Op-Ed: Different 'Moonbeam' may govern California

In the 1970s and '80s, California Gov. Jerry Brown earned the nickname "Moonbeam." While the phrase initially referred to his interest in developing a space academy and launching a communications satellite, it also fit his other quirky interests. Now Brown may become "Governor Moonbeam" again, but this isn't the same moonbeam voters turned to twice before.

Back then Brown advocated "small." As governor during "an era of limitations," he tried to do more with less. In the process he built up the largest treasury surplus in the state's history. That quickly disappeared after voters, interested in less but not more, adopted Prop. 13, the property tax limitation that guaranteed less revenue for schools and cities. The state was forced to bail them out.

Brown also initiated political contribution restrictions, intended to curb the electoral influence of corporations and wealthy individuals. He limited contributions to his own campaign to no more than $100 per donor.

But there's a new Jerry Brown in 2009 as he gears up for next year's race for governor. Today he's given up on "small." He now feeds on political contributions, dunning wealthy corporations and individuals for millions to promote his charitable projects in which their only interest is pleasing the attorney general who oversees their businesses. Corporations he once denounced find him a very cooperative overseer.

They know about the new Jerry Brown in Pleasanton. "Small" is no longer beautiful to Brown, who is suing that city for limiting the unbridled growth that millionaire developers love. Brown invoked a little known provision of state law to force Pleasanton to remove its restrictions on the number of residences that can be built in the city. He claims that growth limitations increase pollution, traffic congestion, and prevent local workers from finding a home there.

Brown sued Pleasanton, but what does he think about the City of Industry? While 80,000 workers commute into that city daily, it has less than a hundred registered voters but vast areas of vacant land where homes could be built. However, Industry also has what must be the most rigid no-growth policy in the state. Nor has he objected to Industry's use of slum redevelopment funds to build infrastructure for a football stadium on land that has never seen a slum. It's no surprise that this benefits a billionaire who contributes heavily to both political parties.

Brown's disdain for traditional public education was first noted when as governor he told teachers that while their pay may not be great their reward was in "psychic dollars." As mayor of Oakland, his animosity toward public schools became evident as he forced on the local district two charter schools whose survival has been largely dependent on him. Since their inception, he has raised about $9 million from contributors whose only interest in the schools is that they are Brown's pets.

At the request of Mercury Insurance, Attorney General Brown re-wrote the official summary of a ballot measure sponsored by Mercury. His revision omitted that if passed the initiative will raise auto insurance premiums. While bowing to the wishes of a heavy political contributor was bad enough, Brown's office multiplied the sin by attempting to silence a reporter investigating the breach of ethics.

Brown wants so badly to be governor that he was guest of honor at a San Bernardino fundraiser for a Republican office holder. That not only diminishes his status among Democrats but weakens a Democratic party that will need all the support it can get in the wake of a potential Obama meltdown.

Currently unopposed in the Democratic primary, Brown's nomination is virtually assured. But by next November voters will be aware of what the new Jerry Brown stands for. Then they may reject him with the finality that Chrysler abandoned the Plymouth, a car once closely associated with Brown --the economizer.

Chrysler and Brown — now there's a pair you shouldn't draw to!

Norma Jeanne Strobel,retired professor from Santa Ana College, and Ralph E. Shaffer, professsor emeritus Cal Poly Pomona, may be reached at strobelnj@sbcglobal. net.