Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. Oakland’s violent crime rate plummeted by 14.1 percent in 2009 — nearly triple the national average, the Trib reports. In addition, violent crime is plunging at an even greater rate this year. However, plans to lay off at least 180 police officers to bridge a $30 million budget gap could reverse the downward trend.
2. State Democratic leaders are proposing to raise taxes by $4.9 billion, including increasing corporate taxes by $2.05 billion, to balance California’s budget, the Chron reports. Governor Schwarzenegger, however, likely would veto such a plan if it gets through the Legislature.
