In with the old, in with the new: inauguration day for Brown and Quan

The Oakland School of the Arts sang the national anthem this morning at new governor Jerry Brown’s inauguration. Brown took the oath of office today in Sacramento, where he begins his third term as governor of the state of California.

GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN: I, Jerry Brown, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States…

Governor Brown takes over at a tough time. The state faces a massive deficit of around $25 billion. As governor-elect, Brown has already proposed sweeping budget cuts that would slash statewide programs and services, including parks, libraries, Medi-Cal, universities and redevelopment departments. He spoke today about the courage and sacrifice necessary to balance California’s budget. And Governor Brown challenged the entrenched partisanship that has hobbled negotiations in the past.

GOVERNOR BROWN: With so many people out of work and so many families losing their homes to foreclosure, it's not surprising that voters tell us they're worried, and believe that California is on the wrong track. Yet, in the face of huge budget deficits year after year and the worst credit rating among the 50 states, our two political parties can’t come close to agreeing on what the right path forward is. They remain in their respective comfort zones, rehearsing and rehashing old political positions. Perhaps that’s the reason why the public holds the state government in such low esteem.

One potential source of revenue is a revamp of Proposition 13, which changed California’s property tax structure in 1978 during Brown’s previous tenure as governor. Brown will present his proposed budget next week.

Jerry Brown’s return to the state’s top job means Arnold Schwarzenegger is no longer an elected official. We explore the roots of the Austrian Oak’s many accomplishments in this piece about Governor Schwarzenegger’s hometown.

Meanwhile, the city of San Francisco has lost a mayor but it has yet to bring in a new one. Mayor Gavin Newsom is scheduled to become lieutenant governor, but as of this morning, he had yet to clear out his office at City Hall. The board of supervisors could vote for a new mayor as early as tomorrow, but the timeline at this point is uncertain.

Across the Bay, in Oakland, the transition of power is going more smoothly. Jean Quan takes over for Mayor Ron Dellums, and the city is celebrating the inauguration of its first female mayor.

Oaklanders came out in force to accompany Mayor Quan on a parade from Chinatown to the Fox Theater where she was sworn in. City Planning Commissioner Vien Truong said she’d lived in Oakland for 30 years, and she’s excited to work with Mayor Quan to build the city’s infrastructure.

VIEN TRUONG: I'm so excited that Jean Quan is going to be the new mayor of Oakland. As the first Asian-American woman of any metropolitan city to be mayor and to be in Oakland representing such a diverse city – it's perfect and very appropriate. Oakland is faced with record-high unemployment rates. We have significant environmental issues and economic challenges, and I think Jean Quan is one of the most perfect person in the city to actually start to helps us towards a solution. Her background, her experiences…

Mayor Quan will now take on many challenges, including the prospect of the Oakland A’s leaving town, a school system emerging from state takeover and a lingering budget deficit.