California’s U.S. Senate Seats in Spotlight
Chatter around political circles last week frequently focused on California politicians who were not even on Tuesday’s ballot. Would U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer, 74 tomorrow, and Dianne Feinstein, 81, run for re-election? The speculation was enhanced after the USC Dornsife College/Los Angeles Times poll released over the weekend showed that a majority of Californians would […]
Goodbye, Supermajorities
I’m not a Democrat, but I once had high hopes for the legislative Democratic supermajorities. California’s governance system is so supermajority mad – we added a new one by Prop 47 in this election – that legislative supermajorities offered the promise of action on taxes, spending and constitutional revision that the state has needed for […]
California’s Southern Discomfort
We know this was a harsh recession, followed by, at best, a tepid recovery for the vast majority of Americans. But some people and some regions have surged somewhat ahead, while others have stagnated or worse. Greater Los Angeles fails to make the grade. In per capita growth of gross domestic product since 2010, according to […]
Confessions of a Poll Worker
In a rabid fit of misguided pat-tree-uh-tism, I signed up to be a volunteer poll worker. I was tasked with the Casa de Cadillac beat on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks. They were hard up for warm bodies, and I committed to the cause. A $25 stipend was offered to volunteers who showed up for […]