California black leaders ask Gov. Newsom to expand quality public education to black children
California black leaders ask Gov. Newsom to expand quality public education to black children
Membership in California’s government unions plummeted in 2018, federal report shows
Membership in California’s government unions plummeted in 2018, federal report shows
“Walk out on the union, not the kids”: A California Policy Center social media advertisement delivered during the Los Angeles teachers strike. Memo to anyone still wondering about the impact of the Supreme Court’s landmark 2018 decision in Janus v AFSCME: Wonder no more. Despite a surging economy, union membership in California dropped by 86,000...
As L.A. strike begins, eye-catching billboards tell teachers they don’t have to strike – they can quit the union
As L.A. strike begins, eye-catching billboards tell teachers they don’t have to strike – they can quit the union
SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS: Billboard at 6th and Beaudry, near LA Unified HQ. LOS ANGELES—As 30,000 teachers walked out of Los Angeles classrooms, a coalition of education reform groups is offering teachers an alternative: leave the teachers union. Billboards around the Los Angeles Unified School District encourage teachers to learn their rights – including the...
Rally for Worker Freedom in San Diego
Rally for Worker Freedom in San Diego
A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Janus v AFSCME) has given government employees the right to terminate their membership in government unions and prohibit unions from taking money out of their paychecks. Unfortunately, many government employees are unaware of their rights. Even worse, many union bosses are illegally denying requests from workers who want to discontinue their union dues and keep their money. The typical government employee could save about $800 a year – with some saving as much as $1400 a year.
California’s State and Local Liabilities Total $1.5 Trillion
California’s State and Local Liabilities Total $1.5 Trillion
California’s total state and local government liabilities as of June 30, 2017, the most recent year for which a complete set of financial and actuarial reports are available, totaled just over $1.5 trillion. Over two-thirds of that total consists of unfunded liabilities for pensions and retiree health insurance for California's state and local public employees.
High-speed rail passenger service to Las Vegas: another desert mirage
High-speed rail passenger service to Las Vegas: another desert mirage
In 2014, Governor Jerry Brown infamously promoted California High-Speed Rail as the best way to travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles. To justify the estimated $68 billion price tag, the governor tried to play the funny guy, asserting that “old people who shouldn’t be driving … should be sitting in a nice train car...
Teachers’ unions losing the long battle over parental choice
Teachers’ unions losing the long battle over parental choice
Sacramento — Supporters of charter schools, homeschooling and other forms of school “choice” are so used to fighting in the trenches against the state’s muscular teachers’ unions that they often forget how much progress they’ve made in the last decade or so. Recent events have shown the degree of progress, even if they still face...
State’s Retired Public Workers Earn 26% More than Private-Sector Workers Still on the Job
State’s Retired Public Workers Earn 26% More than Private-Sector Workers Still on the Job
For Immediate Release March 13, 2017 Contact: Dawn Collier dawn@calpolicycenter.org 916-718-8572 California Policy Center California’s retired government workers earn 26% more in retirement than private-sector workers earn while still on the job. That’s the finding of an in-depth analysis released this week by the California Policy Center. “This is an absolutely upside-down system,” said California...
California’s State and Local Workers Average Pay and Benefits Twice the Average for Private Sector Workers
California’s State and Local Workers Average Pay and Benefits Twice the Average for Private Sector Workers
For Immediate Release January 26, 2017 Contact: Dawn Collier dawn@calpolicycenter.org 916-718-8572 California Policy Center A in-depth analysis released this week by the California Policy Center finds that the average pay and benefits for California’s full-time state and local public employees in 2015 was $121,843. This is nearly twice what the average full-time private sector worker...
Second Orange County School Choice Fair, Jan. 28
Second Orange County School Choice Fair, Jan. 28
For more information: Cecilia Iglesias Education and Community Relations Director California Policy Center (714) 573-2208 cecilia@calpolicycenter.org Local charter schools, community leaders and education partners will participate in the National School Choice Week celebration SANTA ANA, Calif. – In celebration of National School Choice Week, California Policy Center along with local charter schools will host the...
Friedrichs v. 2.0? U.S. Supreme Court May Get a Second Chance to Free Teachers from Forced Unionism
Friedrichs v. 2.0? U.S. Supreme Court May Get a Second Chance to Free Teachers from Forced Unionism
For Immediate Release January 19, 2017 California Policy Center Will Swaim, will@calpolicycenter.org (949) 274-1911 In a case that will cheer education reformers, four Pennsylvania teachers today sued their unions, school districts and district officials for making union membership a condition of their employment. The suit – and the likely appointment of a reform-friendly Supreme Court...
California debt now running closer to Italy and Portugal, new study finds
California debt now running closer to Italy and Portugal, new study finds
For Immediate Release January 11, 2017 California Policy Center Marc Joffe, marc@calpolicycenter.org (415) 578-0558 A landmark study of California’s finances reveals the state’s debt burden is approaching the levels of Italy and Portugal, where debt crises in 2011 and 2012 drove the Eurozone countries to the brink of collapse. The findings come a day after...
New California Policy Center Study Offers Next Generation Infrastructure Solutions
New California Policy Center Study Offers Next Generation Infrastructure Solutions
For Immediate Release December 1, 2016 California Policy Center Lee Schalk at 916-258-2396 lee@calpolicycenter.org New California Policy Center Study Offers Next Generation Infrastructure Solutions Study explores how private infrastructure investment can increase water supply, bolster energy, and modernize transportation systems. LOS ANGELES — Today the California Policy Center released a new study investigating California’s infrastructure...
Top 10: Vernon Leads California Cities with More Public Employees Than Residents
Top 10: Vernon Leads California Cities with More Public Employees Than Residents
For Immediate Release October 11, 2016 California Policy Center Contact: Will Swaim Will@CalPolicyCenter.org (714) 573-2231 Vernon, California is so famous for its history of corruption that it was the municipal star of season 2 of HBO’s “True Detective” series. Now the diminutive L.A. County town can claim another achievement: Vernon is the only California city with more public employees than...