Global Cities Initiative Focuses on LA
The idea that cities are in position to lead the country out of recession by focusing on a global economy was the theme of a conference on the Global Cities Initiative at the University of Southern California yesterday. Los Angeles is highlighted in the group’s work as a city primed to take advantage of the […]
If the CA Prez Primary is in Play, what does that mean for Candidates and Ballot Measures?
As the battle for the Republican presidential nomination drags on through state after state, a number of commentators are suggesting that California’s primary scheduled for June 5 may help determine the party nominee. If that is so, Republican turnout should increase on election day. The potential upsurge in Republican voters could have a telling effect […]
Paying for the Tax Measure Qualification
Governor Jerry Brown completed a deal with the California Federation of Teachers and the Courage Campaign to launch a compromise initiative for the ballot while both sides say they intend to continue working on qualifying their original initiatives raising the question: where’s the money going to come from? It takes well over a million dollars […]
Business Could Oppose Compromise Tax Initiative
News that the governor and the California Federation of Teachers have reached agreement on a compromise tax initiative might give a boost to tax opponents. Having a number of tax increase measures on the ballot could sink them all, as the governor’s own political advisers have suggested. However, combining the initiatives with an emphasis on […]
Reconsidering the Term Limits Law
Another term limit change will be on the June ballot and I think it’s worth considering if the current term limit law should be altered. The key question: Have term limits been effective in improving California governance? The answer to that question is reflected in poll results appraising the job the state legislature is doing. […]
What Voters Understand: Going after Business is First Step in Dismantling Prop 13
There was another hearing on Proposition 13, the iconic property tax cutting measure, at the legislature yesterday. San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano wants to clarify change of ownership rules when business property changes hands and raise more tax revenue from businesses. But, what the public hears behind all this rhetoric is the chipping away of […]
Voters Catching on that Regulations are Burden to Business
While most commentary on the recent Public Policy Institute poll focused on tepid support for the governor’s tax increase proposal (just at 52% approval without opponents campaigning against it, yet) there were a couple of questions in the poll of specific interest to the business community. PPIC asked a broad question about government regulation of […]
SF’s Regulations for Small Businesses make You Tube Satire
California City News reports that San Francisco’s own planning department lampoons city requirements to open a small business in a You Tube animated video. According to California City News: The Planning Commission created such a video because it wanted to call attention to a “fictional but accurate portrayal of the current restaurant controls in the […]
Unions Work to Deny Voters Say in Local Pension Issues
The battle over pensions is going to the ballot in San Jose after a city council vote Tuesday. The only roadblock: state legislators from the area friendly to public employee unions are trying to derail the pension reform by demanding an audit of the city’s pension debt. Mayor Chuck Reed has been fighting to put […]
Super Tuesday Down Time: Pitney on Politics
Professor Jack Pitney of Claremont McKenna College, one of most quoted political experts in the state, has been doing 2012 election primary and debate analysis with me at Fox 11 and Channel 13 in Los Angeles over the last couple of months. During our wait time between the two broadcasts Super Tuesday night, I took […]