Al Gore believes real change = changing public opinion

Grist is a very popular enviro blog... this is an interesting take on Al Gore's fight toward changing public opinion:

The lesson Gore seems to have drawn from his defeats in the White House is that being president is not enough to create real change, especially if powerful interests are against you. The only way to defeat them is to recondition the battlefield -- to build such a pervasive wave of public pressure that no matter which politicians get elected, each will feel compelled to take action, even if it means disappointing ExxonMobil and friends. As Gore told Time, the climate crisis "requires a fundamental shift in public opinion at the grassroots level to embolden members of the legislative branch to take action."

http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/1/23/165239/215?source=weekly

Mayor starts proposing city budget cuts

Mayor made a pitch for Prop S while proposing suspending some hires, asking some workers to take unpaid furloughs and selling vacant fire dept properties.

Budget analysts attributed the $155-million deficit mostly to the flagging economy, saying larger than expected decreases in sales taxes, real estate transfer taxes, fees and state reimbursements have left the city $69 million short of anticipated revenues.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget29jan29,1,5661396.story

June measure could undo rent control

Proponents tout the measure as one that would limit government's use of eminent domain, preventing the taking of private property for private development. Although that is the first provision of the measure, it goes on to phase out rent control. Opponents have dubbed the measure the "Hidden Agenda Scheme," in part because rent control is not mentioned in the ballot title.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rent29jan29,0,281643.story

Daily News says DWP giving solar incentives to richest LA residents

Great map ID'ing numbers of incentives given out per council district

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_8094796?source=email