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Questioning the Political Priorities of the Firefighters Union

Questioning the Political Priorities of the Firefighters Union

As another summer of wildfires approaches, it is in the interest of every Californian to understand that California’s firefighters’ union, the California Professional Firefighters, is one of the most politically powerful unions in the state. This union has the power to help solve the growing problem of wildfires in California, but to more effectively do so...

By Edward Ring

It’s deja vu all over again when it comes to teachers union strikes

It’s deja vu all over again when it comes to teachers union strikes

Teachers union strikes in Sacramento and Mt. Diablo made headlines over the last week as unions across the state take advantage of pandemic fatigue to strong-arm districts into paying their ransom: higher teacher pay. If California parents didn’t learn it during the height of the pandemic, they can see it clearly now: teachers unions don’t care...

By Dawn Collier

Sacramento City Unified Teacher Salary Analysis

Sacramento City Unified Teacher Salary Analysis

With the recent Sacramento City Unified strike, the California Policy Center conducted an analysis which compared Sacramento City Unified teacher salaries to nearby Elk Grove Unified. Looking at 2020 data from Transparent California, we found that Sacramento City Unified’s average regular pay for their teachers is between $81,344 and $84,407 which is about $2,000 and...

By Brandon Ristoff

California School Exit

California School Exit

California’s traditional public schools are not doing their job, and parents are opting out. With sky-high taxes, a sieve-like southern border, and an ongoing flow of nutty regulations – one law targets cow flatulence, for example – California really doesn’t need any more bad news. But according to a recent report, the state now leads the...

By Larry Sand

ESG Investing and Public Sector Unions

ESG Investing and Public Sector Unions

This article originally appeared in the California Globe. For the last few decades what used to be referred to as socially responsible investing has more recently morphed into “ESG” investing. The acronym stands for “environment, social, and governance,” and refers to how investors should evaluate the impact that every company they’re considering investing in has, positive or...

By Edward Ring

Mask Theater Is Alive and Well in Los Angeles

Mask Theater Is Alive and Well in Los Angeles

Guess who’s leading the drive to keep children masked? This article was originally featured in FrontPageMag. State officials announced last week that as of March 12, California will no longer require school children to wear masks, and thankfully most California school districts are going along with the decision. Also, the Los Angeles County Department of Public...

By Larry Sand

Governor Gav Gab or The Wayward Californian

Governor Gav Gab or The Wayward Californian

Gavin Newsom delivered his State of the State address Tuesday in just under 18 minutes. It was weird optics for a governor facing a deluge of crises, especially coming from a guy known for his Fidel Castro-style multi-hour oratories when presenting his annual budget — just as long, but without the cigars, magnificent beard and...

By Dawn Collier

Examining California’s Renewable Energy Plan

Examining California’s Renewable Energy Plan

This article originally appeared on the website California Globe. If you live in California, by now you’ve probably seen the ads, either on prime time television or online, exhorting you to “Power Down 4 to 9PM.” These ads are produced by “Energy Upgrade California,” paid for by “investor-owned energy utility customers under the auspices of...

By Edward Ring

School Transparency Wars

School Transparency Wars

This article was originally posted on For Kids & Country. As states and school boards battle over school curricula, the least we can do is keep parents informed about what their kids are learning. Bologna. The FDA insists that every last ingredient of the heavily processed food is listed on the package label. No one has an issue with...

By Larry Sand

Frisco Frolics

Frisco Frolics

The article with originally on FrontPageMag. A remarkably dysfunctional year for the San Francisco Unified school board. It started in January 2021, when the school board in San Francisco decided to rename 44 public schools, claiming their namesakes were “unworthy of the honor.” The names of such American icons as Abraham Lincoln, Paul Revere, Thomas...

By Larry Sand

California State and Local Liabilities Total $1.6 Trillion

California State and Local Liabilities Total $1.6 Trillion

California’s total state and local government debt now stands at almost $1.6 trillion, or about half the state’s GDP. That isn’t an alarming ratio when compared to the national debt, which has now soared to 128 percent of U.S. GDP with no end in sight. But Californians carry this $1.6 trillion state and local debt ($40,000 per capita)...

By Edward Ring

Ill-Timed Fossil Fuel Pension Disinvestment Bill Threatens Economy

Ill-Timed Fossil Fuel Pension Disinvestment Bill Threatens Economy

As international tensions threaten US and global energy supplies, the California State Senate is considering legislation that would compel public pension funds to divest from fossil fuel companies, potentially starving these firms of capital. The Senate bill is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to replace traditional portfolio management with a set of...

By Marc Joffe

Twelve Out of Fifteen Largest California Cities Don’t Have Money to Pay their Bills According to Accounting Study

Twelve Out of Fifteen Largest California Cities Don’t Have Money to Pay their Bills According to Accounting Study

Despite what some politicians in Sacramento might tell you, California is not known for its fiscal sustainability. Last year, the Golden State received an “F” for fiscal health from financial watchdog Truth in Accounting. The group calculated that California has a $264 billion deficit, which translates to $21,100 per taxpayer. The analysis turns the narrative...

By Brandon Ristoff

National Review’s Radio Free California Podcast Episode 211: Rollin’ on Dubs

National Review’s Radio Free California Podcast Episode 211: Rollin’ on Dubs

San Francisco parents run over three school-board members in a stunning recall vote. Common sense scores a huge win over Covid-19 panic at the Super Bowl in Los Angeles, and West Coast rap and hip-hop shine at halftime. Also: California and bovine flatus. Music by Metalachi. Listen to the new episode: HERE

By Will Swaim