Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

From Sierra FoodWineArt magazine: The annual penny pitch at San Francisco’s Washington Square Bar & Grill, or the “Washbag,” has been a famous fundraiser for decades. Now in its 33rd year, the event has moved to MoMo’s restaurant, just across from the Giants’ ballpark.

The “pitch,” started in North Beach by late restaurateur Ed Moose, drew big crowds and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for St. Anthony’s to help the city’s poor and homeless citizens.

Now, thanks to the enterprise of San Francisco native and restaurateur John Kane, KNCO representative Joe Hevia and others, a penny pitch competition is becoming a tradition in Nevada County.

The 4th Annual KNCO/Kane’s Penny Pitch for the benefit of United Way of Nevada County is Saturday, June 18, at Kane’s Restaurant in Grass Valley. “It’s the best fun you’ll have with friends and family for a great cause,” says John. “Kids have a blast, and no experience is needed.”

“It reminds me of when I was a kid,” adds Hevia, a regular at the North Beach penny pitch, along with Kane, locals Tom and Judy O’Toole and others. Longtime San Franciscan Frank Cooney of Tofanelli’s Bistro, just up the street, also joins them at the KNCO/Kane’s event.

Contestants pitch pennies against a wall, and the closest to the wall wins. A “leaner,” equivalent to a hole-in-one in golf, occurs when a pitched penny winds up leaning against the wall — requiring some finesse.

Kane’s will provide $3 draft beer; $5 barbecued hamburgers or chicken breast with coleslaw and chips; $3 hot dogs with slaw and chips; and $1 sodas and bottled water. A $3 “Penny Pitch Delight” cocktail (rum and fruit juices) will be offered too. The entry fee is $10 per person.

Last year, the event raised nearly $8,000 for United Way of Nevada County, said Executive Director Megan Timpany.

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Not much in the local media, but Auburn is seriously considering becoming a charter city, stirring a vigorous debate.

A growing number of California cities are becoming charter cities. Opponents argue it is to take advantage of prevailing wage exemptions.

“General law cities should become charter cities in order to exercise their right to exempt contractors from paying costly state-mandated prevailing wage rates,” according to a report from the Associated Builders & Contractors. The report is here.

Labor groups and others feel differently, however. “Prevailing wage is an integral part of all communities, not only for those who earn it, but also for the businesses and local governments who benefit from a secure workforce,” according to the group SmartCitiesPrevail.org.

Expect a more visible debate in Auburn soon that will spread into the foothills. Truckee is already a charter city.

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“The United States is a low-tax country. That’s true for individuals and for corporations, and it’s true whether you compare us to other countries or the America of the past. No matter how you slice it the conclusion is the same,” according to AmericanProgress.org.

“Conservatives like to claim that our budget deficits are purely a ‘spending problem.’ Said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): ‘We don’t have this problem because we tax too little. We have it because we spent too much.’

“It’s a popular talking point, but it simply isn’t true. Deficits do not stem from spending levels alone. They are the product of a mismatch between spending and revenue. And when revenue is as low as ours is, you end up with big deficits.

“Here are 10 charts demonstrating the simple, clear truth that federal taxes in the United States are very low.

•Tax revenue is at its lowest level since 1950.

•The U.S. has much lower taxes than other developed countries.

•Today’s top tax rates are historically low.

The charts are here.

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“Australian climate scientists are paying a steep price for their work, as opponents of Australia’s proposed tax on carbon emissions have embraced an attack the messenger strategy,” Grist.org is reporting

“More than 30 researchers told the Canberra Times that they have received emails ‘threatening violence, sexual assault, public smear campaigns and attacks on family members.’ In response, several universities are reported to have moved targeted researchers into more secure buildings.

“American scientists are all too familiar with this type of intimidation. As Mother Jones’ Kate Sheppard noted in April, leading climate change experts have been subjected to a constant barrage of threats and abuse. Michael Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State, has been labeled a ‘terrorist’ and ‘killer,’ among other epithets

“The vitriol climaxed in the months after the so-called ‘Climategate’ scandal broke in late 2009. Emails to scientists, later obtained by the Guardian, suggested that they ‘go gargle razor blades’ and repeatedly referred to them as Nazis.

“The media and even elected officials have vigorously fanned the flames, portraying mainstream climate scientists as conniving frauds and potential criminals. A report released in February 2010 by the minority staff of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, led by notorious climate change denier Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), claimed that the emails exchanged among the scientists at the heart of Climategate “display unethical, and possibly illegal, behavior” by those involved.

“Even though Climategate turned out to be much ado about nothing, a number of the scientists profiled unsurprisingly found themselves on the receiving end of the most virulent hate mail.”

The rest of the article is here.

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“Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the front-runner in the Republican presidential contest, has solidified his position ahead of an unsettled field and in recent days has received some encouraging poll numbers,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

“His position will be tested Monday in New Hampshire at one of the biggest debates thus far. Mr. Romney will likely face questions on policies that disquiet some conservatives, including his Massachusetts health plan and earlier positions on abortion and climate change—and potentially sleeper issues, such as his stewardship of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

“Mr. Romney’s performance at the Salt Lake Games, which were on the verge of being scaled back or moved, is seen by many as a feather in his cap, and sits at the center of the candidate’s political resumé. He told supporters in Stratham, N.H., that his experiences ‘starting and running businesses for 25 years, turning around the Olympics, governing a state, have helped shape who I am and how I lead.’

“But it also risks being a liability among tea-party activists who will play a vital role in the GOP nominating process. That’s because overlooked in Mr. Romney’s retelling—which puts a heavy emphasis on his recruitment of private-sector support—is the federal government.”

The rest of the article is here.

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In my mind, The Union sat on the investigation the Sacramento Bee reported about our DA’s involvement in hard money loans and a conflict of interest.

The unhappy investors were circulating it widely among all the media and had done much of the legwork. You can ask the editor/publisher about that.

Still, there was not enough evidence for the Bee to call for the DA’s resignation, as I reported previously.

Having said that, The Union ran an opinion column from the DA’s spouse, defending the questionable judgment. It came after some “softball” news reporting by The Union on the Bee’s investigation.

There was no counterpoint, and the pro-Newell commentary never ran in The Bee — an oddity if you’re defending your position. (I wonder whether it was even submitted.)

The whole episode reminds me how “po-dunk” we are when it comes to digging deeper. We’re stuck in a cul de sac. It’s why outsiders don’t take us very seriously. We are a “tight-knit” bunch, as the Bee pointed out.

Will lawyer and tea-party supporter Barry Pruett, whom I think is gunning for the DA’s job, “save” us?

Nope.

It’s sort of a sad state of affairs — a bench for some key county jobs that is not very deep.

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