Republicans on Assembly panel reject Cesar Chavez landmark
A proposal to honor Cesar Chavez with a "California historical landmark" shortly after the state holiday named for him carries symbolic significance.
So it caused some consternation Tuesday that every Republican on the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee voted against a bill to do just that.
"It seemed like a pretty emphatic gesture," said Marc Grossman, a spokesman for the Cesar Chavez Foundation.
Assembly Bill 34 by Assemblyman Roger Hernández, D-West Covina, would list the Kern County headquarters of the United Farm Workers as a historical landmark.
The bill also would direct the state to suggest at least five more candidates for inclusion on the California Register of Historical Resources based on their roles in the civil rights or labor movements or in modern state history.
Mike Zimmerman, chief of staff for Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, who voted against the bill, argued that honoring La Paz is redundant: The National Register of Historic Places added the site in 2011, which means it's already on California's list.
And dictating sites serves a partisan agenda, Zimmerman said. "Assemblyman Patterson says we shouldn't designate landmarks simply to further a political cause."
– Jeremy B. White
CAMPAIGN WATCH
It's game on in two California House districts expected to see major fights in 2014. Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar formally announced his plans to run again in the 31st Congressional District against GOP Rep. Gary Miller. Ro Khanna also chose this week to make official his plans to challenge fellow Democrat Mike Honda, incumbent in the 17th District.
– Torey Van Oot
WORTH REPEATING
"His point of view is he's got a job to do right now. He's going to do that until we get much, much closer to the election, but he's going to do the early work he needs to do to be ready."
BILL CARRICK, Democratic consultant, saying that Treasurer Bill Lockyer hasn't made a final decision on whether to run for controller next year. A fellow Democrat, Board of Equalization Member Betty Yee, announced Tuesday that an adviser to Controller John Chiang will run her campaign for the post.
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