July 2018 | CalWatchdog.com

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Is state Legislature hampering CalPERS, CalSTRS?

The California Public Employees Retirement System and the California State Teachers Retirement System recently announced that they had exceeded their investment goals by at least 1 percentage point in fiscal 2017-18, with CalPERS citing annual gains of 8.6 percent and

Is state’s biggest new reservoir project already in trouble?

Chris Reed July 29, 2018

The California Water Commission’s recent approval of nearly $2.7 billion in funding for new water conservation projects was the most dramatic move to promote storage of rainfall and melting snow in the state in decades. Such projects have been opposed

Gov. Brown again surprises with veto on campus sex misconduct bill

Chris Reed July 26, 2018

Responding to deep concerns about sexual violence at California’s college campuses, the state Legislature unanimously passed two bills in recent weeks. But Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed one of the measures, the second straight year he has surprised advocates of a

University of California finances shakier than cut in tuition implies

Chris Reed July 23, 2018

Last week, University of California President Janet Napolitano (pictured) and UC regents generated positive headlines with their decision to reduce tuition for in-state students – the first cut since 1999-2000 – as well as their success in getting a 4 percent funding hike from

Despite revenue incentive, most cities not embracing legal pot sales

Chris Reed July 20, 2018

Six-plus months into the beginning of California’s experiment with legal recreational marijuana, a review of Proposition 64’s effects shows a mixed and complicated record. Here’s a look at four broad categories: Availability of legal pot stores: Even though local governments

‘Three California’ plan won’t appear on November ballot, California Supreme Court rules

Drew Gregory Lynch July 19, 2018

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked the controversial initiative aimed at dividing California into three states from going to voters in November. Earlier this summer, the Tim Draper-backed plan announced that it had obtained enough signatures to get on

Education Secretary DeVos explicitly OKs controversial state school evaluations

Chris Reed July 16, 2018

A nearly year-long fight between the Trump administration and the California state government over school accountability ended with an unexpected twist last week when U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos (pictured) explicitly endorsed a state student progress metric that reformers

Stockton to become first U.S. city to test universal basic income plan

Drew Gregory Lynch July 11, 2018

Stockton, California, will soon become the first U.S. city to experiment with a universal basic income program, granting 100 residents $500 a month with no strings attached. The project is being backed by Silicon Valley titan Chris Hughes, whose Economic Security

LAUSD faulted over positive reviews for teachers at struggling schools

Chris Reed July 11, 2018

A new study raises fresh concerns about the giant Los Angeles Unified School District and whether it shows good faith in its dealings with struggling schools in poor minority communities. The Los Angeles-based Parent Revolution group, which focuses on improving

San Francisco’s $15 minimum wage goes into effect for all businesses

Drew Gregory Lynch July 6, 2018

San Francisco this week enacted its $15 minimum wage, making it the first major U.S. city to mandate a $15 wage floor for all businesses. It’s the last phase of Proposition 14, which voters passed in 2014 and raised the