'SECRET' DMV OFFICE LIVES ON

For years the Dept. of Motor Vehicles ran a little office in the Capitol,
mostly for the use of legislators and their ilk, although the public was
somewhat grudgingly served, if they found it. Then media glare made it too
popular, so it moved to a hard-to-find office in a building across the
street from the Capitol.

But that office also got too popular, so it was closed last April. Or was
it? Turns out the office, the main job of which is to serve as the DMV's
legislative liaison, can still renew a license or register a vehicle -- IF
you're a legislator, or work for one. The DMV's Bill Cather says "it is
very infrequent" when a lawmaker uses the office for those purposes. "I
know that's going to look like special privileges for members of the
Legislature," he said, "but when a member is up here and out of his
district, I'm not going to tell him to go out to Broadway and stand in line
for an hour and a half to get some problem solved." For a legislator, that
would be way too close to real life. . . .

As long as we're dealing with the asylum and its inmates, last Thursday the
Assembly spent some time commemorating the tragic experiences of Japanese
Americans who were forced into internment camps during World War II, and
many elderly Nisei were in the Assembly chamber. As soon as the ceremony
was over, however, one legislator rose to his feet to ask that the body
adjourn in the memory of a famous baseball broadcaster who had died the day
before. The mention of the broadcaster's name, however, noticeably startled
some of those in the departing group who weren't paying close attention.
His name was Harry Caray. . . .

Just in case you're in Southern California and get thirsty, be aware the
giant Metropolitan Water District topped 42 other municipal water suppliers
from around the country to be named provider of the best tap water in
America. The contest is held each year by some people in Berkeley Springs,
W.Va. Sacto did not place in the top five, although you can get pretty good
water here lately by just going outside and tilting your head back. . . .
However, do not despair. The Big Tomato is featured rather prominently in a
big story in Spin Magazine this month. Unfortunately, the story is about
methamphetamines. There is a big pull-out quote too, in bold print. It
says, " 'Sacramento is the methamphetamine capital of the world,' laughs
one crank dealer. 'If this is the cheapest place in California to buy meth
per pound, then it's the most abundant place.' " Take that, L.A. . .

Follow-up: Last December, an item ran here about an Elk Grove couple, Rick
and Donna Evans, whose two young kids had some pretty severe health
problems. The Evanses desperately needed money for a specially equipped van
to take one of the kids for frequent medical treatment in L.A. Readers
donated $8,500 in cash and a van. It was a grand gesture, but the Evanses'
2-year-old daughter, Cienna, died earlier this month from retinoblastoma, a
rare form of eye cancer. Now the family is trying to establish a perpetual
fund in Cienna's name to help other families in the same boat. The Cienna
Evans Memorial Fund (Acct. 236400-01) is at the Patelco Credit Union, 9121
E. Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove, 95624. .

Errata: Last Friday's column mentioned a baffling sign at the Laguna Target
store that purportedly read: "Free Sandbags -- 19 cents." Alas, the only
one baffled was me. Several alert readers pointed out the sign actually
said "Free Sand -- Sandbags 19 cents." Must've had sand in my eyes. Or
ears.STEVE WIEGAND'S column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call him
at (916) 321-1076, e-mail to swiegan@ns.net, write to P.O. Box 15779,
Sacramento, 95852, or fax (916) 321-1109.

Copyright ) 1998 The Sacramento Bee