Dan Walters: California must face hard truth about budget
The harsh truth is that California's recession-strapped economy shows only faint signs of recovery, and state and local governments will be squeezed by yawning income-outgo gaps for years. There's almost nothing that political officeholders can do about that fact other than attempt to raise taxes. Gov. Jerry Brown wants to try, but there are also no indications that voters would be receptive. Most likely, he and other politicians will be restricted to spending only the revenue that a moribund economy delivers, and must prioritize. (Sacramento Bee)
SF pension reform donors tied to antiunion efforts
San Francisco -- San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi is billing his pension reform measure on the Nov. 8 ballot as a progressive effort to protect city services for children, seniors and the poor - and has bristled at the notion it's an attack on unions. But the two main contributors to Proposition D - venture capitalist Michael Moritz and businessman George Hume, who have donated $250,000 apiece - have also contributed to Republicans in Ohio and Wisconsin who supported those states' polarizing, national-headline-grabbing efforts this year to curb unions' rights dramatically. (San Francisco Chronicle)
LAPD moves 150 officers to deal with freed prisoners
The Los Angeles Police Department will remove 150 officers from patrol and other assignments to deal with the fallout from a state-mandated plan to reduce prison overcrowding, a move that Police Chief Charlie Beck said will slow response times to 911 calls. (Los Angeles Times)
Teachers Fight 'Take it or Leave it' Deal
HONOLULU - The Hawaii State Teachers Association claims a Hawaii Labor Relations Board unconstitutionally denied its motion for interlocutory relief from the state's "take it or leave it" approach to collective bargaining by repeatedly delaying hearings on the teacher union's complaint. (Courthouse News)
Editorial: More pay raises have taxpayers fed up with govt.
Taxpayers are tired. They are tired of being asked for more money by the government, only to see it spent inappropriately. (The Pantagraph)
Editorial: PEF needs to reverse course
At some point, if not in the next few weeks, last week's contract vote by the Public Employees Federation may force thousands of layoffs. We hope that unfortunate event can be avoided, even at this late date, but the options are few. (Buffalo News)
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