In a move that almost certainly means Escondido cannot use redevelopment funds for a proposed Triple-A ballpark, the California Supreme Court has ruled that the state acted legally when it abolished redevelopment agencies. It also ruled invalid a second law that allowed some agencies to continue if they shared funding. The ruling is described as [...]

Gov. Brown has signed a bill that will limit impounding the cars of unlicensed drivers caught at police DUI checkpoints. The bill goes into effect January 1, 2012, and is likely to have a major impact on Escondido Police checkpoints. Watch coverage on KNSD-TV 7/39. Read coverage in North County Times. Read coverage in The [...]

Governor Brown has signed SB 922, which penalizes cities and counties that have or that create blanket prohibitions on project labor agreements (PLAs). The law could cost Escondidio state funding on future projects if a proposed charter is approved by voters. Read more in The San Diego Union-Tribune. 

California’s redistricting effort achieved another milestone August 15, when the commission approved final maps for new assembly, senate, congressional and board of equalization districts. The districts reflect boundaries covered in earlier posts, so there are no surprises for Escondidans. 8/31 UPDATE: A group of Republican leaders has filed a referendum to challenge the new congressional [...]

There seems to be a glitch in the otherwise smooth process of preparing new maps for California’s federal and state districts. The Citizens Redistricting Commission decided Saturday to skip a step in their process, and will not issue a second set of draft maps “in order to produce the best district maps possible.” The second [...]

6/30 UPDATE: Gov. Brown has signed the law affecting redevelopment agencies.  The agencies will appeal to California Supreme Court. See story linked after the jump. 6/28 UPDATE: It appears the Governor’s original proposals will be included in the revised budget, meaning that without major changes, redevelopment as we know it may be phased out. The [...]

Two weeks and counting until the California Redistricting Commission releases its first maps of new Congressional and State districts on Friday, June 10. 2010 census data provides clear indications that North County districts will be redrawn, as local areas have too many people to meet population targets. One scenario that has bee making the rounds [...]

The bill that would bring a ‘single payer’ system to California health care has been re-introduced in the legislature by Senator Mark Leno. The California Universal Health Care Act is scheduled for a hearing May 4th before the Senate Health Committee. Not only would ‘single payer’ ensure that all Californians would have access to quality [...]