Empower Initiative Proponents
Expect an effort to give more power to initiative proponents to protect measures passed by the voters. This effort will not split the political community along ideological lines as many issues often do. All sides appear concerned by the possibility of elected officials essentially vetoing an initiative they do not like by not defending it […]
BART ‘s Kabuki Theatre
Every three to four years since the 1970s, the same ritual has been enacted in the Bay Area between BART and its unions. Negotiations for a new contract commence several months before the end of the contract in late June. No resolution is achieved. The unions hold a very public vote to authorize a strike […]
The US Supreme Court Didn’t Threaten the Initiative Process. But AB 857 Does
To quote the character Ron Burgundy from the classic meditation on California local media, Anchorman, after a senselessly and murderous battle between rival news teams – “Wow. That got out of hand quickly.” Over the past few days, commentators and thinkers from across the California political spectrum – from Erwin Chemerinsky to Jon Coupal – […]
Fracking survives CA Legislature — for now
After sitting through several recent marathon sessions in the Assembly, it was shocking to witness the powerful California environmental lobby lose its attempt to ban oil and gas hydraulic fracturing For this, Californians can be thankful. That got me thinking. What if California’s powerful environmental lobby had been as powerful during the 1849 Gold Rush […]