Business and Jobs Task Force Quits Ahead of Likely Additional Business and Job Closures
It is more than ironic that the governor’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery closed down just as businesses and workers face the prospect of more restrictions and closures with a surge of the coronavirus. The task force was introduced with great fanfare in April but ended with a press release on Friday, the […]
Major Issue Behind Prop 15 Ignored During Campaign
An expensive, high profile proposition campaign was played out over many months leading to the November election and nary a word was spoken by either side on one of the chief underlying reasons that the measure existed. In large part, Proposition 15, the business property tax increase, was about public employee pensions. Pension costs are […]
Exclusive! Revised French Laundry Menu for Privileged Guests
I imagined a revised special menu for The French Laundry restaurant after the brouhaha involving Gov. Gavin Newsom’s multi-homeowner gathering to celebrate the birthday of lobbyist and Newsom advisor Jason Kinney. The French Laundry Chef’s Tasting Menu (REVISED) November 2020 “OYSTERS AND PEARLS” “Sabayon” of Pearl Tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and Regiis Ova […]
Will Legislature Move to Curb Initiatives and Referendums?
Elections returns show that Democrats have strengthened their position in the California legislature while voters expressed disillusion with Democratic leadership by rejecting a number of statewide ballot measures put on the ballot by the legislature, or endorsed by many legislative majority members, or rejected laws passed by the legislature. So, what’s the new legislative majority […]
Emergency Brake Pulled for Business Re-openings and Also for Government Revenue
Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he is pulling the “emergency brake” in his plan to confront the coronavirus sending many California counties to the lowest tier for reopening the economy. This effort to stall the spread of the Covid-19 virus will also serve as an anchor on job and economic growth as well as revenue […]
The Governor is Not a King
Governor Gavin Newsom has wielded unchecked power throughout the pandemic with the use of executive orders. Unchecked until now, that is. On Friday, Superior Court Judge Sarah H. Heckman issued a permanent injunction declaring that Governor Gavin Newsom’s use of executive orders when they amend or create law is unconstitutional. It seems a pattern of […]
Picking Senator Harris’ Replacement After Proposition 16’s Defeat
The suggestions of a replacement for California Senator Kamala Harris when she resigns to assume the office of Vice-President are piling up. Most come from interest groups with rationales that one of their own deserve the prized senate seat primarily based on the candidate’s identification with a demographic group. All this sounds contradictory in a […]
Prop 15 Defeated by Proposition 13
The odds were all to the Yes on Proposition15’s liking. If they were ever going to inflict changes to California’s iconic property tax law, Proposition 13, the 2020 general election was the time to do it. But Prop 15 failed because of the respect Proposition 13 still has from Californians. The Yes campaign saw this […]
Honoring Veterans
On this day to honor veterans, I’m taking a day away from writing about policy and politics that affect California, although you will find other posts on California issues on our site today. Despite coming out of a raucous election season, we should still remember what this country stands for and honor those who serve […]