Who is David Crane and why should you care?

No, he is not related to Frasier and Niles.

Crane with former governor
David Crane, special adviser to Governor Schwarzenegger for jobs and economic growth speaks to the
editorial board at the Sacramento Bee on May 15, 2008 in Sacramento, California. photo: Mark Morris

In one of his final acts as governor, Schwarzenegger appointed David G. Crane as a UC Regent to a term expiring March 1, 2022. Crane has a solid record of opposing "public unions," so he is unlikely to be sympathetic to the plight of University of California employees.

Don't take our word for it, read his SF Chronicle op-ed.

Of course, University employees are not public employees. UC employees are covered by the UC pension fund, not CALPERS, and are paid by the Regents, not the state Treasurer. Given Crane's record and experiences, he is unlikely to support fair collective bargaining.

Senator Ted W. Lieu (D-Torrance), Chair of the Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding the confirmation of University of California Regent David Crane:

I actively oppose the confirmation of David Crane as a UC Regent. I read Mr. Crane’s Op-Ed in the San Francisco Chronicle in which he argues for the elimination of collective bargaining for public sector employees. I cannot support someone for the powerful post of UC Regent who continues to perpetuate the myth that collective bargaining caused our state economic crisis and has a fundamental misunderstanding of how our state budget operates.

In his Op-Ed, titled “Should Public Employees Have Collective Bargaining”, Mr. Crane argues that because of collective bargaining, “general fund spending on higher education, parks and environmental protection was flat or lower.” As a matter of historical fact, that is false. Our general fund spending generally declined because of a national economic recession. The recession was not caused by collective bargaining or public sector unions, but by private sector, out of control Wall Street firms at the time.

Now that Mr. Crane senses his confirmation may be in jeopardy, he attempts to marginalize his own Op-Ed by releasing a new statement saying he really didn’t mean to attack all public sector unions, just those who happen to have statutory civil service protections. For those in Ivory Towers that distinction may have some academic meaning, but for everyone else in the real world that is a distinction without a difference. Civil Service protections do not prevent employees from being terminated or laid off, they provide standards for government to follow when firing or disciplining employees. Such protections do not guarantee appropriate wages or benefits, nor address a plethora of other issues, such as workforce safety issues.

For full text, go to California Majority.

Regents for Sale

Crane is a DINO (Democrat In Name Only), who contributed thousands to the Bush campaign and often supports Republicans, like his buddy Arnold Schwarzenneger.

While at Babcock & Brown, he reportedly brokered a jet-lease deal between Arnold and Singapore Airlines that allowed the movie star/politician to defer taxes on millions of dollars.

Crane's 2009 statement of economic interest shows over $1 million in each of: Acacia Partners, Bislett Partners, Kensico Partners, Semper Vic Partners, Berkshire Hathway, HCP Absolute Return Fund and Farallon Capital Partners. The latter is one of the world's largest hedge funds, where many university endowments also invest. When the Bay Guardian asked reporter Peter Byrne if it was wise apointing investment bankers as Regents, he said, "Putting investment bankers in front of a plate of $63 billion is like putting a pound of hamburger in front of a bunch of feral cats. They are going to eat it. It's in their nature."

[Apologies to the cats.]

What is the least you can do?

SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION.

You may also write to Governor Jerry Brown, who can pull the nomination, and Senator Leland Yee, who is spearheading the effort to stop Crane's confirmation.

Write Governor Jerry Brown at:

Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160

Senator Leland Yee
Capitol Office
State Capitol, Room 4074
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4008

San Francisco Office
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 14200
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 557-7857

San Mateo Office
400 South El Camino Real, Suite 630
San Mateo, CA 94402
Phone: (650) 340-8840

Read more about it
· Terminator's Parting Shot
· Leland Yee's request
· Yee blocking Crane

The Teamsters Put Crane
and the Regents on Notice

International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) General President James P. Hoffa and IBT Western Vice President Rome A. Aloise teamed together to deliver the entire University Of California system with two consecutive knockdowns last week. In militant, old school rock 'em, sock 'em Teamster style that caught the attention of the UC Regents, UC officials, teachers, students, vendors, and much of the State of California!!!

First, on March 2, 2011 CUE-Teamsters joined students, citizens of Berkeley, and others to participate in the Day Of Action to defend public education and protest budget cuts in California. In a show of solidarity, simultaneous protests were being made on Berkeley's famed Telegraph Avenue in front of the Bank Of America branch in the very heart of Berkeley.

Then, two days later, in San Francisco in the center of UCSF's sprawling, new Medical Center, IBT Western Region Vice-President, and Teamster Joint Council 7 Secretary/Treasurer, Rome A. Aloise joined State Senator Leland Yee, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, the California Federation of Labor, and a coalition of representatives from virtually every Union in the State. Activists, community members, lay clergy, and concerned citizens also joined in. Stunned UCSF doctors, faculty, staff, and others watched bug-eyed from windows of the cafeteria directly across Parnassus Avenue.

Amid the hoopla caused by the public driving by honking horns, Teamsters yelling "Viva Hoffa", members of other San Francisco Trade Unions were heard several times making remarks such as "Yeah, Local 85 Members!" to Members of Teamsters Local 2785 wearing old school Teamsters Local 85 clothing and hats.

Steeped in rich Labor history, San Franciscans and California boldly, defiantly, and militantly proved their point. We are mad as hell, and WE WILL hold prospective UC Regent appointee David Crane accountable for the callous, disdainful, shameful comments he made in a San Francisco Chronicle Op Ed piece just days before.

In The City known for earthquakes, the UC Regents certainly got one. Courtesy of the California voting public, Jim Hoffa, the Teamsters and Organized Labor!! Some are already calling it "The Great Teamster Quake of 2011"!!!

Viva Los Teamsters!

Viva Los Hoffanistas!

Posted at Great Quake
March 05 2011 - 11:45 PM

3/15/11 GT

Who is David Crane and why should you care?

The Teamsters Put Crane and the Regents on Notice

The Teamsters Put Crane
and the Regents on Notice