Free Republic

Rick Rodriguez: Griego Erwin resigns amid internal inquiry into her columns By Rick Rodriguez -- Bee Executive Editor Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, May 12, 2005 Diana Griego Erwin, whose column has appeared in this space three days a week, resigned Wednesday amid an internal inquiry into whether some people mentioned in several recent columns actually existed. During our inquiry we found we could not authenticate the existence of several people even though they were identified by name, age and sometimes by the neighborhoods in which they were reported to have lived. We used extensive online database searches as well...

<p>A deputy editor and columnist for The Sacramento Bee's editorial pages is stepping down to become policy director for state Treasurer Phil Angelides. Mark Paul will join Angelides' staff early next month, the treasurer's office said Tuesday. To avoid any appearance of a conflict, Paul will no longer write or make editorial decisions, said David Holwerk, editor of the editorial pages for The Bee.</p>

<p>It didn't take long for the gubernatorial hopefuls to make their pilgrimage to Indian Country, hats in hand and money bags open.</p> <p>Wealthy gambling tribes have eclipsed prison guards, insurance companies and utilities as the biggest campaign contributors to political campaigns in the state. As such, they command attention, respect and fear from those seeking office.</p>

<p>Re "Living with Proposition 13," June 1-3: The issues are fairly simple. Proposition 13 was enacted because many people bought a home and then found themselves in a spiral of ever-increasing property taxes, levied by governmental bodies whose motivation was "growth is good." Existing property owners were forced to finance most of the "growth," and many were unable to afford to keep their own homes. After Proposition 13, politicians were forced to "pay as you go" for new ventures in nonemergency spending, a basically sound budgetary practice.</p>