The Carpinteriazation of Banned Bags
Next month, California might almost catch up with Carpinteria. The small beach town in Santa Barbara County, population 13,500, is rarely cited as a leader in anything. But when it comes to the California cause of eliminating single-use bags—a cause responsible for two different state measures on the November ballot—Carpinteria is our model city. Carpinteria […]
Changing the Rules to Curb the GOP
A new law setting up a redistricting commission in Los Angeles County is the first move by Democrats hoping to take as tight a grip on local elected offices as they have under the capitol dome. Dan Walters’ Monday column in the Sacramento Bee did an excellent job of dissecting the flaws in SB 958 authored by Sen. […]
The End of the Post-Partisan Era?
Last week, a press release from the California Secretary of State touted the record number of 18.2 million California registered voters as a “major milestone.” The new numbers are impressive, but it’s also worth noting that California’s voter registration is in line with its current population trends. Both the number of registered voters and the number of […]
Together we can find solutions to California’s housing crisis
Timothy Coyle’s October 6th piece here on Fox and Hounds about rent control wasn’t “news” to our members at the California Apartment Association (CAA). We are acutely aware of limited housing stock in California, or “California’s other drought.” The lack of affordable housing in cities across California threatens our economic recovery, as well as the […]
Make Sure Your Supermajority Wears a Condom
Californians love sex. They also love supermajorities. Prop 60 makes history by bringing these two state passions together in one ballot initiative. Prop 60 requires that performers in pornographic films must wear condoms or take other protective measures. I had previously avoided writing about this initiative because I wondered if it was in good taste, […]
The Billionaire Ballot Props Election
Let’s look at this year’s ballot propositions as the Billionaire’s Election. While its not unheard of for the very rich to indulge in politics, no less than four of the 17 ballot measures have billionaire backers whose dollars helped get the propositions on the ballot. Proposition 53 would require a vote of the people for […]
If Only Jerry Brown Took His Own Advice on Keeping Voting Simple
In vetoing Senate Bill 1288, which would have permitted Ranked Choice Voting in local governments, Gov. Jerry Brown issued a message arguing that elections need to be simpler. If only he’d take his own advice. Brown’s veto message was: “In a time we want to encourage more voter participation, we need to keep voting simple. […]
The Facts About Transportation Funding and Why We Need More Revenue
Efforts at converting California vehicles to sustainable fuel sources are successful in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing fuel efficiency. However, one consequence of reduced fuel consumption and an increase in the number of electric vehicles is lower long-term fuel excise tax revenues. A large portion of transportation funding in California is collected […]
Trump’s Not Going Anywhere
Before the lurid video tape revelations about Donald Trump’s sexual conquests, there were ample reasons to question the viability of his troubled candidacy through to the election. With these disclosures, even the most optimistic assessments cannot overshadow the high-risk strategy which the Trump high command seems determined to employ not by rehabilitating his dismal image […]