Tag "Wayne Lusvardi"
Back to homepageHigher down payments could be compromise Prop. 13 reform
Jan. 2, 2013 By Wayne Lusvardi Could simply requiring higher down payments on home loans be a compromise reform of Proposition 13? The Democratic Party supermajority in the state legislature is presently pushing for reforms of Proposition 13, the 1978 initiative
Read MoreSchools pooling up to oppose arbitrary storm-water tax
Dec. 27, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi Why is only Los Angeles County being singled out to comply with a new state law to clean up so-called dirty storm water flowing to beaches? And how can this law be only imposed
Read MoreSan Bernardino may have to pay pensions before police protection
Dec. 26, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi Do pension payments have the first claim to a bankrupt city’s revenues, even over providing essential police and fire protection? This is the half-trillion-dollar question currently before a Federal bankruptcy court concerning the insolvency
Read MoreSanta Monica has no room in public inn for nativity story
Dec. 21, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion, but without the establishment of a state religion. Nevertheless, for Christmas in Santa Monica in 2012, the proverbial inn has no
Read MoreCA public worker pay soars to unsustainable levels
Dec. 19, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi Last week Bloomberg News reported that California has the highest paid state workers in the 12 largest states by population. But that didn’t tell the entire story. Sure, California has the highest paid public
Read MoreReality could stifle Prop. 13 reform attempts
Dec. 18, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi and Charles B. Warren California legislators from San Francisco are “eager to reform Proposition 13 tax policies.” But public perception is far apart from reality when it comes to the proposed reforming of Prop.
Read MoreCalPERS seeks to be new California ‘Octopus’
Dec. 17, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi In 1901, Frank Norris wrote a novel, “The Octopus: A Story of California.” The book became famous for its description of the monopolistic Southern and Pacific Railroad that dominated California a century ago. Fast-forward to
Read MoreRegulations stalling power plant conversion
Dec. 14, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi In George Orwell’s novel “1984,” “doublespeak” meant the reversal of the meaning of words: “war is peace,” “ignorance is strength” and “freedom is slavery.” Ever since the California Electricity Crisis of 2000-01, California has been
Read MoreGreen water grab sinks farmland, blocks salmon runs
Dec. 11, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi An Indian proverb says, “A bird thinks it a favor to give a fish a lift in the air.” In a similar way, politicians think it is a favor to help lift salmon upstream
Read MoreWillie Brown wants to gut Prop. 13
Dec. 10, 2012 By Wayne Lusvardi Willie Brown just reminded us why in 1990 voters passed term limits largely to move him out of his seat as California Assembly-Speaker-for-Life. Brown wrote that Prop. 13 should be reformed by “cleverly” by making “a
Read More