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Contra Costa County government scandal: Third World R Us?
It’s long been common in politics for one side to comment on how alleged wrongdoing is covered by the media if their side does it versus how it’s covered if it’s the other side doing it. But this tactic and/or
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School Choice Week kicks off today
Today begins National School Choice Week, designed to heighten awareness for innovations in education. According to SchoolChoiceWeek.com: “Independently planned by a diverse and growing coalition of individuals, schools, and organizations, National School Choice Week features thousands of unique events and
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LAO report: Dozens of school districts not honoring intent of state law
The state Legislative Analyst’s Office released a report last week on how 50 California school districts were dealing with the requirements of the 2013 Local Control Funding Formula law. That’s Gov. Jerry Brown’s ballyhooed reform measure that is meant to
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Villaraigosa record has pluses for Senate bid — and landmines
The signs are growing that state and national Democrats’ attempts to clear the U.S. Senate field in 2016 for California Attorney General Kamala Harris aren’t working. Several well-known Democrats are seriously considering challenging Harris, and at least a couple seem
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Surf City to repeal bag ban
It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes governments actually repeal bad laws. That is happening in Huntington Beach, where, reported the Orange County Register: the council took the first step to repeal the ban on single-use plastic bags, saying there’s no
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Leg Analyst: School reserves law not working
Whether finances are personal, business or government, having a reserve makes sense. You never know when an emergency might crop up and you’ll need the funds. Indeed, last November voters approved Proposition 2, which increased the state’s “rainy day” fund
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Rose Bird’s ghost will kill CA death penalty
Given that Gov. Jerry Brown was just elected to an unprecedented fourth term, it’s not surprising an old controversy would come up: the death penalty. As the Los Angeles Times reported, his recent appointments of three liberal justices to the
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UC president appears to cave in fight with Gov. Brown
Three months ago, University of California President Janet Napolitano triggered a fight with Gov. Jerry Brown and leaders of the Legislature when she persuaded the UC regents to commit to a five-year plan in which tuition was raised by 5
Read MoreSen. Villaraigosa?
Former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is looking for voters to promote him to U.S. senator in 2016. The Times ran an analysis of his pluses and minuses. Basically, his strength is that he’s a Latino candidate who could count on Southern
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State of the Union won’t help shrinking CA middle class
California is a place where middle-class jobs are vanishing faster than a politician’s word of honor. But it’s not surprising President Obama discussed this problem in last night’s State of the Union Address. His solution has three parts: 1. Raise
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