Today, state lawmakers will reconvene in Sacramento after a month-long summer recess — during which some traveled abroad on trips funded by special interest groups that lobby them on various issues — for the final, frenzied month of the legislative session.
Legislators face an Aug. 31 deadline to determine the fate of hundreds of bills. Hanging over the high-intensity process is the Nov. 8 general election, which could affect how some lawmakers — especially those vying for contested seats in the state Assembly and Senate — vote on hot-button proposals.
In a preview of the difficult decisions facing lawmakers, hundreds of fast food workers were set to rally at the state Capitol Sunday night in support of a bill that would permit the state to negotiate wages, hours and work conditions for an industry that employs an estimated 700,000 people. A similar measure failed to pass last year.
At least three different flyers were distributed in the Sunset neighborhood near Lincoln and Eastern avenues, not far from Arcata Elementary School, where one resident told the Journal they found the leaflets on their driveway in separate plastic bags, each weighed down by three pennies.
One was titled “Every aspect of Disney child grooming is Jewish,” using an attack buzzword increasingly being baselessly thrown around by right-wing extremists and conspiracy theorists who turned their ire on the entertainment and theme park powerhouse when the company criticized Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay Bill,” included a rainbow-colored Star of David.
Each bore a dubious attempt at a disclaimer, which states, “These flyers were distributed randomly without malicious intent” and links to a YouTube-like video sharing website with right wing, conspiracy theorist hate videos.
Arcata Police Chief Brian Ahearn told the Journal he was made aware of the flyers yesterday and officers were sent out to the neighborhood but did not locate any more of the hate propaganda.
He urged anyone who has information on this incident or any others to contact the department at 822-2424.
“With each person we talk to we can continue to piece together the who, what, why, where, when and how,” Ahearn said, “which gives us more of ability to figure out who did this and for what purpose, and is it part of a bigger enterprise and what crime potential is there.”
Ahearn, describing the distribution as a “heinous act,” also urged anyone in the area with an outdoor camera to contact the department or check out footage to see if they might have caught people distributing the flyers on video.