Howard Jarvis’s Vote for Governor
I’m not sure how far away these absentee ballots come from, but if Howard Jarvis has one I think I know how he’d mark his ballot for governor.
In last night’s debate, Jarvis made a guest appearance on the back of a question on his prodigy, Proposition 13. Jerry Brown pointed out, accurately, that Jarvis voted for Brown for governor because Brown had worked at implementing Prop 13. Brown also said Jarvis did an ad for Brown. Also true; but at the same time, Jarvis was also cutting an ad for Brown’s opponent, Attorney General Evelle Younger, for defending Proposition 13 in court.
The Parent Revolution Continues
Just eighteen months ago, the Parent Revolution launched with a video making a simple promise to parents – organize the parents in your community, and we will find a way to guarantee you a great school. It was a crazy promise, but we knew it was possible, because when parents stand together and speak with one voice, nobody can stop us. That video launched a massive grassroots movement that proved us right – a grassroots movement which has marched all the way from LAUSD headquarters to Sacramento, demanding the power to fix our broken schools.
California Expenses Putting a Strain on Business
Cross-posted at NewGeography.com
Is it any wonder why California’s economy has been so sluggish during the recession? According to the 2010 Kosmont-Rose Institute Cost of Doing Business Surveyhttps:>, one-third of the nation’s forty most expensive cities are located in California, deterring businesses from setting up shop in the state. The increases in sales, income, and vehicle taxes in 2009 further depressed the business climate and exacerbated the problem of unemployment. Though local governments are trying to cut costs and boost local businesses, they have not been able to reverse the effects of outrageous taxes and fees.
As one would predict, the ten most expensive cities in California in 2010 are located almost exclusively in the Bay Area or Los Angeles Area. Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco round out the Bay Area localities with San Francisco actually making the top ten national rankings as well. Beverly Hills, Culver City, Inglewood, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Santa Monica all represent Los Angeles County while Rancho Santa Margarita fills the final spot. However, none of these cities joined San Francisco on the national list.
No to Proposition 23
One of the most hotly-contested items on this year’s ballot, one that we all need to pay attention to is Proposition 23. Masquerading as a "jobs initiative," this measure would effectively repeal California’s clean energy and clean air standards.
Four years ago, California put into place the nation’s first policies to spur the development of clean energy and reduce greenhouse gases. These policies have been the catalyst for the creation of more than 500,000 jobs, 12,000 businesses, and for attracting more than $10 billion in venture capital — five times more than any other state.