California

Blog

Anti-camping ordinances or Housing First programs?

It’s no surprise to any resident that, for more than a decade, a disproportionate share of the homeless population has been living in California, and that number continues to grow. We see it every day: on the way to work, dropping our kids off at school, enjoying a nice dinner ...
Blog

How Eminent Domain Obliterated the Character of Cities

No city can possibly express its character – the many urban quirks and idiosyncrasies, as well as the strangely appealing grittiness and shining luxury that often coexist side-by-side – when government planners use the bulldozer to “improve” cities. Writing about the “wave of urban renewal that swept the world in ...
Blog

Push for Unionized College Athletics Would Be Real March Madness

This push would trample upon free market reforms that are working and ensure college athletes are compensated for their name, image, and likeness. Four years ago, California launched a national revolution in college athletics by enacting Fair Pay to Play Act, which allows athletes to earn money from endorsements from ...
Blog

Crime in Oakland – More Mass Victimization

Criminals in Alameda County just caught a break. Newly elected District Attorney Pamela Price has issued a draft memorandum to her staff requiring them to seek probation in nearly all felony cases with the exception of murder and some sex crimes involving children.   Further, it requires that more severe ...
Blog

CAPITAL IDEAS–California’s Green Energy Transition: Is the State Getting Ahead of Itself?

No state is rushing toward a zero-carbon power grid faster than California. By 2045, every watt of electricity used in this state has to be produced by a source that emits no carbon dioxide. Sacramento is convinced it will happen because it has said so. Reality is likely to have ...
Blog

Private Sector High Speed Rail Moves Forward While State Bullet Train Cost Estimates Climb

It has been called a dud, the train that couldn’t, a train that went off the rails, a train wreck, the train to nowhere, and a crazy train. The high-speed rail is also a financial fiasco, its cost now almost four times the initial estimate Californians based their votes on ...
California

PRI Sacramento Policy Conference: Improving the Quality of Life in Our Cities

Our podcast this week features a panel from PRI’s 5th Annual Ideas in Action Conference in Sacramento. 
Blog

Previewing Gov. Newsom’s Political Roadshow State of the State

The Associated Press reports that “Newsom plans to fulfill his constitutional requirement by sending a letter to the State Legislature” instead of delivering the usual speech at the State Capitol. Part of me felt a little nostalgic by the news.  I’ve had the chance to work on both sides of ...
Business & Economics

PRI Sacramento Policy Conference: The Best and Worst Big Cities in America

This podcast is a recording of a panel discussion on the conditions of America’s largest cities from PRI’s 5th Annual Ideas in Action Conference in Sacramento.
California

Fallen Selma officer is California’s criminal justice reform’s latest victim

On the morning of Jan. 31, Officer Gonzalo Carrasco of the Selma Police Department was flagged down by a homeowner reporting a trespasser on her property. Carrasco stopped and approached the suspect, who fired several shots, striking Carrasco and allegedly killing him. Responding to the tragedy, Fresno County District Attorney ...
Blog

Anti-camping ordinances or Housing First programs?

It’s no surprise to any resident that, for more than a decade, a disproportionate share of the homeless population has been living in California, and that number continues to grow. We see it every day: on the way to work, dropping our kids off at school, enjoying a nice dinner ...
Blog

How Eminent Domain Obliterated the Character of Cities

No city can possibly express its character – the many urban quirks and idiosyncrasies, as well as the strangely appealing grittiness and shining luxury that often coexist side-by-side – when government planners use the bulldozer to “improve” cities. Writing about the “wave of urban renewal that swept the world in ...
Blog

Push for Unionized College Athletics Would Be Real March Madness

This push would trample upon free market reforms that are working and ensure college athletes are compensated for their name, image, and likeness. Four years ago, California launched a national revolution in college athletics by enacting Fair Pay to Play Act, which allows athletes to earn money from endorsements from ...
Blog

Crime in Oakland – More Mass Victimization

Criminals in Alameda County just caught a break. Newly elected District Attorney Pamela Price has issued a draft memorandum to her staff requiring them to seek probation in nearly all felony cases with the exception of murder and some sex crimes involving children.   Further, it requires that more severe ...
Blog

CAPITAL IDEAS–California’s Green Energy Transition: Is the State Getting Ahead of Itself?

No state is rushing toward a zero-carbon power grid faster than California. By 2045, every watt of electricity used in this state has to be produced by a source that emits no carbon dioxide. Sacramento is convinced it will happen because it has said so. Reality is likely to have ...
Blog

Private Sector High Speed Rail Moves Forward While State Bullet Train Cost Estimates Climb

It has been called a dud, the train that couldn’t, a train that went off the rails, a train wreck, the train to nowhere, and a crazy train. The high-speed rail is also a financial fiasco, its cost now almost four times the initial estimate Californians based their votes on ...
California

PRI Sacramento Policy Conference: Improving the Quality of Life in Our Cities

Our podcast this week features a panel from PRI’s 5th Annual Ideas in Action Conference in Sacramento. 
Blog

Previewing Gov. Newsom’s Political Roadshow State of the State

The Associated Press reports that “Newsom plans to fulfill his constitutional requirement by sending a letter to the State Legislature” instead of delivering the usual speech at the State Capitol. Part of me felt a little nostalgic by the news.  I’ve had the chance to work on both sides of ...
Business & Economics

PRI Sacramento Policy Conference: The Best and Worst Big Cities in America

This podcast is a recording of a panel discussion on the conditions of America’s largest cities from PRI’s 5th Annual Ideas in Action Conference in Sacramento.
California

Fallen Selma officer is California’s criminal justice reform’s latest victim

On the morning of Jan. 31, Officer Gonzalo Carrasco of the Selma Police Department was flagged down by a homeowner reporting a trespasser on her property. Carrasco stopped and approached the suspect, who fired several shots, striking Carrasco and allegedly killing him. Responding to the tragedy, Fresno County District Attorney ...
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