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.
Why California’s EPA waivers matter: The air we breathe
Here are four reasons why Californians – and everyone else in America who breathes oxygen – should be alarmed that Scott Pruitt, the Trump Administration’s nominee to become EPA secretary, testified last week he may not grant waivers for California to exercise its authority under the federal Clean Act to enact air quality regulations that are more stringent than those of the federal government:
- Los Angeles.
- Bakersfield.
- Visalia.
- Fresno.
These California cities rank as the top four U.S cities with the worst air quality. (more…)
Appellate court hears arguments on cap-and-trade auction
A Sacramento appellate court will hear oral arguments this morning on a closely-watched lawsuit filed by CalChamber concerning the California Air Resources Board’s cap-and-trade auction.
In 2012, CalChamber sued the ARB seeking to invalidate the auction in violation of Proposition 13. The complaint asserts that AB 32 does not authorize the ARB to impose fees other than those needed to cover ordinary administrative costs of the regulatory program. What was not authorized by AB 32 is the ARB’s decision to withhold for itself a percentage of the annual statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emission allowances and to auction them off to the highest bidders, thus raising from taxpayers billions in revenue for the state to use. (more…)
Local Governments Have the Power to Approve More Housing
Recently, pundits have suggested – even here on these pages – that but for the absence state involvement, California wouldn’t be suffering its worst housing crisis ever. One pro-industry advocacy group in particular has been touting its “solutions”, joining with the same crowd that’s advocated for tougher rent control, affordable housing mandates on new construction and restrictions on property owners who want to quit the rental housing business.
In truth, the state is potentially a harmful influence on new and existing housing, for some of the reasons alluded to above. Indeed, the pro-environmental, tenant-tilting group of legislators that make up the power curve in Sacramento have all kinds of tricks up their sleeves, none of which will return normalcy to the state’s housing markets. From suggested rules on land use to landlord-tenant restrictions, the list at the Capitol of housing “solutions” is long and unhelpful. (more…)
California: Venezuela on the Pacific
Check out the nearby photo, which I took yesterday, Jan. 22, at 4:57 pm during the weekend deluge. The men in yellow slickers are filling in large potholes in Atlanta Avenue just east of Beach Boulevard, California Highway 39. The yellow light is a flashing caution sign. The rain did not create the potholes, but made much larger holes than already existed.
The median home price in this area is $700,000, so there’s plenty of money to fix the roads. It just gets siphoned off for other purposes, mainly state and local public-employee salaries and pensions. As recently as 1998, the median home price was $169,000, still affordable for most families. Recent home construction in this area only is of “McMansions” starting at $1.2 million. (more…)
Looking Ahead—and Back—at the State of the State Address
Governor Jerry Brown’s 14th State of the State address tomorrow undoubtedly will carry a defense of California policies in the era of President Donald Trump. But what else might we expect and hope to hear from the governor?
During last year’s State of the State Address, Governor Brown closed with the issue of climate change. Expect that to be a lead issue this year. Brown is sure to implore legislators to pass the cap-and-trade urgency measure to make safe the state’s cap-and-trade program for the long term that he requested when introducing his budget.
Brown’s now usual warnings about the budget and the danger of being excessive with taxpayers’ money is worth repeating. He led with such budget admonitions during last year’s speech. Budget uncertainties are greater than normal this year. Not only will Brown give his usual caution about the effects of an economic downturn on the state budget, but also we are sure to hear that actions in Washington could have profound effects on the budget. (more…)
High Speed Rail Progress is Misreported
I have to agree with part of Joel Fox’s commentary on the High-Speed Rail Program, in the wake of yet another over-the-top, totally inaccurate report from the LA Times. The title of his piece was “Enough Already!” That’s just how I feel. Enough already of the bogus reporting, false issues, apples-to-oranges comparisons and abject failure to understand the fundamentals of how the program is managed. Enough with quoting people out of context or selectively – or ignoring their statements entirely. Enough with trying to politicize an important infrastructure investment for the State, one that is making good progress despite a handful of people throwing obstacles in the way.
Mr. Fox said our response to the LA Times report was weak. Well, let me try it this way: Both we and our federal funding partners categorically reject the characterization that there is a multi-billion dollar overrun in the project. We reject the notion that the High-Speed Rail Authority will fall short of spending the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds by the statutory deadline and while there may well be some changes to the ambitious schedule for environmental review (anyone want us to cut corners?) they are nowhere near the free-fall suggested by the Times article. (more…)