California
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 ...
John Seiler
July 26, 2023
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. ...
Steve Smith
July 25, 2023
California
Bob Spano, Carl Olson, and Steve Smith – How Bad Sacramento Policy is Causing Victims’ Families to Relive Traumatic Memories
On this week’s episode, we talk with Bob Spano and Carl Olson, whose beloved family members were tragically murdered decades ago, and who have recently been forced to relive these traumatic memories when the individuals who murdered their family members were granted parole. PRI senior fellow Steve Smith discusses how ...
Pacific Research Institute
July 24, 2023
Blog
Read latest on state's housing crisis
‘Inclusionary zoning’ will only exacerbate the housing crisis
San Francisco’s inclusionary zoning laws require that when proposing residential developments of 10 or more units, developers must take at least one from a handful of actions to create housing for lower-income families, including setting aside a percentage of units to be sold or rented at below market rate (either ...
Matthew Fleming
July 19, 2023
California
Kerry Jackson – Tort System Enriching Lawyers and Not Helping Victims
Our guest this week is Kerry Jackson, PRI senior fellow at our Center for California Reform. He and senior fellow in business and economics Wayne Winegarden, Ph.D. co-authored PRI’s new study “Enriching Lawyers and Not Helping Victims: Why tort reform will help grow the economy and address injustice. The study ...
Pacific Research Institute
July 17, 2023
California
Read latest homelessness op-ed in CalMatters
Something is clearly off with California’s homelessness spending
California put aside $7.2 billion to address homelessness in the 2021-22 state budget. Last year, there were an estimated 172,000 homeless statewide, which equates to spending nearly $42,000 per homeless person. Spending of this magnitude – which only accounts for state money – is sufficient if it were applied effectively. The worsening ...
Wayne Winegarden and Kerry Jackson
July 17, 2023
Blog
Read the concerning numbers in the 2022 Crime in California report
California’s 2022 Annual Crime Statistics Released – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
On June 30th, California Attorney General Rob Bonta released his 2022 Crime in California report as well as several other mandated statistical reports covering hate crimes, juvenile justice, and firearms. What the statistics tell us, like they have for the past three years, is that crime continues to rise. Violent ...
Steve Smith
July 12, 2023
California
Bill Meehan – Getting About
This week, we’re joined by Bill Meehan, editor of the new book on William F. Buckley’s travel writings, Getting About. He discusses Buckley’s passion for travel writing, some of the most entertaining moments from his global journeys, and what advice today’s travelers can take away from Buckley’s years of travel ...
Pacific Research Institute
July 10, 2023
Blog
New poll: More want to flee California
California, You Could Always Check Out, Now You Can Leave
Are policymakers, whose actions over decades are responsible for the “let’s get out of here” mood, going to let this happen? Or are they going to keep making things worse? The California Community Poll, conducted by Strategies 360 for a group of nonprofits and the Los Angeles Times, offered respondents ...
Kerry Jackson
July 10, 2023
Blog
Read about new study on minimum wage and homelessness
At The Intersection Of Homelessness And Minimum-Wage Hikes
It’s widely though not universally acknowledged that minimum-wage increases are job killers. When statutes require employers to pay wages above market value, they will take avoidance measures. In the 2020s, automation becomes an appealing alternative for many. But not all businesses can replace their workers with robots. They are left ...
Kerry Jackson
July 5, 2023
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 ...
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. ...
Bob Spano, Carl Olson, and Steve Smith – How Bad Sacramento Policy is Causing Victims’ Families to Relive Traumatic Memories
On this week’s episode, we talk with Bob Spano and Carl Olson, whose beloved family members were tragically murdered decades ago, and who have recently been forced to relive these traumatic memories when the individuals who murdered their family members were granted parole. PRI senior fellow Steve Smith discusses how ...
Read latest on state's housing crisis
‘Inclusionary zoning’ will only exacerbate the housing crisis
San Francisco’s inclusionary zoning laws require that when proposing residential developments of 10 or more units, developers must take at least one from a handful of actions to create housing for lower-income families, including setting aside a percentage of units to be sold or rented at below market rate (either ...
Kerry Jackson – Tort System Enriching Lawyers and Not Helping Victims
Our guest this week is Kerry Jackson, PRI senior fellow at our Center for California Reform. He and senior fellow in business and economics Wayne Winegarden, Ph.D. co-authored PRI’s new study “Enriching Lawyers and Not Helping Victims: Why tort reform will help grow the economy and address injustice. The study ...
Read latest homelessness op-ed in CalMatters
Something is clearly off with California’s homelessness spending
California put aside $7.2 billion to address homelessness in the 2021-22 state budget. Last year, there were an estimated 172,000 homeless statewide, which equates to spending nearly $42,000 per homeless person. Spending of this magnitude – which only accounts for state money – is sufficient if it were applied effectively. The worsening ...
Read the concerning numbers in the 2022 Crime in California report
California’s 2022 Annual Crime Statistics Released – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
On June 30th, California Attorney General Rob Bonta released his 2022 Crime in California report as well as several other mandated statistical reports covering hate crimes, juvenile justice, and firearms. What the statistics tell us, like they have for the past three years, is that crime continues to rise. Violent ...
Bill Meehan – Getting About
This week, we’re joined by Bill Meehan, editor of the new book on William F. Buckley’s travel writings, Getting About. He discusses Buckley’s passion for travel writing, some of the most entertaining moments from his global journeys, and what advice today’s travelers can take away from Buckley’s years of travel ...
New poll: More want to flee California
California, You Could Always Check Out, Now You Can Leave
Are policymakers, whose actions over decades are responsible for the “let’s get out of here” mood, going to let this happen? Or are they going to keep making things worse? The California Community Poll, conducted by Strategies 360 for a group of nonprofits and the Los Angeles Times, offered respondents ...
Read about new study on minimum wage and homelessness
At The Intersection Of Homelessness And Minimum-Wage Hikes
It’s widely though not universally acknowledged that minimum-wage increases are job killers. When statutes require employers to pay wages above market value, they will take avoidance measures. In the 2020s, automation becomes an appealing alternative for many. But not all businesses can replace their workers with robots. They are left ...