The New Political Party California Needs
I got one of those calls again—they come every six months—from a Silicon Valley hotshot who wants to use his brain and his wealth to fix what ails California. This investor asked the same old: What measures might I put on the ballot to reform the state’s politics and governance? On the phone, I was […]
An Urgent Plea to the Left and Right: No Civil War
Two disturbing events last week emphasize that the United States is on the brink of a second civil war. The California Secretary of State warned election officials to expect disruption and voter intimidation at the polls on presidential election day, with a specific reference to the illegal presence of weapons. In Michigan, the FBI arrested […]
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 […]
Current Housing Dispute Magnifies Local Mess
Disputes between state and local governments are nothing new. Indeed, the California constitution was amended long ago to ensure against state mandates on locals unless accompanied by complete compensation. It’s a past stipulation that continues to be honored by all lawmakers and their staff. The provision is regularly used in drafting legislation. But, despite the […]
More Housing Now
California has an increasingly expensive housing market which leaves many either homeless, struggling to pay rent, or unable to purchase a home. California has not been building enough units to house all those in need and the small number of units that have been built are not affordable. The housing issue in California – though […]
Veep debate: Fact-check on Kamala Harris as California prosecutor
A few things distinguished the vice presidential debate from the Trump-on-Biden interruption-fest that the nation suffered through last week: The two were separated by prophylactic plexiglass Tupac was invited for some reason A fly made a surprise appearance on the vice president’s head The back-and-forth was, for the most part, actually a back-and-forth, rather than […]
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 […]
Reading the Props: 20’s New Supermajority
Every two years, I read the full text of all statewide ballot propositions—because at least one Californian should. Next is Prop 20. Prop 20 offers voters a chance to revisit reforms of sentencing and criminal supervision laws passed in the first half of the 2010s decade. Usually, going back and reconsidering previous laws is […]
The United Chambers of Commerce Says No on Proposition 15
The United Chambers of Commerce opposed the Split-Roll initiative when it was presented at the Government Affairs meeting last spring. Now that it is a formal ballot issue as Proposition 15, our opposition is still intact. Why? Proponents of Proposition 15, the property tax increase on businesses, say this new tax money could be used […]
An “ecotopian” Future: Can California’s Green Extremism Go National?
They paved paradise…And put up a parking lot…With a pink hotel, a boutique…And a swinging hot spot…Don’t it always seem to go…That you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone — Joni Mitchell, “Big Yellow Taxi,” 1970 One is often at a loss to explain California to people from other planets—like, say, earth. This […]