Another Consequence Tied to Tax Return Mandate Ploy
Articles have been written, by Tony Quinn on this page and elsewhere, that the California Democratic legislators’ and governor’s ploy to keep President Trump off the primary ballot by demanding tax returns could suppress Republican voter turnout resulting in more Democratic vs. Democratic runoff elections for legislative seats under the top two primary system. But […]
Stop Repeating the Lie About the OC Turning Blue
While I’m glad to see Trump-era Republicans suffer humiliation and worse, the headlines about “Orange County Turning Blue” really upset me. That framing – the O.C. Is Now Blue — represents how awfully anti-democratic American politics has become. The idea reflects the “winner-take-all” thinking that poisons our politics. When results and elections are close, we […]
Impact of Scooters on Environment Still in Question
The dockless electric scooters that started popping up in California cities three years ago are facing a two-front backlash. The first front involves complaints over heavy use hurting quality of life in tourist areas and posing safety risks to both users and pedestrians. In Los Angeles, anger over scooters has left city leaders increasingly open […]
Were Pension Benefits Enhanced Without Due Process?
In 1999, at the height of the stock market runup fueled by the internet bubble, California’s state legislature passed SB 400, which increased pension benefits for officers with the California Highway Patrol. Over the next several years, pension benefits were similarly increased for government employees working in nearly every one of California’s cities, counties, state […]