Memo to Press: In 2018, Don’t Get Obsessed With the Past
To: California media Re: Covering the 2018 Gubernatorial Election The big question you face in covering the 2018 gubernatorial election is: Are you going to let the past or the future win? The past – the very human and personal details of the candidates’ lives– is the heavy favorite in the race for coverage. The […]
Do These Five Things and You’ll Leave CA Ready to Build More Housing
After taking their recent cap-and-trade victory lap, the Governor and Democrats in the Legislature pledged to fix the state’s housing problems next. When I heard this I wasn’t surprised, politically – the pressure is on for them to do something. California’s housing shortage is catching up to the mighty Golden State. McKenzie and Company reports […]
Does the Middle Class Have a Future in Los Angeles?
Recently I read Richard Florida’s book, The New Urban Crisis. Among the critical issues he identifies is the decline of the middle class in our urban centers. What his research found was that the middle class is the smallest in the most economically vibrant places, in particular, what he defines as “superstar cities” and tech hubs. Los […]
In birth of new state program, what’s in a name?
It’s time to bring in some “Mad Men,” like those vintage Madison Avenue advertising professionals in the critically acclaimed television show, and run the name of a new state retirement savings plan up the flagpole and see who salutes. The current name, Secure Choice, doesn’t say much about a big new program that in five years could […]