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Minimum wage debate heats up in Los Angeles

What if three different studies on the effects of a minimum wage increase in Los Angeles each came up with a different conclusion — who do you trust? That was a question asked at the Town Hall Los Angeles debate Thursday

CA legislation, lawsuits shake up immigration law

James Poulos May 3, 2015

A series of political and policy moves have dramatically unsettled immigration law in California, both at the state and federal level. Legislation developed in Sacramento, in the wake of President Obama’s executive actions shielding many from deportation, would grant expansive new rights to unlawful

Utah coal controversy hits CA Bay Area

James Poulos May 2, 2015

Hard up for a sizable market, Utah’s coal producers have inked a big new deal to use Oakland’s deep-water port to ship their product to Asia. “Terminal Logistics will start building the $250 million Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal at

Sacramento eyes new Uber regulations

James Poulos May 1, 2015

As the world’s leading driver service faced continued litigation, California lawmakers set out to constrain Uber further. Whereas some previous regulatory efforts were interpreted as attacks on consumer choice, however, one bill now under consideration in Sacramento has promised to increase consumer privacy. Determining data control

Schwarzenegger Calls for 2016 Water Infrastructure Bond

Joel Fox May 1, 2015

“California is short of water, but it’s flooded with headlines about the drought,” former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said kicking off USC’s Schwarzenegger Institute and the Public Policy Institute of California program on the state’s drought. The goal of the program

CA may use Prop. 1 water bond to buy enviro water during drought

Wayne Lusvardi April 30, 2015

In the midst of a grueling four-year drought in agriculture, state officials say some $287.5 million in borrowed cash is available to purchase water for smelt and salmon runs and other wildlife. The funds come from California’s $7.5 billion Proposition

Brown orders new emissions cuts

James Poulos April 29, 2015

At a high-powered leadership gathering in Los Angeles, Gov. Jerry Brown detailed plans, laid out in a new executive order, aimed at slashing California’s carbon emissions to new lows. The 18th annual Milken Institute Global Conference gave Brown an intellectual

Venice Beach proposal roils topless debate

James Poulos April 29, 2015

Inspired by a recent resurgence in partial nudity as a women’s rights issue, the Venice Neighborhood Council in Los Angeles recommended that topless sunbathing be permitted. In decades past, fully nude beachgoing had been tolerated. In a 12-2 vote, the VNC

Legislator warns against lawsuit abuse

Dave Roberts April 29, 2015

When California’s Republican legislators warn that high taxes, onerous regulations and frivolous lawsuits are driving businesses out of California, they are not only talking about corporations like Toyota, which is relocating from Torrance to Plano, Texas. They are also concerned

VIDEO: Republicans can be environmentalists, too

CalWatchdog Staff April 29, 2015

In a conversation with CalWatchdog.com Editor Brian Calle, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer discusses the importance of preserving the environment and why it should not be a partisan issue. During the interview, Mayor Faulconer highlights the environment as our quality