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January 29 2012
Spatula at the Ready, Three Pickles’ Clay Lovejoy Joins Santa Barbara Sandwich Showdown
California Teachers Association backs Gov. Jerry Brown's tax plan
The California Teachers Association officially agreed Sunday to back Gov. Jerry Brown's multibillion-dollar tax plan, which should provide the governor hefty financial support for his fall campaign.
The union represents 325,000 teachers and education workers, and it is a heavy hitter in state politics. Brown is gathering signatures for a November initiative to raise sales taxes by a half-cent and income taxes on high income earners. He has structured his budget so that schools would face a $2.4 billion program cut in 2012-13 if voters reject his proposal, which he says is equal to three weeks off the school year.
The Democratic governor now has support from the state's two most powerful public employee unions in CTA and the Service Employees International Union State Council. SEIU has not made its support public, but CTA President Dean E. Vogel told his members on Saturday that "SEIU State Council has already taken a support position," according to a text of his speech.
SEIU spokesman Michael Cox said Sunday his organization has not taken a public position. But sources besides Vogel confirmed SEIU has privately agreed to support Brown. The governor has been working for weeks to convince other tax proponents to step aside, knowing that voters are less inclined to support any tax plan if faced with multiple options.
CTA's State Council, a group of nearly 800 union leaders, voted today in Los Angeles to back the governor's plan. The union's support had been expected for weeks, but it took the State Council to make it official. Some members advocated for competing plans, such as a "Millionaires Tax" proposed by a separate union, the California Federation of Teachers. But CTA ultimately got behind the governor's plan.
"It is way past time for a tax increase, and we must help lead the way in getting a revenue package approved," Vogel said Saturday.
The CFT proposal would raise taxes only on Californians earning at least $1 million as either single or joint filers. The $4 billion to $6 billion it would raise annually would flow outside the state's general fund to schools and local governments, but it may not help solve the state's deficit.
In his speech, Vogel called the CFT plan "the most progressive of the proposals ... But as it is written, there are some unintended consequences. This initiative doesn't help close the current budget deficit and does not pay for the local realignment. There also another big issue: It doesn't help restore program cuts to essential services."
Jerry Brown says cap-and-trade fees will fund high-speed rail
Gov. Jerry Brown said in an interview airing in Los Angeles today that California's high-speed rail project will cost far less than the state's current estimate of nearly $100 billion and that environmental fees paid by carbon producers will be a source of funding.
"It's not going to be $100 billion," the Democratic governor said on ABC 7's Eyewitness Newsmakers program. "That's way off."
Brown's remarks come as his administration prepares revisions to the California High-Speed Rail Authority's latest business plan. Brown is trying to push the project through an increasingly skeptical Legislature following a series of critical reports.
"Phase 1, I'm trying to redesign it in a way that in and of itself will be justified by the state investment," Brown said. "We do have other sources of money: For example, cap-and-trade, which is this measure where you make people who produce greenhouse gasses pay certain fees - that will be a source of funding going forward for the high speed rail."
Brown said, "It's going to be a lot cheaper than people are saying."
The annual spending plan Brown released this month included $1 billion in cap-and-trade revenue for programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The budget document lacked detail, however, saying, "Further detail on specific program areas will be developed when there is more certainty of fees received from the Cap and Trade Program."
The interview aired following Brown's trip last week to Southern California, his second in two weeks as he begins campaigning for his ballot initiative to raise taxes.
"It isn't all, you know, going to football games and buying clothes and cars and gasoline and all the things people want to do in their private life," Brown said. "We also have a public investment, and that's part of the balance of a civilization."
Brown has also proposed changes to reduce pension costs, and he suggested he may take that measure to the ballot, too, if the Legislature does not act.
"One way or the other, if we can't get it through the Legislature," he said, "then there's always the initiative route at some point."
CA 26 Forum w/ Steve Bennett, David Pollock, and David Cruz Thayne
( Steve Bennett, David Pollock, and David Cruz Thayne.)
The field isn't officially set for the Ventura County based CA-26 Congressional District but the campaigns have been busy.
On Saturday I was honored to be the host of a program put on by Conejo Valley Democrats called Eye on the issues. They asked me to introduce these three candidates and ask them questions from club members. Democrat Jess Herrera was invited but did not attend. I am not sure why.
The program will play on local cable access and then it will be posted on YouTube.
When the video is posted I will post that and include more of my thoughts.
Some quick thoughts:
1. Reading from a Teleprompter for the first time was interesting. Made much more interesting because I took some strong cold medicine before the show.
2. I am honestly not sure why I would vote for yet. The top two primary system makes strategic voting complicated.
3. I'll ask each for an interview in the future so I can ask them more specifics. If you are running for office and would like to be interviewed online let me know. I like asking specific questions that give candidates the time to think.
$5,000 Reward Offered in Suspected Arson at UCSB Construction Site
Simi Valley Relics on Facebook
Do you remember this location?
Photo by Al Shack. Used with Permission.
Look at these classic styles at Rancho Duck Pond:
Photo by Al Shack. Used with Permission.
If you enjoy Simi Valley History check out the Facebook Page titled Simi Valley Relics. I found their pictures very interesting and wanted to share them. You can upload your own to their page.
They also have more recent pictures including pictures from the filming of Sons of Anarchy at locations in Simi Valley. Simi Valley has been the location of many productions.
Coyote History
Stearns Wharf Fishing Reports
Tell the Bees It 'Aint Spring
Serene Harbor
Modern Master Award Night
Christopher Plummer ? A Thoroughly Modern Master
Bella? Riviera
Tidepools at Devereaux
My Night in Italy
Film Feast review by Santa Barbara View Restaurant Correspondent
Let’s face it, Santa Barbara has lots of restaurants. There are literally hundreds to choose from. And if you are anything like me, you have a favorite dish at a restaurant and you just order the same thing. For example, if you are at Brophy’s you get the clam chowder, if you find yourself at Carlitos, you get the fajitas, if you are at Harry’s you always get the Blue Moon Martini (Grey Goose vodka with blue cheese olives). And if you happen to find yourself at Ca’Dario, there is one favorite that is nearly impossible to pass up, the Ravioli al Burra e Salvia (Brown Butter Sage Ravioli). Personally, I have ordered this menu item as an appetizer, an entree and a dessert! But oh Ca’Dario, how you surprised me. On Friday night, my favorite dish was actually outshined by a heavenly special on the “Film Feast” menu!
Say what you will about the SB International Film Festival, an unexpected benifit of the festival that you may love or hate, has started a new tradition in culinary bliss. The Film Feast. According to the organizers: “Santa Barbara’s cast of culinary characters presents Film Feast three-course tasting menus offered Jan. 26 – Feb. 5, 2012.“ And 50 of Santa Barbara’s restaurants, bars and hotels are participating.
As a local, I already know that Ca’Dario has good food. But I have to say, the Ca’Dario Film Feast Menu is worth every penny. If you have never been to Ca’Dario or have not been in a while, you owe it to yourself to take a ‘staycation’ to Italy on Victoria Street. The quant European atmosphere is genuine with traditional décor; white tablecloths, hardwood floors, smell of roasting garlic and the sweet sound of clicking glasses and plates and a steady hum of friends and lovers in lively conversation. The staff is friendly and very loyal, our server has been with the restaurant for 15 years. And you won’t find an ounce of pretense.
The Ca’Dario Film Feast menu includes an insalate, a pasta dish, a glass of red or white local wine, and coffee with almond biscotti all for $35. While I wouldn’t mind going back and trying all the dishes on this special menu, my choice included the burrata caprese salad (Burrata Tartufata), but this was no ordinary caprese. Made with creamy burrata mozzarella cheese that tasted oh so buttery, and the freshest organic tomatoes of the season, it was topped with avocado and truffle pesto. To say this was a creamy delight is an understatement. My dinner companion enjoyed the Carpaccio con Rughetta e Capperi, in other words, melts-in-your-mouth sliced raw beef with arugula, capers and shaved parmigiano-reggiano cheese. Once again, the ingredients were fresh, the presentation lovely and the taste, so satisfying. There are a total of 5 different insalate choices on the tasting menu, so if neither of the divine dishes we enjoyed appeal to you; there is probably something else that would.
On to the Pasta. There are also 5 different specials on the menu. Our server said these were items that are not available on the regular menu and were mainly ideas that were brought back from the owner’s trips to Northern Italy. He, naturally, is from Lake Como, Italy. My strong advice would be to do yourself a favor and order the Fregola con Vongole e Salciccia. This is fregola pasta with clams and spicy Italian sausage in a white wine sauce. It is seriously one of the best meals you can get in Santa Barbara. At first bite you will be surprised by the layers of flavors in such a simple dish. The texture of the small fegoal pasta was a perfect complement to the light sauce, while the spicy sausage melded perfectly with the mild seafood flavor of the clams. It was, in three words, refined comfort food. I would definitely order this dish again and highly recommend it. My dinner companion selected the Panzerotti al Sugo di Noci, which was pasta filled with spinach and ricotta with a walnut pesto sauce. The idea of walnut pesto was intriguing, and while it tasted delicious; it did lack some visual appeal. This is a small complaint considering how delicious it all was.
This decidedly wonderful meal ended with crisp, crunchy almond biscotti and a great cup of coffee. My dinner in Italy was a success and my compliments to the chef and the staff at Ca’Dario. Get the Film Feast menu now through Feburary 5th.
Magnificent Morro
Fun and Fit: 7 Reasons to Hire Us to Blog and Vlog for You
Roger Code Red
Coal Oil Point Reserve Unleashes Goats on Invasive Grass Species
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