Did the Central Valley Blow It on High-Speed Rail?
California’s approach to high-speed rail was fundamentally about helping the San Joaquin Valley—by providing it with a signature project, with construction jobs, and with better connections to the rest of the state. But, with high-speed rail in trouble, it’s time to face facts. The valley looked this gift horse in the mouth. If the project […]
Droughts and Not Enough Water: California’s Silent Crisis
California is known as earthquake country but nature poses more insidious threats which can go undetected until too late. Among them are the recurrent droughts and chronic lack of water. As I wrote in California and Its Water, Time to Re-think State’s Failing Water Policies, and Drought and Denial, “……so far the proposals coming out […]
Californians Favor Stronger Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Last month, California officials reached a groundbreaking deal with four major auto manufacturers to toughen greenhouse gas emissions. According to PPIC’s latest survey, an overwhelming majority of Californians (75% adults, 76% likely voters) favor requiring all automakers to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from new cars. Californians express strong support for other efforts to […]
America Is Number One: Too Bad The Politicians Don’t See It
The United States is a great country dominated by small minds. The two dominant political forces of our time — the progressive left and the Trumpian right — have a stake in pushing a declinist narrative, one to change the country in a more statist direction, the other to stir up resentment and nostalgia among […]