Here are some quick updates on what’s happening in politics and government this week:
- We have a special legislative session! Exciting stuff. Governor Gavin Newsom has said he will call for a special legislative session in December in an effort to punish oil companies for “rank price gouging”. Calpeek does not know why the Governor is waiting until December, although a cynic might suggest it has something to do with an election that is just a few weeks away.
- Billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso’s campaign has implemented a field operation that includes hundreds of paid precinct walkers. That is not unusual in a city election unless the city is as big as Los Angeles. A field operation that size takes millions of dollars to effectively implement. Talk around the water cooler says Caruso will spend, at least, $10 million on just the field operation.
- Water wars heat up. On Wednesday, the California Coastal Commission gave their ok to the building of a desalination plant in Orange County. There is significant controversy around desalination efforts, but this is one step forward for its supporters.