Jerry Brown and Kamala Harris sworn in to California top governing spots

CITY INSIDER / Muni plans to fix budget with more parking tickets
Drivers in San Francisco beware: The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which runs the city's transit and parking operations, is looking to increase the number of parking citations issued, officials announced Monday. The reason? To help close a projected $21 million Deficit in the $775 million operating Budget for the current Fiscal Year that ends June 30. The agency budgeted about $99 million for parking citation revenue this year but projections have been falling short because a...

Jerry Brown takes governor's reins again
(01-03) 04:00 PST Sacramento - -- Edmund G. Brown Jr. was sworn in as California's 39th Governor in a low-key ceremony Monday during which he invoked the spirit of the state's past while chiding lawmakers for political Partisanship that has eroded the public's Trust in Government. In a 17-minute Speech that was both soaring and sobering, he spoke of his family's California experience, while promising significant changes in how much money the state spends and how it is spent. California is fac...

Jerry Brown takes governor's reins again
(01-03) 04:00 PST Sacramento - -- Edmund G. Brown Jr. was sworn in as California's 39th Governor in a low-key ceremony Monday during which he invoked the spirit of the state's past while chiding lawmakers for political Partisanship that has eroded the public's Trust in Government. In a 17-minute Speech that was both soaring and sobering, he spoke of his family's California experience, while promising significant changes in how much money the state spends and how it is spent. California is fac...

Jerry Brown takes governor's reins again
(01-04) 04:00 PST Sacramento - -- Edmund G. Brown Jr. was sworn in as California's 39th Governor in a low-key ceremony Monday during which he invoked the spirit of the state's past while chiding lawmakers for political Partisanship that has eroded the public's Trust in Government. In a 17-minute Speech that was both soaring and sobering, he spoke of his family's California experience, while promising significant changes in how much money the state spends and how it is spent. California is fac...

Jerry Brown Faces Difficult Choices in New Era
That's the theme at LAT, "Brown Sworn in as California's 39th Governor." And as promised, this is my chance to blast California Über Alles again: Edmund Gerald Brown Jr. was sworn in as California's 39th governor Monday — 36 years after first taking the same oath — warning of shared sacrifice and hard choices ahead to help the state out of its Financial Crisis. Striking a serious tone but with a strong undercurrent of optimism, Brown read, uncharacteristically, from prepared remark...

Taking state's reins for 3rd time
Reporting from Sacramento — Jerry Brown had been in the Governor's office less than a day, but already the Capitol felt completely different. Gone were the over-the-top media events, the throngs of CHP Bodyguards, the legions of highly paid advisors spinning the chief executive's every move. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose tenure ended with Brown's inauguration at 11 a.m. Monday, often ran the place as if it were the White House; Brown seems set on transforming it into something more like ...

Jerry Brown's first day as governor: A walk in the park
[enlarge] Gov. Jerry Brown starts his first full day in office by walking to the Capitol with his wife, Anne Gust Brown, on Tuesday morning. OK, so the day wasn't all a walk in the park: Brown later met with the California State Association of Counties to discuss his plan to shift funding and responsibility for many state programs to local governments. Associated Press / Rich Pedroncelli [enlarge] The Browns start his first full day in office with a walk to the Capitol with his sister's do...

E-mail for Gov. Brown's cut-rate bash turns to spam
Jerry Brown got his first re-entry lesson in Sacramento budgeting this week. It turns out that even his scaled-down inauguration can't be done within the $64,000 spending limit the Governor-elect imposed on his friends who are putting on the event. I guess hot dogs cost a bit more than they did than last time he was governor. Many of Brown's very helpful supporters are also wondering why they were left off the invite list to the inauguration festivities. It turns out that the invitations were ...

Prop 8: Back to the California Supreme Court
The fate of Prop 8 has moved through the federal legal system with relative speed --- until now. A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is kicking a dicey and important procedural question --- whether propopents of the California ban on same-sex marriage actually have standing to appeal --- to the state Supreme Court. They argue that it is better left to that court to provide clarity on a matter of state Constitutional Law. Last month, during oral arguments, they r...

DA Office Now Empty in the City, But For How Long
By the close of business Monday, the city of San Francisco will no longer have a top cop. As soon as Kamala Harris is sworn in as Attorney General for the state of California during a 1 p.m. ceremony in Sacramento, the job and the office back in the City will be officially empty. The job of filing the position is left to outgoing mayor Gavin Newsom, who has delayed taking his own new position of Lieutenant Governor in part so that he has time to make an informed decision on the replacement. The ...

Kamala Harris inaugurated
Gov. Jerry Brown wasn't the only one with an all-star cast of supporters at their inaugural event today. Attorney General Kamala Harris drew big city mayors (Gavin Newsom, Antonio Villaraigosa, Kevin Johnson), current lawmakers (including the Bay Area's Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco and Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley) and, it seemed, the entire Legislative Black Caucus. Harris' ceremony acknowledged her racial/ethnic background (she is the daughter of an Indian mother and black fat...

Could gubernatorial bear migrate from Capitol to animal shelter?
Could former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger 's 800-pound bronze Grizzly Bear land in a shelter for Homeless animals? Yes, if Sacramento's SPCA has its way. The facility on Florin-Perkins Road contacted the office of new Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday to offer "permanent sanctuary" to the metallic grizzly that stood silent guard over Schwarzenegger's Capitol office. "We understand that there is a bear in need of a home, and we're an SPCA in need of a bear to draw drive-by visitors to our shelter," SPC...

Appeals court turns to state on key Prop. 8 issue
(01-04) 12:27 PST San Francisco -- The federal appeals court reviewing California's ban on same-sex marriage asked the state Supreme Court today to answer a legal question that may determine the outcome of the case - whether a Ballot Measure's sponsors can defend it in court when state officials refuse to do so. However, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco also made it clear how it believes the question should be answered - saying California would be "ill-served" if the sp...

U.S. court: May Prop 8 backers defend ban?
After the state Supreme Court ruled same-sex couples could wed, California voters enacted the ban against same-sex marriage with 52 percent of the ballots in November 2008. But a Federal Judge struck Proposition 8 down, saying it was Unconstitutional Discrimination. That ruling was stayed until the federal appeals court decides the appeal. The groups that put Prop 8 on the ballot are seeking the right to defend it in court. Incoming Gov. Jerry Brown, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the sta...

Prop 8 Case: Appeals Court Asks CA Supreme Court For Help
A federal appeals court has asked the California Supreme Court to help answer a question about who has standing to fight same sex marriage in the courts. At issue is whether the anti-gay groups who put Proposition 8 on the ballot in California have the legal standing to appeal a decision that Prop 8 -- which outlaws same sex marriage in the state -- is Unconstitutional. Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is hearing that appeal, asked the California High Court to decide whether t...

Brown serves up hot dogs, austerity for California
By Jim Christie Sacramento, California | Mon Jan 3, 2011 5:56pm EST Sacramento, California (Reuters) - Jerry Brown was sworn in as California's Governor on Monday, returning to a job he held nearly three decades ago, and pledged a "tough Budget" to turn around one of the most financially strapped U.S. states. In keeping with his message of Austerity and painful choices, the Veteran Democrat, who was the state's Governor for two terms from 1975 to 1983, served hot dogs at his inaugural lunch a...

Brown serves up hot dogs, austerity for California
By Jim Christie Sacramento, California | Mon Jan 3, 2011 7:49pm EST Sacramento, California (Reuters) - Jerry Brown was sworn in as California's Governor on Monday, returning to a job he held nearly three decades ago, and pledged a "tough Budget" to turn around one of the most financially strapped U.S. states. In keeping with his message of Austerity and painful choices, the Veteran Democrat, who was the state's Governor for two terms from 1975 to 1983, served hot dogs at his inaugural lunch a...

Brown set to govern a different California
Sacramento, Calif. | Democrat Jerry Brown was sworn in Monday as California's 39th Governor, returning to the office he left 28 years ago but inheriting a much different and more troubled state than the one he first led in the 1970s. The man who once was California's most famous bachelor took the oath of office after being introduced by his wife of five years, former Gap Inc. executive Anne Gust Brown, inside Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. She held a Bible that belonged to her grandfather and ...

Jerry Brown Slams Prop. 13 On First Day In Office
Los Angeles Times: On his first full day on the job, Gov. Jerry Brown walked right up to the third rail of California politics. As he headed into a meeting with Local Government officials, he talked about how the state response to Proposition 13's limitations on property-tax rates have contributed to state's financial dysfunction. Brown's remarks come as he prepares to unveil a Budget plan next week that will include proposals for unwinding the consolidation of government power in...

Brown serves up hot dogs, austerity for California
SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - Jerry Brown was sworn in as California's Governor on Monday, returning to a job he held nearly three decades ago, and pledged a "tough Budget" to turn around one of the most financially strapped U.S. states. In keeping with his message of Austerity and painful choices, the Veteran Democrat, who was the state's Governor for two terms from 1975 to 1983, served hot dogs at his inaugural lunch after taking over from Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger. Inheriting a bu...

Jerry Brown and the "pale horse of death"
California has a new old Governor. Here's some of what the always-interesting Jerry Brown said during yesterday's swearing-in ceremonies: In seeking the Office of Governor, I said I would be guided by three principles. First, speak the truth. No more smoke and mirrors on the Budget. No empty promises. Second, no new taxes unless the people vote for them. Third, return—as much as possible—decisions and authority to cities, counties and schools, closer to the people. With your help, that is e...

Brown sworn in as California's 39th governor
Reporting from Sacramento — Edmund Gerald Brown Jr. was sworn in as California's 39th Governor Monday — 36 years after first taking the same oath — warning of shared sacrifice and hard choices ahead to help the state out of its Financial Crisis. Striking a serious tone but with a strong undercurrent of optimism, Brown read, uncharacteristically, from prepared remarks. In a 17-minute address, the Democrat spoke of the coming Austerity and of overcoming adversity. But he also ...

Biting The Hand That Feeds You Hotdogs And Votes
I sense a little trouble brewing in California between newly elected Governor Jerry Brown and his union supporters.  During inauguration events on Monday, Governor Brown attended a free hot dog celebration event sponsored by the Orange County Employees Association.  Many people attending the event expected the Governor to give a Speech and were disappointed when he bypassed the podium.  Governor Brown and his wife dined on the free hot dogs, spoke with a few supporters and left the event af

My Favorite Moonbeam
Jerry Brown’s third inaugural address, part 1 and 2: As you can see, Jerry never was a smooth talker. Reactions to Gov. Jerry Brown’s inaugural address Monday in Sacramento: “Hopefully the Democrats will listen to him more about spending than they did to me.” - outgoing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. “No question, California is far more partisan than when he was Governor the first time. But he’s already started early talking to leadership and rank-and-fil...

Appeals court asks for gay marriage guidance
San Francisco | Tue Jan 4, 2011 2:44pm EST San Francisco (Reuters) - A appeals court mulling California's Controversial Gay Marriage ban said on Tuesday it needs more legal guidance before it can decide the important constitutional issues at stake. California voters banned Gay Marriage in 2008 by approving so-called Proposition 8. But last year a federal District Court ruled the measure Unconstitutional. Supporters of the Gay Marriage ban appealed, but then-Attorney General and now Governor J...