Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's deal to sell 11 state office buildings, including the court complex in San Francisco that houses the state Supreme Court, First District and AOC, won't go through any time soon. Today, the state Supreme Court -- in the form of seven court of appeal justices filling in for the recused Supremes -- turned away Schwarzenegger's request that they undo the Sixth District's decision to hold the sale up to consider a challenge filed by Joseph Cotchett's firm.
Critics contend the deal, which would fill a billion-dollar hole in the budget, is a bad one for taxpayers. They contend it isn't clear who exactly would own the buildings, and where the purchase money would come from, and say the lease payments over the next 20 years will eclipse the sale price.
With today's order, the decision on whether to proceed with the sale may fall to new Gov. Jerry Brown, assuming the Sixth District ultimately clears it and assuming the buyers are still interested in doing the deal once the appeal is concluded.
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