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Kamala Harris Becomes CA's First Black Attorney General
Republican Steve Cooley has just conceded to Kamala Harris in California’s attorney general race, making Harris the first African-American attorney general in the state’s history.
Republican Steve Cooley has just conceded to Kamala Harris in California’s attorney general race, making Harris the first African-American attorney general in the state’s history.
Cooley declared victory in the initially too-close-to-call election almost three weeks ago, but today, trailing by more than 50,000 votes, he bowed out.
Cooley will return to his job as the Los Angeles district attorney, while San Francisco looks for a replacement for Harris, who was that city's DA.
-Cord Jefferson is a staff writer at The Root. Follow him on Twitter.
Surplus Four Loko Going to Skid Row in L.A.
Two men in Los Angeles are allegedly giving surplus Four Loko to those who need it least: the homeless.
With the federal government cracking down hard on Four Loko, the controversial malt liquor drink that’s already been banned in several states, many businesses that once sold the beverage are finding themselves with an unwanted surplus of contraband booze. While most liquor and convenience store owners are simply dumping this orphaned Four Loko down the drain, or taking it home to black out on their own, two men in Los Angeles are allegedly giving it to those who need it least: the homeless.
According to Isabelle Gerard, a grad student who works in downtown L.A., the city’s notorious Skid Row was strewn with “dozens and dozens” of Four Loko cans on her walk to work this morning. Confused by the litter, she spoke to one of the Row’s residents, who told her that “two white men” have been making Four Loko shipments to Skid Row for the past couple nights. “Keeps people warm, you know,” said the man, who wouldn’t give his name. “It’s been f---ing cold out here.”
The man said the Four Loko shipments have been coming in a white delivery truck with no signs on it. “I don't want to get them in trouble,” he said. “It's nice that they bring us sh--.”
Nice or no, the man said he doesn’t drink Four Loko himself. “I'd rather be cold than drink that sh--,” he said.
Cord Jefferson is a staff writer at The Root. Follow him on Twitter.
Report: 2010 Was 'Year of Older, Rich People'
Old white wealthy Republican voters came out in droves for the 2010 midterm elections; minorities stayed home.
A new report released today confirms what many people already know: old white wealthy Republican voters came out in droves for the 2010 midterm elections; minorities stayed home. It was that simple, and it’s what led to the thumping the Democrats took in the House and Senate.
The study, done by nonpartisan, nonprofit research center Project Vote, notes that African-American and Latino votes dropped off significantly compared to the 2008 election—43 percent and 40 percent, respectively—but were represented at rates similar to the 2006 midterms. According to Project Vote, four out of five 2010 voters were white.
In the end, it was “the year of older, rich people,” says the report:
Senior citizens turned out in force — their turnout was 16 percent higher than in the last midterm election of 2006, and 59 percent of them voted Republican, up 10 percentage points from 2006. While voters 65 and older are about 13 percent of the U.S. population, they made up 21 percent of this year's electorate.
Rich people voted heavily too. Total ballots cast by people making $200,000 a year or more expanded by 68 percent over 2006, the study found. Those making from $100,000 to $200,000 cast 11 percent more ballots than they did in 2006. The share of the vote declined for those making less than $50,000 annually.
-Cord Jefferson is a staff writer at The Root. Follow him on Twitter.
Kamala Harris Leading in California AG Race
A full twenty days after the close of the midterm elections, California’s attorney general race is still too close to call, but Democratic candidate Kamala Harris appears to have a slight lead.
A full twenty days after the close of the midterm elections, California’s attorney general race is still too close to call, but Democratic candidate Kamala Harris appears to have a slight lead.
According to California’s secretary of state, Harris is leading Republican Steve Cooley, the LA County district attorney, by half of one percent, with less than 50 percent of the votes tallied. Though that’s a slim margin, many of the votes that have yet to be tallied will come from Los Angeles, where Harris is favored over the local Cooley.
Harris is San Francisco’s DA and if she wins, as many are predicting she will, she’ll be the first African-American attorney general in California’s history. A Harris win would also solidify a 2010 Democratic sweep in California.
-Cord Jefferson is a staff writer at The Root. Follow him on Twitter.
Consumer Group: Kardashian Card Dangerous
The Kardashian sisters today came under fire by consumer advocacy groups for the predatory hidden fees of their newly released prepaid debit cards.
The Kardashian sisters today came under fire by consumer advocacy groups for the predatory hidden fees of their newly released prepaid debit cards. Called the Kardashian Kard (kute!), the card comes “loaded with hidden fees and weak consumer protections,” according to the Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports.
Here’s a sampling of the card’s fees:
- Consumers signing up for the Kardashian Kard have two options: A six month plan for $59.95 or a 12 month plan for $99.95. The six month plan covers the $9.95 purchase fee, $5 minimum deposit, and a $7.95 monthly fee for the duration of the plan. The 12 month plan is identical except it includes the $7.95 monthly fee for the full year.
- In addition, consumers will be subject to a $1.50 fee for withdrawing funds at an ATM (plus the fee the ATM operator charges); $1 fee if ATM or point of sale transactions are declined; $1 fee to check balances at ATMs; $1.50 to speak by phone to a customer service representative; and $9.95 to replace a lost or stolen card.
- After the initial six or 12 month purchase period for the Kardashian Kard expires, consumers must pay a $7.95 monthly fee for as long as they use the card. Cancelling the Kardashian Kard will result in another $6 fee.
The card is being marketed to young people with little or no access to traditional financial institutions. In other words, poor minorities.
-Cord Jefferson is a staff writer at The Root. Follow him on Twitter.
