Author: uclafaculty

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Planning to Travel on Sunset Boulevard at Night Next Week? Think Again!

Byuclafaculty

The notice below was sent to some departments at UCLA by Facilities Management.  It provides a link to what would seem to be the source, but I found no such information there.  So I am assuming that the info below is correct: Closure of Sunset Boulevard between Veteran Avenue and Barrington Avenue and closure of Church Lane between Sepulveda Boulevard and Kiel Street. Closure of all I-405 on and off-ramps at Sunset Boulevard except for the southbound off-ramp, which will remain open with access to Sepulveda Boulevard only. Where: Sunset Boulevard at Church Lane/I-405 When: Monday, July 9th through Monday, July 16th….

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A Guide for the Perplexed Voter

Byuclafaculty

If you are wondering what statewide ballot propositions will be on the ballot in November, here is the complete list (below).  The numbering and ordering of the propositions has yet to occur.  The legislature passed a bill that would put the governor’s tax initiative as the first one.  That action is currently being litigated by Molly Munger, wealthy sponsor of a rival tax initiative.  The legislature removed a water bond from the November ballot that would otherwise have appeared.  In some cases below, yours truly has added some editorial comments in italics.  Text below is from the California Secretary of…

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Judge Calls Regents “Duplicitous” in Hannah Carter Japanese Garden Affair

Byuclafaculty

The Beverly Hills Courier is carrying an online story about a court proceeding related to the proposed sale by UCLA of the Hannah Carter Japanese Garden: (excerpt) Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Hart Cole today postponed judgment on the fate of the Hannah Carter Japanese Garden until July 27. Cole directed attorneys for the heirs of Hannah Carter, who filed a preliminary injunction opposing the sale of the Kyoto-style Garden on June 13, to prepare a supplemental five-page brief on whether the UC Regents are a government entity or a charitable trust. Cole said determining whether the University is a…

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Steve Poizner and UCLA Extension in Joint Online Venture

Byuclafaculty

Many blog readers will remember Steve Poizner, the former California insurance commissioner who ran for the Republican nomination for governor unsuccessfully in 2010. The Wall St. Journal reports that he has a joint venture now with UCLA Extension to provide online education: A Silicon Valley entrepreneur and the University of California are combining ready-made software, rented Web services and Apple Inc.’s iPad tablet computer in a high-tech effort to bring career training to baby boomers looking to upgrade their skills. Empowered Careers last week began enrolling students in 10 certificate programs to be taught by instructors at the UCLA Extension, the…

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Sacramento Pension Politics Could Open Door to UC Exemption

Byuclafaculty

Governor Brown has a 12-point pension plan for all public pensions in California that would override UC’s own pension solution.  The legislative leaders have a different view on pensions than the governor but they also have shown no sign of being willing to exempt UC so far. However, while the governor and the legislature tussle over the pension issue, voters have imposed pension changes in local elections, notably in San Diego and San Jose.  The governor has indicated that public sector unions should agree to his plan or they will get worse from local voters.  It appears that Senate leader…

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Poll Shows Narrow (Maybe Too Narrow) Support for Governor’s Tax Initiative

Byuclafaculty

Above is an excerpt from a Field Poll released today that indicates 54% support for the governor’s tax initiative.  The Munger initiative (a different tax increase for schools) and the Steyer tax initiative (close corporate loophole) are losing.  Although 54% is sufficient to pass an initiative, the campaign pro and con has yet to begin.  Folk wisdom is that a controversial initiative should start with at least 60% support since some support will erode as the anti-initiative campaign develops.  So 54% at this time may not be enough in November.  If the initiative doesn’t pass, there will be trigger cuts…

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UCLA Drops Opposition to Athletes’ Bill of Rights After Amendments

Byuclafaculty

After amendment, UCLA has dropped its opposition to a bill pending in the legislature containing a “bill of rights” for student athletes.  UC-Berkeley and USC have also dropped opposition.  Stanford is still opposed. …Sen. Alex Padilla, of Los Angeles, agreed to amend Senate Bill 1525 amid opposition from Stanford, UC-Berkeley, UCLA and the University of Southern California.  This bill now requires the four schools to continue scholarships for injured athletes and athletes who have exhausted their athletic eligibility, but have not finished their degree. The schools would also have to pay for health insurance for low-income individuals and tell a student athlete within seven days whether…

Please Stand By – If You Are Looking for the UCLA Faculty Association Website

Byuclafaculty

If you have tried recently to get on to the website maintained by the Faculty Association at UCLA – www.uclafaculty.org, you will have gotten some kind of error message.  The problem will be corrected but it may take a few days.  The prior hosting entity of the website is now defunct and a new one will be found. In the meantime:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbg7YoXiKn0&w=320&h=195]

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Prop 13 Challenge by Former Chancellor UCLA Charles Young

Byuclafaculty

Most readers of this blog will know that Proposition 13, an initiative sponsored by Howard Jarvis (shown in the picture on the cover of Time) and Paul Gann, drastically cut local property taxes in 1978.  However, another feature of Prop 13 was adding a requirement that taxes could not be raised without a 2/3 vote of the legislature.  The 2/3 tax provision of Prop 13 was added to the Depression-era requirement for a 2/3 vote for the budget itself.   Voters in 2010 removed the 2/3 for budgets but not the 2/3 for taxes.  Indeed, they strengthened the 2/3 for…