The $8.25 Billion San Francisco Train that Couldn’t (or at least Shouldn’t)
The $8.25 Billion San Francisco Train that Couldn’t (or at least Shouldn’t)
The California High-Speed Rail Authority has finally recognized the obvious: there is no path to connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco with trains running at 220mph. With state rail officials now accepting reality, the question is whether northern California transit planners will do so as well by cancelling their plan to extend California High-Speed Rail...
By Marc Joffe
Stop the Municipal Budget Scramble: Make FY2026‑27 Easier by Acting Now
Stop the Municipal Budget Scramble: Make FY2026‑27 Easier by Acting Now
About four months have passed since most local government agencies adopted FY2025‑26 budgets, and roughly four months remain before leaders begin planning FY2026‑27. But waiting to think about budget decisions until the official start of the budget process is a costly mistake. Every day that passes with inaction is a lost opportunity to improve both...
By Mark Moses
For Non-Partisan California Voters, Prop 50 is a Questionable Proposition
For Non-Partisan California Voters, Prop 50 is a Questionable Proposition
For partisan Democrats and Republicans, deciding how to vote on Proposition 50 is simple, since it is likely to shift five House seats into the Democratic column in what promises to be a closely fought 2026 Congressional election. But for decline-to-state and third-party voters, as well as less passionate major party registrants, the choice will...
By Marc Joffe
Los Angeles County School Districts See Unique Fiscal Changes in 2021
Los Angeles County School Districts See Unique Fiscal Changes in 2021
The 80 school districts in Los Angeles County had something unique happen during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. Lowell Joint School District, which borders Orange County, moved out from under the authority of the Los Angeles County Department of Education to that of the OC the previous year. Consequently, Orange County went from...
By John Moorlach
California’s Transit Industrial Complex is Monetizing Mobility
California’s Transit Industrial Complex is Monetizing Mobility
Those of us who prefer smaller, more cost-effective government often applaud privatization. But if private companies can profit by making the public sector bigger and more expensive, they will do so. That’s the case with the private engineering firms that profit from such costly California rail boondoggles as the high-speed rail project. The phenomenon of...
By Marc Joffe, Athan Joshi
Veto Sustains Transparency: Newsom Rejects AB 699
Veto Sustains Transparency: Newsom Rejects AB 699
Governor Gavin Newsom exercised sound judgment in vetoing Assembly Bill 699, Catherine Stefani’s (D-San Francisco) measure that threatened to diminish transparency in local elections across California. Newsom’s decision is a welcome affirmation of the public’s right to clear, accessible information regarding new tax burdens and bond indebtedness. AB 699 sought to undermine existing election law...
By Marc Joffe
California’s Streak of Late Financial Statements Continues
California’s Streak of Late Financial Statements Continues
Since Gavin Newsom took office, California has yet to produce its audited financial statements on time. But, on the plus side, the delay was shorter this year than last and State Controller Malia Cohen is promising a return to timely reporting next year before Newsom leaves office. The accompanying chart shows how many days in...
By Marc Joffe
Transit Tax Advocates Downplay Driverless Options
Transit Tax Advocates Downplay Driverless Options
State Senator Scott Wiener, who recently authored a hefty transit sales tax bill for five Northern California counties, made his objections to robotaxis known to his followers on X. https://t.co/3cWC0DSsZl — Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) September 24, 2025 But the tweet and the Bloomberg article it references do not fully come to grips with the...
By Marc Joffe
Policy Errors at the Root of California Community College Enrollment Fraud
Policy Errors at the Root of California Community College Enrollment Fraud
California’s community college system continues to struggle with massive enrollment fraud, costing taxpayers millions in improper financial aid payments and raising hurdles to real students trying to complete their programs. California community colleges are especially vulnerable to fraud because of two progressive policy imperatives: tuition-free education and protecting undocumented immigrants. While providing free education without...
By Marc Joffe
Pre‑Shocks on the Fault Line: City of Hayward Needs More Than Cosmetic Fixes to Stay Solvent
Pre‑Shocks on the Fault Line: City of Hayward Needs More Than Cosmetic Fixes to Stay Solvent
Hayward, the Bay Area’s sixth largest city, is facing a self-inflicted financial crisis. By failing to responsibly budget, municipal leaders are failing the 162,000 residents who pay the city’s high taxes and rely on municipal services. At its June 17, 2025, meeting, the Hayward City Council adopted the city’s operating budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26.1...
By Mark Moses
For Isleton (and other small California cities), disincorporation is the answer
For Isleton (and other small California cities), disincorporation is the answer
The small Sacramento Delta city of Isleton has been making news for all the wrong reasons this summer. It is facing a financial crisis and talk of bankruptcy is in the air. But a better option is to cease being a city at all by disincorporating. As the accompanying population chart suggests, Isleton has seen...
By Marc Joffe
The Economic Development Paradigm – City-Created Problems and Taxpayer-Funded Fixes
The Economic Development Paradigm – City-Created Problems and Taxpayer-Funded Fixes
Economic development departments are often celebrated as promoters of prosperity and local employment. Each year, local governments spend tens of billions of dollars on economic development incentives—tax abatements, fee waivers, and direct subsidies—intended to lure private investment. Cities across the nation tout their ability to entice marquee employers, generate buzz with ribbon-cuttings, and implement incentive...
By Mark Moses
John Moorlach: The predictably harmful consequences of Assembly Bill 218
John Moorlach: The predictably harmful consequences of Assembly Bill 218
California’s school districts, counties and cities are fiscally strapped. And the public employee unions just cut their noses off to spite their faces, adding to the consternation. As a member of the California Assembly, Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher felt that organizations and school districts should be held financially responsible for the bad acts of their employees who...
By John Moorlach
High-speed rail CEO’s new plan is an improvement, but probably is not legal
High-speed rail CEO’s new plan is an improvement, but probably is not legal
Ian Choudri, the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s relatively new CEO has rolled out a new proposal for the bullet train’s future. His newly released supplemental project update report offers more realistic projections and some worthwhile ideas, but they are not consistent with current law. If Choudri wants to reimagine the high-speed rail program, the Authority...
By Marc Joffe