Corruption

Lawsuit could highlight flimsy government privacy claims

For decades, California government officials have said privacy laws prevent them from disclosing information about employees’ misbehavior — up to and including petty corruption. The claims have always been dubious, according to experts on state privacy and labor relations statutes.

New bombshells in San Diego school board scandal

Chris Reed September 18, 2015

Two new reports provide fresh heft to allegations that San Diego school board President Marne Foster has abused her power. Both relate to what happened at the district’s School of Creative and Performing Arts, where her son graduated last year.

Pro sports nonprofits seek special exemption from state raffle rules

John July 20, 2015

Professional sports franchises have a track record of securing special exemptions from environmental regulations, landing sweetheart bond financing deals and collecting direct government subsidies for stadiums. Now, the nonprofit arms of these billion-dollar businesses are looking to gain a special exemption

Taxpayer-subsidized companies raking in public contracts

Steve Miller July 15, 2015

Los Angeles County is hitting 1.000. The county has done business with each of the top 10 recipients of local and state subsidies in California, records show. The practice is common, although hardly in violation of any rules. But across

Will Nunez scandal hurt Villaraigosa Senate run?

John Seiler February 7, 2015

It’s looking like former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is running for the U.S. Senate seat now open with Sen. Barbara Boxer’s impending retirement. He’s “very, very close to running,” close friend Fabian Nunez told the Los Angeles Times. “There’s still a

Direct democracy abuses: Both parties have dirty hands

Chris Reed February 5, 2015

Over the past 14 months, San Diego voters have repudiated the decisions of the Democratic majority on the City Council three times. The most influential Democrat on the council thinks he knows why: San Diego City Councilman Todd Gloria will

School bond problems go far beyond LAUSD purchase of iPads

Chris Reed February 3, 2015

Gov. Jerry Brown’s skepticism about state assistance for local school districts’ construction projects appears to be primarily based on an intense disdain for adding more billions to what he likes to call the state’s “wall of debt.” But a counter

Contra Costa County government scandal: Third World R Us?

Chris Reed January 27, 2015

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

Top lawyer for controller benefits from much-criticized state perk

Chris Reed January 14, 2015

The state government’s practice of letting workers defy official state policy and pile up unused vacation days and cash them in upon retirement has been criticized on and off for years. California government watchdogs and journalists have outlined the budget

CHP’s probe of CalFire yielded leads — unlike DA’s probe of CHP

Chris Reed January 3, 2015

The reports that suggest the California Highway Patrol did a solid job in handling the investigation of a prostitution scandal at CalFire’s training acadmy in Ione have a rich subtext. CHP gathered enough strong evidence that 16 CalFire employees were