Investigation

San Francisco botches energy co-op rollout

Obamacare isn’t the only new government program suffering problems. San Francisco is getting jolted by its new Community Choice Aggregation program, which the U.S. Department of Energy defines in general as, “a state policy that enables local governments to

Solar power no help during CA’s late peak winter hours

Wayne Lusvardi December 13, 2013

Solar power is popular nowadays as a “renewable,” non-polluting energy source. It helps California comply with AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which mandates a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gases in the state by 2020. “Even

Will San Francisco take a big gulp of soda tax?

Dave Roberts December 10, 2013

There have been a number of efforts to increase the tax on sugary beverages in California in recent years, with little to show for it so far. But the next battle in the soda tax war, in San Francisco

CA electric rate reform adjusts rates from 2001 crisis

Wayne Lusvardi December 9, 2013

Now that the $42 billion in debt from the 2001 Electricity Crisis has been paid off, California is in the process of re-working electric power rates. It has mostly been high-volume electricity users who have been paying down that debt through higher power rates.

California’s disappearing farmland

Dave Roberts December 3, 2013

More than 370,000 acres of California’s irrigated farmland disappeared from 2006-10. Officials are concerned that hundreds of thousands of additional acres could be lost in the coming years, threatening California’s leading role in feeding the nation and indeed much

Lobbyist organizes second legislative junket to Cuba

John December 1, 2013

An influential Sacramento lobbyist — who paid out a $500,000 settlement for allegedly engaging in “pay-to-play” behavior — has organized a second junket to Cuba for California lawmakers. This week, Darius Anderson, the founder and president of Sacramento-based lobbying firm Platinum

Covered California unplugs most top hospitals from patients

Tori Richards November 27, 2013

President Obama has been claiming that people can keep their favorite doctors under the Affordable Care Act. But anyone who wants a premier hospital in California better do some homework before signing up. A survey of the state’s top hospitals

LAO: Possible 2016 recession would devour budget surplus

Wayne Lusvardi November 25, 2013

There is good news and bad news in the impartial California Legislative Analyst’s recent release of its “2014-2015 Budget: California’s Fiscal Outlook.” The good news, “Stunning turnaround: California has budget surpluses as far as LAO can see.” That’s the San Jose

Buy 1, Get 3 Free! Experts say Obamacare ‘grace period’ gives fraudsters the green light

Tori Richards November 25, 2013

Tucked inside nearly 11,000 pages of the Affordable Care Act is a little-known provision that doles out three months of free health care to individuals who choose to default on their premiums. People who receive the federal subsidy to be part of Obamacare will

Pressure grows for CA $15 minimum wage

Dave Roberts November 22, 2013

The California Legislature this year boosted California’s $8 per hour minimum wage to $9 in July 2014 and $10 in January 2016. But advocates for, and beneficiaries of, that 25 percent wage hike are not content. Pressure is building