For Sale—California Landmarks

posted at 8:40 am on May 14, 2009 by
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In an effort to reduce California’s budget deficit, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to sell state owned property, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, San Quentin State Prison, and Cal Expo where the State Fair is held.  California’s projected deficit will run between 15 to 21 billion depending on the outcome of next Tuesday’s special election.    The profits from the sales would be between 600 million to one billion dollars.

“Reporting from Sacramento — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to sell the Los Angeles Coliseum, San Quentin State Prison, the Orange County Fairgrounds and other state property to raise cash amid the state’s growing fiscal crisis, according to a copy of a proposal reviewed by The Times.  Sale of the properties, to be included in the governor’s revised budget plan on Thursday, would raise between $600 million and $1 billion, although it would not provide relief to state coffers for two to five years, according to the proposal.”

California‘s Democrats have controlled the state’s legislature for decades and just can’t seem to rein in their spending practices.   Schwarzenegger seems to have lost his appetite for battling a “leadership” that is influenced by powerful unions and special interest.  As I wrote back on May 4th in the Green Room, the taxpayers are finally getting sick and tired of one party running the state into financial ruin while already providing the highest tax rates in the nation.  The latest polling has Tuesday’s propositions failing even while 90% of the advertising is coming from the YES ON ALL crowd, so the deficit will most likely remain at desperation levels.

With the state getting prepared to release up to 40,000 from their prison system, we can also expect a mild crime wave to come along with a taxpayer revolt.   Maybe the Fed can release a little of that TARP money to buy San Quentin—and start by filling it back up with legislators.

UPDATE:  The Captain has “much more” here

 

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California is yet another example of what the entire country will look like if left in the control of progressive liberals for a long enough period of time for their policies to get rooted.

Stay on it Rovin! You’re our California author & watch dog!

Keemo on May 14, 2009 at 8:45 AM

Thanks Keemo. I forgot to submit my “vote by mail” ballot, so I’ll be going to the polls on Tuesday to vote NO on every Prop, including 1F, (the legislator’s pay freeze). A further look at 1F turns out to be deceptively flawed.

Jon Fleischman, (elected Vice Chairman, South of the California Republican Party) writes:

“Here is my question – why or how is it fair to fiscally conservative, responsible legislators, to punish them for doing the right thing? You will notice that this measure does not suspect salary adjustments for legislators who voted in favor of the irresponsible spending plans that result in the deficit? No, this measure goes after every legislator, and for that reason, I am very concerned that we are taking a “shotgun” approach to this issue – and creating a “friendly fire” situation.

It’s similar to my concerns and objections to the notion of not paying the legislators when the budget is late. That policy presupposes that a budget, any budget, is actually better than a late budget, and it could put unfair pressure on a fiscally conservative legislator to vote for a budget with a tax increase, knowing that if the budget is late, the paycheck on which they rely to pay their mortgage or rent, and feed their family, may not be coming.”

Jon make some good sense here, and sending a sound NO ON EVERY PROP may have a little stronger impact on these morons that call themselves legislators.

Rovin on May 14, 2009 at 9:28 AM

OK…answer me this! Who does he think will buy San Quentin? One of those private prison running entities that we are starting to see in ever greater numbers here in the east? Not that I have anything against them–they seem OK as far as I know.

jeanie on May 14, 2009 at 9:59 AM

jeanie on May 14, 2009 at 9:59 AM

My guess is you’re right jeanie. The private “jailers” seem to at least run without a deficit—something our state and feds don’t know how to do—-U.S. Postal Service comes to mind…….

Rovin on May 14, 2009 at 11:33 AM