Lockheed Fire Burns Cash Along With Trees

Lt. Gov. John Garamendi (left) declared a state of emergency in Santa Cruz County Friday. Photo by Curtis Cartier.

The sound of fire engines, walkie-talkies and helicopters may be endemic to the Lockheed fire, but so is the sound of an imaginary cash register ringing every time another engine roars into town. Though Cal Fire did not lose personnel in the latest state cuts, $27 million was lopped off its 2009-10 budget, and more than likely each of the local fire agencies that pitched in to battle the flames had its own troubles at home at budget time.

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The Glorious Gas Tax

The Glorious Gas Tax

When District 27 Assemblymember Bill Monning hosted a town hall meeting about two weeks ago with the Campaign for Sensible Transportation, the table seemed set for a conversation on planes, trains and automobiles and the budget cuts to public transportation. But when County Treasurer Fred Keeley showed up, it became clear that the dialog on our abysmal budget deal has already left the station. After a budget session that gutted not just public transportation but every service imaginable, the two seemed to be trying to channel frustration into a call for major tax reform.

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