A Tale of Two Supreme Court Nominations
In Washington, D.C., U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett is going through a high-profile confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, accompanied by partisan fireworks. Across the country in California, much more quietly, newly nominated California Supreme Court justice Martin Jenkins is going through the California confirmation procedure minus partisan bickering. Which confirmation […]
The Ex-Governors As Initiative Warriors
Old California governors don’t die. They just play initiative politics. Just look at our two most recent ex-governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown. They’ve gone beyond the past ex-governor practice of endorsing the occasional measure to being major players in the system. They are using more than their names or political brands. They are also […]
Consequences from the Ballot Harvesting Law
Those unofficial “official” ballot boxes that have popped up in a few counties are an outgrowth of the legislative edict to allow for ballot harvesting, a practice fraught with potential mischief or abuse. The boxes marked “official” and set up by state and county Republican organizations may violate state law. The Republicans argue it is […]
The Happiest Place on Earth is Turning Grumpy—With Good Reason
Disneyland, if personified as a member of the seven dwarfs, has thought of itself as Happy, (The Happiest Place on Earth), but lately it’s been more like another of the seven dwarfs, Grumpy, for reasons tied to the pandemic and California government’s response. With California restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus so tight that […]
Prop 21 Denies the American Housing Dream for Black, Latino Families
A primary path to the middle class for American families is through property ownership. However, for many African Americans and Latinos, however, it is a dream that and other minorities, the opportunity has been out of reach because of discriminatory housing laws and economic inequality. It’s alarming that a measure on the November ballot would […]
Yeah for Yee
It’s tough during times of the typical contentious political give and take for a recognizable member of a political party to make a stand that faithful party members think adverse to the party’s interest. It’s even more difficult in these polarizing times. Yet, State Controller Betty Yee, a Democrat, told fellow Democrat Secretary of State […]
Will Voters Jump on the Politicians’ Diversity Bandwagon?
This coming election will indicate whether the governor and California legislature are way out in front of the electorate on a high-profile issue of the moment—diversity in the form of affirmative action. Recently, Governor Newsom signed AB 979 that requires businesses with corporate headquarters in the state to have board members of underrepresented communities defined […]
AB 5, Proposition 22 and the Future of Employment
Over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal published an interview with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi conducted by editorial board member Allysia Finley centering on California’s AB 5 and Uber’s response, Proposition 22. Toward the end of the interview Khosrowshahi talked about self-driving cars role in the debate and this look into the future raised additional […]
Donors Play Prominent Role in LA DA Debate
After a summer of protests aimed at police and justice reform, the voters will finally get a chance to register their feelings on those issues in the high-profile Los Angeles District Attorney race. Squaring off in a debate this weekend the two candidates carrying the banners for more liberal reforms versus traditional reforms prominently dueled […]