The Kamala Dilemma—California Style
It was 2:30 pm on a busy Saturday afternoon at the California Democratic Party Endorsing Convention—just a couple of hours away from a roll-out of myriad candidates for the party’s Presidential nomination. Some were taking a brief detour from the Golden State money trail; all were seeking to claim a California primary victory. In the […]
California Coast Needs an Irish Wake
Peace out, Pacifica. Don’t despair, Del Mar. Never stress, Newport Beach. Yes, sea levels are rising. Yes, California’s coastline is eroding and changing. And we are going to lose beloved beaches, bluffs, and homes. But we must not let our responses to sea-level rise become dominated by fear, division, and local politics, which will produce […]
The Cost to Taxpayers of Enhancing Sonoma County Employee Pensions
In the early 2000s, along with many other cities, state agencies and counties in California, Sonoma County enhanced their employee pension benefits. As of 6/30/2018, Sonoma County’s pension system had $2.7 billion of invested assets, but nearly $3.1 billion in actuarial accrued liabilities. To what extent is its $400 million unfunded liability attributable to the […]
Newsom Huffs and Puffs, Like the Big Bad Wolf
Remember the children’s fable about the wolf who was attempting to capture and consume the three little pigs? If a pig refused to admit him or come out of its house, the wolf threatened: “Then I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house in.” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s declaration that the state will stop […]