Goodbye to the Dirty Harry of Pruning
She left us only recently, and already San Mateo has gotten way too leafy. As I drove through that fine Peninsula city in the Bay
Joe Mathews
January 26, 2017
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)
Jerry on the March
When your governor is ad-libbing a line from the Battle Hymn of the Republic to the end of a major speech, you know you live
Joe Mathews
January 25, 2017
Remember that California is a Democracy, and the U.S. Is Not
Californians shouldn’t apologize for challenging the new administration or its democratic legitimacy. Because California is a democracy – albeit a very flawed one – and
Joe Mathews
January 23, 2017
Brown Should Follow Cuomo’s Lead on State of the State Speech
Finally, a big-state governor has figured out how to do a state of the state presentation properly. Unfortunately, that governor is not California’s governor. A
Joe Mathews
January 20, 2017
Donald Trump Is Living In My Closet
I have a confession to make: Donald Trump is imprisoned in my closet. He’s been in there for months, and I haven’t dared to let
Joe Mathews
January 19, 2017
Touchdown, San Diego
San Diego is being portrayed as having lost a football team—when in fact, it just won the opportunity to build an even brighter future. Pro
Joe Mathews
January 18, 2017
Brown’s Tiny Projected Budget Deficit Doesn’t Matter
Gov. Brown projects a $1.6 billion budget deficit, and that’s being treated as news. It isn’t. That’s less than 1 percent of the overall state
Joe Mathews
January 17, 2017
The Slaves of La La Land—and South Los Angeles
The brilliant new film musical La La Land is being celebrated as a love letter to Los Angeles. But the darker heart of the movie
Joe Mathews
January 12, 2017
Schwarzenegger Suggests a Way to Battle Trump
Has Arnold figured out how to counter The Donald? Trump, via Twitter, went after the Governator last week—dissing him for the low ratings of the
Joe Mathews
January 11, 2017