Blog
Blog
What Flippy the Burger-Making Robot Says About the Future of Work
“Have you heard about Flippy?” That’s what my colleague and fellow Right By the Bay contributor Rowena Itchon asked me recently. I hadn’t…so I Googled it. Flippy is a burger-flipping robot designed to operate alongside human workers in commercial kitchens. The machine, which costs between $60,000 and $100,000, depending on ...
Blog
Single-Payer in California: Slowly, Slowly, Catchy Monkey
For now, California’s progressive politicians have judged single-payer as a bridge too far. But that doesn’t mean they’ve given up trying to take over health care. As my Canadian mother used to say, “slowly, slowly, catchy monkey” – or be patient. On March 14, Assembly lawmakers released a report by ...
Blackouts
Could Regional Electric Grid Impose Costly CA Policies on Other States?
When talking about the management of California’s power grid, people’s eyelids will surely grow heavy before you finish making your point. But how California’s power grid is managed is incredibly important. Think back to 2001 and California’s electricity crisis and the rolling blackouts. I once had the chance to visit ...
Blog
Politicians Want to “Wet Their Beaks” in Taxing Uber and Lyft
Uber and Lyft have generated billions in gross revenue in California. It’s a dazzling data point that has caught the eyes of some politicians who are unable to resist the covetous urges that arise when they watch commercial enterprises thrive. Elected officials regard Uber, Lyft, and other ridesharing companies — ...
Blog
Is Theft Ring Bill A Sign That Even Liberals Are Waking Up to Prop. 47’s Problems?
In November 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47, which lowered the penalties for a host of so-called “nonviolent offenses” from felonies to misdemeanors. The measure, along with public safety realignment and 2016’s Prop. 57 – which increased sentence credits and parole opportunities – is part of an effort by Gov. ...
Blog
Ensuring Free Speech on California College Campuses
Recent polls show that many college students are worried about the declining state of free speech on campus. In California, the attacks on campus free speech have been fierce and increasing. PRI’s Steve Hayward, who is currently teaching at UC Berkeley, described his front row-seat to the current clash over ...
Blog
“Middle Class Tax Justice” is an 18.84% Corporate Tax Hike?
Thanks to Trump’s corporate tax cut, companies have become, well, more enterprising. Where a 31 percent federal tax rate ruled out many new ventures, a 21 percent tax rate makes them far more viable. So, it’s no surprise that state officials have been working overtime to attract new businesses to ...
Blog
The View from Sacramento
PRI meets with Assembly Republican Leader Brian Dahle at the State Capitol. Last week, PRI’s team was in Sacramento for our annual “Legislative Day” at the State Capitol. Every year, we meet with legislators, key staff, and leaders in the Capitol Community to discuss our work on state issues, get ...
Blog
Translating Government-Speak Shows Real Depth of State Pension Crisis
The Pacific Research Institute has extensively documented California’s public employee pension crisis through a comprehensive study, as well as a collection of op-eds and blog posts. But PRI is not alone. The California Policy Center has been covering the issue in depth, as well, most recently with “The Underrecognized, Undervalued, ...
Agriculture
New Survey Shows Golden State Marching to the Beat of its Own Drummer
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a very interesting presentation in Sacramento by the Edelman public relations firm on its annual “Trust Barometer” survey. For the past 18 years, the firm’s research arm has conducted a global survey measuring the public’s trust in key institutions and organizations. You ...
What Flippy the Burger-Making Robot Says About the Future of Work
“Have you heard about Flippy?” That’s what my colleague and fellow Right By the Bay contributor Rowena Itchon asked me recently. I hadn’t…so I Googled it. Flippy is a burger-flipping robot designed to operate alongside human workers in commercial kitchens. The machine, which costs between $60,000 and $100,000, depending on ...
Single-Payer in California: Slowly, Slowly, Catchy Monkey
For now, California’s progressive politicians have judged single-payer as a bridge too far. But that doesn’t mean they’ve given up trying to take over health care. As my Canadian mother used to say, “slowly, slowly, catchy monkey” – or be patient. On March 14, Assembly lawmakers released a report by ...
Could Regional Electric Grid Impose Costly CA Policies on Other States?
When talking about the management of California’s power grid, people’s eyelids will surely grow heavy before you finish making your point. But how California’s power grid is managed is incredibly important. Think back to 2001 and California’s electricity crisis and the rolling blackouts. I once had the chance to visit ...
Politicians Want to “Wet Their Beaks” in Taxing Uber and Lyft
Uber and Lyft have generated billions in gross revenue in California. It’s a dazzling data point that has caught the eyes of some politicians who are unable to resist the covetous urges that arise when they watch commercial enterprises thrive. Elected officials regard Uber, Lyft, and other ridesharing companies — ...
Is Theft Ring Bill A Sign That Even Liberals Are Waking Up to Prop. 47’s Problems?
In November 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47, which lowered the penalties for a host of so-called “nonviolent offenses” from felonies to misdemeanors. The measure, along with public safety realignment and 2016’s Prop. 57 – which increased sentence credits and parole opportunities – is part of an effort by Gov. ...
Ensuring Free Speech on California College Campuses
Recent polls show that many college students are worried about the declining state of free speech on campus. In California, the attacks on campus free speech have been fierce and increasing. PRI’s Steve Hayward, who is currently teaching at UC Berkeley, described his front row-seat to the current clash over ...
“Middle Class Tax Justice” is an 18.84% Corporate Tax Hike?
Thanks to Trump’s corporate tax cut, companies have become, well, more enterprising. Where a 31 percent federal tax rate ruled out many new ventures, a 21 percent tax rate makes them far more viable. So, it’s no surprise that state officials have been working overtime to attract new businesses to ...
The View from Sacramento
PRI meets with Assembly Republican Leader Brian Dahle at the State Capitol. Last week, PRI’s team was in Sacramento for our annual “Legislative Day” at the State Capitol. Every year, we meet with legislators, key staff, and leaders in the Capitol Community to discuss our work on state issues, get ...
Translating Government-Speak Shows Real Depth of State Pension Crisis
The Pacific Research Institute has extensively documented California’s public employee pension crisis through a comprehensive study, as well as a collection of op-eds and blog posts. But PRI is not alone. The California Policy Center has been covering the issue in depth, as well, most recently with “The Underrecognized, Undervalued, ...
New Survey Shows Golden State Marching to the Beat of its Own Drummer
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a very interesting presentation in Sacramento by the Edelman public relations firm on its annual “Trust Barometer” survey. For the past 18 years, the firm’s research arm has conducted a global survey measuring the public’s trust in key institutions and organizations. You ...
