Voting in LA Was Fun
It’s hard to understand the voter suppression in so many swing states, and all those long lines. Don’t they know that voting is supposed to be fast and fun? It sure was fun in California this time. I got a mail ballot like everyone else, but decided to vote in person because there were so […]
It’s Election Day: What we’re looking at
It’s decision day for candidate and policy issues in California and many questions that have surfaced over the last few months will be decided by the voters, which will give us a good read where California stands, at least for the time being. What we are wondering about? Will Proposition 13 stand up against a […]
Californians are Voting by the Millions Does Anyone Care?
It’s Election Day—or should we call it Election Month? And it might be longer still before we know the final outcome. Voter turnouts are already breaking all records nation-wide guaranteeing that by day’s end we may not know who will be the next President of the United States. We have already doubled the numbers from […]
California’s Proposition 16 will bring discrimination, not equality — and voters see right through it
Let’s say you’re a California voter, looking at Proposition 16 on the ballot, and you don’t like what you see in this proposed amendment to repeal the state’s constitutional ban on racial preferences. Don’t feel bad about it: according to the opinion polls, you’re not alone. And the problem isn’t with you. It’s that this […]
When plastic industry reform died in the state legislature this year, so did a piece of our democracy
The 2019-2020 California State Legislative Session ended on August 31 – and the Legislature’s failure to pass the California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act (SB54/AB1080) left a particularly bad stench: – Not just because our state legislature failed to confront a state/national/global plastic pollution crisis, when it had well-crafted, visionary legislation to do […]
What Is a “Loophole” in the Tax Laws?
For years around the State Capitol, as well as during ballot wars such as this year’s Proposition 15 to create a split property tax roll, we have heard the claim of tax increase proponents that their bill in the Legislature or their initiative on the ballot is simply “closing a tax loophole.” So, what exactly […]
Five Totally Out-of-the-Box Picks to Replace Kamala in the Senate
If Kamala Harris becomes vice president and Gov. Gavin Newsom has to fill her seat in the Senate, the conventional wisdom is that he will pick a statewide elected official—probably Secretary of State Alex Padilla or Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Either of those men would allow Newsom to make history, by appointing a Latino, and […]
Does more money mean better schools?
It’s by no means certain that California voters will pass Proposition 15, but if they do, it would be the largest tax increase in the state’s history. That said, it would provide a relatively small down payment on the long-standing desire of the state’s educational establishment for a massive increase in spending that’s needed, advocates […]
Whither the Supreme Court? And a Peek At Hot California Congressional Races.
Will the new Supreme Court justice tow the ultra conservative line or will she be open to compromise? We also take a look at how demographic changes are impacting California congressional elections. The podcast is here. Produced and directed by Nancy Boyarsky.
Are Elected Officials Leaders? A Test is Coming
When individuals are elected to office, they envision themselves as leaders, that the people will follow in the direction they, as leaders, lay out. But that is not always the case and the latest test for many California elected officials comes on Election Day. On the statewide ballot, voters will decide four measures put before […]