Estimated Impact of Janus on California’s Public Sector Unions So Far: $50M/year
Estimated Impact of Janus on California’s Public Sector Unions So Far: $50M/year
On June 27, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case Janus vs AFSCME. An immediate consequence of this ruling was that public sector unions could no longer collect so-called “agency fees” from workers in their bargaining units who had opted out of full union membership. The other main consequence of the Janus ruling was that those...
By Edward Ring
California’s Unaffordable “Affordable” Housing
California’s Unaffordable “Affordable” Housing
When discussing the seemingly intractable and growing problem of homeless people living in California, journalists reporting on the issue don’t spend enough time questioning the numbers, much less the policies driving the insane numbers. A recent article in the San Jose Mercury provides a perfect example. The article gets off to a good start with a provocative, and very...
By Edward Ring
The Freedom to Falsify
The Freedom to Falsify
AFT president’s talk is rife with platitudes, attitude, and misinformation. Platitudes at the ready, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten gave a speech to the National Press Club in Washington last Thursday. Calling her talk “The Freedom to Teach,” she referenced a poster on her office wall which reads, “Teachers inspire, encourage, empower, nurture,...
By Larry Sand
Week 35 Entries
Week 35 Entries
David Boring’s (DavidBoring02) simple picture of a walnut board and its combination Proposition 65 warning/bar label is Week 35’s winning entry. Doesn’t his equip, “I guess man glitter is toxic” say it all? So much for wood working, at least in crazy California. View this post on Instagram It’s official! I no longer...
By Renee Olivett
Resistance is NOT Futile
Resistance is NOT Futile
The union assault on charter schools in California has intensified, but resistance is not futile. Parents, students, conscientious teachers, lawmakers and concerned citizens are stepping up. There are many ways to fight for charter schools, which represent one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal performance by California’s K-12 system of public education. In an April...
By Edward Ring
Los Angeles Unified School Dysfunction
Los Angeles Unified School Dysfunction
More bad news from the nation’s second largest school district. According to a report released last week, less than half of the 2019 Los Angeles Unified School District graduating class will be eligible to attend one of the state’s public universities. There are 15 essential “A–G” courses, including English, math, and science that students need...
By Larry Sand
Week 34 Entries
Week 34 Entries
View this post on Instagram Lest you forget the Happiest Place on Earth is still in California, a Prop 65 warning is there to remind you! #prop65contest @californiapolicy A post shared by Chantal Lovell (@michaniegan) on Apr 14, 2019 at 11:20pm PDT View this post on Instagram How could you tell a teething baby not...
By Renee Olivett
Sweet v. CAPT
Sweet v. CAPT
Background Alfred Sweet is a psychiatric technician at Atascadero State Hospital in Paso Robles. Sweet joined the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians when he started working at the hospital in 2011 and began making requests to resign and become an agency fee payer in 2014. Those requests were denied. After the Janus decision, Sweet submitted...
By Jackson Reese
Sacramento’s Software Incompetence in the Software Capital of the World
Sacramento’s Software Incompetence in the Software Capital of the World
California has a well-deserved reputation as the global epicenter of high technology. In nearly every critical area, from aerospace to biotech, nanotech to green tech, to telecommunications, to microchip design, California’s universities and private companies are some of best in the world and counted among the leaders. At the pinnacle of global achievement is California’s...
By Edward Ring
A Voice for Choice
A Voice for Choice
All politics is local. The ageless proverb reminds local communities of the importance of stewarding their local government and voting on local issues. Perhaps no issue is a more important investment in our communities than local education. However, when investments fail to payout, action is necessary. The Inland Empire, home to 11% of the state’s...
By R. Claire Friend
Charter Caps…and Gowns
Charter Caps…and Gowns
As charter schools continue to prove themselves, the threatened education monopolists try to kill them off. Just a month ago, I wrote about the problems that charter schools were having in California. No, there is not a problem with parental dissatisfaction or with inducing students to attend and thrive in a safe environment. Rather, there...
By Larry Sand
Week 33 Entries
Week 33 Entries
The winner of Week 33 of the Prop 65 photo contest is Danielle Smith (mrsnellie08) for her eye catching and amusing post on yet another irony of California Proposition 65. Companies that process canned foods line their cans with BPA for a very good reason – BPA prevents the growth of botulism which is a deadly poison....
By Renee Olivett
O’Callaghan v. Regents of the University of California
O’Callaghan v. Regents of the University of California
Two University of California workers filed a federal lawsuit alleging union dues were illegally deducted from their paychecks. Cara O’Callaghan has worked as the finance manager of the Sport Club program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, since 2009. Jenée Misraje has worked as an administrative assistant at the University of California, Los Angeles,...
By Jackson Reese
Few v. UTLA
Few v. UTLA
In November 2018, the Liberty Justice Center and California Policy Center filed a lawsuit on behalf of special education teacher Thomas Few against the United Teachers of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Unified School District for violating Few’s First Amendment rights to free speech and freedom of association. Despite the decisive victory for workers’...
By Jackson Reese