Latinos Lose In Senate Redistricting
After three years and a full complement of State Senate races, it is clear that in 2011 the Citizens Redistricting Commission adopted a plan that actually reduces Latino representation in the State Senate, this at a time when Latino population and political influence was mushrooming. When the Commission unveiled its final maps in September 2011, […]
Why Our Economic Dissatisfaction Will Not End Soon
The economic dissatisfaction expressed in exit polls throughout the nation last Tuesday is not likely to end soon, despite happy-face federal government reports. As we look ahead to 2015 and beyond here in California, we should take note of some of the reasons, especially two lesser-discussed reasons. Last Friday, the Labor Department announced that the […]
UC Exposes the Governor and the Legislature
Janet Napolitano finally has the UC in the right position: on offense. For years, the University of California has been on defense when it comes to the budget discussion. The state’s university systems don’t have the kind of special initiative and constitutional protections, so politicians cut their budgets fairly easily. And when UC tries to […]
Another Shakedown ADA Lawsuit Against a California Business Shows the Need for Reform
Just ask small businessman Jerry Brannon in Stockton. He recently got sued by Scott Johnson for $38,000 for non-compliance with the Americans With Disability Act. However, instead of settling, Mr. Brannon has decided to fight. He plans to spend up to $50,000 fighting this lawsuit. According to a television news report, “Scott Johnson has made […]
State Assembly 39: Explaining Patty Lopez’s Potential Upset of Asm. Raul Bocanegra
Upsets happen every election cycle. But, every once in a while, there’s an upset so big that nobody – not even the underdog candidate- saw it coming. That happened last week in the 39th Assembly District, where Democrat Patty Lopez is leading incumbent Democratic Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra by just 32 votes. All the political professionals in […]