;
San Francisco's transit agency just got @DOGE 'd: twelve execs fired with no notice to help reduce its $322 million budget gap.
New column: Given its failures, can California manage a transition to a carbon-free future?
Sorry, Ray. There's not enough lipstick in the world . . . "New plan to accelerate California high-speed rail construction deserves attention, support." @hjta
A close look at LA28's demands of cities that host 2028 Olympic venues.
It's as if a giant international banquet descends upon your city and expects taxpayers to pay for prep, logistics, security, clean-up, and to keep local businesses out of the way.
NEW: The California Capitol Annex project will include some private hallways for lawmakers, giving them a way to avoid the public & media.
The project overall is costing about as much as an NFL stadium, and CALeg leaders still aren't saying why.
California could lose about 20% of its oil refining capacity in 12 months — with potentially significant implications for prices at the pump.
Our updated housing affordability tracker is now up. Purchasing a home in California continues to be historically unaffordable, fueled by pandemic-era price growth and continued elevation of mortgage rates. https://lao.ca.gov/LAOEconTax/Article/Detail/793
Taxes are necessary to pay for roads, schools, police, firefighters, and other government services, but excessive taxation creates real harm, including job losses and financial strain on people who are trying to experience the California Dream.
"California paid departing workers $413 million last year for unused time off.
That’s nothing compared with the massive financial liability the state faces for the banked time off still on the books, alarming government watchdog groups."
My latest in Sac Bee: Gavin Newsom claims California taxes aren’t high. Here is why he’s wrong
This is happening because the California courts have carved loopholes in Proposition 13, which flatly prohibited transfer taxes on real estate. Join the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association at http://hjta.org and maybe something can be done about it. Join. Today.
Banked vacation leads to a $1.2-million payday: How state workers cash in on days off. “There’s no parallel to this in the private sector,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. “Obviously this is a problem.” @hjta.
When state lawmakers return from spring break Monday, they will immediately hold hearings on tax increases that would make our state even less affordable for our neighbors and friends who continue to see the California Dream slip away.
Lawmakers considering major tax hikes as they return from spring break
When state lawmakers return from spring break Monday, they will immediately hold hearings on tax increases that woul...
www.dailynews.com
Local governments bend over backwards to keep tax hike proposals obscured until the last moment hoping that opposition won’t have time to coalesce.
Sales tax increases slam the middle class in California
It would be a mistake to acquiesce to higher sales taxes without a great deal of scrutiny.
www.ocregister.com
Just say no to renewing the cap-and-trade program in California, a costly credit-trading racket that makes everything more expensive and accomplishes nothing. (Well, it does fund the bullet train and a manure management program.)
Vision Zero’s budget has hovered at around $36 million per year over the last three fiscal years.
Los Angeles tried to eliminate traffic deaths by 2025. They increased instead https://ktla.com/news/local-news/los-angeles-tried-to-eliminate-traffic-deaths-by-2025-they-increased-instead/
250 years ago today, American patriots stood up against tyranny. @hjta. Let's keep the revolution going.
April 11: @edring predicts California gas production is close to collapse if just one more refiner leaves the state.
Apr 15: Valero announces they're closing their NorCal plant.
California’s Refinery Capacity Stretched to the Limit
The simple beauty of Prop. 13 is that it decouples tax liability from the vagaries of the real estate market – something over which homeowners have absolutely no control.
Jon Coupal: Proposition 13 protects home equity
Assuming a state decides to retain a property tax at all – and some states are planning full repeals – a ...
www.ocregister.com
Idiotic California laws have been causing electricity bills to go up, and now they're causing trash fees to go up. Los Angeles residents are about to get slammed. Latest column:
There is one policy that Californians have repeatedly rejected, and that Nevadans should also oppose: rent control.
Nevada, this is one time you should follow California
Jon Coupal writes: There is one policy that Californians have repeatedly rejected, and that Nevadans should also oppose: rent control.
www.rgj.com
Let me get this straight: At the same time San Diego is pushing a new trash fee on homeowners, a senior attorney ($300k/year) gets to work from "home" on a cruise ship??? "Bon voyage: Top SD lawyer collecting full pay during 4-month global cruise. @hjta.
Property tax revenue increased 7.1 percent statewide from 2023 to 2024, the State Board of Equalization reported today. Under Proposition 13, property tax has been a predictable, growing source of revenue for schools and local government, while individual property owners are…
NEW: LA homelessness officials are refusing to release public records to LAist about allegations of high-level wrongdoing — including whistleblower retaliation — that led to $800,000 in taxpayer payouts.
Attorneys say it’s unlawful for LAHSA to withhold.
This is startling: About 34% of applicants to California's Community College system were likely fake in the last calendar year, and have been scamming millions of dollars in state and federal financial aid. https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2025/04/financial-aid-fraud-2/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WhatMatters&utm_source=31&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=State%20Farm%20begins%20first-of-its-kind%20insurance%20rate%20hearing%20today&utm_campaign=WhatMatters
If there were any doubts as to why Prop. 13 is so important to CA homeowners, this @wsj article should dispel them entirely. "Americans have amassed $35 trillion of wealth in their homes, yet many feel less well off because of it." @hjta. via @WSJ
NEW: California lawmakers tomorrow will hold the first hearing on a bill that would no longer allow state lawmakers to sign non-disclosure agreements when they handle taxpayer dollars or pass state laws🧵
Hearing set in Assembly Election Committee at 9am
Everything that's wrong with the government of L.A. County in one email: Supervisor Lindsey Horvath proudly telling residents the county has hired a third-party consultant to listen to them.
There was a bill last year to require phonics-based reading instruction, but it didn’t get a hearing because the California Teachers Association opposed it. Mississippi has higher reading scores than we do.
California’s political watchdog is fining former Assemblymember Evan Low $106,000 for campaign finance violations after he admitted trying to conceal payments to actor Alec Baldwin, who appeared at a 2020 fundraiser for Low.
📝 @bystellayu
Banked vacation leads to a $1.2-million payday: How state workers cash in on days off. “There’s no parallel to this in the private sector,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. “Obviously this is a problem.” @hjta.
Banked vacation leads to a $1.2-million payday: How state workers cash in on days off
More and more state workers are able to retire with massive payouts for unused vacation and other leave, with a ...
www.latimes.com
250 years ago today, American patriots stood up against tyranny. @hjta. Let's keep the revolution going.
Let me get this straight: At the same time San Diego is pushing a new trash fee on homeowners, a senior attorney ($300k/year) gets to work from "home" on a cruise ship??? "Bon voyage: Top SD lawyer collecting full pay during 4-month global cruise. @hjta.
Bon voyage: Top San Diego lawyer collecting full pay during 4-month global cruise
Weeks after Jean Jordan was promoted by the newly elected city attorney, she left for an around-the-world cruise.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
Sorry, Ray. There's not enough lipstick in the world . . . "New plan to accelerate California high-speed rail construction deserves attention, support." @hjta
New plan to accelerate California high-speed rail construction deserves attention, support
The new chief executive for California's high-speed rail project has a plan to accelerate construction and attract private investment.
calmatters.org
If there were any doubts as to why Prop. 13 is so important to CA homeowners, this @wsj article should dispel them entirely. "Americans have amassed $35 trillion of wealth in their homes, yet many feel less well off because of it." @hjta. via @WSJ
Americans Have $35 Trillion in Housing Wealth—and It’s Costing Them
Surging home equity is all the more important in a declining stock market. But it’s come with rising property ...
www.wsj.com
Democrats certainly aren't shy about keeping their machinations out of public view. "Democracy in the dark: How California lawmakers are trying to shield themselves from public view." @hjta.
Democracy in the dark: How California lawmakers are trying to shield themselves from public view
Transparency alert: While Californians confront officials at town halls, politicians are pushing bills to shield themselves from public view.
calmatters.org
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 farmers 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