Posts From Chris Reed
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Despite revenue incentive, most cities not embracing legal pot sales
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
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Education Secretary DeVos explicitly OKs controversial state school evaluations
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
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LAUSD faulted over positive reviews for teachers at struggling schools
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
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Why UCLA could face Harvard-type backlash over Asian admissions
The firestorm over a recent New York Times story – about the low rankings that Harvard admissions officials consistently gave thousands of Asian-American applicants for personality, likability, courage, kindness and how respected they were – caught the eye of California politicians. Rep.
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New housing law’s clout on display with OK of huge Cupertino project
A huge housing/multi-use project proposed for Silicon Valley faced strong opposition. Nearby residents hated it and blocked smaller versions of the project that were on the 2016 ballot. The mayor called it out of place and sniped at outsiders who
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Major online privacy bill becomes law after whirlwind week
A far-reaching online privacy bill that got next-to-no vetting or legislative debate was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown last Thursday – the product of a quickly hammered-out agreement among state legislators, privacy advocates, tech firms and a real estate
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CA Budget: New spending dwarfed by billions set aside in reserves
When the annual California budget debate began in earnest with Gov. Jerry Brown’s release of a proposed 2018-19 fiscal plan in January, progressives were ready to go with a long list of new spending proposals. Many hoped to both expand
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Wary of bankruptcy, PG&E seeks protection from wildfire costs
California’s three large investor-owned utilities are renewing efforts to allow them to make ratepayers cover the costs of wildfires that authorities blame on utilities’ mistakes or poor maintenance. Pacific Gas & Electric officials made this clear last week when they
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Push to rebrand GOP undercut by evidence of potent anti-tax focus
A group of moderate California Republicans that wants the party to rebrand itself as both pro-business and pro-environment and show a willingness to work with Democrats on some issues is back in the news this week. Led by Assemblyman Chad
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Assemblywoman cleared of harassment may face new heat
The “Me Too” anti-sexual harassment campaign that quickly yielded several resignations by state lawmakers last fall appears to have hit a lull in Sacramento with Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens, now seemingly on track for re-election this November despite scandalous
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