Taking on the Minimum Wage Debate in L.A.
The national debate over minimum wage increases will take center stage in Los Angeles because two efforts to raise the minimum wage face staunch opposition from the business community. The Los Angeles Business Federation, known as BizFed, went on the offensive last week coming out strongly against both minimum wage proposals and the way the […]
Testimony: Building Trust in State Government
(Editor’s note: Yesterday Mark Baldassare, president and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California testified before the Little Hoover Commission about interactions between state government and the public. His testimony is below.) Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to your important and timely discussion about improving the delivery of public services and better […]
Don’t Forget About That Recession That Just Happened
To hear some people tell it, California is out of the metaphorical woods. Just a few years ago, worries were at the forefront for citizens and policymakers alike. State revenues were bottoming out, services were facing repeated cuts, unemployment was still rising into double-digit territory, and we were asking which city would go bankrupt next. […]
‘Surf City’ First in Nation to Repeal Plastic Bag Ban
On Tuesday night, on an overwhelming 6-1 vote, the city council of Huntington Beach, California–which is officially known as “Surf City, USA“–directed the city staff to begin the process of repealing a policy that bans the use of plastic grocery bags, and requires grocery stores to charge a ten-cent fee on paper bags. This coastal […]