What’s Behind the Cap and Trade Urgency Budget Proposal
The governor’s budget calls for $2.2 billion in spending from revenue secured under the Cap and Trade law—but there’s a catch. The money would only be released if the legislature passes an urgency measure, which requires a two-thirds vote, thus confirming the Air Resources Board’s authority to administer the Cap and Trade program beyond its […]
Politics in Perspective
Two weeks in London in December provided a chance to gain a fresh perspective on the United States’ crazy politics of 2016. The bottom line is that the U.S. isn’t alone. New economic and cultural realities worldwide have sewn a sense of resentment and displacement among traditional working class constituencies in England and the rest […]
Brown Budget Proposal Sparks Tax-Cut Opportunity
For the first time in 30 years of writing on California budgets, I believe revenue projections are way too low in a governor’s January proposal. But that’s OK. Lower revenue expectations certainly mean there’s less chance of overspending, the common problem! Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget, announced Jan. 10 at a press conference, projects a deficit […]
The Slaves of La La Land—and South Los Angeles
The brilliant new film musical La La Land is being celebrated as a love letter to Los Angeles. But the darker heart of the movie lies in a brief and devastating critique of Southern California, delivered by the jazz pianist played by Ryan Gosling. “That’s L.A.,” he tells his lover, an aspiring actress played by […]