Arnold Schwarzenegger

Remembering Don Casper, a City Official Who Saved Taxpayers Billions

Don Casper, Who Saved State Billions, Killed in Hit-and-Run

Don Casper​Don Casper, a deeply involved San Franciscan who managed to save taxpayers billions of dollars by blowing up a cockamamie state scheme, was killed last night. He was struck by a pickup truck as he went on a jog Sunday evening in western Sonoma County. Casper was 63 years old. He had bee ... More >>

Bouncer Examines the Friendliness at Zeki's Bar

Don Casper​Don Casper, a deeply involved San Franciscan who managed to save taxpayers billions of dollars by blowing up a cockamamie state scheme, was killed last night. He was struck by a pickup truck as he went on a jog Sunday evening in western Sonoma County. Casper was 63 years old. He had bee ... More >>

Scotch Pops: Dessert That Hits You Like Sean Connery

Ben Narasin​When I make sorbet at home I add a single ounce of alcohol to brighten the flavor, a trick I learned years ago that works exceptionally well. If you'd rather have alcohol as the focus instead of the enhancer, you might be attracted to the St. George Spirits Single Malt Whiskey gel ... More >>

Supreme Court Shoots Down State Ban on Violent Videogames

Keep shooting, kids​Kids can continue to legally play ultraviolent videogames after the Supreme Court ruled this morning that California cannot restrict kids from buying or renting the shooting games.  The court voted 7-2 that such a ban, which was spearheaded by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Franci ... More >>

Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mistress, Mildred Baena, Speaks About Love Child

Like father, like son ... ​No longer do we have to guess about the details of how and why former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's mistress, Mildred Baena, came clean about the love child they had together. Baena decided to put an end to the rumors that have consumed media outlets since the affair was ... More >>

Utah Newspaper One-Ups Chronicle, Gives Column to *Active* Mayor

Da Mayor has competition​The Deseret News has raised some eyebrows with its decision to make the sitting mayor of Utah's second-largest city a columnist. West Valley City Mayor Mike Winder is apparently excited about this new platform to share his great ideas, which include the recent establishmen ... More >>

Doyle Drive's Goofy Privatization Deal Stalled By Judge

Will Jerry Brown stop the fiscal insanity? ​A judge Wednesday issued a temporary restraining order halting Caltrans from signing a finance deal that would let a foreign consortium take over construction and maintenance of part of the Doyle Drive project in the Presidio.This marks the second time i ... More >>

Inspector General's Office Nixed By Jerry Brown. What Did Inspector General Do?

​Move Will Save State Not Quite Three-Thousandths Of One Percent Of Looming DeficitThe office of Gov.-elect Jerry Brown yesterday announced it would be curtailing the office of inspector general in January as a cost-cutting move. This, of course, prompts the question "what does the inspector gener ... More >>

Investors From Mumbai, Houston, L.A., Behind $2.33B purchase of State Buildings

Meet the new landlord​The California Public Utilities Commission's San Francisco headquarters is among 11 state buildings that will soon be owned by a consortium made up of investment groups hailing from Houston, Los Angeles and Mumbai, the state Department of General Services Reported today.The b ... More >>

California Has a Budget -- Only 100 Days Late

The lady and the bear have been waiting a long time...​Following an all-night session of wheeling and dealing -- and a record 100-day impasse -- the state senate moments ago approved a budget for California. Details on the budget -- and the most recent impasse -- are forthcoming; it closes a $19 b ... More >>

'California Stops' to Remain Illegal in California

​The governor gave the red light to a law that would have taken the sting out of our ubiquitous "California stops." AB 909 would have roughly halved the fine for turning right on a red light without stopping from the current $450 to an estimated $220. But, after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger skewered ... More >>

Schwarzenegger to Tour San Bruno Today

Well, he said he'd be back...​ Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, fresh from visiting the future Bay Bridge in China, will tour the disaster zone today in San Bruno. Alongside Sen. Leland Yee and Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado, the governor will "receive a briefing," walk through the devastation, and ... More >>

State bill makes malicious sock puppets a crime

Well, he said he'd be back...​ Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, fresh from visiting the future Bay Bridge in China, will tour the disaster zone today in San Bruno. Alongside Sen. Leland Yee and Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado, the governor will "receive a briefing," walk through the devastation, and ... More >>

Workers' comp covers retired cops who get cancer

Well, he said he'd be back...​ Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, fresh from visiting the future Bay Bridge in China, will tour the disaster zone today in San Bruno. Alongside Sen. Leland Yee and Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado, the governor will "receive a briefing," walk through the devastation, and ... More >>

Patronage Army General Willie Brown Stumps for Pension Reform

I repent!​Willie Brown, who in 2001 deployed his friends, family, and hangers-on into what was commonly referred to as a "patronage army," is now helping the governor campaign against the classic patronage perk known as bloated pensions.At an event last week Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger billed as a ... More >>

Prop. 8 Cast Goes to Court ... And Gets Celebrity Doppelgangers

​When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cameras would not be permitted to film Perry v. Schwarzenegger,  directors John Ireland and John Ainsworth, along with a band of volunteer actors, decided to reenact the entire Prop. 8 trial and post the results to Youtube. Until today, the actors relie ... More >>

Monsters, Inc.

​When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cameras would not be permitted to film Perry v. Schwarzenegger,  directors John Ireland and John Ainsworth, along with a band of volunteer actors, decided to reenact the entire Prop. 8 trial and post the results to Youtube. Until today, the actors relie ... More >>

Dems Hop Bandwagon to Scuttle State Building Fire Sale

Your government in action...​Official fired for criticizing sale asked to air beefs in Sacramento next week; he says government is looking for "exit strategy." Top California Democratic Party players are piling on a movement to scuttle Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to sell 24 state buildings a ... More >>

Report: Plan to Sell off State Buildings Will Cost Taxpayers Billions

But there are many bad ideas to go 'round...​Investigation reveals plan to patch budget shortfall by selling California buildings includes hidden deal-sweeteners that gouge taxpayersIn March we reported that the state of California fired a San Francisco official who protested a plan to raise money ... More >>

How Much Will Sarah Palin Get for CSU Stanislaus Speech? No One's Telling.

How many showmobiles could Sarah Palin with her CSU Stanislaus speaking engagement money? No one's telling. ​When Sarah Palin delivers her $500-per-ticket June 25 speech at Cal State Stanislaus, it promises to be a bargain: That's only about $25 per "um."For the CSU Stanislaus Foundation, however, ... More >>

Distressed Properties

The state's quick budget fix of selling off public buildings is a horrible idea.

The Poor News Bears

City College budget cuts complicate Hollywood ending for student bioengineers.

It's 6:30 a.m. -- Do You Know Who Your Lt. Gov Is?

Can you answer me our questions three? Okay, it's just one question. But it's hard! ​Much drama ensued last week, when Sen. Abel Maldonado didn't quite get enough votes to be confirmed for Lieutenant Governor -- leading Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to bluster he'd confirm Maldonado anyway and Democr ... More >>

Drivers Still Going Too Fast On Bay Bridge? How About Putting Up Risqué Billboards?

You can't see her if you don't survive the trip -- it's an incentive!​Over the past week it has evolved into something of a parlor game to come up with novel methods for making people drive at safe velocities on the Bay Bridge's precarious new S-Curve. We suggested stark signage noting that the pe ... More >>

Odds Schwarzenegger's 'I F--k You' Message Was Coincidental? About One in Two Billion, Says Math Prof.

What were the odds of this happening?​ In examining Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's letter to the California State Assembly in which the letters I F-U-C-K Y-O-U appear vertically down the left-hand side, it is hard to imagine that it could have happened randomly. The letter purportedl ... More >>

Ammiano: 'Kiss My Gay Ass' Commentary Didn't Bite Him in the Ass

His ass is intact...​When Rep. Joe Wilson bellowed "You lie" at President Barack Obama, most folks thought it was pretty uncouth. Still, the ones who were impressed were really impressed: The South Carolina Congressman quickly saw his fund-raising efforts skyrocket.So when Assemblyman Tom Ammiano ... More >>

It's Your Friday Morning News Quiz!

Justin PageStay classy, San Francisco​Witness intimidation! Religious and sexual harassment! Bacteria-infested sandwiches! If that's the week it was, we're extra glad it's Friday. Also, time for a quiz: 1. Which of the following epithets did Assemblyman Tom Ammiano shout when Gov. Arnold Schwarzen ... More >>

Stimulus Wreckage

Despite having been accused of deceptive business practices by the attorney general, former students, and ex-employees, Corinthian Colleges are getting millions in federal stimulus dollars.

How Much City Will Bleed Following State's Budget Grab Still Unclear -- But It Certainly Won't Be Good Times

But how bad will it be?​With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger expected to sign a somewhat modified state budget today, just how badly San Francisco will make out is still as clear as a pint of Guinness. But there'll be no good news delivered today and for the rest of this week -- only relatively good ne ... More >>

What, Exactly, Does State Mean By Park 'Closures'? 'Who Knows?' Says State Parks Foundation

A nature walk redefinedGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent thunderbolt (he did portray Hercules once) about chipping away at our Death Valley-deep deficit by closing 80 percent of the state's parks has prompted a very elemental question: What do you mean by "close"? Would there be no electric, plumb ... More >>

Schwarzenegger Proposal Could Burden Underfunded S.F. Jails

Be sure to wear a flower in your hairThis week has seen California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger scrounging for a few billion dollars beneath the sofa cushions after his stop-gap measures for narrowing the state's budget shortfall went down to defeat in Tuesday's special election. Among the consequence ... More >>

California Voters Emulate Mel Brooks Song. Yes, Things Have Gotten Out of Hand.

Let's put it this way: When the Howard Jarvis anti-tax zealots are crowing in victory and San Francisco voters roundly reject a series of ballot measures -- well, something was out of kilter in this election universe to begin with. The straightforward portrayal of this as an anti-tax voters' uprisi ... More >>

David Chiu's Proposed Vehicle License Fee Could Net City $70M -- But Requires 'Hail Mary'of a Senate Bill to Pass

These guys could make San Francisco lots of moneyThe Vehicle License Fee proposed this week by Supervisor David Chiu could net the city as much as $70 million. And the lottery ticket you bought this week could net you $70 million, too. Okay, that's a bit of a stretch, and the VLF won't benefit local ... More >>

Outlander

These guys could make San Francisco lots of moneyThe Vehicle License Fee proposed this week by Supervisor David Chiu could net the city as much as $70 million. And the lottery ticket you bought this week could net you $70 million, too. Okay, that's a bit of a stretch, and the VLF won't benefit local ... More >>

Tom Ammiano Compares Capitol to "Alice in Wonderland" -- and He's Alice

San Franciscans already know that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't the only Sacramento politician with a background in film. That was Assemblyman Tom Ammiano playing himself in Milk -- and while it wasn't a stretch for Ammiano to play Ammiano, his next project may call for a bit more range. When ask ... More >>

Running with Arnold

San Franciscans already know that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't the only Sacramento politician with a background in film. That was Assemblyman Tom Ammiano playing himself in Milk -- and while it wasn't a stretch for Ammiano to play Ammiano, his next project may call for a bit more range. When ask ... More >>

Double Payer

SF is out of the health-care business if the governor's new plan goes through.

Demo Sale

The party's leaders are putting their lack of ethics on display once again

Governor Newsom?

Not likely, given his lack of spine in opposing the initiative promoting more parking

It Doesn't Suck!

Breathe easy, Simpsons fans

Whale Watchers

We offer tips for returning lost whales to the ocean the next time they get lost in the delta

A Union Made in Political Heaven

A labor boss in trouble with the feds joins a high-powered Democratic lobbyist to merge Konocti Resort with Indian gaming

Number Crunch

Is the school board solving its budget crisis or proving it's math-challenged? Take quiz, find out.

Not About Nightingales

This Tennessee Williams production packs a punch, but it's too loud

Vote El Vez

The Mexican Elvis Presley impersonator wants to be El Prez

Slip 'n' Slide

In which we discover the dark side of Jell-O wrestling

Using Arnold to Get Gavin

After watching the mind games of Pumping Iron, mayoral candidate Matt Gonzalez talks of turning slick political marketing against itself

Reps Etc.

After watching the mind games of Pumping Iron, mayoral candidate Matt Gonzalez talks of turning slick political marketing against itself

Identity Crisis

American movies once enthralled the world with their exuberance and clarity. What happened in the 1990s?