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.
New Hampshire – Maker Of Presidents
Iowa they say picks corn and New Hampshire picks presidents. And in fact, that is exactly right. New Hampshire not only makes presidents, it also rids us of presidents, two in recent history. And this year it is going to play its traditional mighty role.
Hillary Clinton simply has to survive New Hampshire, but if she does better than expected, as some polls suggest, she will be the “comeback gal” just like Bill was the “comeback kid” in 1992. For the Republicans, New Hampshire could make or break their candidates. Before Saturday’s debate, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was emerging as the establishment choice against Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz. Then he had a bad New Hampshire debate. His candidacy could go the way of other New Hampshire debate losers. (more…)
Millions of Gallons of Wasted Storm Runoff Ignored
Last week the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Resources and Transportation heard testimony from several of the state’s water bureaucrats about how they are spending water bond funds. Surprising to me was that after all the back-patting, there was not one mention of all the water we are wasting.
According to the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, more than 208,000 acre feet of water was flushed out to the ocean during the month of January. We should be pumping that water out of the Delta to refill and replenish the reservoirs we will rely on for our next dry season.
Fresno County Farmer Wayne Western has been crunching numbers to keep the public aware of all the water waste. “The people of California have been conserving for a major drought for over three years. We’ve also been paying for it by lost jobs, fallowed fields,” Western said. “It’s time for the government to end the man-made drought and start pumping and saving water.” (more…)
The Importance of the New Hampshire Primary
The big story going into the New Hampshire primary—the first in the nation—is the shifting dynamics of one of the strangest presidential campaigns in American history.
Iowa’s caucus results are often not predictive of the final outcome—certainly on the GOP side where neither of the previous winners—Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum—received their party’s nomination.
But they do suggest that the simmering discontent in the general populace which candidates in both parties have been tapping into since the campaigning began is boiling up to the surface and the remaining contenders may ignore it at their peril. (more…)
Mandating Victims of Gas Leak to Return in 8 Days Unacceptable
In a weekend negotiation, the Southern California Gas Company and the City of Los Angeles agreed to a 7-night, 8-day timeframe by when residents displaced by the Porter Ranch gas leak must return to their residence otherwise reimbursement for relocation expenses will stop.
This deal victimizes the victims once again and violates the spirit of the Public Health officer’s 30-day return recommendation. Residents and school officials should have the confidence once the well is sealed, that the area has been appropriately tested and assessed before the Gas Company discontinues paying for relocation expenses. These residents have been forced out of their homes and their children forced out of their schools. A 30-day return policy would be in the best interest of residents, students, and schools. (more…)
Property Taxpayers in Center of School Bond Debate
Property taxpayers are in the eye of a brewing storm whipped up by the contrasting efforts to pass a statewide school construction bond initiative and the Brown Administration’s insistence that future school construction bonds be funded locally. Depending on which way this wind blows, local residential and business property taxpayers could be hit with a higher property tax burden.
There is also the danger than business properties, including small businesses, could be singled out for even higher taxes if local bonds rely on parcel taxes for repayment.
A $9 billion state school bond already has qualified for the ballot. Builders, building trades, business organizations, school districts and a bi-partisan array of elected officials support it. State school bonds are paid off by the General Fund and this is why the governor’s office objects. In his concern to protect the General Fund, Governor Brown wants local school districts to raise local taxes to pay for school construction bonds. (more…)
How to Get Votes in New Hampshire—A Personal Story
Thirty years ago, when I was campaigning for a seat in the 400-member New Hampshire House (yes, 400 members), I spent my weekends at the Sanbornton Town Landfill engaging voters. Since my Lakes Region town with its 2900 residents had no street garbage collection, it was the one place that everyone in town showed up in their Ford 150’s on Saturday mornings. What better place to politic, particularly when my campaign budget totaled $300?
To this day, I’m convinced my master strategy of political dump diving is what got me elected, the first member of my political party to represent the town in 100+ years. But don’t tell my Mom. She insists that her haranguing voters as they entered the white clapboard Town Hall that was built in 1834 was the key to my electoral success.
I like to tell this story because, in a way, it’s what the New Hampshire primary is all about, even three decades later. (more…)