Edmund Pine is a winter journalism fellow at the California Policy Center and a 2016 graduate of the University of New Orleans.
Like lawmakers in most places, California officials have a strong position on breaking into someone’s house: they’re against it. Or, rather, they’re against it most of the time. According to California Penal Codes 601 and 602, anyone involved in labor union activity isn’t subject to trespassing laws that would subject everyone else to one year...
By Edmund Pine
Last month, CalPERS removed from its website the controversial “Myths vs. Facts” page, ending one of the agency’s efforts to soothe public anxiety about the cost of rising pension benefits to public employees. Some sources close to CalPERS told California Policy Center that the page was so riddled with errors that there were demands for...
By Edmund Pine
Facing insolvency, Santa Barbara’s Hope Elementary School district governing board laid off six full-time and three part time teachers, effective next academic year. After years of deficits, the district’s general fund reserves have been exhausted. According to its 2016 audited financial statements, Hope’s general fund balance was negative $120,000 as of last June 30. The...
By Edmund Pine
Gov. Jerry Brown has often expressed his vision of California as America’s – maybe the world’s – leader in technology, climate change, anti-smoking campaigns, environmental protection, health care for the poor. But California is inarguably the leader in one category: Two California cities are among the world’s worst for traffic congestion. Los Angeles ranked No....
By Edmund Pine
Last month, CalPERS quietly removed from its website the controversial “Myths vs. Facts” page, abruptly ending one of the agency’s efforts to soothe public anxiety about the cost of rising pension benefits to public employees. Some sources close to CalPERS told California Policy Center that the page was so riddled with errors that there were...
By Edmund Pine
Over a fourth of El Monte’s residents live in poverty, but, among public-sector workers poverty is unlikely. Retired City Manager James Mundessen told the LA Times that he personally receives $216,000 a year in retirement – an amount that finances a lavish lifestyle that includes golfing trips in Scotland. Mundessen is one of eight city officials collecting over $200,000 per year.
By Edmund Pine
a new form will got here