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
Joe Mathews
January 9, 2014
Author: Joe Mathews
Connecting California Columnist and Editor, Zócalo Public Square, Fellow at the Center for Social Cohesion at Arizona State University and co-author of California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It (UC Press, 2010)
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
Joe Mathews
January 8, 2014
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
Joe Mathews
January 3, 2014
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
Joe Mathews
December 19, 2013
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
Joe Mathews
December 18, 2013
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
Joe Mathews
December 17, 2013
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
Joe Mathews
December 16, 2013
Obamacare’s 19 New Californias
If you try to understand Obamacare, you’re guaranteed to get a nation-sized headache. (I tried, and I did.) Federal and state government officials have a
Joe Mathews
December 12, 2013
The Initiative is on the March — Everywhere But Here
Direct democracy, and specifically the initiative process, is advancing around the world. Except in the U.S. and in California. Ireland’s constitutional convention has voted overwhelming
Joe Mathews
December 9, 2013