In the News

Read news articles about legislation, state government reform, issues and events in the community and my activities while representing you in the State Legislature.

Controversy Follows Transportation Agency's Choice to Leave Oakland

October 14, 2011

State questions if it's legal for agency to use bridge tolls to buy San Francisco building

By  The Bay Citizen

Metropolitan Transportation Commission OKs SF move

October 13, 2011

After a false start, a campaign by Oakland officials and a legislative order for a state audit, a deeply divided Metropolitan Transportation Commission approved on Wednesday the purchase of a downtown San Francisco building that will serve as its home and a regional government center.

Controversial transit agency move subject of meeting

October 07, 2011

By: Will Reisman

Examiner Staff Writer

 

California job centers must devote more money to training

October 06, 2011

A bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown requires that at least a quarter of annual federal funding go to programs that teach new skills for the changing economy.

DeSaulnier bill transfers Tidelands from state to Pittsburg

October 03, 2011

 

HALFWAY TO CONCORD

California Politics, Contra Costa and East Bay News

 

Bay Area's transport commission raises ire of Sacramento

October 01, 2011

By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Contra Costa Times

When the Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission openly defied state lawmakers with a slim 10-6 vote to use toll dollars to buy and rehab a San Francisco building for use as regional agencies' hub, it triggered a big question: What will it cost?

And we're not talking only about money.

Oakland port, lawmakers want maintenance money freed up

September 30, 2011
 

San Francisco Business Times by Eric Young, Reporter

Oakland port officials joined lawmakers Friday calling on the federal government to release billions of dollars from a fund intended to maintain maritime facilities.

Rather than being spent on dredging and other critical port maintenance, money from the federal Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund is being spent on other programs unrelated to ports or to “mask the federal deficit,” said state Sen.