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Blog

Read about Pamela Price controversy

Pamela Price Gets it Wrong

Oakland’s social, economic, and criminal justice challenges are well known.  Lost jobs, expensive housing, poor performing schools, and a crime problem that exceeds neighboring cities are constant challenges. However, a recent surge in crime shows violent crime is up 14 percent, rapes are up 18 percent, robberies are up 18
Blog

Read about proposed ballot measure

‘Transparency’ Measure Would Paint False Picture of What’s Happening at State Capitol

Consumer Watchdog, the self-appointed group with a history of waging controversial ballot measure fights, announced this week that it was launching a 2024 ballot initiative campaign aiming to, according to Politico, “forc(e) unprecedented scrutiny into lobbying activities at the Capitol.” The proposed “Government Transparency Act”, according to a campaign press
Banking

Don’t bank on this financially illiterate idea going away

Don’t bank on this financially illiterate idea going away By Sal Rodriguez | August 3, 2023 Over the last few years, city officials in Los Angeles and San Francisco have flirted with the idea of establishing public banks to ostensibly support or facilitate the cause of the day. San Francisco
Blog

Read latest on California's failing transit systems

Transit systems battle crime to restore fallen ridership

Although I usually drive, sometimes I take the bus in Orange County, the last time a year ago. As you might expect in car-centric Southern California, almost all the other riders were poor people, some no doubt recent immigrants of unknown official status. I know many recent immigrants, and the
Agriculture

Read about a rare good bill from Sacramento

Here’s One Good Idea from Sacramento: Cut Red Tape for Farmers Markets

The popularity of farmers markets has swelled over the last three decades, from only 1,755 in 1994 across the country to 8,771 in 2019. The expansion has slowed somewhat in recent years, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the demand has peaked. The stagnation could simply mean that local government restrictions
Blog

Read about Van Houten parole controversy

Leslie Van Houten Parole Was a Tragic Mistake

Leslie Van Houten, the Manson family member, and convicted murderer, has seen her long road to release become front page news all over the world.  Her parole had been denied multiple times during her 51 years of incarceration for her role in the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca on
Blog

Read about new legislative caucus

‘End Poverty in California’ Caucus Poised to Worsen State’s Poverty Problem

You may have missed it, but a new legislative caucus has just been announced to address California’s status as the worst-in-the-nation state for poverty. With visions of Upton Sinclair dancing in their heads, the “End Poverty in California” legislative caucus is the brainchild of former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs. It
Blog

Harvesting Southern California rain can reinvigorate its cities

Harvesting Southern California rain can reinvigorate its cities By Edward Ring | July 27, 2023 It never rains in California But girl, don’t they warn ya? It pours, man, it pours —by Albert Hammond, 1972  “It Never Rains in Southern California“ Anyone who has experienced traffic on the Santa Monica
Blog

How local governments can prepare for a possible recession

A recession is beginning now, according to the June 22 Chapman Economic Forecast Update, the most accurate in the country for GDP prediction. Said President Emeritus Jim Doti at the event, “We’re pointing to a negative change in the third quarter and the fourth quarter and that’s the stuff of
Blog

Crimes, Punishment, and Parole – Mass Releases and Mass Victimization

The use of the term “mass incarceration” is widely accepted to define the United States rate of incarceration in comparison to other countries.  According to prisonpolicy.org, the US rate of incarceration is 664 per 100,000 population.  In California, the rate was 549/100,000, which ranks 33 out of the 50 states.
Blog

Read about Pamela Price controversy

Pamela Price Gets it Wrong

Oakland’s social, economic, and criminal justice challenges are well known.  Lost jobs, expensive housing, poor performing schools, and a crime problem that exceeds neighboring cities are constant challenges. However, a recent surge in crime shows violent crime is up 14 percent, rapes are up 18 percent, robberies are up 18
Blog

Read about proposed ballot measure

‘Transparency’ Measure Would Paint False Picture of What’s Happening at State Capitol

Consumer Watchdog, the self-appointed group with a history of waging controversial ballot measure fights, announced this week that it was launching a 2024 ballot initiative campaign aiming to, according to Politico, “forc(e) unprecedented scrutiny into lobbying activities at the Capitol.” The proposed “Government Transparency Act”, according to a campaign press
Banking

Don’t bank on this financially illiterate idea going away

Don’t bank on this financially illiterate idea going away By Sal Rodriguez | August 3, 2023 Over the last few years, city officials in Los Angeles and San Francisco have flirted with the idea of establishing public banks to ostensibly support or facilitate the cause of the day. San Francisco
Blog

Read latest on California's failing transit systems

Transit systems battle crime to restore fallen ridership

Although I usually drive, sometimes I take the bus in Orange County, the last time a year ago. As you might expect in car-centric Southern California, almost all the other riders were poor people, some no doubt recent immigrants of unknown official status. I know many recent immigrants, and the
Agriculture

Read about a rare good bill from Sacramento

Here’s One Good Idea from Sacramento: Cut Red Tape for Farmers Markets

The popularity of farmers markets has swelled over the last three decades, from only 1,755 in 1994 across the country to 8,771 in 2019. The expansion has slowed somewhat in recent years, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the demand has peaked. The stagnation could simply mean that local government restrictions
Blog

Read about Van Houten parole controversy

Leslie Van Houten Parole Was a Tragic Mistake

Leslie Van Houten, the Manson family member, and convicted murderer, has seen her long road to release become front page news all over the world.  Her parole had been denied multiple times during her 51 years of incarceration for her role in the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca on
Blog

Read about new legislative caucus

‘End Poverty in California’ Caucus Poised to Worsen State’s Poverty Problem

You may have missed it, but a new legislative caucus has just been announced to address California’s status as the worst-in-the-nation state for poverty. With visions of Upton Sinclair dancing in their heads, the “End Poverty in California” legislative caucus is the brainchild of former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs. It
Blog

Harvesting Southern California rain can reinvigorate its cities

Harvesting Southern California rain can reinvigorate its cities By Edward Ring | July 27, 2023 It never rains in California But girl, don’t they warn ya? It pours, man, it pours —by Albert Hammond, 1972  “It Never Rains in Southern California“ Anyone who has experienced traffic on the Santa Monica
Blog

How local governments can prepare for a possible recession

A recession is beginning now, according to the June 22 Chapman Economic Forecast Update, the most accurate in the country for GDP prediction. Said President Emeritus Jim Doti at the event, “We’re pointing to a negative change in the third quarter and the fourth quarter and that’s the stuff of
Blog

Crimes, Punishment, and Parole – Mass Releases and Mass Victimization

The use of the term “mass incarceration” is widely accepted to define the United States rate of incarceration in comparison to other countries.  According to prisonpolicy.org, the US rate of incarceration is 664 per 100,000 population.  In California, the rate was 549/100,000, which ranks 33 out of the 50 states.
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