California Voices

Susan Kirsch, former president of Livable California: Legislators should declare a moratorium on housing legislation until the impact of the 40-plus housing bills passed in the last four years take effect, address underlying causes of income inequity, and collaborate with cities and citizens, not corporate seeking to expand their real estate empires.

Voters will decide more than 200 local government tax and bond measures on the March 3 ballot and hundreds more are likely for the November ballot.

Jeanne Radsick, California Association of Realtors: California’s housing supply and affordability crisis is not a partisan issue. It does not discriminate geographically, ethnically or otherwise. The reality is that inaction hurts everyone. Conversely, if we each do our part to increase the supply of well-planned housing, then our entire state will be better for it.

The state's newest budget is, like others, very dependent on personal incomes taxes on the highest-income Californians and that's dangerous.

Mike Madrid, The Lincoln Project: Voters beware of our populist threat. Populism is problematic precisely because it despises compromise under the guise of standing on principle, suggesting that those who collaborate for the greater good lack morality. Compromise itself is the basic virtue of a democratic republic.

Jennifer Haley, Kern Oil & Refining Co.: California champions opportunity for women. The nation looks to us as a trendsetter, so let’s make 2020 California’s year of women who lead boldly and pave the way for future generations.

H.L Richardson championed gun rights and tough anti-crime laws and single-handedly changed the tenor of California's Capitol.

John McManus, Golden State Salmon Association: Californians are in danger of witnessing extinctions and permanent damage to the salmon fishing industry, the Bay-Delta, and Central Valley Rivers. Gov. Newsom should lead state agencies to counter the Trump administration’s attack on California’s environment.

California advanced its presidential primary to March in hopes of becoming more relevant, but the complexity of the Democratic delegate process could undercut that hope.

Re “California’s high-tech debacle,” Dan Walters, Dec. 19, 2019. I was surprised your publication repeated Adam Andrzejewski’s erroneous and misleading opinion piece without checking the facts.  As a strong advocate for transparency, I publish government employee payroll data as well as revenues and expenditures for hundreds of public agencies large and small. My team responds […]