February 2015 | Page 4 of 11

Archive

LAO report could spur school facilities reform

A new report by California Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor puts school facilities funding at the head of the class. Among other points, “The 2015-16 Budget: Rethinking How the State Funds School Facilities” pushes the idea that facilities funding should more closely follow

Appellate court pulls plug on utility charge

Wayne Lusvardi February 20, 2015

Taxes are taxes – even when collected by a city on a municipal service. That’s the recent ruling by California’s 3rd District Court of Appeal enforcing two tax-limitation initiatives, Propositions 13 and 26. The action threatens a source of revenue for

Temperatures rise in CA vax battle

James Poulos February 19, 2015

The measles outbreak has injected the California Legislature with a new urgency in dealing with vaccine issues. First up is a new bill, as yet without a number, by state Sens. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, and Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, the latter

Judge: Donor identities can be kept secret — for now

John Seiler February 19, 2015

First Amendment advocates are cheering a ruling by U.S. District Judge Manuel Real that foundation donor lists can be kept secret — at least until the matter winds its way through the court system. The matter concerns the billionaire Koch bothers’ Americans for

Dems spend wildly in CA jungle primaries

James Poulos February 19, 2015

In California, Democrats have shelled out big bucks to beat fellow Democrats, despite research suggesting their voters see them fairly interchangeably. In a new report issued by Forward Observer, Golden State Democrats were found to drop over $100 million since the

Fellow Democrats attack Patty Lopez

John February 19, 2015

Time doesn’t heal all intra-party wounds. Last November, unknown community activist Patty Lopez defeated a fellow Democrat, incumbent Raul Bocanegra, in the 39th Assembly District. It is — without a doubt — the biggest upset in the history of California’s Top

Rice, Harris lead Field Poll to replace Boxer

John Seiler February 18, 2015

It’s incredibly early, but a new Field Poll puts — surprise — Condoleezza Rice at the top of a list of candidates to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Democrat. Rice is a Republican and former secretary of state

Chargers want out in San Diego

Chris Reed February 18, 2015

The San Diego Chargers — for 54 years a community institution in what’s grown into California’s second-largest city — appear intent on leaving for Los Angeles or another city with a new stadium and greater long-term revenue potential. Attorney Mark

LAPD hustles to post records

Steve Miller February 18, 2015

A CalWatchDog.com review of the website of the Los Angeles Police Department found it has updated its reports on discipline and use of force after criticism for posting aged data in the aftermath of federal oversight. It also now takes just one click to go

Silicon Valley jolts CA energy game

James Poulos February 18, 2015

The sun is shining on private solar energy. Beyond federal and state efforts, California’s tech titans have upped the ante with momentous new investments that promise to revolutionize electricity production. For years, solar power has been touted by advocates as a major future source