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Back to homepageState voters did the right thing
June 11, 2012 By Steven Greenhut SACRAMENTO — Several years ago, Fullerton Councilman Dick Jones cornered me at a political event, asked my opinion on the use of eminent domain by city governments, then began to lecture me about the
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Moonbeamasaurus and giant labor lizards
June 11, 2012 Katy Grimes: Politics in 2012 California feels more like the Mesozoic age. Around every corner is a predator, waiting to pounce in search of its next meal. Predatory labor lizard unions, public employee unions, politicians, special interest
Read MoreWe have been deleting abusive comments
June 8, 2012 By John Seiler We appreciate our commentators adding to our articles. But the past two days I have spent several hours deleting abusive posts, in particular from one commentator who has contributed interesting, civil comments in the
Read MoreCalifornia voters OK 63% of tax measures
June 8, 2012 By Chriss Street Local voters approved 63 percent — or 55 of the 87 — local tax, bond or fee measures on the June 5, 2012 California primary ballot, according to Michael Coleman, the creator of CaliforniaCityFinance.com.
Read MoreElection boosts privatization drives
June 8, 2012 By Joseph Perkins Voters in San Jose and San Diego sent a loud, clear message to public employees unions this week that they can no longer expect gold-plated benefit packages and immunity from private competition. Santa Cruz
Read MoreSacramento redevelopment repackaged?
Katy Grimes: John Shirey, Sacramento’s latest city manager and former director of California’s defunct Redevelopment Agency, sent out an email this evening promoting local business “opportunities” connecting with “resources.” Only those “resources” are being repackaged as opportunities for small businesses as
Read MoreIllegal tax pays for new state employees
June 7, 2012 Katy Grimes: California lawmakers apparently didn’t get the message voters sent on Tuesday night. Earlier today, the Sen. Budget Committee approved Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to spend another $6.4 million collecting the State Responsibility Area fire tax,
Read MoreAll in favor say ‘mooo’
June 7, 2012 Katy Grimes: The Assembly just passed ACR 156 by Assemblyman David Valadeo, R-Hanford, recognizing June as ‘Dairy Month’ in California. Valadeo Comes from a dairy farm family, so it is no surprise he authored the resolution. Valadeo
Read MoreLegislating ‘justice for janitors’
June 7, 2012 By Katy Grimes SACRAMENTO — California legislators are routinely approached by special interest groups to carry legislation—this is not news. The news is what that legislation is, and who it benefits. An Assembly Concurrent Resolution was in
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