The Sierra Club’s endorsement of Measure R has roiled some of its local members in Berkeley, who oppose the smart growth measure that encourages environmentally friendly design and open spaces. Is it better to live in Berkeley if you work there instead of having a long commute?

Should municipalities disclose their carbon footprints? According to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), such reporting is a no-brainer. CDP has already become the global carbon disclosure platform for multinationals and large corporations: 3000 of them reported their climate change related information in 2010, including 80% of the largest 500 companies in the world. That information in turn is sliced and diced by investors, stakeholders, and governments. Now CDP is focused on cities.

Mikael Cho explains why Proposition 23 is counterintuitive and contradictory to so much that the state of California has achieved in clean energy reform over the last five to ten years.

Prop 26 is another big oil backed initiative. Prop 26 would make it more difficult for state and local government to impose mitigation fees on business activities that cause harm to the environment or public health and safety. For example, fees imposed on tobacco companies to fund health-related programs, on industries for toxic waste cleanup and on alcohol retailers for law enforcement.

Al Gore has plenty of critics—I liked him more when he first ran for President in 1988 when he was barely of the age that qualified him to hold the nation’s highest office. His 150 second video gets straight to the point, and I suggest you watch it and vote No on Prop 23.

California, once a Republican bastion, has changed politically the past twenty years. Californians benefit on the Hill as well, but in a different way. We have two women senators, both Democrats, and both very different. Dianne Feinstein is a centrist, regal in character, polished like fine bone china–she works well across the aisle and helps with the passage of important legislation. Our other senator, Barbara Boxer . . .

What is fascinating about the Prop 23 battle is how it is not the traditional industry vs. environmentalists debate—rather, it is a war between industry vs. industry.

It is not easy being Arnold Schwarzenegger these days. His term is winding down without any mercy. The annual state budget, as usual, has not been resolved. His approval ratings are in the teens—at 16% in one poll. His party despises him. The opposing party barely tolerates him. But he sure is leaving office with a big No on 23 bang!