Matthew Polamalu was spending 1.5 hours each day commuting back and forth to community college along Southern California’s congested freeways when he decided he’d had enough. He sat down at his computer and Googled “community colleges with dorms.” “I was just looking for the full college experience,” said the psychology...
Commutes, Jobs at Stake in California’s Clean Air Battle With Trump
Unrelenting commutes. Lost construction jobs. A statewide economic shudder. Prepare for all three if California loses its clean air battle with the Trump administration. That’s the warning from state transportation planning agency officials, who say the ongoing fight over passenger vehicle standards might cause collateral damage to road and public...
California Democrats Loudly Lean Left but Quietly Make Safe Choice
Anyone who spent the weekend at the California Democratic Party’s convention — watching 14 White House contenders try to impress what one Congresswoman called “the wokest Democrats in the country” — observed the following: Saturday’s most rapturous cheers went to Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who declared “the time for small...
California’s Earlier Spot in 2020 Primaries Shaking up Presidential Race
With the state’s Democratic Party holding its convention in San Francisco this weekend, you’ll be able to count at least 14 presidential candidates descending on California. And for a change, they’re here not just for our money, but for our votes. California will be sidling up to the front of the electoral...
Shouts, Tears, Votes Push Police Use-of-Force Standard Through Assembly
For an hour and a half Wednesday morning, California lawmakers lined up to speak for or against (but mostly for) one of the most high-profile bills of the year. One member of the Assembly, a former state cop, choked back tears as he wrestled with the implications of his vote....
A Rare Tenant Win, But Why Don’t California’s Renters Have More Political Punch?
California tenants just scored a rare victory in the state Capitol — emphasis on the rare. A high-profile bill passed by the state Assembly would impose a “rent-gouging cap” on annual rent increases for the vast majority of renters. If approved by the state Senate and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, it...
Advocates Promised These Laws Would ‘Protect’ Teens. They Don’t.
In 2016, fewer than 6% of California adolescents reported trying cigarettes, down from 10% in 2015, 13% in 2009, 15% in 2007, and 19% in 2003. Why on earth did legislators feel the need to intervene in such a hugely positive youth trend? For no apparent reason, they did. In 2016,...
Opinion: Don’t Dumb Down Our Smart Speakers
Editor’s note: This commentary is a response to “Legislation seeks to outsmart ‘smart’ speakers,” May 23, 2019. Voice recognition systems have streamlined our daily activities, from turning on the lights to important reminders about taking medications. We have only scratched the surface of what is possible with voice recognition systems. But...
Why California’s Efforts to Limit Soda Keep Fizzling
Earlier this year, Democrats in the state Capitol introduced several measures intended to limit Californians’ consumption of soda, arguing that rotting teeth and rising diabetes presented a public health crisis demanding action akin to regulations on cigarettes. They proposed taxing soda, banning Big Gulps, prohibiting in-store discounts on soft drinks, banishing them...
Proposed Sales Tax on Business Services Has Horrible Timing
California’s elected leaders are enjoying the fruits of a go-go economy, with record surpluses and record spending on education. So, naturally, there’s talk of tax increases. Californians have enjoyed nearly 10 years of economic growth, and one of the biggest beneficiaries has been the state budget. Since the depths of...