Andy Pugno drafted the California law that prohibits gay marriage, but his Assembly campaign website does not mention Proposition 8. Pugno, a Republican and the attorney for Prop. 8 supporters, is competing in a tense race with Democrat Richard Pan for the District 5 Assembly seat. Read a profile of Pan here.  In an interview on Friday, Pugno said he’s not running on the issue of same-sex marriage. Rather, the Folsom resident said he is focusing on the issues of state spending, job creation and local governments’ relationship with the state. The Sacramento Press asked Pugno if he’s trying to distance himself from Prop. 8 by not mentioning it on his campaign website. “I’m not trying to

Physician Richard Pan supports gay marriage. Attorney Andy Pugno is the author of Proposition 8, which prohibits gay marriage in the state. Democrat Pan and Republican Pugno, the top two California Assembly candidates seeking to represent Sacramento and its surrounding areas, don’t have much in common. Voters will go to the polls Nov. 2 to choose a winner for the District 5 seat. Roger Niello, who formerly held the District 5 seat, is now a candidate for state Senate. Pan, a North Natomas resident and pediatrician at the University of California, Davis, Children’s Hospital, sat down with The Sacramento Press last week to explain his ideas and priorities. The Sacramento Press will featu

Mayor Kevin Johnson and representatives from public agencies and small businesses said Thursday that ballot measure Proposition 23 would harm the environment, green businesses and air quality. The November ballot measure would overturn the state’s climate change law, AB 32, until the state reaches an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent or lower for four consecutive quarters. AB 32, which the California Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger passed in 2006, aims to cut California’s greenhouse gas emissions. Backers of Prop. 23, officially called the “California Jobs Initiative,” argue that AB 32 hurts businesses that must pay the expense of making mandatory changes to comply. The Sacrame

Some Sacramento City Council members say the city could be harmed if voters halt California’s global warming law in November. A handful of council members have publicly opposed Proposition 23, a ballot measure that would block state regulations relating to global warming.  Backers of Prop. 23 want to freeze AB 32, the state’s global warming law, arguing that it hurts businesses in California. When the state’s unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent or lower over four continuous quarters, AB 32 would go into effect again, the ballot measure states. The title of the measure is the “California Jobs Initiative.” The state’s unemployment rate was 12.3 percent in June, according to the federal

"Why the Climate Crisis Can Only be Solved by Citizen Lobbyists” Sacramento Sustainability Forum is a monthly venue for connecting businesses, non-profits, government and interested citizens in the Sacramento region in order to promote sustainability, share insights and resources, and support movement toward a more sustainable future. The May SSF event was held at SMUD Auditorium Thursday, May 20. Approximately 65 attendees filled the auditorium, including interested citizens and students as well as members of the business, nonprofit and government communities. The Keynote topic was called "Why the Climate Crisis Can Only be Solved by Citizen Lobbyists", presented by Mark Reynolds, Exec

In what will more than likely be a glimpse of the general election season this coming fall, County Supervisor Roger Dickinson (D) and public school teacher Rick Redding (R) wasted no time in hurling critcisms at one another's respective positions on the issues.  The candidate forum, sponsored by the River Park Neighborhood Association and the American Women Federated, highlighted seven candidates all vying for the Assembly District 9 seat being vacated by Dave Jones.  Aside from Dickinson and Redding, Democratic candidates Lauren Hammond, Kevin McCarty, Adam Sartain and Chris Garland as well as Peace and Freedom candidate Daniel Acosta all partipated in the forum.  Dickinson wasted no ti

The fourth annual Green California Summit and Exposition is coming to the Sacramento Convention Center next week. The expo is one of the biggest green forums with a public-sector focus in the nation. It's also where government and businesses interested in green technology can get educated, according to Racquel Palmese, managing editor of Green Magazine. The expo's theme is "Committed to Sustainability." "In this time of economic hardship, it's important for everyone to keep their eye on the ball, as well as be good for the environment," she said. In addition to an exhibit hall that will feature new developments in green technology, there will be four keynote speakers: 15-year-old Alec L

The city’s emerging climate change program is likely to be developed in several stages, starting with an analysis of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a city official. Tom Pace, long-range planning manager for the city, explained that the city is looking at a five-step model suggested by a group of local governments that focuses on climate change. The group, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), suggests five stages for a municipal program to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Sacramento is a member of ICLEI, which includes more than 1,000 cities across the globe. If the city obtains sufficient funding for the “climate action plan,” the effort