California
Blog
Read about new CA green mandate
Outlawing Commercial Gas Ovens Latest Government Hit on Minority Workers
You may have missed it, but there was another shot fired last week in the war by California bureaucrats against gas-powered appliances. The South Coast Air Quality Management District – the unelected body given sweeping regulatory powers in the name of reducing air pollution in Southern California – passed a ...
Tim Anaya
August 8, 2023
Blog
Read about Pamela Price controversy
Pamela Price Gets it Wrong
Oakland’s social, economic, and criminal justice challenges are well known. Lost jobs, expensive housing, poor performing schools, and a crime problem that exceeds neighboring cities are constant challenges. However, a recent surge in crime shows violent crime is up 14 percent, rapes are up 18 percent, robberies are up 18 ...
Steve Smith
August 7, 2023
Blog
Read about proposed ballot measure
‘Transparency’ Measure Would Paint False Picture of What’s Happening at State Capitol
Consumer Watchdog, the self-appointed group with a history of waging controversial ballot measure fights, announced this week that it was launching a 2024 ballot initiative campaign aiming to, according to Politico, “forc(e) unprecedented scrutiny into lobbying activities at the Capitol.” The proposed “Government Transparency Act”, according to a campaign press ...
Tim Anaya
August 4, 2023
Blog
Read about new legislative caucus
‘End Poverty in California’ Caucus Poised to Worsen State’s Poverty Problem
You may have missed it, but a new legislative caucus has just been announced to address California’s status as the worst-in-the-nation state for poverty. With visions of Upton Sinclair dancing in their heads, the “End Poverty in California” legislative caucus is the brainchild of former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs. It ...
Tim Anaya
July 28, 2023
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
Read about new CA green mandate
Outlawing Commercial Gas Ovens Latest Government Hit on Minority Workers
You may have missed it, but there was another shot fired last week in the war by California bureaucrats against gas-powered appliances. The South Coast Air Quality Management District – the unelected body given sweeping regulatory powers in the name of reducing air pollution in Southern California – passed a ...
Read about Pamela Price controversy
Pamela Price Gets it Wrong
Oakland’s social, economic, and criminal justice challenges are well known. Lost jobs, expensive housing, poor performing schools, and a crime problem that exceeds neighboring cities are constant challenges. However, a recent surge in crime shows violent crime is up 14 percent, rapes are up 18 percent, robberies are up 18 ...
Read about proposed ballot measure
‘Transparency’ Measure Would Paint False Picture of What’s Happening at State Capitol
Consumer Watchdog, the self-appointed group with a history of waging controversial ballot measure fights, announced this week that it was launching a 2024 ballot initiative campaign aiming to, according to Politico, “forc(e) unprecedented scrutiny into lobbying activities at the Capitol.” The proposed “Government Transparency Act”, according to a campaign press ...
Read about new legislative caucus
‘End Poverty in California’ Caucus Poised to Worsen State’s Poverty Problem
You may have missed it, but a new legislative caucus has just been announced to address California’s status as the worst-in-the-nation state for poverty. With visions of Upton Sinclair dancing in their heads, the “End Poverty in California” legislative caucus is the brainchild of former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs. It ...
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 ...