San Quentin, may you rot and burn in hell.
May your walls fall and may I live to tell.
May all the world forget you ever stood.
And may all the world regret you did no good.

Those are Johnny Cash's words in his 1969 classic about California's most infamous prison.

And for now, it's going to stay a prison.

After a brief debate this morning, legislation to close San Quentin State Prison and sell its Marin coastline property was shelved, and it appears the proposal could ultimately be rejected later this year in the state Senate.
(more...)

This week, breaking news about a pop star's quest for elected office... and other more, ahem, real news in California politics and public policy.

Capitol Weekly's Anthony York and I take a look back at the local and national political dramas from last week's California Democratic convention, the latest on health care battles at the state Capitol, the chances for changing the budget process, and the birth of a new bipartisan reform group.

[update: Reason #417 to beware of the internet... this posting has already been linked to by at least one site that tracks the pop singer in question, fully failing to take into consideration the date on the calendar when evaluating the veracity of our conversation about her political aspirations!]

Related Information:
"Democrats Need to 'Chill Out,' Bill Clinton Says," by Laura Kurtzman of the Associated Press

"Dems Refuse To Endorse Migden," by John Wildermuth of the San Francisco Chronicle

"Senate Hearing To Probe Regulation of Health Care Industry," by Anthony York and John Howard of Capitol Weekly

"Governor's Budget Reform: Missing Details," by John Myers of KQED Public Radio

"California Forward Launches Reform Effort," by Malcolm Maclachlan of Capitol Weekly