Republican Tax Bill Is an Attack on Local Democracy
The real problem with the Republican tax bill, now being reconciled by the U.S. House and Senate, is not about taxes. It’s about democracy. The legislation was not put together in public, with hearings and scrutiny that could allow the bill to take on changes and improvements. It was put together behind closed doors, rapidly, […]
Funding for the homeless, redux
In a recent piece in the Fox and Hounds, commentator Joel Fox warned against slapping homeowners with a new transfer tax – the proceeds of which would go to fund various programs to care for California’s homeless population. Of course, Joel is not being dismissive of the homeless problem in the state. He has long been […]
No gas taxation without better representation
Notice the increase in gas prices recently? Normally, gas prices decrease a bit this time of year, due to the switch to the less expensive “winter blend.” The increase is an unwelcome surprise for many Californians, particularly those least able to afford unexpected increases to their monthly budget. You might be asking yourself, “what changed?” […]
What Now for Bob Hertzberg?
With the announcement yesterday that Sen. Toni Atkins will be the next president pro tem of the state senate a fair question is where does Sen. Bob Hertzberg focus his immense energies since he too aspired to that post? Like Atkins, Hertzberg was once Speaker of the Assembly. He was also a successful lawyer, a […]
How Hollywood’s Autism Fantasies Undermine Autism Employment
In a recent Curb Your Enthusiasm episode (Season 9, “Namaste”) Larry David pretends to be on the autism spectrum to win sympathy from an African-American mechanic he has insulted. Of course, as widely noted in the autism blogosphere, this is insensitive and inappropriate. But there is more honesty (and humor) in this one scene than […]
Following the ‘Pence Rule’ in the Workplace Will Get You Sued
In the wake of ongoing sexual misconduct allegations in Hollywood, Congress and the media, some male bosses are thinking of adopting what is known as the “Pence Rule.” Common among evangelical Christians, the rule is based on the practices of Southern Baptist minister Billy Graham, who refused to eat, travel or meet alone with any woman who […]
LA City Hall Spendoholics Rip Off DWP Ratepayers
On Tuesday, November 28, the politically appointed Board of Water and Power Commissioners rubber stamped the transfer of $242 million of Ratepayer money from the DWP’s debt burdened Power System to City Hall without any meaningful discussion. There was no documentation that disclosed how the Department determined the $242 million transfer. Nor did the Board […]
Will Bay Area political crowd trump LA yet again?
It’s been a fait accompli that Gavin Newsom, the former San Francisco mayor and current lieutenant governor, will be California’s next governor after the iconic Jerry Brown heads off into the sunset next year. Moonbeam is a hard act to follow, having served as the state’s youngest and oldest chief executive, but it’s too bad […]
Quick Notes on the SoCal Wildfires
Mayor Eric Garcetti issued a local state of emergency on the Skirball Fire in the Sepulveda Pass section of West Los Angeles and the Creek Fire in the northern San Fernando Valley. One of the officials who oversees the implementation of the declaration is Deputy Mayor for Homeland Security and Public Safety for the City […]