For four decades, Proposition 13, the property tax reform that passed in 1978, has been blamed for many of the ills that have befallen California. Working with Howard Jarvis, a Proposition 13 co-author, and later running his taxpayers association, I have followed the multiple attacks on the measure, many silly...
Jim Patterson: Newsom Is Right to Order DMV Overhaul
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has been a source of frustration for employees and customers for as long as anyone can remember. I started pushing for major reforms of this department in 2016 when my office was flooded with calls from truck driving students who were waiting 12 weeks to...
Gov. Newsom: Is He Getting Things Done?
My Turn: Here’s How Newsom Can Be Rural California’s Governor
The Camp Fire was the most destructive and deadliest fire in state history, and the world’s costliest natural disaster of 2018. The fire destroyed more than 18,000 homes and businesses and caused $16.5 billion in damages in Butte County. In Shasta County farther north, the Carr Fire destroyed over 1,000...
My Turn: The Missing Ingredient to Solve California’s Housing Crisis
In California’s quest to produce affordable housing, much has been said about project streamlining, permitting, zoning and other regulatory reforms. Comparatively little has been said about workers. And to be clear, that’s the elephant in the room. To increase affordability by boosting supply, Gov. Gavin Newsom has established a goal...
My Turn: A California Solution to Immigration Policy
Have we had enough of the Washington gridlock on immigration issues? When our elected federal leaders find themselves incapable of fixing a decades-old problem, California not only has the right but the obligation to act in its own interests. Virtually all Americans agree that our immigration system is broken. If...
Will PG&E Customers Pay More in Bankruptcy? Not if Watchdog Can Stop It
The consumer watchdog arm of the California Public Utilities Commission says millions of Pacific Gas & Electric customers should not have to bear the brunt of the utility’s misdeeds if it was responsible for two of the most destructive wildfires in California. “We should definitely not assume that because PG&E...
Werner: Don’t Blame Environmental Law for California’s Housing Crisis
California is facing a housing crisis of unprecedented proportions. Lower-income residents across the state must choose whether to pay for rent or food. People who can’t cover housing costs are forced to leave their homes, their neighborhoods and even the state. But as legislators resume discussions regarding policy solutions, we...
My Turn: We Must Reduce Fire Risk. Here Are Steps California Must Take
Winter rain cannot wash away the tragedy of the 2018 fire season for Northern California, the deadliest in state history. If the fires of 2017 were a wakeup call, the 2018 megafires were an air raid siren. We must take immediate steps to reduce fire risk, protect our rural communities, and ensure...
My Turn: Higher Ed Is a Prerequisite for Our Future. Community Colleges Are Key to That.
Pick an issue, any issue, and you’ll hear from the well-meaning throngs that theirs is a top priority for California’s long-term success. But the multitude of issues and solutions won’t bring about real, lasting change without addressing the common denominator that could make or break the Golden State: higher education....