Fox and Hounds Daily Says Goodbye
With this article, we end publication of Fox and Hounds Daily. It has been a satisfying 12½ year run. When we opened in May 2008, our site was designed to offer an opportunity to those who wished to engage in public debate on many issues, especially in politics and business, but found it difficult to get placed in newspaper op-ed pages.
Co-publishers Tom Ross, Bryan Merica and I have kept F&H going over this time investing our own time, funding, and staff help. Last year at this time we considered closing the site, however with an election on the horizon we decided to keep F&H going through the election year. With the election come and gone, and with no sense of additional resources, we have decided to close the site down.
Fox and Hounds will live on, at least, with my articles collected in the California State Library.
On a personal note, I have spent over 40 years in California policy and politics. There have been some incredible high moments and some difficult low points. It pains me that politics too often is a blood sport, frequently demonizing the motives of opponents and using the legal system as a weapon in public discourse. At Fox & Hounds, we tried to adhere to the practice of giving all a voice in the debate, yet keep the commentaries civil and avoided personal attacks.
F&H offered the opportunity to publish different perspectives (even ones that criticized my writings!). We had success as indicated by the Washington Post twice citing Fox and Hounds Daily one of the best California political websites and many other positive affirmations and comments received over the years.
Tom, Bryan and I want to thank our many readers and writers for being part of our journey. The publishers of Fox and Hounds Daily believe that we added value to California and its people. We hope you agree.
California’s Bullet Train Hobbled by Fresh Legal, Fiscal and Political Uncertainties
Barely recovered from the damaging effects of the Sacramento Court ruling denying the California High Speed Rail Authority access to Prop 1A bond funding, the bullet train project has had to face fresh challenges.
First came the news that Congress has zeroed out any funds for high speed rail in the FY 2014 omnibus appropriation bill, the fourth straight year no new monies have been provided. This put to rest any lingering hopes of a future resumption of congressional funding for the California bullet train. But it has not deterred the California High Speed Rail Authority from officially still expressing a hope for federal subsidies. “We believe that it is reasonable for the federal government to continue investing in intercity and high speed passenger rail systems, like California,” Authority Chairman Dan Richard stated in his recent congressional testimony.
What’s With the Sec. of State Election?
All the constitutional offices will be contested in the November election but there seems little contest for many of the positions — except one. There will be a brawl for the office of Secretary of State.
Every political bookmaker has the governor winning re-election by four or five touchdowns. No one has stepped up to challenge the Attorney General. The treasurer’s race seems to be locked down by the current controller and the controller’s office has a couple of recognized opponents who, if no other viable candidate comes forward, will face each other in both the June election and the top-two runoff in November.
Gov. Responds to Me in State of State
For the record, Governor Brown, please let me say thank you.
I’m beginning to think I’ve been too tough on you. Especially now that you’re being so very generous to me.
I deeply appreciated the beginning of last week’s State of the State address, and the direct mention of a story I’d written two weeks earlier, arguing that the annual tradition was outdated and that it’s impossible to sum California’s diverse regions in one speech:
Why the Labor Force Participation Rate Continues to Drop in California
Last Friday’s state job numbers showed the California unemployment rate decreasing to 8.3%, from 8.5% in November. This follows a steady drop in unemployment since 2010, when unemployment was at 12.5%.
Job growth explains part of this drop in unemployment—California has gained 922,500 payroll jobs since February 2010. But the drop is also explained by a declining labor force participation rate. The unemployment rate is based on the number of adults classified as looking for jobs. An increasing percentage of California adults no longer say they are actively seeking employment.
The Governor’s Military Council…Sustaining Its Mission Of Helping Keep Our State And Nation Out Of Harm’s Way
“In this ever-changing world, it’s more important than ever that our top-notch military continues to receive the resources needed to serve and protect our country.” –Max Baucus
The California Military Council, constituted last spring by Governor Brown to help preserve and strengthen California defense complex, which is vitally important to American’s security and the state’s economy, could be winding down. We hope that is not the case, as the Military Council’s mission is one that should be sustained over the years to come.
California’s Potholed Road to Recovery
California’s economy may be on the mend, but prospects for continued growth are severely constrained by the increasing obsolescence of the state’s basic infrastructure. Once an unquestioned leader in constructing new roads, water systems, power generation and building our human capital, California is relentlessly slipping behind other states, including some with much lower tax and regulatory burdens.
The indications of California’s incipient senility can be found in a host of reports, including a recent one from the American Society of Civil Engineers, which gave the state a “C” grade. Roads, in particular, are in bad shape, as many drivers can attest, and, according to another recent study, are getting worse. The state’s shortfall for street repair is estimated at $82 billion over the next 10 years.