Fox and Hounds Daily Says Goodbye
With this article, we end publication of Fox and Hounds Daily. It has been a satisfying 12½ year run. When we opened in May 2008, our site was designed to offer an opportunity to those who wished to engage in public debate on many issues, especially in politics and business, but found it difficult to get placed in newspaper op-ed pages.
Co-publishers Tom Ross, Bryan Merica and I have kept F&H going over this time investing our own time, funding, and staff help. Last year at this time we considered closing the site, however with an election on the horizon we decided to keep F&H going through the election year. With the election come and gone, and with no sense of additional resources, we have decided to close the site down.
Fox and Hounds will live on, at least, with my articles collected in the California State Library.
On a personal note, I have spent over 40 years in California policy and politics. There have been some incredible high moments and some difficult low points. It pains me that politics too often is a blood sport, frequently demonizing the motives of opponents and using the legal system as a weapon in public discourse. At Fox & Hounds, we tried to adhere to the practice of giving all a voice in the debate, yet keep the commentaries civil and avoided personal attacks.
F&H offered the opportunity to publish different perspectives (even ones that criticized my writings!). We had success as indicated by the Washington Post twice citing Fox and Hounds Daily one of the best California political websites and many other positive affirmations and comments received over the years.
Tom, Bryan and I want to thank our many readers and writers for being part of our journey. The publishers of Fox and Hounds Daily believe that we added value to California and its people. We hope you agree.
Calexit Reasons Don’t Hold Calestoga Water
With Donald Trump walking into the Oval Office, liberal Democrats in California don’t have much to cheer about. Some of them are turning to the movement for Calexit, for California Exit. I’ve detailed before on Fox & Hounds why their initiative, if it makes it to the ballot, will be rejected by state voters.
But what of their reasons? Why do they want a divorce from the US of A? Are they tired of winning?
On its front page, the Yes California Independence campaign lists nine reasons for splitting from the other “Free and Independent States,” as the Declaration of Independence reads. I’m on their email list and they recently sent out a plea, “Register to vote with Yes California’s ‘Californian National Party’!” (Full text below.) (more…)
To Business Owners: Keep a Low Profile When Leaving California
Time and again I’ve encouraged smaller companies planning to escape California’s business-hostile environment to avoid publicly discussing their move. What follows is the story of an honest business owner expressing his legitimate concerns about operating in the state – and the unfortunate blowback that resulted.
Houman Salem, who owns a small apparel design and manufacturing business, wrote in theLos Angeles Times that higher labor costs are forcing him to leave California for Nevada. His article contained common sense, non-incendiary views:
“The biggest reason [to relocate] is the minimum wage, which will rise to $15 by 2021 in the county and by 2022 statewide. I write with some hesitancy, because I’m in no way an opponent of higher pay. When you have a company with fewer than 50 employees, you get to know them pretty well and have a genuine concern for them as individuals. But that has to be balanced with concern for keeping your clients, who can always take their business to other countries or states.” (more…)
The Implications of the Paris Climate Deal
Rational people want a clean environment. Usually it has been western, wealthy nations leading the environmental movement with California and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) leading the way. California can afford to clean up their air, water and be concerned about carbon emissions; now that their economies are mature enough since Maslow’s hierarchy of needs have been met. Not so for large parts of Africa, Asia, Russia, South America, China, and the American electorate that is more concerned about jobs and the economy.
Except the environment in California has now taken on a shibboleth-like quality of an either/or proposition. Instead, it should be seen through the lens of deliverable, scalable energy while fostering prosperity and energy security for every California County. However, under the current terms, the Paris Climate Agreement was an incredible achievement of nations coming together, but other than symbolically – it wouldn’t do much to help California’s environmental health – or economy. (more…)
Will Taxpayers Come to the Aid of Sanctuary Cities?
President Donald Trump started the process of denying federal grants to cities that don’t cooperate with federal immigration laws. Mayors of many large California cities, but not all, have declared they will resist the order and keep sanctuary status for undocumented immigrants. If the president is eventually successful in denying funds to sanctuary cities will local taxpayers bail out cities with additional tax revenue? That would be the ultimate test of voters’ support or rejection of sanctuary city policy.
We are a long way from that point but it is worth considering. Congress has to approve the reduced revenue to sanctuary cities. Lawsuits will be adjudicated since challenges are bound to be filed claiming the federal government cannot deny funds for local policies. Local government leaders in California also promise to establish funds for individuals to defend themselves against federal immigration deportation actions. These lawsuits and legal defense funds will add to taxpayer costs. (more…)
Measure S Would Be a Giant Step Backwards for Los Angeles
The sponsors of Measure S claim that this two-year construction moratorium is altruistic, to halt greed and improve life in Los Angeles. They claim that this draconian measure will increase housing affordability and decrease traffic. The exact opposite is true.
It is not progressive to minimize housing supply and drive up rents for everyone. It is not progressive to reduce the ability of young adults to purchase their first home. There is no truth to claims by Measure S sponsors that reducing residential construction will lead to more affordable apartments and homes.
It is not responsible to halt construction of housing near transit and industrial and commercial business areas where jobs are located. You only increase congestion and emissions as people are forced to live further and further from where they work. (more…)
California’s Economy has Prospered Due to State’s Ambitious Climate Efforts
Tackling climate change is one of the greatest economic opportunities of the 21st century. As an organization that works with companies large and small, across many business sectors, including apparel, electric power, financial services and technology, and investors managing more than $15 trillion in assets, we can see first-hand how California’s bold climate change policies are catalyzing enormous economic opportunities and new jobs. We were dismayed to read recent op-eds from Jack Bean (“It’s Time to Hold Climate Change Policy-Makers Accountable,” 1/6/17) and Tom Scott (“Small Business Reacts to Governor Brown’s Budget Announcement,” 1/11/17) that expressed concern about the state’s climate leadership and misrepresented its economic impacts. In truth, our state’s climate policies are fostering economic prosperity and those that claim otherwise are ignoring the facts.