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A trio of Democratic Bay Area politicians is assuming the reins of the leadership of California.
Oakland’s Jerry Brown was inaugurated as governor Monday morning and San Francisco’s Kamala Harris assumed the post of attorney general yesterday afternoon.
Brown, 72, a former California governor from 1975 to 1983, Oakland mayor from 1999 to 2007, and who was most recently California attorney general, was sworn into office in Sacramento at 11:20 a.m.
Brown, sworn in by the new chief justice of California, paused briefly to some laughter in the audience at the phrase, “without any mental reservation.” Brown, who was once ridiculed earlier on in his political career as “Governor Moonbeam” for his progressive ideas at the time, is now the state’s oldest elected governor.
“Really, no mental reservation!” he added with a smile.
The ceremony was attended by outgoing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, (D-San Francisco), and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D-San Francisco).
In his inaugural speech, Brown touched on familiar themes of economic uncertainty, political divisiveness and job creation.
“The year ahead will demand courage and sacrifice,” Brown said. With California’s budget deficit in the tens of billions, he said the budget he will present next week “will be painful, but it will be an honest budget.”
Brown said he will make efforts to eliminate government waste, but also noted that government helps pay for things voters want, such as universities, parks, health care, prisons, income assistance, tax incentives, environmental protection, firefighting and other programs.
Brown said he would remain true to the three principles he espoused during his campaign: to “speak the truth” on the budget; to impose no new taxes unless voters approve them; and to return decisions as much as possible to local governments and school districts.
Brown praised California’s leadership as the world’s eighth-largest economy, everything from its universities, farmers, small businesses, nurses, teachers and law enforcement to Hollywood.
They “all give hope, to an even more abundant future up ahead,” Brown said.
Brown also promised to work on spurring the creation of more jobs in California’s renewable energy economy and to ensure that schools “are places of real learning.”
He said the condition of California’s water and pension systems would have to be looked at closely.
Harris, who has served as San Francisco’s district attorney since 2004, was sworn in Monday afternoon. She is the first woman, African-American and South Asian-American to be attorney general of California.
In her speech, Harris pledged to work on reducing recidivism, reforming the prison system and fighting gangs. She said her approach would be both “tough” and “smart” on crime.
“Being tough and smart means recognizing that we have a long-term imbalance in our criminal justice system in California, which we ignore at our own peril,” Harris said, according to a transcript of her remarks provided by her office.
“When an appalling 70 percent of those released from our overburdened correctional system reappear in the revolving door within three years, when we spend twice as much on prisons as we invest in colleges and universities and when organized violent criminal gangs continue to present an expanding threat across borders and prison walls, It is time to recognize the need for some drastic repair,” Harris said.
She will convene legal and law enforcement experts in a series of working groups on gangs, reducing truancy, protecting the environment and fighting mortgage fraud and identity theft, she said.
A third Bay Area native, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, is expected to be sworn in as lieutenant governor of California by next Monday. Newsom has served as the city’s mayor since 2004.
Newsom has said he would delay his swearing-in to complete work on several projects and ensure a stable mayoral transition in San Francisco. Newsom will also be able to choose a new district attorney to replace Harris.
Upon Newsom’s inauguration as lieutenant governor, Board of Supervisors President David Chiu becomes acting mayor. The 11-member board may then appoint, by a vote of six or more, an interim mayor until the next mayoral election in November.
But Newsom’s stalling of his inauguration could push that vote to the next Board of Supervisors.
Four new members will be sworn in Saturday, and the composition of the new board is considered a bit more moderate than the current board, whose members have often clashed with Newsom on city policy.
Ari Burack, Bay City News.
Ari Burack, Bay City News.
Taxpayers better put thier wallets in a lock-box (not Al Gore’s lock-box) because Moonbeam and the unions that put him in office are going to syphon out the contents of your wallet (i.e. raise your taxes). You can also rest assured that any “cuts” he and the legislature makes will be to vital services and education, hoping to panic people into accepting tax increases. He will also shift responsibilities to local governments with no funds coming with that responsibility. Of course, Californias welfare and social services expenses will remain 35-50% above the national average. You should also be prepared for a bunch of wacko things, like Moonbeam became famous for during his first tenure as Governor. He didn’t get the name of Governor Moonbeam for nothing.
Great Thomas Friedman opinion: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/opinion/26friedman.html
“the leaders who will deserve praise in this new era are those who develop a hybrid politics that persuades a majority of voters to cut where we must so we can invest where we must. To survive in the 21st century, America can no longer afford a politics of irresponsible profligacy. But to thrive in the 21st century — to invest in education, infrastructure and innovation — America cannot afford a politics of mindless austerity either.
The politicians we need are what I’d call “pay-as-you-go progressives” — those who combine fiscal prudence with growth initiatives to make their cities, their states or our country great again. Everyone knows the first rule of holes: When you’re in one, stop digging. But people often forget the second rule of holes: You can only grow your way out. You can’t borrow your way out.”
He then goes on to write about one such type of this new politician. Great reading. Hope we can get that here.
Good quote / link Stacey.
Jerry Brown’s success will depend on him following these guidelines and being smart with our money and services, not cutting vital services to force people to vote a tax increase as the other poster suggests (and the cynic in me also thinks he might do).
I think people, including myself, will support a genuine effort, so hopefully he tries to do this a right and thoughtful way. He’s made some statements recently that give me hope.
@ Wedgie – Your perceived use of the moniker “Govenor Moonbeam” as an insult for Govenor Brown brought a smile to my face. So many people jumped on this meme to try to describe Jerry Brown as some tree hugging, crystal wearing, granola eating hippie, but failed to understand the name was given to him by a Luddite journalist in the 70’s who thought Jerry Brown’s goal of California leading the world in satellite communication was “out of this world” crazy. Hmm, seems now, Govenor “Moonbeam” Brown looks like a visionary.
Before using an insult, you might want to check its origins.
…..” more jobs in renewable energy”. How about MORE JOBS for everybody ? He put us in an energy bind last time, by forcign us to use dirty energy, when the BLOCKED / STOPPED 2 nuclear reactors at Diablo Canyon…..under construction & planned for 4. So we’ve only been able to use the first TWO for the last 30 years….which have faithfully provided 25 % of PG&Es power….all CARBON-FREE, all-clean. In order to ‘power’ the 6th world economy, we had to use dirty power. He was pushing renewable….which OF COURSE, could NOT then or now, meet our NEEDS. Replay. The LARGEST NUMBER of PERMANENT jobs would be more, much needed nuclear power…. or even REGULAR jobs for regular people. But, again, more subsidized $$ poured down the renewable dream, when we should be doing ALL forms of power, and certainly every kind of job. His selectively NARROW FOCUS, like he’s going to FIX CA with renewable jobs, is Jerry of the 70s. How sad, what a waste ! He better expand his thinking or CA is doomed !
FOUR (4) reactors were planned….Moonbeam STOPPED the 2 not finished. Instead of the fabulous 25 % clean power those 2 have provided……it COULD have been 50 % all clean, and CA wouldn’t have a pollution problem….he gave us the extra 25 % DIRTY, RATHER THAN 50 % CLEAN !. OF course we’re still playing with the renewable toys, OK, but they’re still NOT ready for PRIME TIME ! !…wind, solar, & geo are STILL in single digit, which still forces us to use more DIRTY. Not only do we NEED 2 more as HUGE JOB PROVIDERS OF NUCLEAR , BUT MANY MORE. We cannot allow the pretext, that ‘more rewable’ has anything to do with jobs !
Governor Moonbeam is now going to have a special electrion to RAISE OUR TAXES AND FEES. THE ELECTION IS OVER. NOW THE REVOLT AGAINST GOVERNOR MOONBEAM. he started the energy crisis in California. HIS HONEYMOON IN OVER.
No new taxes until we see TRUE cuts – ie, not so many useless government employees, no more pension nonsense, no more entities that are useless (county of Ed comes to mind).
And btw, does Brown get the “former governor pension” on top of his new salary as governor? If he does, there is no hope, he will be okay with those “retired” public employees collecting both a pension and a current salary.
I was not thrilled with Meg, but voted for her because Brown made me nervous. It is scary that so many in Caliornia voted for a union-friendly governor, didn’t they learn their lesson with Davis?
I will vote no on any proposition that has to do with raising taxes. Reform the unions first, then let’s talk taxes if truly needed.
The right is constantly living in the past. That’s why they despise minorities and women.
Righty post in a nutshell. Moonbeam, blah blah, communist, blah blah, socialist, blah blah…
Curious, thanks for your take on the moniker ‘Moonbeam’. He’s certainly no visionary, but your nailed it with “out of this world” crazy as a fitting description, regardless as to it’s origin.
StevenP, “take on the moniker ‘Moonbeam’. He’s certainly no visionary,” Thanks for your insight. Two thoughts:
1) What does a moniker from 35 years ago have to do with 2011. Answer: you are living in the past, not Jerry. You perfect?
2) “No visionary” Really? The guy is a Democrat but is a monetary conservative. A conservative… Well, regardless of political persuasion, a conservative by definition is “no visionary.” Therefore… no visionary is a Conservative. And, Jerry Brown is not visionary. Bummer. Have to agree with you.
Cheers, and bless our mess. Rather be here than elsewhere.
dublinmike–I’ll concede to your point regardng the 35 year old moniker. Time will tell if he’s changed or matured from his previous viewpoint, so I suppose I should withhold judgement and hope history doesn’t repeat itself.
Regarding your circular logic in point #2—-it is in fact #2. A brain dump, minus the brain.
Happy New Year!
SteveP, regarding #2, well, at least we agree on something. But, as a courtesy, regarding your comment “A brain dump, minus the brain.” I will take that in spirit… It was meant as sarcasm, political rhetoric and the like.
Hopefully in the months to come we can engage in some sort of meaning dialogue. Be prepared.
BTW, where is Jim01?
Cheers.
Dublinmike—I have no idea where Jim went off to. Maybe full time work? Could just be too busy to post.
I, too look forward to meaningful dialogue.
I made a New Year’s resolution to not respond to vacuous comments like Janna’s. She’s the type that gives lefties a bad name. Maybe we can have her go off and find Jim somewhere. I’m sure he can help her get over her race and gender baiting.