Standing Up for Retailers of Pets
On April 18, 10 state lawmakers voted to ban the retail sales of cats, dogs, and rabbits unless they are sourced from shelters. According to sponsor Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell, Assembly Bill 485 is intended to stop substandard breeders from placing unhealthy pets with uninformed consumers. Regretfully, it will do just the opposite – and recommendations […]
Climate Change and Our Inner Elephant
Last August, the California Business Roundtable released results of a statewide survey that showed 79% of Californians saw global warming as a serious (50%) or somewhat serious (29%) issue threatening to California’s economy and quality of life. The same survey, however, showed strong opposition to regulation (57% oppose vs. 37% support) if the result was […]
A New State Motto: “Show Me the Money”
Maybe we should change California’s official state motto from “Eureka” to “Show Me the Money.” Most of the high-profile news we get about California deals with the so-called “resistance” to the Trump administration. But, even in those discussions, money is an important barometer. And, consider that money was the key ingredient in many big stories […]
Blaming Berkeley
Thank you, Berkeley. Recent headlines should remind Californians of yet another way we are lucky. Our state has the world’s best scapegoat: you. You—our most distinguished public university and all the people, institutions and neighborhoods surrounding it — do far more than research and educate. You serve the vital social purpose of being a convenient […]
All for the Roads?
Gas Tax Money designated for parks, land purchases for animal travel, bike paths.
Don’t Tax Family Businesses Out of California
Family businesses are the bedrock of our communities and the economy. A recent study showed that the state’s 1.4 million family businesses employ 7 million people. Family businesses tend to pay their employees better, train them better, and provide more generous benefits than nonfamily companies. We’re also less likely to significantly downsize during tough economic […]
Speeding in wrong direction
After massive flood damage and a near catastrophe at Oroville Dam in February, and in light of the future risk of drought and flooding, this much is clear: California’s critical water infrastructure is badly in need of repair. In fact, the state has almost $50 billion in unmet flood management infra-structure needs, according to Gov. Jerry […]
Coupal Is Right About Prop 13 Being a Victim of Fake News. But That’s Not The End of the Story
Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association made the case that fake news is an old phenomenon—using Prop 13 as a victim of fake news. He’s right. Now, I don’t agree with the headline of the piece, which suggests that Prop 13 was the “original victim” of fake news. Jon doesn’t write the headlines […]
The Politics of Migration: From Blue to Red
Democratic “blue” state attitudes may dominate the national media, but they can’t yet tell people where to live. Despite all the hype about a massive “back to the city” movement and the supposed superiority of ultra-expensive liberal regions, people are increasingly moving to red states and regions, as well as to suburbs and exurbs. This is the […]