Is Kamala Harris Fading In The Veep Chase
Practically every analysis of Joe Biden’s choice for vice president ranks California Sen. Kamala Harris at or near the top. She checks the most race and gender boxes in the Democratic search for Biden’s running mate, and yet there is a sense that she may be fading in the stretch. The best evidence of that […]
Medi-Cal for All
This is the age of Medi-Cal. “Medicare for All,” the dream of extending federal health coverage for the elderly to all Americans, dominates headlines. But in California, it is Medicaid—or Medi-Cal, as the federal health program for the poor is called here—that rules. Medi-Cal, and its no-or-low-cost health services, already constitute California’s most important anti-poverty […]
Flawed Berkeley Law Study Produces Flawed Conclusions
The Death Penalty Clinic at Berkley Law released a study last week that concludes that “racial discrimination is an ever-present feature of jury selection in California.” The study was authored by long-time criminal defense attorney Elisabeth Semel, who runs the Death Penalty Clinic at UC Berkeley. It is clear that many of the erroneous conclusions […]
Call it the Do-Over Ballot
Label the coming election on ballot measures the Do-Over Ballot. Many of the propositions headed for the November ballot are intended to re-do previous actions taken by voters and/or legislators. Removing some property tax limits, changing other property tax rules, undoing a ban on affirmative action, toughening criminal penalties—all these ballot measures are intended to […]
Democrats Whiff Again on Real Constitutional Reform
Democrats, among many others, are publicly pledging to take on racist systems. But they are not using their huge supermajorities to take on the original racist system in the state: our state constitution. Sure they are putting a few small amendments on the November ballot, including one permitting affirmative action. But the whole constitution is […]
Leadership Roles Go Through California
Los Angelinos—I was briefly one in my early years—can recall complaints about the persistent smog blackening much of the air and getting into lungs. On bad days the city’s skyline is still shrouded in thick layers. We are learning that this is but one manifestation of global climate changes along with environmental degradations that are […]
LA City Hall’s Embarrassing Corruption Scandal: Goes Way Beyond Jose Huizar
On Tuesday morning, the FBI arrested Councilman Jose Huizar on “a federal racketeering charge that alleges he led a criminal enterprise that used his powerful position at City Hall to solicit and accept lucrative bribes and other financial benefits to enrich himself and his close associates in exchange for Huizar taking official actions favorable to […]
SB 1383 Should Be Rejected
As part of the recent budget deal struck last weekend between the Legislature and the Governor, SB 1383 (Jackson) would create a massive expansion of protected leave under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). The bill came into print at 9pm on June 23 and was heard about the same time a day later in […]
Scaled-Down Density Legislation Still not the Answer
Scott Wiener is at it again. The state senator from San Francisco wants to create denser neighborhoods as an answer to California’s housing crisis. In a recently introduced bill he seeks to force high-density multifamily housing on local governments. But, this latest effort is less a fix and more an accommodation. Wiener, as you recall, […]
Gascón Asked To Release His LAPD Personnel File
In a blistering commentary, former Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard Parks outlined George Gascón’s actions as an LAPD Command Officer and told the public, ” DA Candidate George Gascon is Not Who He Says He is.” In support of his conclusion, Parks specifically cited one particular casethat “horrified” him while he was serving as Chief […]