PLAN INCLUDES DEEP CUTS IN EDUCATION, HEALTH & WELFARE PROGRAMS, ELIMINATION OF SOME AGENCIES & SALE OF PROPERTIES; MOST STATE PARKS SPARED CLOSURE

By Miriam Raftery
 
July 26, 2009 (Sacramento)—Both houses of the California Legislature have approved a package of bills to close the state’s $24 billion budget gap. Two provisions were removed by the Assembly: a proposal to allow oil drilling off Santa Barbara’s coast and a proposal to take $1 billion in gas tax revenues from local governments. Local governments had called the gas tax diversion illegal and threatened to sue the state.  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has indicated he will wield a blue pencil this week to make line-item cuts in order to balance the budget. State officials indicate it may take weeks before California can cease issuing IOUs, which the state began issuing on July 1st.

Story and photo by Miriam Raftery
 
July 18, 2009 (San Diego) – San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, Democratic candidate for Governor, spoke briefly with East County Magazine after his address at the Stand Down event to help homeless veterans yesterday. We asked his views on three pressing issues impacting residents in our region.
 

How concerned is Newsom about firefighting capabilities for our region, we asked for starters, and what should be done to assure adequate year-round protection for San Diego County?

 
By Ryan Lescure
 
July 1, 2009 (San Diego)--Faced with the prospect of closing 220 state parks, including two in East County (Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park), the California Legislature passed a bundle of tax and fee increases by a simple majority, though a two-thirds majority is required to raise taxes. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto the budget, which did not meet the two-thirds majority due to lack of Republican support for tax increases on tobacco, alcohol and other items proposed by Democrats.

An Editorial By Miriam Raftery
Editor, East County Magazine

June 3, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—If California ever needed an action hero at the helm, it’s now. Instead, Arnold has taken the “girlie man” way out –balancing the budget on the backs of the poor by proposing to eliminate healthcare for children and welfare-to-work programs. He also wants to close 80% of state parks, release prisoners, and slash school spending.

Granted, a grid-locked Legislature, Republicans who pale at the words “raise revenues,” Democrats who were split on ballot initiatives and fed-up voters who failed to pass the measures have left him few easy choices. But Arnold has one ace left in the hole: star power. Here’s how he can use it to debut the most important road show of his career: “Save Kaleefornia.”