Will the LA Mayor Get Emergency Powers to Build Homeless Housing?
In a proposal likely to touch off a heated debate, Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu has proposed giving Mayor Eric Garcetti emergency power to build housing for the homeless. It would be a huge grant of authority to Garcetti, now limited by a City Charter that divides power between the 15- member city council […]
The Older the Pol, the More Californians Like Them
Californians may worship youth and beauty in some things, but not when it comes to choosing political executives. Indeed, the older the politician, the more we are inclined to support him or her. We keep electing Dianne Feinstein, now the oldest member of the U.S. Senate, even though, polls suggest, we don’t particularly agree with […]
Governor’s Housing Promises Fail to Produce
A Governor’s Budget summary always boasts more than it has delivered, as well as what it promises to deliver in the future. Governor Newsom’s description of the 2020-2021 Budget – his second effort – is no exception to that truism. The budget document’s so-called “A” pages, summarizing next year’s fiscal blueprint, are full of wishful […]
Rogue Agency’s 30-Year Dodge
Down deep in the Marianas Trench of state government, buried in California’s administrative law, is a mechanism by which private industry standards can be made enforceable. It’s a curious feature called “incorporation by reference.” It isn’t used much, but if a state agency wants to enforce, say, some organization’s copyrighted technical standards, it can do […]