;
The half-billion-dollar payment, which comes with the city facing a large budget deficit of roughly $250 million, is $44 million higher than last year and $35 million higher than the pension system’s actuary had projected last spring.
San Diego hit with $533 million pension payment, an unprecedented sum in a painful budget year
The city’s pension board unanimously approved the record-high annual payment Friday. It’s due July 1.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
Speaker Robert Rivas has not spoken to the Capitol Press Corps in nearly 3 months. He refused to talk to reporters after he voted no on #AB89, the transgender athlete bill.
His communications director told me they want us to use the remarks Rivas made during the hearing. I told…
California's energy costs were 80% higher than the national average last year, even though Californians use only about half as much energy compared to the rest of the country, according to @PPICNotes.
Proposed South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) regulations on gas appliances are just the latest example of narrow thinking. "Sacramento consistently fails to consider the long-term consequences." @hjta.
You don’t say…
Amid budget issues, California to spend $239M in taxpayer funds to remake San Quentin "into a Scandinavian-style rehabilitation center complete with a farmer’s market, a podcast production studio and a self-service grocery store."
Real question – I just can't figure out why the Sacramento politicians are so bothered by a mayor fighting for safer streets, lower costs, and to bring everyone indoors. We should all be working together on these basic goals.
New column: If California bails out LA's $1 billion budget deficit, beware the slippery slope
Our @sfc_opinions editorial: It’s asking too much of Oakland residents to tax themselves when city leaders have yet to prove they can handle public money responsibly. Oakland can’t tax its way out of its problems; it needs leadership. No on Measure A.
The graph embedded in this article is very illuminating. "California epitomizes the leftist policies that harm workers and employers. That’s why so many are leaving for Texas." via @WSJopinion. @hjta.
Trump administration responds after we first reported California’s high-speed rail project needs $7B soon or it risks even more delays.
Sec. Duffy says here the review into project’s use of federal funds continues:
NEW: A frustrated federal judge lambasted L.A. city officials for failing to properly track billions spent on homelessness. He called for a forensic audit to look into potential fraud and waste — and threatened to take away city control of the spending.
And yet they expect a bailout from state taxpayers. Hard pass. "Los Angeles announced a $1 billion budget hole owing to a slowing economy and soaring payouts to public unions." @hjta. via @WSJopinion
Homeowners beware: How transfer taxes steal your equity
New from me in the @ocregister: federal efforts to rein in the California Coastal Commission could be good news for desalination plant construction, which could give us an #Abundance of drinking water and enhanced ability to fight wildfires.
New column: California politicians have an irritating habit of ignoring the downsides
“We did the original DOGE,” Newsom bragged again on the new episode of his podcast today, pointing to the Office of Digital Innovation he created.
But as I reported in January, California’s government has grown to a record size under Newsom:
This proposal, even if approved by the legislature, will face huge blowback from voters. "A bill to save Bay Area transit from financial disaster is back on the table. It'll need voters' approval, too." @hjta.
The fact that passing blank budget bills is "normal" is the problem, Sen. Wiener.
Republicans in the CA Senate right now are calling out Dems for trying to pass a blank budget bill off the floor.
CALeg is nowhere near an agreement on the budget.
@RogerNiello says deal will be done behind back doors and inserted, @Scott_Wiener says this process is normal
ICYMI another refinery in California will bite the dust later this year- this will bring the number of CARB-gasoline producing refineries to 8 in California
San Francisco Unified School District lost taxpayer money due to payroll fraud made possible by a lack of IT security. But always remember they need more of your money "for the kids".
CA's State Senate is restricting press access, blocking public participation, & going even more dark. Their "excuse?" The Capitol Annex Project 🙄
#CALeg can't keep using this Project as a scapegoat, especially with a $1.2B+ price tag.
As always, great reporting by Ashley👇
New column: Newsom's new California homelessness plan leaves out some important details
The second highest unemployment rate in the country.
California's traditional jobs report suggests the state added no jobs in January, while a hybrid measure that has more closely tracked final jobs data suggests a modest increase of 9,000 jobs. The state's unemployment rate fell slightly to 5.4 percent. https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/755
100 times the waste! What am I missing here? Rather than give out 100 burner phones to CEOs, why not keep one burner and give the CEO's that number? "Gov. Newsom sends 'bat phones' to CEOs of major California businesses." @hjta. @ZavalaA.
The CPUC authorizes utilities to collect funds from ratepayers to pay for efficiency programs, but it allowed utilities to collect hundreds of millions in ratepayer funds that the utilities did not spend in 2022.
Read the report: https://www.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2023-127/#audit-results
There is no rational justification for school districts getting into the housing business. Its just empire building . "Mission creep inevitably bites taxpayers." @hjta.
Excited to share that I am now a contributing writer for the @latimes Opinion Page.
Here’s my piece on what one-party control has done to policymaking in CA:
New column: health care expansion worsens California's chronic budget deficit
👀NEW: CA state auditor finds ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs run by utilities "typically do not achieve energy-savings goals" & are "rarely cost-effective," which has been enabled by lackluster oversight from the CA Public Utilities Commission.
Did these people not get the memo that citizens want the state to stop coddling violent offenders? "California to spend $239 million to turn San Quentin into Scandinavian-style rehab center." @hjta. via @sfchronicle
California to spend $239 million to turn San Quentin into Scandinavian-style rehab center
A farmer's market and a podcast studio are among the amenities likely coming to San...
www.sfchronicle.com
Proposed South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) regulations on gas appliances are just the latest example of narrow thinking. "Sacramento consistently fails to consider the long-term consequences." @hjta.
Sacramento consistently fails to consider the long-term consequences
These failures in governance have one thing in common – the absence of serious consideration of present realities or downstream effects.
www.ocregister.com
Holy Moly. This looks like an impending train wreck for Democrats "2030 Apportionment Forecast - 2022 - The American ... " @hjta. Hol
2030 Apportionment Forecast - 2022 - The American Redistricting ...
Found on Google from thearp.org
images.app.goo.gl
And yet they expect a bailout from state taxpayers. Hard pass. "Los Angeles announced a $1 billion budget hole owing to a slowing economy and soaring payouts to public unions." @hjta. via @WSJopinion
Opinion | Los Angeles Goes for Broke—Literally
The city faces a huge budget hole after years of mismanagement.
www.wsj.com
The graph embedded in this article is very illuminating. "California epitomizes the leftist policies that harm workers and employers. That’s why so many are leaving for Texas." via @WSJopinion. @hjta.
Opinion | A Tale of Two States on Job Creation
California had a jobs recession in 2024, Texas had a jobs boom.
www.wsj.com
This proposal, even if approved by the legislature, will face huge blowback from voters. "A bill to save Bay Area transit from financial disaster is back on the table. It'll need voters' approval, too." @hjta.
A bill to save Bay Area transit from financial disaster is back on the table. It’ll need voters’...
BART, MUNI and Caltrain could be headed toward service cuts if the Bay Area can’t find a more sustainable fund...
www.mercurynews.com
100 times the waste! What am I missing here? Rather than give out 100 burner phones to CEOs, why not keep one burner and give the CEO's that number? "Gov. Newsom sends 'bat phones' to CEOs of major California businesses." @hjta. @ZavalaA.
Gov. Newsom sends 'bat phones' to CEOs of major California businesses
Newsom's office confirmed the action on Monday night but would not say who exactly has received them so far.
www.kcra.com
There is no rational justification for school districts getting into the housing business. Its just empire building . "Mission creep inevitably bites taxpayers." @hjta.
Mission creep inevitably bites taxpayers
Schools should focus on education and eschew expanding their bureaucratic turf into housing
www.ocregister.com
A renewed effort to weaken transparency in local bond measures that @hjta fought so hard to pass. AB 699 deserves to die. "Playing political Whac-A-Mole as issue of bond measure language pops up again. @DanCALmatters @JayObernolte.
Playing political Whac-A-Mole as issue of bond measure language pops up again
Lawmakers introduce bills to make it hard for voters to see how much a proposed bond issue or tax increase would cost them.
calmatters.org
Global warming is killing us! Oh, wait. "300 people rescued from climate conference amidst Big Bear snow storm." @hjta.
300 people rescued from climate conference amidst Big Bear snow storm
The San Bernardino County Fire Department rescued some of them by making 3 trips to pick them up in a snow cat.
www.pressenterprise.com
No one should wonder why CA ranks dead last for small business survival. "How one sink turned Bob’s Donuts’ new S.F. store opening into a permit nightmare." @hjta. via @sfchronicle
How one sink turned Bob’s Donuts’ new S.F. store opening into a permit nightmare
As San Francisco strains to attract and retain small business owners, particularly near...
www.sfchronicle.com
Re our opposition to Prop 4: I hate to say we told you so, but . . . . "Commentary: Newsom's money grab targets bond funds for climate projects." @hjta.
Commentary: Newsom's money grab targets bond funds for climate projects
To help balance his budget, Newsom wants to grab roughly $300 million from the $10-billion climate bond approved overwhelmingly by voters in November.
www.latimes.com
When you've even lost the Sacramento Bee . . . "Robert Rivas slams the door on dissenters." My column for @ocregister.
Jon Coupal: Robert Rivas slams the door on dissenters
The sad part of Rivas’ actions is that he is denying his own party the opportunity to hear and respond to ...
www.ocregister.com
I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you, that HSR is even further behind schedule and needs more money! Gee, who saw this coming? "High-speed rail leader says project needs to find new funding or costs and timeline will expand." @hjta.
High-speed rail leader says project needs to find new funding or costs and timeline will expand
High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri said the authority will ask the Trump administration for money, but even ...
www.latimes.com
This piece from @danCALmatters describes just how broken the budget process is. "California uses gimmicks instead of addressing the heart of its budget problem." @hjta.
California uses gimmicks instead of addressing the heart of its budget problem
Gimmickry has become an integral part of the current California budget process, even though the state faces a structural deficit.
calmatters.org
Yes, voter fraud is real, especially without rigorous voter i.d. "An indictment of three Pennsylvania men is another argument for states to pull back from Covid-19 voting laxity." @hjta. via @WSJopinion
Opinion | What Pennsylvania Voter Fraud Looks Like
Three men allegedly tried to steal a mayor’s race using mail votes.
www.wsj.com
SHIFT-Bay Area's Tom Rubin Wins Statewide Award https://open.substack.com/pub/shiftbayarea/p/shift-bay-areas-tom-rubin-wins-statewide?r=1vuxk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Proposition 218 imposes both substantive and procedural requirements prior to the imposition of any "property related fee." Opinion: How property owners can block city’s new trash fee. @hjta.
Opinion: How property owners can block city’s new trash fee
San Diego’s proposed trash fee is currently a hot topic for city property owners as city leaders plan community ...
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
Good governance can only happen with accountability. Accountability can only happen with fair elections. Fair elections can only happen with effective voter i.d. "California Rings in the New Year with New Push to Block Voter Identification." @hjta.
California Rings in the New Year with New Push to Block Voter Identification
In California, Democrats are ringing in the New Year with a new push against voter identification. California Attorn...
jonathanturley.org
Editorial refers to HJTA's two lawsuits trying to find relief in the courts. "Shift ballot powers from AG to LAO." @hjta.
Shift ballot powers from AG to LAO
A long overdue reform of who writes the wording for state ballot initiatives and referendums is before the Legislature.
www.sgvtribune.com
Every citizen has a responsibility to call out waste, fraud and abuse. Some, like Talcove, have special expertise. "Warriors against waste like Haywood Talcove have their work cut out for them." @hjta.
Warriors against waste like Haywood Talcove have their work cut out for them
Americans are just now beginning to understand the level of waste, fraud and abuse being uncovered by the DOGE project.
www.ocregister.com
This should be self-evident but the left doesn't understand. "The Pro-Democracy Argument for Cutting Government." @hjta.
The Pro-Democracy Argument for Cutting Government | National Review
DOGE, take note.
www.nationalreview.com
Halleluiah. "Trump administration launches latest threat to California’s high-speed rail project." @hjta. via @sfchronicle
Trump administration launches latest threat to California’s high-speed rail project
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said Thursday he would launch a compliance...
www.sfchronicle.com
HSR should be terminated but, "at a minimum, continued funding from any source should be subject to a statewide vote." Is it the end of the line for California’s high speed rail project? @hjta.
Is it the end of the line for California’s high speed rail project?
California taxpayers will be watching to see if HSR’s special interest supporters try to repurpose other state fun...
www.ocregister.com
Join us for our 2025 Economic Outlook with Dr. Mark Schniepp on Thursday, April 17th at the Westlake Hyatt. Tickets available now! https://app.dvforms.net/api/dv/12l7dk
Well done, California! Another business driven out of the state. "Chevron to lay off thousands after relocating headquarters from Bay Area." @hjta. via @sfchronicle
Chevron to lay off thousands after relocating headquarters from Bay Area
Chevron employed 45,600 people as of December 2023, meaning thousands of staff could be...
www.sfchronicle.com
"This is NPR": America's Public Media Faces Reckoning on What it is
“This is NPR”: America’s Public Media Faces Reckoning on What it is
“This is NPR.” That tagline has long been used for National Public Radio, but what it is remains remarkably ...
jonathanturley.org
Beware of "regional governments." Is this tangled web of overlapping regional entities really doing the people’s business? @hjta.
Is this tangled web of overlapping regional entities really doing the people’s business?
There is a recurring debate in California about the effectiveness of regional governments when compared to the existing local government structure.
www.ocregister.com
April, 2021. Gavin Newsom explains that wildfire preparedness will be better now that Biden is in office instead of Trump.
Wow. Please forward to your favorite -- or least favorite -- California politician. "Americans Moved to Low-Tax States in 2024>" @hjta.
Americans Moved to Low-Tax States in 2024
Americans were on the move in 2024, and many chose low-tax states over high-tax ones. Explore the data here.
taxfoundation.org