Going for Broke Chasing a Tax Gusher
In this time of Covid-19, public sector unions see an opportunity for a tax gusher. The Proposition 15 property tax increase measure funded largely by public unions could raise $12.5 billion. Assembly Bill 1253, introduced this week by fifteen Democratic legislators and encouraged by the public sector unions, is projected to raise $6.8 billion by […]
Redistricting Commission Doesn’t Need Reforms…Well, Maybe One
When the first eight commissioners to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission were chosen by random drawing the beginning of the month, there was an outcry that no Latinos were selected. Because Latinos make up the largest ethnic group in California, the Los Angeles Times editorial board called the result an embarrassment. Others joined in to […]
Polling the Environment that Surrounds Covid-19 and Social Justice
The Public Policy Institute of California is out with its regular “Californians and the Environment” poll, but this time the environment measured were attitudes around the three headline grabbing issues of the last few months: effects of the coronavirus; social justice issues; and the economy. While you can delve into the entire poll here, what […]
Taking Care of Workers; What About Businesses?
Governor Gavin Newsom announced additional worker protection proposals on Friday to confront the spread of the coronavirus. While these additional protections along with pending legislation the returning legislature will consider are aimed at offering benefits for workers, not enough has been offered for employers who struggle to keep their businesses open. Among Newsom’s new initiatives […]
Time to Begin Learning about Those Confusing Ballot Propositions
For voters who don’t spend their days engrossed in policy issues, the uncomfortable initiative season is upon us. How to decide on the 12 propositions on the November ballot? Reading through the arguments both pro and con can be confusing if the voters don’t take the time to dig deeper. That probably means getting off […]
Will Masks Interfere with Courtroom Justice?
The fact that wearing or not wearing a mask has become a political symbol of state authority versus freedom seems so far out of bounds with medical reality. Think of masks representing the old marketing slogan some apple producers thought up: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Wearing a mask, along with following […]
The Attorney General’s Uneven View on What’s Right
Two events yesterday showed an unequal outlook on fairness by California’s Attorney General. In one instance, AG Xavier Becerra rightly objected to President Trump’s order attempting to limit the people counted in the census as ignoring the plain language of the United States Constitution. On the other hand, he issued titles and summaries for California […]
Because of COVID-19, Fewer Laws
Back in April, I wondered on this page if the pandemic’s effect on the legislature shutting down the capitol during an extended break would result in fewer bills passed and signed into law. Apparently, that will be the case. On top of the extraordinary month-long lockdown in March, the legislature was forced to extend its […]
Beware of Sleight-of-Hand in Prop 15 Numbers
The Yes on Proposition 15 campaign has bandied about all kinds of figures on how many commercial properties will pay a bulk of the new record property tax increase if the measure passes. First, they showed a study that reported 6% of the properties will pay 78% of the taxes. Next we heard that 10% […]
Close LA? No Dodger Baseball?
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti raised a red warning flag this week saying the surge of COVID-19 in Los Angeles could again shut down the city. One of my first thoughts was will the mayor stop Major League Baseball resuming at Dodger Stadium, even with no fans? The fate of the Dodgers could serve as […]