This story was reported for San Diego News Network on September 1, 2009.
The sale of the year is happening in Sacramento, while fires burn in Los Angeles, assemblymembers defend their prison package and university students make major adjustments.
Sale, sale, sale!: Looking for good deals this recession? You still have time to shop at the Great California Garage Sale.
Schwarzenegger, in an attempt to raise money for the faltering state, has put state items up for sale in Sacramento and some items on eBay. The celeb-Gov. even autographed some items, hoping to gain a little extra cash with his superstar image.
Some items for sale include state vehicles, confiscated belongings of inmates and Schwarzenegger’s jacket, which is up to $3,583.33 as of 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
Enough money for fires?: Schwarzenegger has consistently reassured Californians the past days that the government has allocated enough money to fight wildfires — $182 million to be exact.
American Public Media’s Marketplace though, points out that more than half of the money ($106.5 million) has already been spent despite fire season being in its peak in September and October.
So far, the Los Angeles fires have burned 53 homes and have forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. In addition, San Diego County firefighters have been sent to the area to assist in ending the flames.
Prison plan completed: The State Assembly passed a prison “reform” plan Monday – more than a week later than the Senate.
Senate Bill 18 (3X), should it be signed by Schwarzenegger, would save the state $1 billion and was approved by 41 of the 80-member house.
Of the major differences between the Senate and the Assembly’s plan include: The Assembly’s plan would release 27,000 inmates rather than 37,000 and would eliminate the Public Safety Commission.
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) said the package is a “common sense” approach.
“These are the achievable common sense approaches, developed with law enforcement participation that will improve public safety, lower crime, reduce budget costs and prevent overcrowding,” Bass said.
“This bill is the responsible path to reform and savings that puts public safety first.”
Higher education dilemmas: SDSU students and leaders held a rally Monday to protest the $55 million budget cut the university has had to accept this fiscal year.
At the rally, SDSU president Stephen Weber asked students to sign petitions and/or record a video message to be sent to their legislators. Weber said more than 2,000 students were rejected admission to the school despite being eligible.
A Fresno Bee article reports that private universities are seeing a “business opportunity” with students being rejected from CSU and UC schools or because the budget cuts. The Bee writer talks to a 25-year-old student who enrolled in a private university after “Fresno State dramatically sliced its program.”
Hoa Quach is the political editor for the San Diego News Network.