Good news on redevelopment

California taxpayers and property owners received some wonderful news on Tuesday when, as the Sacramento Bee reported, “A Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled … that California can take $2.05 billion from redevelopment agencies … .” The article treats the decision

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Cinco de Mayo – "Just another wednesday"

In a staggering act of ignorance and hypocracy, five students at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill were sent home yesterday for wearing American Flag t-shirts and bandanas on Cinco de Mayo. The students were told they were fueling

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Republicans ♥ Arnold

He’s abused them. He’s abandoned them. He’s not been faithful to them. He’s been so bad they’re chugging Valium like M&Ms. But they still love the big lug. I’m talking about Republicans and Arnold. Check out the “Official Voter Information

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Empty gallery, empty suit

Lt. Gov. Abel Maldanado is in the midst of a inaugural ceremony and open house at his office. There were so many empty seats at the inaugural, on the east steps of the Capitol, that organizers were pulling people off the

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Reagan Day symbolism

Republicans are pushing a bill to create a Ronald Reagan Day — a state day honoring the former president. Although it wouldn’t give state employees another paid day of idleness, this proposal is a bit silly. Reagan was a decent governor

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Dems listen (but only to some voices)

California’s Assembly Democrats are holding live budget forums to supposedly get the public’s input into ways to fix the state’s fiscal situation. In the Democratic explanation about the forums, the caucus makes clear what voices it wants to hear —

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How To Do Business With The State

At an event I attended last week, I received a brochure titled “How to do Business with California State Government: A Five Step Process,” published by the Department of General Services (DGS). The quote on the front of the brochure

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Boycott, schmoycott (why there isn't going to be any boycott of Arizona)

When L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa and California Senate President Steinberg call for boycotts of Arizona, they don’t tell you one thing: California and L.A. are broke. A boycott raises costs, because lower-cost Arizona producers would be shunned in favor of higher-cost

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You moderate! No, I'm not!

The Republican gubernatorial race, epitomized by last night’s debate between Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former eBay executive Meg Whitman, reached a new level of absurdity. Both candidates, whatever their many pros and cons, come from the moderate wing of

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California 2011

A year from now, you’ll be reading a news story that goes something like this… California braces for “violent modernization” California reacted with a mix of resignation and outrage on Monday to a painful new austerity package from the government

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