In ballot box battle, Dems and GOP both claim victory. Why this fight fizzled.
In a press conference seemingly designed to deescalate a week-long legal standoff, declare victory and profoundly confuse the California press corps, Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Secretary of State Alex Padilla said they would not be taking legal action against the California Republican Party for its makeshift ballot box program. But the two Democrats insisted […]
Alex Padilla’s $35 million convoluted contract invites lawsuit
Examples of how California’s one-party rule has us sliding ever closer to third world status become more frequent with every passing week. From a governor who issues a sweeping executive order banning gasoline powered vehicles to record levels of poverty and rampant homelessness, it is now difficult to distinguish much of California from Venezuela. One-party […]
San Francisco’s Not So Universal Basic Income for Artists
San Francisco proposes to pay artists $1,000 a month as part of the movement for a Universal Basic Income, this while the city sees many markers of decline due to the coronavirus, a hole in the city budget and multiple tax increases facing city voters on the coming ballot. While an unbalanced Universal Basic Income […]
Reading the Props: 22 Would Make Uber and Lyft the Kings of the World.
Every two years, I read the full text of all statewide ballot propositions—because at least one Californian should. Next is Prop. 22 In retrospect, Lex Luthor’s ambitions were modest. He only wanted Australia. Uber, Lyft and DoorDash, the firms behind Prop 22, are bent on world domination. And this initiative, titled “The Protect App-Based Drivers […]
The California Business Roundtable Supports Proposition 16
The California Business Roundtable (CBRT) Board of Directors has voted to support Proposition 16, the November ballot measure that will repeal Prop 209 and remove the ban on affirmative action involving race-based or sex-based preferences from the California Constitution. The Board of Directors voted to support Prop. 16 as part of a broader ongoing commitment […]
Political Potholes and California Ballot Propositions: On the Rocky Road to Election Day
When is a ballot drop box not a ballot drop box? We dig into the controversy over Republicans distributing their own unofficial drop boxes and examine other potholes on the rocky road to election day. We also explain some of the propositions on the California ballot. Listen at Inside Golden State Politics.
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 […]
Sacramento Needs More Taxpayer Advocates, Not Prop. 15
For most of us money is a means to an end, that of living – keeping food on the table, a roof overhead, paying the utility bills, clothing and educating the kids. If we’ve planned well and are lucky we have enough to put away for retirement and spend on some extras – electronics, meals […]
I’m Voting 25 Times. And You Should Too!
In his latest false attack on California, President Trump suggests he’d win California because we Californians all vote three times every election. If only voting here were that easy. I’m voting 25 times in the fall election. And that’s perfectly legal because I live in Los Angeles County. On just one ballot, I face 24 […]
Killing Us Slowly With Their Laws
The California Legislature last month ended its 2020 legislative session where most of the final day of session was spent arguing about partisanship and figuring out how to conduct business virtually. I wrote a column about it, which was featured in Business Journal. You should go read it. We know 2020 has been a year […]