Rights and Liberties

Revolt against ‘dog food’ school lunches went far beyond LAUSD

As I have pointed out repeatedly as a blogger and journo, Nanny Staters are bafflingly confident that people like being bullied into living their lives in a way that Nanny Staters approve. That’s why one of my favorite stories in

California’s culture could slow rush toward e-cig bans

James Poulos March 3, 2014

In the biggest “blue state” cities, administrative and regulatory action against e-cigarettes has been swift and fierce. California officeholders — from the city council level all the way up to the U.S. Senate — are poised to follow suit. But

Immigration amnesty not nearly as popular in CA as gay rights

Chris Reed March 3, 2014

There really has been a genuine change in American views of gay rights. The longer the Republican Party sees its members look at this new world and then act out in the fashion of the Arizona legislature, the harder it

Cracked dam shows vulnerability of CA green power grid

Wayne Lusvardi March 2, 2014

California power grid operators learned Friday that Grant County in the state of Washington had implemented an emergency response plan due to a crack in the Wanapum Dam along the Columbia River. Divers detected a 65-foot long crack at the base of one of

Incoming Assembly speaker seeks vast new power for Coastal Commission

Chris Reed March 2, 2014

If you had to come up with one state agency that has done the most damage to California’s economy with its regulatory sweep and overreach, you’ll never come close to topping the state Air Resources Board. But it you wanted

Another court embarrassment for state AG Kamala Harris

Chris Reed February 28, 2014

Fresh off her odd handling of the bullet train’s legal issues, Attorney General Kamala Harris is at it again. Per the coverage of the San Francisco Chronicle, incompetence followed by posturing is what this looks like: “Attorney General Kamala Harris

‘Inspiring’ de Blasio channels CA Dems: White teachers > minority students

Chris Reed February 28, 2014

In the run-up to Bill de Blasio’s recent election as mayor of New York City, I lost count of how many times I heard pundits describe the tall Democrat with the mixed-race marriage as offering an inspiring new progressive vision

CA massage law: A case study in regulatory failure

James Poulos February 27, 2014

Residents of Los Angeles know that “medical” marijuana shops are not the only gray-market business that’s experienced a recent boom. In a city with a taste for pleasure and an enterprising working class, “massage” parlors are apt to have

Feinstein/Boxer drought-relief proposal already carried out

Wayne Lusvardi February 26, 2014

On Feb. 11, 25 days after Gov. Jerry Brown declared an official drought, California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer introduced a drought-relief bill. Senate Bill 216, ” The California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014,” was introduced concurrently with

Do CA electeds really believe pot is healthier than e-cigarettes?

Chris Reed February 25, 2014

E-cigarettes that are far healthier than the normal kind remain under siege in California. Why? Cigarettes just aren’t OK with the cool kids running the Golden State — unless we’re talking about marijuana cigarettes. How odd. “A Los Angeles City