How the Redistricting Commission Screwed Latinos
“These maps are a worst case scenario for the Latino community. The lines drawn by the Commission gerrymander Los Angeles Latinos into a district with the millionaires of Beverly Hills and Pacific Palisades. These lines would disenfranchise Latinos by denying them a fair voice in the democratic process.” So says Arturo Vargas, redistricting expert with the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.
What is this all about? Did the Arizona Legislature sneak into California and draw the new district lines released by the Redistricting Commission last week? Aren’t Latinos responsible for 90 percent of the net growth in California over the past decade? Is it possible a nonpartisan citizens commission could treat them so badly?
Well, Mr. Vargas is absolutely correct; California Latinos take it in the shorts in the Commission’s draft plans.
In assessing the impact of redistricting plans on minority groups, the courts tell us to look at purpose and effect. Is the purpose to deny fair representation? Is that the effect?
Democrats’ Budget Invites Lawsuits
UPDATE: Governor Jerry Brown has vetoed the budget presented to him less than 24 hours before. In his veto message Brown said, "I am vetoing it today because I don’t want to see more billions in
borrowing, legal maneuvers that are questionable, and a budget that will
not stand the test of time."
As my original commentary for today that follows below the break argued, this budget was crippled from the start and faced many lawsuits. Brown did the right thing.
More on the governr’s veto message from the Sacramento Bee here.
———————————-
This isn’t the first time someone gets paid for sloppy work.
Looks like the legislature (read Democrats) passed the budget by the deadline
meaning under the provisions of Proposition 25 legislators will get paid. However,
the budget is made up of gimmicks, previously failed budget proposals and
almost certain illegal taxation.
No one knows the decision that Governor Jerry Brown will
make on this budget. John Wildermuth yesterday on this site drew
a picture of the governor’s difficult choices.
But if Brown signs the budget, expect lawsuits on the
revenue raising pieces.
Following the budget passing both houses, Jon Coupal,
president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association tweeted, "How can this stuff be legal? Hi Ho,
Hi Ho, it’s off to court we go."?
Perspective on the LA Mayor’s Race: LA of Today Nothing Like 1993
Cross-posted at LAObserved.
Recently, Joel Fox the editor of Fox and Hounds Daily, an online political newsletter widely read around the state, wrote an article titled, Will a Business Leader Become LA’s Next Mayor.
While I won’t try to predict the outcome of the mayoral race in 2013, as the field of candidates is just beginning to gel, there was one statement that Fox made that I felt needed to be clarified.
In his column he wrote: "A number of analysts looking at the coming mayor’s race feel the environment is similar to the time Republican attorney and businessman Richard Riordan captured the mayor’s office in 1993. The opportunity may be there for a business executive to take control of the city government once again."
This section is where I find the most disagreement — and by the way who are these analysts?
Clearer roads, clearer skies and a brighter future for Los Angeles
Ben
Franklin once said nothing in this world is certain
except death and taxes. People in Los Angeles County might offer two other
certainties: traffic
gridlock and air pollution.
It doesn’t have to be this way. By engaging 15
specific but sensible strategies, the region can rid itself of routine gridlock
and reduce its air pollution. Solving these problems will help improve the
region’s economic outlook, and increase Angelenos’ quality of life.
The strategies are laid out in Vision
Los Angeles, a 30-year action plan-jointly developed by Environmental Defense Fund and
the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation-to achieve clearer
roads and clearer skies in the county sooner than convention seems to offer.
Its solutions were developed after much discussion and research by a team of
top-notch consultants. The plan has been supported by a broad volunteer
advisory group representing business, local government and the non-profit community.
Bounty Hunter Clause Cripples Small Businesses
Small businesses are the engines that drive California – and the U.S. – economy. Contrary to popular belief, it is the independents, the small business and minority owned firms that serve as the barometer for the state’s economic prosperity. Fortune 500 companies are definitely important job pillars, to be sure, but 70 percent of new jobs are created by small businesses and many of these businesses lean on relationships with big business to grow and innovate. But let’s be clear, small businesses are leading the charge to economic recovery and fueling California ‘s revenue base. Governor Brown recognized this in designating May as California’s Small Business Month.
It’s critically important that public policies support, rather than hinder, small businesses development. Ninety-nine percent of companies in California are small businesses, and small businesses provide over 52 percent of all private sector jobs.
But the road to success for any small business is far from certain. Two Bounty Hunter Clause Cripples Small Businesses out of every five small business ventures fail after only two years. If the road to success is difficult for the average small business, the statistics are downright sobering among Latino-owned businesses.