As part of its dynamic and intellectual luncheon forum series, Pacifica Institute Los Angeles branch, hosted a luncheon forum with the Mayor of the city of Pasadena. The topic which Mayor Bill Bogaard chose to speak to the guests and listeners about was entitled, “Has Sacramento Overcome Disfunction?”
It’s interesting to know that Mayor Bogaard was first elected as mayor in 1999, and was re-elected with an overwhelming majority of the votes (over 85%) in 2003. Bogaard is the first elected mayor of Pasadena since the 1940s and has been the longest serving mayor in Pasadena’s history.
Mayor Bogaard started his speech by kindly thanking the Pacifica Institute for hosting the luncheon forum. Touching on many different aspects of the functionality of California under Governor Jerry Brown, Mayor Bogaard did speak with increased hope for the future, however, also underlining the fact that there were certain issues and problems that are yet to be dealt with.
There is no doubt that there has been a positive progress in recent years, note Mayor Bogaard. He drew attention to the structural changes that have had an impact on this progress, for example, the modification of term limits, and also to the fact that California’s present circumstances have improved with the state coming out of recession and Governor Brown’s success in pursuing the goals that he has set in front of him. “Perhaps the most significant structural change has been proposition 25, approved by the voters in 2010, which replaced a two-thirds requirement for budget approval of the legislature to a simple majority. That provision seems to have ended the gridlock in regard to Sacramento’s budget process.” Though both the Governor and the success that Sacramento has been seeing requires admiration, we still do need to keep a sharp eye on Sacramento as time progresses to see if these developments will continue as such, warned the Mayor.
There is no doubt that there has been a positive progress in recent years, note Mayor Bogaard. He drew attention to the structural changes that have had an impact on this progress, for example, the modification of term limits, and also to the fact that California’s present circumstances have improved with the state coming out of recession and Governor Brown’s success in pursuing the goals that he has set in front of him.
“Perhaps the most significant structural change has been proposition 25, approved by the voters in 2010, which replaced a two-thirds requirement for budget approval of the legislature to a simple majority. That provision seems to have ended the gridlock in regard to Sacramento’s budget process.”
Though both the Governor and the success that Sacramento has been seeing requires admiration, we still do need to keep a sharp eye on Sacramento as time progresses to see if these developments will continue as such, warned the Mayor.
