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MADD angry at ridesharing regulations

Does ridesharing cut down on drunk driving? Mothers Against Drunk Driving says yes. MADD has entered California’s heated debate over new regulations of the state’s burgeoning ridesharing industry, arguing that the service cuts down on drunk driving. The national group, which combats drunk driving

Arrested for DUI, Sen. Hueso voted to ban beach booze

John August 25, 2014

It could be a case of, “Do as I say, not as I do.” State Senator Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of drinking and driving. He reportedly spent the night drinking wine and tequila in the State Capitol

Video: Norquist: Uber can help GOP gain cities

John Seiler August 25, 2014

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, talks about how Uber and other high-tech companies give Republicans a chance to gain high-tech constituencies. He is interviewed by Brian Calle, editor-in-chief of CalWatchDog.com.

Appeals court backs property rights

Wayne Lusvardi August 23, 2014

Pasadena is known for its famous tree-lined streets. It now also may be known for the trees becoming the key in the first case in California to establish that a city’s urban forestry programs can be subject to “inverse condemnation”

Ridesharing foe takes ‘a few bucks’ from taxis

John August 22, 2014

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz is one of the state’s biggest opponents of ridesharing, the relatively new service provided by such companies as Uber, SideCar and Lyft. He’s also a leading recipient of campaign contributions from the taxi industry. During a

Landmark water bond now faces voters

James Poulos August 22, 2014

As August draws to a close, the state has seen a striking instance of successful high-level bipartisan wrangling. Sacramento secured a massive water bond package, putting $7.5 billion in bonds on the ballot as Proposition 1. Although legislators, and Gov. Jerry Brown,

Fed bills could be key to CA water storage

Wayne Lusvardi August 21, 2014

There was a lot of hoopla last week over the California Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown putting a bipartisan water bond on the Nov. 4 ballot that, for the first time in nearly 50 years, actually includes storage. Proposition 1 would

Groups try to quash cap-and-trade debate

Joel Fox August 21, 2014

In the war of words over an attempt to stall the extension of AB 32’s cap-and-trade to transportation fuels, liberal groups sent a public letter to Attorney General Kamala Harris asking her to keep an eye out for collusion by

New CA pot bill snuffed out

James Poulos August 21, 2014

Despite the backing of California cops, the latest effort to craft statewide rules on medical marijuana has stalled in Sacramento. Widely criticized as an imperfect bill, SB1262 nonetheless mustered support as a good faith attempt to bring order to the chaos

Early release from CA prisons now a flood

James Poulos August 20, 2014

Spurred by a series of court decisions ruling the state’s prison crowding unconstitutional, Gov. Jerry Brown’s ongoing “realignment” effort sought to make adequate room for the state’s worst convicts by diverting lesser criminals to county jails. There, however, the changes have caused a snowball effect.