Two state Assemblymen — Republican Vince Fong (Kern County) and Democrat Jim Cooper (Elk Grove) — teamed up to request $5 million for the California Highway Patrol specifically for addressing illegal sideshows. They are seeking a further $500,000 for the agency to use to inform and educate the public on the dangers of sideshows . . . State Senator Scott Wiener has reintroduced SB 879, known as the PET (Prohibiting Extraneous Testing) Act. The bill prohibits the use of cats and dogs in toxicity tests for pesticides, chemical substances, and food additives . . . As part of the emergency declaration in the Tenderloin, the city was able to fill half of the 200 open public health staff positions within two months, compared to the usual six months delay. Mayor Breed said the quick hiring “is proof that when we cut through bureaucracy and aggressively address our city’s most pressing needs, we can make real, tangible change and deliver services faster.” The 200 positions include behavioral health clinicians, pharmacists, health workers, and others . . . Your next jury duty stint or visit to the opera might include a stop at the new Assembly Café and Beer Garden (52 Grove Street). Offerings include everything from wine to rolls named after musicians, such as the Huey Lewis (shaved rib eye), the Carlos Santana (cardamom candied bacon), and the Dead Kennedys (curry chicken salad).
Send feedback to [email protected]. News tips? Email [email protected]