In the News 2010

By Joshua Melvin
San Mateo County Times

Crews this morning will begin knocking down and taking away the ruins of the 37 homes destroyed two weeks ago in a deadly natural gas pipeline explosion.

Workers will start at 8 a.m.

A state Senate bill was introduced today to provide disaster relief for people affected by the explosion and fire in San Bruno earlier this month.

Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, introduced the bill, which includes a homeowner's property tax exemption and would allow taxpayers to deduct income loss from the disaster, said Adam Keigwin, a spokesman for Yee.

The bill requires approval by two-thirds of the Legislature and the governor's signature to become law.

State universities aren't private schools and shouldn't try to operate as if they were.

As any city, county or school district in the land will tell you, it sure would be easier to run things if those poor public officials didn't have to answer to those darn taxpayers.

Where taxpayer money is involved, however, transparency is always the best policy.

Voters in California affirmed this back in 2004 when they passed Proposition 59 with 83 percent of the vote - a majority you just don't see that often in elections.

Daily Journal staff report

Two Peninsula legislators are making plans for bills regarding last week's explosion and fire in San Bruno - one focused on disaster relief, the other on protecting the public from high-risk lines in California.

State Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco/San Mateo, said Tuesday he will introduce legislation that will likely include a homeowner's property tax exemption and will allow taxpayers to deduct income loss from the disaster, said Adam Keigwin, a spokesman for Yee.