Concerns remain after hack of San Francisco rail system

Six weeks after some 900 computers used by the San Francisco Municipal Railroad were hacked with ransomware, many concerns remain about the incident — especially as coverage of U.S. cyber vulnerabilities has become more extensive than ever. San Francisco’s light-rail

Read More

Assemblyman: Is Legislature’s contract with former U.S. Attorney General legal?

While the Legislature’s hiring of former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder made headlines on Thursday, the move may violate the state Constitution, according to an California assemblyman. Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, a Rocklin Republican, asked the California attorney general’s office on Friday

Read More

Demographers eye no-growth future for California

  Driven by rising out-migration and falling birth rates, California’s population growth has stalled, leading analysts to consider a possible forecast of a so-called “no-growth” period in the future. Although Americans nationwide have been flooding south and west for years,

Read More

CalWatchdog Morning Read – January 6

CA sales tax dips, tax burden rises Nurses union head hoping Trump turns to single-payer health care, “disgusted” with Pelosi SD crackdown on minimum-wage pass-through from businesses CA budget may be lean despite newly-passed taxes  House Republicans reach out to

Read More

California sales tax dips, but tax burden rises

  “Four years ago, voters approved Proposition 30, which raised the income tax significantly on the wealthiest Californians and raised the sales tax a tiny bit on everyone,” Capital Public Radio recently recalled. “That quarter-of-a-cent increase equated to paying an additional $0.01 on

Read More

CalWatchdog Morning Read – January 5

CA cities’ pension costs rise to meet CalPERS expectations SD mayor running for governor? Legislator wants to move state’s primary date  University of California wants to raise tuition Rep. Issa proposes high-skilled visa overhaul Good morning! TGIT. We begin this

Read More

Legislature’s top two Democrats hire former U.S. attorney general to fight Trump administration

The top two Democrats in the Legislature announced early Wednesday morning that they were hiring former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder as outside counsel in the ongoing fight with Republican President-elect Donald Trump. In a joint statement, Speaker Anthony Rendon,

Read More

CalWatchdog Morning Read – January 4

Lead levels plague eight CA areas O.C. assemblyman under fire from all directions for op-ed Democrats in Legislature hire Fmr. U.S. A.G. Holder to advise on Trump Report: CA housing situation worsens Drought dying?  Good morning. Happy Hump Day. The Legislature

Read More

Assemblyman’s column on new child-prostitution law faces bipartisan backlash

An Orange County assemblyman is under fire from his right, center and left over a column published last week titled: “California Democrats legalize child prostitution.” The column set off a war of words over the difference between legalization and decriminalization, with

Read More

California cities facing growing pension costs in new year

SACRAMENTO – After two years of miniscule investment returns, the nation’s largest state pension fund – the California Public Employees’ Retirement System – has once again lowered its expected rates of return. Even some CalPERS officials and consultants argue the

Read More