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.
Economics Trump Govt. Efforts Designed to Help
Too often, government efforts to help the underprivileged or the young tend to have the opposite effect. Take two legislative bills that are on the governor’s desk: an increase in the minimum wage and the bill to allow governments to include inclusionary housing mandates on developers.
Yesterday on this site, Loren Kaye pointed out that the new minimum wage law, AB 10, expected to be signed by the governor, would have a negative effect on teenage and young adults trying to break into the workforce. He cited the writings of economist Robert Samuelson who noted companies that think the increase would cut deeply into their profits won’t expand. Another economist cited by Kaye said youth employment would decrease because of the legislation.
In a State as Diverse as California, Hating Sacramento is the Tie That Binds
It’s one of the oldest tricks in the California book of governance and public relations.
You’re an important person in an out-of-the-way California place, you’re mad about something, and nobody’s paying attention. So you announce your city, or your county, or your region, or your half of the state is going to secede.
Instantly, reporters from the Bay Area or L.A. are calling. They might even turn up in town and have lunch with you at the drugstore. Soon enough, you’ve had your statewide hearing.
Sacramento Spotlight: Comprehensive Good Governance Reform – Unicameral Legislature
California’s State Legislature is now on interim recess until January. In its absence, the “Sacramento Spotlight” will shine on something different: not bills, but good governance reform.
California has, for better and worse, been at the forefront of policy and governance. What California does often ripples through America’s political psyche. However, more recently, good governance in Sacramento has been an oxymoron – state lawmakers held in anything but high esteem. In the most recent PPIC survey, the legislature has a 22-point net disapproval rate among likely voters. It’s very apparent that the voters aren’t please with the fruits of the legislative labor.
CA Legislature Notches a Winning Season
Legislative sessions begin like baseball seasons: lots of time and chances to swing the bat, hundreds of bills and dozens of hearings. There is always tomorrow.
But the end of session feels more like football: lots of huddles, last-minute gimmicks, blitzes and sacks. Naturally there are winners and losers, but even the victors walk away limping.
The post-game reports, including this one, are heavily influenced by team loyalty.
From CA Fwd’s perspective – nonpartisan, good governance – 2013 was a winning season, not a championship year, but steady progress.
City Leaders Are in Love With Density but Most City Dwellers Disagree
People care deeply about where they live. If you ever doubt that, remember this: they staged massive protests over a park in Istanbul. Gezi Park near Taksim Square is one of that ancient city’s most beloved spots. So in June, when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to demolish the park to make room for his grandiose vision of the city as “the financial center of the world,” the park’s neighbors and supporters took to the streets. The protests were directed against what has been described as “authoritarian building”—the demolition of older, more-human-scaled neighborhoods in favor of denser high-rise construction, massive malls, and other iconic projects.
Minimum Wage Hike a Blow to Young Job Seekers
Governor Brown has indicated he will sign a two-dollar increase in the minimum wage, which he brokered in the Legislature. This is unfortunate news for young and unskilled workers, who will be hardest hit by the mandated 25% hike over the next two years. (In 2012, the California minimum wage was $8.00/hour, compared with the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.)
According to the US Department of Labor, minimum wage workers tend to be young. Although workers under age 25 represented only about one-fifth of hourly paid workers, they made up about half of those paid the federal minimum wage or less. Among employed teenagers paid by the hour, about 21 percent earned the minimum wage or less, compared with about 3 percent of workers age 25 and over.