California Renovation
Gut Prop. 13, save Prop. 13. Gay marriage or no marriage. Ditch the two-thirds vote or not. Once you get into these very divisive issues, the idea of broad agreement seems less likely.
“The constitution is in dire need of major revision,” said professor Moylan. “But there are so many divergent interests, getting consensus is going to be really difficult. I’m not sure you’re going to have great success unless you can reduce the politics. And I don’t know how you reduce the politics,” Moylan explained.
It’s because of the time-consuming and potentially messy process of a constitutional convention that Hertzberg and the California Forward organization think the Legislature may be the quickest and safest route to reform.
They are campaigning to convince the Legislature to put a package of reforms on the ballot instead of waiting for the convention to play itself out. Under the plan, half of the reforms would go on the ballot in 2010, and half would go in 2012.
But the California Forward approach requires a little more faith in the Capitol than some are willing to give. Even Sen. DeSaulnier, who wrote the bill asking the Legislature to call the constitutional convention, is doubtful. “I don’t think institutional change is going to come from inside the building,” he explained.
But there’s no guarantee it will come from outside, either.
And Hertzberg acknowledges there’s no guarantee that the Legislature will do the right thing, as he sees it. “No, I’m not confident they will do it at all.” And if the Legislature won’t act, he says a constitutional convention may be the way to go. What worries him most is the idea of not acting.
“I’m afraid of a real meltdown. No one has had to deal with these kinds of challenges in California before,” said Hertzberg. California, with its energy crisis, recall election and financial meltdown, is in a period of major change, and so is the nation, Hertzberg said. Consider the 2000 election, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the remarkable election of the first African-American president.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent on the cover
May 17
Ring of Fire
Sun and moon will perform a rare pas de deux in Humboldt skies on Sunday
May 10
District Soup
Racing for the top county seat in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts
May 3
A Place in the Woods
As park closure deadline nears, a scramble to save what we can
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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ONE Comments
Comment / By C Heber / July 25, 2009, 1:09 p.m.
Almost all systems would work fine if the elected officials had the primary goal of respecting stated will of the people. But instead there is an attitude amoung elected officials and citizens that they have the duty to follow their own course without compromise. Everyone in disagreement is to be out manuvered at all costs. How can any Constitutional Convention possible rise above this to accomplish some worthwhile? I think it has to get worse before good governance seems more important that social engineering to most people.