Point of View: Pension Crisis (editorial)
Ever rising California government pension costs are reducing the funds available for basic government functions. Things like education, healthcare, public works and public safety.
Point of View: The Bullet Train Song
The bullet train had become so tragic and painful for Californians that is has inspired a song from an award winning Country writer and performer.
Point of View: An update on the bullet train to nowhere
The bullet train to nowhere is one gigantic boondoggle that is a bigtime taxpayer rip-off. The first leg of Governor Brown's choo-choo train was supposed to cost 6.8 billion and go from Madera to Shafter. Now the cost has ballooned to an astounding 9 billion. For what? To ride from Madera to Shafter? Definitely not worth it.
Point of View: Johnny Can't Read
Basic literacy is essential for all our citizens, yet less than half the students passed the reading portion of California’s most recent statewide literacy tests. What a monumental failure.
Point of View: Action needed for LA's homeless encampments
We have all seen the trashy unsightly homeless camps that have sprouted up all over our city. This has become a major problem. In fact, in many of these encampments drug, prostitution and gang activity is rampant. They also can be an extreme health hazard as the San Diego outbreak of Hepatitis A has shown.
Point of View: Thank you to those saving lives during the fire
A very deeply felt thank you to our first responders, firefighters, law enforcement, volunteers, and neighbors helping neighbors that are risking life and limb to save lives and homes.
Point of View: Is LA ready for an earthquake?
Los Angeles is going to have a massive catastrophic earthquake. We do not know exactly when, but it will happen sooner than later. A recent study by US Geological Survey found that Southern California is overdue for a major temblor.
Point of View: Affordable Housing Crisis
There is no question that California is in an affordable housing crisis.
Point of View: Los Angeles homeless population
Over the years Los Angeles County and city government has spent billions of dollars trying to reduce the homeless population with little success.
Prop 47: Crime is up, arrests are down
Crime is up, and arrests are down. It is not surprising that arrests are down 30% since 2014 when Prop 47 went into effect. The problem with Prop 47 is simply many felonies were downgraded to misdemeanors. Under Prop 47 for example, property theft in many cases went from a felony to a misdemeanor. Stealing a gun became no more than a misdemeanor ticket.
Point of View: Law Enforcement, Sergeant Steve Owen
Almost all of us at some time in our lives will need the help of law enforcement. They are there for us so we should be there for them. It is so important to always remember that they risk their lives for us. A routine call could be their last.
Point of View: Probation of Criminals
It makes no sense that released state prisoners can violate probation an endless number of times, but never get more than 10 days in county jail. Yet that is exactly what happened in the case of Michael Mejia, who murdered Whittier police officer Keith Boyer.
Point of View: California's High Speed Rail
According to a federal rail administration risk analysis the first 118 miles of the California Bullet Train between Merced and Shafter will cost as much as $10 billion.
Point of View: Computer Debacle
For most of us computers are a part of modern life, yet the State of California remains in the computer dark ages.
Point of View: California losing jobs
We might be living in the most business unfriendly state in the union
Point of View: Crime is surging in SoCal (editorial)
For 2015, violent crime was up almost 20% and property crime up more than 10%. So why would we change the law to let potentially 25,000 more serious offenders out of our jails and prisons?
Point of View: Twin Tunnels
It is patently clear, Governor Brown, that your bullet train is a monumental failure and a waste of billions.
Point of View: Pension Reform
According to The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy, all California pension and employment benefit plans are drowning in red ink. Estimates are over one trillion dollars’ worth.
Point of View: High speed rail changing course
After four years of promising that the so-called bullet train would be built between Merced and Burbank by 2022, the ill-fated High Speed Rail is changing course.
Point of View: No Blank Checks
The state of California is over $340 billion in debt. Sacramento politicians are still, however, going all out to spend over $100 billion for more projects such as High Speed Rail and the Twin Tunnels. To get their projects funded, elected officials are taking advantage of a legal loophole that would allow the state to take on billions of dollars of extra debt, without voter approval.