A bill to create a pilot program for some Medi-Cal recipients in Alameda County to receive healthy food was unanimously approved this week by the Assembly Health Committee. The legislation, sponsored by East Bay Assemblymember Rob Bonta, envisions a “food… Read More ›
Assembly
Bill lowering threshold to pass local tax measures fails; Bauer-Kahan avoids vote
A proposed California constitutional amendment to lower the threshold for local tax and bond measures from 67 percent to 55 percent failed to gain its own two-third majority for passage Monday in the state Assembly. The amendment, which would require… Read More ›
Quirk bill banning Ticketmaster’s secret scalping software is signed into law
A secret software program created by Ticketmaster to help buyers purchase large quantities of tickets to sporting events and concerts and then later re-sell them on the secondary market with huge mark-ups in price has caused an uproar in the… Read More ›
AD25: Chu will not run for re-election to assembly seat that includes Fremont
Kansen Chu, the South Bay and Fremont assemblymember best known for his bids to abolish daylight-savings time in the state has seen the light yet again. Saying he can accomplish more at the local level than in Sacramento, Chu will… Read More ›
A’s ballpark bill comes before Assembly committee Monday
An Assembly bill that could aid a future exchange of trust lands for a new Oakland Athletics waterfront ballpark, faces its first legislative hurdle Monday. Assembly Bill 1191 comes before the Assembly Natural Resources Committee Monday morning, April 22 at… Read More ›
Rumors of Quirk’s retirement are greatly exaggerated
Hayward Assemblymember Bill Quirk’s move to Union City last year and profligate spending for a re-election campaign that faced token opposition raised questions last fall for many in the district who suspected the long-time official was signaling an end to… Read More ›
Bonta offers resolution opposing Trump’s latest attack on immigrants
A Trump administration proposed rule change that would greatly affect immigrants in California and elsewhere is being met by opposition from East Bay Assemblymember Rob Bonta, and other Alameda County officials. On the first day of the new legislative calendar… Read More ›
A’s CEQA bill sent to suspense file
Bonta’s AB 734 is expected to return to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday
Report: Quirk authored ‘PG&E bailout bill’ while son works for the utility
Legislation authored by Hayward Assemblymember Bill Quirk that would allow PG&E to pay off damages related to the destructive NorCal wildfires last year with state-backed bonds has been labeled by some critics as a bailout for the utility. The bill… Read More ›
Bonta hit with ‘birther’ claim
Republican assembly challenger wants Bonta to prove his U.S. citizenship
Bonta adds green certification to A’s ballpark bill; passes senate judiciary
Bill that would expedite potential years-long CEQA lawsuits for a new A’s ballpark in Oakland now heads to Senate Appropriations.
A’s ballpark bill slides through state senate committee
Next up: Senate Judiciary Committee next Tuesday.
GET THE LEAD OUT! Bill Quirk lambastes the lead and paint industry
It may be one of the most dastardly political schemes in recent state history. After the lead and paint industry in California was recently ordered to pay penalties that could run into the hundreds of millions to remedy illegal lead… Read More ›
Buffy Wicks again leads AD15 in fundraising as primary race heads toward stretch run
AD15 Democrat Buffy Wicks has $323,000 for the final month of the primary campaign. CAMPAIGN FINANCE–ELECTION 2018– The fundraising juggernaut that is 15th Assembly District candidate Buffy Wicks shows no signs of abetting. Campaign finance reports released last Thursday show… Read More ›
East Bay’s June ballot is set; AD15 features 12 candidates; sheriff, 2 supervisors to run unopposed
Just a portion of the AD15 field during a forum in Oakland last January. ELECTION 2018Voters in the contentious 15th Assembly District will have to choose from a list of 11 Democrats and a lone Republican this June. The wide-open… Read More ›
There’s going to be two Bontas on the ballot in Alameda next fall
Mialisa Bonta is the founder and CEO of the Oakland education non-profit LitLab. ALAMEDA–ELECTION 2018–Apparently, it’s what political couples do for romance. Last Valentine’s Day, Assemblymember Rob Bonta posted a photo on his Facebook page taken at the Alameda County… Read More ›
Democrats coalesce around single candidate to challenge Catharine Baker’s re-election
AD16 Assemblymember Catharine Baker will face Dem Rebecca Bauer-Kahan are the only candidates in the June 5 primary. 16TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT–ELECTION 2018–In some parts of the state where Democrats are hoping to upend Republican seat holders, aspiring candidates are running… Read More ›
Illustrative polling highlights East Bay assembly candidate’s evolving campaign strategy
Assembly candidate Buffy Wicks at a candidate forum last January in Albany. 15TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT–ELECTION 2018–An extensive poll from the well-bankrolled upstart in the wide-open race for the 15th Assembly District shows a candidate unsure over how to present herself… Read More ›
Tony Thurmond makes a pitch for his possible successor in AD15
El Cerrito Councilmember Rochelle Pardue- Okimoto and Assemblymember Tony Thurmond 15TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT–ELECTION 2018–Assemblymember Tony Thurmond certainly has many options when it comes to handing out his endorsement in the crowded field of diverse candidates hoping to replace him in… Read More ›
Former Wieckowski aide files complaint against State Senate; alleges firing followed rape
LEGISLATUREA former legislative aide to State Sen. Bob Wieckowski filed a complaint against the state Senate that alleges her firing last year came after reporting to the Legislature that she was raped by an Assembly staffer in December 2016, according… Read More ›
Quirk bill seeks to avoid screwing the pooch in divorce settlements
Assemblymember Bill Quirk and his dog Luna. 20TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTThe halcyon days of a new relationship often extends to include the adoption of pets. But in instances where the partnership dissolves, the couple’s fur babies are often caught in the… Read More ›
Quirk introduces bill allowing public pot use at special events
Assemblymember Bill Quirk has long been a strong supporter of cannabis. 20TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTWith the East Bay on the cusp of becoming awash in legal cannabis, a bill introduced Monday by Hayward Assemblymember Bill Quirk would afford local governments the… Read More ›
Nancy O’Malley, Buffy Wicks, Libby Schaaf, Abel Guillen’s council opponent, post big year-end fundraising numbers
ELECTION 2018–CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS–Whether your race is in June, November, or both, it’s definitely go-time and the cash a candidate has in the bank on Jan. 1 is now a signal of how strong a campaign might be. Below are… Read More ›
AD15 candidate Buffy Wicks raised a whopping $500,000 in campaign contributions last year
AD15 candidate Buffy Wicks raised $209,000 during the first half of the 2017. ELECTION 2018–15TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT–Buffy Wicks is again making her opponents in the 15th Assembly District green with envy. After bursting onto the scene last summer with an… Read More ›
Costa-Hawkins repeal bill fails in committee; Bonta votes yes
Assemblymember Rob Bonta at a Housing and Development Committee hearing Thursday in Sacramento. 18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTAssemblymember Rob Bonta, and throngs of rental housing advocates from Oakland, Alameda and across the state, were ready for a fight Thursday in favor of… Read More ›
Quirk helps Assembly committee turn away concealed carry weapons bill
Assemblymember Bill Quirk wasn’t in the mood Tuesday to debate concealed guns. 20TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTRepublican gubernatorial candidate and Assemblymember Travis Allen confidently laid out a case Tuesday for reform of the state’s concealed carry permitting rules. “Innocent Californians deserve a… Read More ›
Bonta bill would make it easier for people to expunge cannabis-related criminal records
Assemblymember Rob Bonta authored the state’s medical marijuana regulatory framework in 2015. 18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTWith cannabis seen as the future in California following legalization that began this month, East Bay Assemblymember Rob Bonta believes the state must first look to… Read More ›
Quirk co-authors bill requiring ‘panic buttons’ for hotel maids in danger of sexual harassment
Assemblymember Bill Quirk 20TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTMaids and other hotel employees who find themselves alone in rooms with guests in a daily basis often face high incidents of sexual harassment, surveys have found. And with the issue of sexual harassment casting… Read More ›
Bonta hopes Trump continues to be successful at failure
Assemblymember Rob Bonta hopes Trump continues to be the failure-in-chief. 18TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICTAssemblymember Rob Bonta had some negative thoughts about President Donald Trump at Tuesday night’s Oakland City Council meeting. In attendance to discuss his legislative year in the Assembly,… Read More ›
LAST 5 THINGS I THINK ABOUT EAST BAY POLITICS
Rebecca Kaplan is going to sweep into the AD15 race late and take it. ELECTION 2018➤I think its absolutely useless to do an analysis of the 15th Assembly District’s current large field of candidates because the person who will sworn-in… Read More ›