Chris Reed, Author at CalWatchdog.com

Posts From Chris Reed

Chris Reed

Chris Reed is a regular contributor to Cal Watchdog. Reed is an editorial writer for U-T San Diego. Before joining the U-T in July 2005, he was the opinion-page columns editor and wrote the featured weekly Unspin column for The Orange County Register. Reed was on the national board of the Association of Opinion Page Editors from 2003-2005. From 2000 to 2005, Reed made more than 100 appearances as a featured news analyst on Los Angeles-area National Public Radio affiliate KPCC-FM. From 1990 to 1998, Reed was an editor, metro columnist and film critic at the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin in Ontario. Reed has a political science degree from the University of Hawaii (Hilo campus), where he edited the student newspaper, the Vulcan News, his senior year. He is on Twitter: @chrisreed99.

5 bills target consumption of sugary drinks

The California Legislature’s determination to lessen the amount of sugary drinks consumed by state residents may never have been greater than now – at least if the metric used is the number of bills introduced. This session, five will be taken

Legal cannabis industry continues to struggle in California

Chris Reed February 26, 2019

The drumbeat of disappointment over the slow start of legal marijuana in California keeps building with many dispensary owners, growers and local and state elected officials bewailing the robust health of the illegal cannabis black market. Last week, state officials

California Attorney General Xavier Beccera faces criticism from criminal justice reformers

Chris Reed February 25, 2019

Another Democratic state attorney general is facing sharp criticism from activists for allegedly getting in the way of criminal justice reform and showing bad faith while doing so. Former Rep. Xavier Becerra (pictured), D-Los Angeles, was appointed in 2016 by

Community-choice local energy programs keep expanding

Chris Reed February 21, 2019

Community-choice energy programs – in which a local government or coalitions of local governments procure electricity and use the infrastructure of existing utilities to distribute it – are growing in popularity across California. Proponents say government control will lead to cheaper utility

Feds hope to reclaim over $2 billion in funds spent on California bullet train

Chris Reed February 20, 2019

Following through on President Donald Trump’s twitter threats, the U.S. Department of Transportation on Tuesday afternoon said it would not disburse a previously planned $929 million in federal funds for the state’s troubled high-speed rail project and indicated it hoped to recover

Despite budget crisis, Oakland Unified may give teachers 12% raise

Chris Reed February 15, 2019

With 95 percent of Oakland Unified teachers already having approved a strike that appears likely to begin Tuesday, the school district could face weeks of turmoil – unless, like Los Angeles Unified leaders did last month, Oakland Unified agrees to give

Encinitas the latest coastal city facing state threats over housing

Chris Reed February 11, 2019

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration has put another coastal town on notice that it must meet state mandates to add a significant amount of units affordable by low-income families – reflecting the newly elected governor’s view that a lack of housing is

Charter schools may face new era of opposition to funding

Chris Reed February 1, 2019

After a quarter-century of explosive increases in California, charter schools experienced all-time lows in growth the last two school years. And charters may also be facing an era of much harsher treatment from school boards allied with teachers unions who more than

Housing lawsuits pit the state vs. Huntington Beach

Chris Reed January 31, 2019

The city of Huntington Beach and the state government are suing each other over the state’s attempts to require that local governments step up housing construction. Besides affecting the housing crisis that Gov. Gavin Newsom calls an “existential” threat to

Studies undercut Gov. Newsom’s claims on benefits of full-time kindergarten

Chris Reed January 28, 2019

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2019-20 budget includes $750 million in new funding to help school districts shift from part-time to full-day kindergarten. Presently, 30 percent of districts only offer part-time kindergarten, as is allowed under state law, which provides such