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.
High Speed Rail Around the World Requires Government Subsidies
A bedrock contention of the California High Speed Rail Authority states when the California system is finally up and running, the system will operate with a profit. Indeed, the Prop 1A bond act approved by the voters in 2008, mandates the system run without any operating subsidy.
The issue keeps popping up, the most recent time being in the hearing of the Assembly Budget Sub-committee #3 on April 6th during a discussion between Assembly Jim Patterson and Authority Chair Dan Richard.
Video of this discussion can be found at here.
At about 12.5 minutes into this video excerpt there is this exchange: (un-official transcript) (more…)
California Leaders Double Down on Dry
“What do we do with this worthless area, the region of savages and wild beasts, of shifting sands and whirlwinds of dust, of cactus and prairie dogs? To what use could we ever hope to put these great deserts and these endless mountain ranges?” – U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster, on the American West, 1852
The drought, if somewhat ameliorated by a passably wet winter in Northern California, reminds us that aridity defines the West. Our vulnerability is particularly marked here in Southern California, where the local rivers and springs could barely support a few hundred thousand residents, as opposed to the 20 million or so who live here. Bay Area, we’re talking about you, too, since about two-thirds of your drinking water is imported. (more…)
Long Ballot Blues
With expected November ballot measures falling away because of political pressure, costs and legislative deal-making, the concern of an extremely long ballot has diminished somewhat but a long ballot still could confront voters. The length of the ballot could play a role in determining outcomes of some of the measures, especially appearing at the end of the ballot.
Because of the minimum wage bill signed by the governor, two minimum wage initiatives thought to be headed for the ballot likely will not go forward. Likewise, an expected property tax initiative that was moving ahead on signature gathering with enough resources in the bank to get the qualifying job done was suddenly pulled. A measure pursued to send high-speed rail money to water storage projects was dropped. Others may follow. (more…)
Replace the Capitol Annex With…
Good news! The Brown administration has raised the prospect of tearing down the Capitol Annex – the six-story building that houses the governor’s office and various legislative offices, on the east side of the Capitol complex.
But what should go in its place? That would have to be worked out between the governor and the legislature. Current options include building a new building on a nearby parking lot while renovating the annex, or building a new office building in Capitol Park.
I’m for building as many buildings, and as big buildings as possible. Because what matters is that a new or renovated Capitol Annex be big enough to hold what California really needs: A bigger legislature. (more…)
Quick Thoughts on the Vergara Appeal Decision
Not unexpected, the case seemed to go against the plaintiffs in the appeals trial.
Next stop, the state Supreme Court.
Ironic that the decision comes on the heels of a similar case being brought in Minnesota.
I haven’t read the decision yet, but I find it very interesting that the three-judge panel reversed Vergara finding that there wasn’t enough evidence to show that minority students were more often subjected to ineffective teachers than other students. This sounds as if the judges are saying that since everyone is screwed by tenure equally, the civil rights angle goes out the window.
More Misdirection On Our Plan For California Water
Let’s just get right to it. Appearing in yesterday’s Sacramento Bee, is an editorial titled, “GOP should drop effort to gut Endangered Species Act.” And like past editorials on this topic, the misrepresentation is as blatant as the Kern River is dry — and both are damaging for our state.
This “effort” the editorial board refers to is just the latest in numerous efforts from the House to get the Senate to act on California water. When Republicans regained the majority in the House, we passed legislation each Congress to address California’s water crisis. Last year my House colleagues and I spent hundreds of hours negotiating with Democrats, only to have our Senators fail to show the leadership and courage our state needs to say “yes” to commonsense reforms. So whether or not the Sacramento Bee sees Senator Feinstein’s latest proposal as “thoughtful,” it does little to move us closer to a resolution. (more…)