(Sacramento Bee) // The California Assembly has passed a bill that would allow, but not require, business owners who contract with the state to self-identify as gay, lesbian, transgender, or bisexual. The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce both support the bill because it would allow the government to collect data on the economic impact of LGBT-owned businesses. The bill goes to the Senate next...
(New York Times) // Come July 1st, California will be the first state in the nation to officially ban foie gras. The law was actually passed in 2004, but it included a seven-and-a-half-year grace period. Now, time is running short and some of California’s top chefs are fighting hard to overturn the law. In a last minute attempt to sway lawmakers, chefs across the state have even invited their local legislators to a dinner that, naturally, features foie gras...
(Politico) // Organizers of the annual Burning Man festival are hoping to convince the US Bureau of Land Management to grant them a five-year permit for their festival and increase the attendance limit from 50,000 to 70,000. This past year, Burning Man was put on probation for the first time ever for exceeding the attendance limit and allowing 53,000 “burners” on site. Some Silicon Valley tech companies contend Burning Man has become an important annual retreat and hub for creativity and innovation...
(Mercury News) // Starting in June, nearly three dozen properties that previously belonged to San Jose’s redevelopment agency will be sold to private bidders. The agency was dissolved February 1st and now needs to pay down a $4 billion debt. The properties, which include a hotel, an old fire station and a historic theater have an estimated market value of $60 million...
(Bay Citizen) // Federal monitors who have been examining the actions of the Oakland Police Department have issued a report saying they are “thoroughly dismayed’ by OPD’s response to Occupy protests. Lawyers behind a lawsuit against the city continue to push for a federal takeover of the Oakland Police Department. For now, the federal monitors are simply expressing their hope that Mayor Jean Quan and Police Chief Howard Jordan can “lead the department toward full compliance” and reform...
(OC Register) // Bloomberg has named Congress’ funniest politicians. Al Franken is #1.
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