currently does). The main difference between the two initiatives is how that reassessment is accomplished.
• Provide a small business exclusion of up to $1 million
• Double homeowners' exemption from $7,000 to $14,000 (as a sweetener to voters)
UC Regents Raise Fees 32% Amid Bleak Economic News
By David M. Greenwald
As expected, a committee of the UC Regents voted on Wednesday to raise student fees by a total of 32 percent over the next year. These hikes will bring the annual cost of a UC education above $10,000 for the first time ever. The full board is expected to ratify these changes today.
There were massive student strikes at UCLA where the UC regents held their meeting and at UC Berkeley where many Northern California students coalesced.
Meanwhile, the economic news was even worse Wednesday, as the Legislative Analyst’s Office reported that the state will face a $20 billion budget deficit at least through June of 2011. The result will be additional job cuts for state workers on top of the 7000 positions already eliminated from the general fund. A spokesperson for the governor said it was likely that there would be additional cuts to employee compensation in the next round of budget cuts.
Janitors Struggle to Make California Supermarkets Safe, Clean, and Green
By Rachele Huennekens
SEIU-United Service Workers West
Monoethanolamine: can cause severe eye and respiratory irritation and produce chemical burns on the skin. 2-Butoxyethanol: a carcinogen whose airborne vapors are easily absorbed by human skin, known to cause liver and kidney damage and possibly linked to reproductive problems including reduced fertility, death of embryos and birth defects. Chlorine: corrosive, irritating to the eyes, skin, and respiratory system, and fatal if ingested.
Sound appetizing?
No Happy Hour for States In the Red
By Michael J. Scippa
Advocacy Director
Marin Institute
Marin Institute, the alcohol industry watchdog, has released a reportanalyzing the successes and failures of states that proposed bills to raise alcohol taxes during the 2009 legislative session.
State Budget Deficit Now Projected at $21 Billion
By Marty Omoto
California Disability Community Action Network
Despite massive permanent spending cuts and some temporary tax increases made this past year, California’s budget shortfall is projected to swell to $21 billion by June 30, 2011, the end of the 2010-2011 State Budget year in a new report issued this morning by the Legislative Analyst Office – the non-partisan agency that reviews and monitors budget issues for the Legislature.
Adding to the bad news, the report also projects continued budget shortfalls of billions of dollars for the next several years especially when federal stimulus dollars and revenues from the temporary tax increases end.
It's Time to Demand Our dotRights!
By Nicole Ozer
ACLU of Northern California
Your life, your data. Or is it?
When we update our status on Facebook, post those photos on Flickr, or shop for holiday gifts on Amazon, a whole lot happens behind the scenes. The more we do online, the more digital footprints we leave behind. Many sites we visit collect detailed information about us—our politics, hobbies, relationships and more.
Outdated privacy laws often fail to keep your personal information from being shared, sold, or handed over to a snooping government—without a warrant! And the government and some Web companies don't exactly want us to connect the dots.
Who Protects Your Privacy?
