Government roundup: Courthouse contract awarded
| Tuesday, Nov 24 2009 05:26 PM
Last Updated Tuesday, Nov 24 2009 05:27 PM
A San Jose firm was awarded a nearly $22 million design and construction contract for the new federal courthouse in downtown Bakersfield, city officials have learned.
The announcement came Tuesday from the federal General Services Administration, which awarded the stimulus funds to Gilbane Building Co. and NBBJ Architects.
Design work will begin in November and should be finished by late spring, the GSA notice said. Local and regional consulting engineers and building specialists will be included.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will pay for a 33,000-square-foot facility in Central Park that will house a magistrate courtroom and several federal offices. Construction will use resource-efficient technology.
The funds are part of a $5.5 billion pot to convert or erect "green" federal buildings.
- Staff writer Gretchen Wenner
DAIRYMAN SPEAKS
We heard from Hanford dairyman David Valadao this week after reporting the Republican had filed papers to run for Danny Gilmore's state Assembly seat. (A hoped-for photo hasn't yet arrived.)
"I've been interested in politics for awhile," the newbie politician said.
The 32-year-old said his family and friends have been telling him he should run.
With Gilmore not expected to seek reelection, Valadao (pronounced val-uh-DAY-oh) said he "saw an opportunity for myself to get involved and make a difference."
He didn't cite any burning issues calling him to Sacramento, just the general over-taxed and over-regulated plight of California businesses.
If he wins the Republican primary and defeats either Fran Florez or Pete Parra in the general election, he'll need help tending the dairy's 1,600 milking cows.
"I've got brothers and uncles. And cousins," Valadao said. "They've all offered to help."
- Staff writer Gretchen Wenner
LEGISLATIVE GRADES IN
Nine legislators rated perfect scores on the annual Legislative Scorecard published by the California Republican Assembly, a drop from 13 perfect scores last year.
More significantly, the average Republican score dropped from 87 to 81, while the averages for Democrats remained constant at three.
"It's clear that Republicans moved to the left this year," said CRA President Ken Mettler. "Overall, the budget crisis seems to have brought out the worst in our Republican legislators. Too many of them supported tax increases and growth of government in the middle of the worst recession in a generation."
Mettler praised the legislators who achieved perfect scores: Sens. Sam Aanestad, Dennis Hollingsworth, Bob Huff, George Runner and Mimi Walters; and Assemblymembers Joel Anderson, Chuck DeVore, Curt Hagman and Jeff Miller.
"These legislators continue to demonstrate their commitment to Republican principles and should be thanked," Mettler said.
CRA reviewed hundreds of bills before settling on 18 key votes. Notable among the bills are measures to increase taxes and fees, provide for early release of criminals and declare "Harvey Milk Day."
The complete scorecard can be downloaded at www.californiarepublicanassembly.com.
The purpose of the scorecard is to focus on bills that may not seem important on the surface, but demonstrate the divisions within the Democrat and Republican caucuses.
"Once again, Democrats accounted for all of the zero ratings in the scorecard," said Mettler. "Although the total number of zeros dropped from 63 last year to 56."
The highest scoring Democrat on the CRA scorecard was again Sen. Lou Correa, who received a weak 39 percent - an increase of 20 points from his score last year. On the Assembly side, Assemblywoman Alyson Huber was tops among Democrats with a score of 28 percent.
Of the 120 legislators, the lowest scoring Republican was Sen. Abel Maldonado, scoring a paltry 22 percent. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated Maldonado, from Santa Maria, to be lieutenant governor Monday.
"This is the first time in recent memory, perhaps in the history of the scorecard, that a Republican scored lower than two Democrats," Mettler said.
- California Republican Assembly press release
FLOREZ UNVEILS VICTIM PROTECTION BILL
Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, D-Shafter, teamed up with victims' rights attorney Gloria Allred Tuesday to announce legislation aimed at protecting young crime victims from being harassed through social networking sites after their testimony in a criminal case.
Anand Jon, once a rising young fashion designer known for appearances on programs such as "America's Next Top Model" was convicted earlier this year of sex crimes against a number of young, aspiring models. Jon was also convicted of two counts of committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child.
That child victim, who was also a model, alleges that after his conviction she was harassed by a person who appeared to be acting on behalf of Jon.
As is the case following trial, the presiding judge no longer has jurisdiction to take action for such harassment following sentencing.
Senate Bill 834 seeks to protect the privacy and safety of victims who testify in a criminal matter. The measure clarifies that a protective order prohibiting contact extends to harassing a victim through his or her online friends, in an attempt to bring the law up to speed with advances in technology.
Allred was joined by her client, the child victim of Jon, who is trying to move forward with her life now that the trial is over, but is upset by the harassment.
"Today's youth have a wealth of information at their fingertips through the Internet, but they also face new challenges that come along with those advances," Florez said. "We need to be responsible for ensuring the law matches the reality our children face today, and do what is within our power to keep young crime victims from being revictimized."
- Florez press release
PARRA ANNOUNCES BACKERS
Former Kern County Supervisor Pete Parra has announced endorsements from local police officers, elected officials and other community leaders in his bid for the 30th Assembly District seat.
Parra, running in the June Democratic primary, said he's been endorsed by the National Latino Peace Officers Association, Tulare County chapter; Assemblyman Juan Arambula; Avenal Mayor Harlin Casida; Delano City Councilman Ruby Hill; Delano Union Elementary School Board Trustee Frank Herrera; and Hanford Police Chief Carlos Mestas.
Parra is running against former Shafter Councilwoman and Mayor Fran Florez in the primary. The seat is currently held by Republican Danny Gilmore of Hanford, who has said he's leaning against running for a second two-year term.
"Pete Parra stands out for his commitment to public safety, and he has earned the support of front-line law enforcement officers," Gabe Cano, president of the National Latino Peace Officers Association, Tulare County chapter, said in a news release. "He has the experience and personal knowledge needed to best represent the 30th Assembly District; we know his experience will serve the communities of the district well, and we are happy to add our organization to the growing list of elected officials and Valley leaders supporting Pete Parra for state Assembly."
- Californian staff
SO DOES FRAN FLOREZ
What do you know, a couple hours after we posted a blog about Pete Parra's Assembly endorsements, we got a similar list from his opponent, Fran Florez.
Here are Florez's endorsers: Assembly Majority Whip Fiona Ma; Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez; Assembly member Warren Furutani; Assembly member Paul Fong; Assembly member Mary Salas; Kern County Supervisor Michael J. Rubio; Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea; Arvin City Council member Jose Flores; Coalinga Mayor Pro Tem Ron Ramsey; Delano Mayor Sam Ramirez; Delano City Council member Grace Vallejo; Porterville City Council member Felipe A. Martinez; Shafter City Council member Jon Johnston; Visalia Mayor Jesus Gamboa; Wasco Mayor Pro Tem Danny Espitia; Wasco City Council member Cheryl Wegman; Fresno County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Gary Alford; Kings County Democratic Central Committee Chairwoman Carol Farris; the National Women's Political Caucus of Fresno County; and the Central Labor Council of Fresno and Madera counties.
"I am humbled by the amount of support we are receiving each day," Florez said in a news release. "My supporters know where I stand on the issues and of my unwavering commitment to serving the district that I have called home my entire life."
- Government editor Christine Bedell
