Secrecy on California land deals becomes issue. Critics Want Appraisals to be Made Public.

San Jose Mercury News ^ | October 1, 2003 | Paul ROgers

[John Jorsett]

As California Gov. Gray Davis' secrecy in land deals became an election issue Tuesday, a state board approved three massive property purchases from campaign contributors that Davis had rushed to close before next Tuesday's recall election.

By a 3-0 vote, California's Wildlife Conservation Board approved the land purchases -- totaling nearly $300 million -- without making public the appraisals that were used to justify the sale prices. The Davis administration has routinely refused to release such information in the past, and Davis' acceptance of $163,000 in contributions from the three landowners has raised questions about whether taxpayers are getting a good deal.

Responding to the San Jose Mercury News accounts of the issue, Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign announced Tuesday that if elected, Schwarzenegger would make appraisals and other key documents public before the state buys open space.

The three parcels acquired Tuesday are the Ballona Wetlands, 483 acres near Los Angeles Airport for $140 million; Ahmanson Ranch, 2,959 acres at the Ventura-Los Angeles County line for $135 million; and Grizzly Creek, 691 acres of redwoods in Northern California's Humboldt County for $18.3 million.

[BenLurkin]

Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait . . . wait . . wait.

Is this article suggesting that the Davis Adminsitration is corrupt?

[DustyMoment]

As more of these corrupt Davis dealings find their way to the light of day, I believe that another nail is pounded into place in Davis' political coffin. It begins to appear more likely that Arnold is about to become California's next governor and another politician "helped" by Bubba Clinton will see his career go down in flames.

With any luck, this recall will be the dawning of a new political reality in CA in which the Democrats are forever relegated to the minority party position after driving the state to the brink of ruin.

[blackdog]

How Davis and company can avoid jail is beyond me? He might just feel safer there after the election.

Does anyone know what the security provided for an ex-governor may be? I've never heard of an ex-governor getting state sponsored security, transportation, etc.....

Man is this guy's life going to spiral downward! I hope the FBI has his phones tapped. He's selling legislation and regulatory deals like Crazy Eddie's in order to get his golden parachute.

[DoctorZIn]

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[DoctorZIn]

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