An Icon Is Born — In The Back of a Real Estate Office in Los Feliz

Ninety years ago on October 16, 1923, brothers Walter Elias Disney and Roy Oliver Disney founded Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio.

The studio was located in the rear of a small office occupied by Holly-Vermont Realty at 4651 Kingswell Ave. near Vermont Ave. in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles. Rent was $10.    Read more »

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Brown Saying “No” More Than Twice As Much as He Used To

Of the 896 bills lawmakers approved in 2013, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed 96 of them – just under 11 percent – the lowest percentage of his current term, according to How Often Do Governors Say No?, an annual tabulation by the Senate Committee on Governance & Finance.

In 2012, the Democratic governor was sent 996 bills of which he vetoed 120.    Read more »

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California Creates Nation’s First Outright Ban on Lead Bullets for Hunting

California is the first state to ban lead bullets for hunting under legislation signed October 11 by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Under the bill — AB 711 by Assemblyman Anthony Rendon, a Lakewood Democrat — the ban would occur “as soon as practicable” but no later than July 1, 2019.

“There is simply no reason to continue using lead ammunition in hunting when it poses a significant risk to human health and the environment,” Rendon said in a stament after Brown’s signature.    Read more »

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Cesar Chavez’s Home Now Also A State Historic Landmark

United Farmer Workers leader César Chávez’s home and burial site — Nuestra Señora Reina de La Paz will become a state historic landmark under legislation signed October 8 by Gov. Jerry brown.

Located in Keene, about 30 miles southeast of Bakersfield, the 187-acre site was designated both a National Monument and a National Historic Landmark by President Obama exactly one year ago.     Read more »

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Ten years Ago Today — California’s First Recall Election

On October 7, 2003, California voters removed Gov. Gray Davis from office and replaced him with actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Davis, a Democrat, was the first California governor to be recalled although previous governors, including Jerry Brown and Ronald Reagan, were targeted.

It was the first time in 92 years enough signatures were gathered to call a special election under the state’s recall process, enacted by voters in 1911 ostensibly as a way to break the stranglehold of Southern Pacific Railroad and other business interests on the Capitol.    Read more »

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California Kids Can Have More Than Two Parents

California courts can now recognize more than two legal apretns for a child, under legislation signed October 4 by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The measure — SB 274 by Sen. Mark Leno, a San Francisco Democrat — is similar to a bill Leno carried in 2012 vetoed by the Democratic governor over “ambiguities.”      Read more »

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New Round of Clawing in GOP Board of Equalization Cat Fight

Below is the latest campaign email from Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, a Dana Point Republican, vying with Sen. Mark Wyland, an Escondido Republican, for a seat on the state Board of Equalization. 

A key element of Wyland’s campaign has been the bankruptcy of Point Center Financial — a firm run by Harkey’s husband, Dan.    Read more »

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New Law Tries to Decide When Homemade Duck Sausage Is Food or Game?

When does homemade duck sausage or venison steaks become food instead of game?

California’s Fish and Game Commission must be decide under legislation signed October 2 by Gov. Jerry Brown

Sponsored by the California Waterfowl Association, the bill – SB 392 by Sen. Tom Berryhill, a Twain Harte Republican – requires the commission to adopt regulations or recommend changes in federal law to the U.S.    Read more »

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The Governor Goes Three for Three on Tax Check-offs

Disaster efforts of  California’s chapters of the American Red Cross will have a check-off on state tax forms under legislation signed Oct. 1 by Gov. Jerry Brown.

It’s the third of three measures sent to the Democratic governor to add to the current 18 voluntary contribution categories that have been multiplying since the first was placed on state tax forms in 1983.    Read more »

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State Voluntary Tax Check-Offs Grow — But Should They?

The California Arts Council gets a second chance at a tax check-off under legislation approved September 30 by Gov. Jerry Brown who created the council when he was previously governor in 1975.

It’s one of seven bills approved by lawmakers this year relating to the voluntary contribution funds, fixtures on state tax forms for 30 years.    Read more »

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