One LA Commuter Dreams of a President Christie
Before the bridge scandal, I didn’t think much of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or his presidential prospects. He seemed too Jersey, too volatile and too moderate to be a contender. But now I dream of a President Christie. My conversion has nothing to do with policy or ideology, and everything to do with the […]
Make Your City Council Meetings Feel Like a Starbucks
Would your community be better off if your city council met at the local Starbucks? The answer is almost certainly yes. Compared to people in other states, few Californians talk to their neighbors and work together with them to solve local problems. But the most natural forums to meet with neighbors on community challenges—local meetings […]
My Secret, Diabolical, Perfectly Legal Plan to Block the 2014 Initiative Fest
California seems heady for a big, long, messy November ballot full of statewide initiatives and other ballot measures. Among the possible ballot occupiers are an Indian gaming referendum and measures on cigarette tax hikes, oil severance taxes, vehicle license fee hikes, a 12,000-person legislature, a water bond, pension reform, teacher tenure, marijuana, abortion, and the […]
Cancel the State of the State Speech
This month, I’m hoping we’ll see the last of a tedious California tradition: the annual state of the state speech. Every January, California governors deliver this address to the California legislature, and the tiny slice of the California population that closely follows state politics tunes in. It’s a political opportunity for the governor to make […]
Is It Going Too Well For Jerry?
As 2014 gets underway, Jerry Brown has succeeded to such a degree politically that he has a problem: things are going too well. Brown’s political success has been built on political minimalism and diminished expectations. While officially taking on the idea that the state is ungovernable and that the budget is broken, he’s actually embraced […]
The Surplus Will Be Spent
Let’s stop kidding ourselves. Any budget surplus will be spent. Period. The question is how. Republicans are calling for tax rebates, which – I can hear your screams, Mr. Fleischman – are a form of spending. The real debate is among Democrats, who are divided between those who want to put the money in reserve […]
Black Bart: The Mayors
My first thought for this year’s Black Bart was Peter Lee of Covered California. There was sleight of hand in Lee’s ability to sell California’s trouble-filled implementation of the ACA as a success – by comparing it to the disastrous federal implementation. And there was intelligence in Lee making himself accessible and available around the […]
California Office Pool 2014
This marks the fifth annual version of the California Office Pool. It was inspired by the late, great New York Times columnist William Safire, who made a habit of writing a year-end column he called Office Pool. In it, Safire offered, multiple-choice style, a series of possible news events that could take place in the […]
5 California Holiday Things Worth Celebrating
I make a lot of lists at the holidays–there’s always much to do. This year, I wondered what California holiday things are worth celebrating. Here’s my top 5. What’s yours? 5. Alta Dena Certified Dairy egg nog. The old-fashioned kind, not the fru-fru new flavors like pumpkin. Hard to find (I’ve had to go to […]
The Church of Pensions
“Government Pensions Are No Longer Sacred,” — UT San Diego Welcome to the Church of Pensions. I am your pastor, Rest. Vest Edward Wright. But you can call me Vested. First a big thank you to the police and fire league, for your generosity in building a new sanctuary. Sometimes I wonder if there’s any […]