Demonstrators closed a Los Angeles freeway in protest over yet another high-profile death of an African American man, George Floyd, in police custody, this time in Minneapolis. In that city, protests exploded into violence the last two days. Police chiefs from across the country criticized the Minneapolis police action saying it pushes back progress made […]

California’s legislative process may not follow the normal structure in these abnormal times.  How the process works out—including the Senate’s possible use of remote voting and the Assembly’s meeting as a committee of the whole—is taking shape to deal with the threat of the coronavirus. Yet, when we return to normal, there is a structure […]

As history reveals, poor economies make for political trouble. That’s why Gov. Gavin Newsom’s move to Stage 3 of his recovery plan, which means under certain conditions—and in all but 11 counties–hair salons and barbershops will open, is both an economic plus and good politics. Long, shaggy hair will be sheared and join the haircuts […]

I was scheduled for jury duty just as the COVID-19 crisis came to a head in March and courts, along with everything else in the state, closed. With legal cases piling up and the coronavirus court lockdown still in place, the inevitable question arises: Will there be trials in California decided by juries watching on […]

The Covid-19 flame of disease, death and economic devastation has only served to bring aspects of the traditional battle between business and labor to a boil. Optimistically, one might think that the call of ‘all in this together’ would have different interests pulling on the same end of the rope in hopes of quick economic […]

Governor Gavin Newsom is hoping for federal funds to avoid about $14 billion in budget cuts. Political tensions over a federal subsidy to state and local governments—some Republicans label it a bailout—have held up Washington assistance to the states, but the odds are some form of federal help eventually will come. The federal funds could […]

One might fairly think of Jerry Brown as the keystone that holds together the arc of California history that bridged the 20th and 21st centuries. From his first governorship beginning in 1975 through his last of four terms ending in 2019, Brown has been part of and/or witnessed California’s glorious moments, dark declines and various […]

Gov. Gavin Newsom did not include a broad tax increase to help balance the state’s budget but that doesn’t mean we will not see attempts by the legislature to raise taxes.  Such a big hit to the economy that led to the $54 billion budget problem is not the time to increase taxes. If the […]

While state and local governments try to figure how to deal with lost revenue to cover expenses, one solution may come from an unusual source. While taxpayers, the federal government, budget gimmicks and borrowing may all play a part in balancing state and local budgets, California governments anxiously await a decision on pension obligations from […]

Proposals to deal with state and local financial woes in California are moving on both the state and federal levels. How doable the proposals are is uncertain, but the more immediate relief will come from Washington if a deal comes together.  California Senate Democrats’ proposal to confront rental issues and state budget shortfalls came one […]