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Despite new laws, state housing crisis may be worsening

For the third straight year, the state Legislature has approved major legislation meant to accelerate housing construction in California to help stabilize or reduce the cost of shelter. But will the latest – Senate Bill 330, the Housing Crisis Act

California Attorney General an unexpected obstacle to police transparency law

Chris Reed July 9, 2019

Appointed to replace newly elected U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris in 2016, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra ran for his own four-year term in 2018 as a supporter of then-Gov. Jerry Brown’s law enforcement and judicial reforms. “California’s Department of Justice

Assembly passes stricter use-of-force bill, suggesting police unions have lost clout at state Capitol

Chris Reed May 30, 2019

For the second year in a row, a sweeping police reform measure that law-enforcement organizations said was motivated by antipathy toward peace officers has been embraced by the state Legislature. Last year lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1421 by Sen. Nancy

California Attorney General Xavier Beccera faces criticism from criminal justice reformers

Chris Reed February 25, 2019

Another Democratic state attorney general is facing sharp criticism from activists for allegedly getting in the way of criminal justice reform and showing bad faith while doing so. Former Rep. Xavier Becerra (pictured), D-Los Angeles, was appointed in 2016 by

Report: Without housing fix, Silicon Valley will falter

Chris Reed February 28, 2018

Three times in the past 18 months, prominent journalistic organizations have questioned whether Silicon Valley has peaked. Leading off the bad-mouthing was the hometown San Jose Mercury News, which reported in September 2016 that tech growth had slowed in the

State budget: Governor, lawmakers expected to finalize deal

John June 13, 2014

State lawmakers reached a tentative agreement on the state budget Thursday, after Gov. Jerry Brown caved to Democratic lawmakers’ demands over more funding for in-home support services for elderly and disabled Californians. “We are at this point prepared to bring

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

Cash flows to committee taking up optometry bill

John Hrabe August 12, 2013

When doctors expressed concerns about legislation to expand the scope of practice for pharmacists, the state’s medical professionals all agreed on a compromise. Only pharmacists that received additional training would be given the expanded authority to directly administer certain contraceptives,

Senator under FBI investigation traveled to Cuba with lobbyist

John Hrabe August 1, 2013

State Senator Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, whose offices were raided by FBI agents in June, traveled to Cuba during the legislature’s spring break with Sacramento’s “best connected” lobbyist, state campaign finance disclosure reports have revealed. Calderon was one of eight state

CA Legislature attacking gun rights

CalWatchdog Staff April 2, 2013

April 2, 2013 By John Seiler If there’s one thing that might get me finally to move away from the beach to another state, it’s gun control. There’s no way I will let a tyrannical government take away my sacred