How the Teachers Union Can Save L.A. Unified

By Edward Ring
09/14/2022
Earlier this year the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) released a report entitled “Burned Out, Priced Out – Solutions to the Educator Shortage Crisis.” Given the universally acknowledged challenges facing public K-12 education in California, this report merits serious attention. The UTLA represents teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District, which with over 500,000 enrolled K-12 students is...

TAGS: education, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Unfied School District, student spending, teachers union, United Teachers Los Angeles

WATCH: LA Board of Ed members eat, text, check emails while Latina mom pleads for school reopening

By Chantal Lovell
04/16/2021
Six-figure salaries not enough to buy interest in kids’ futures… In a infuriating video released this week by parent watchdog group UTLA Uncensored, Los Angeles Board of Education members and leadership are seen completely ignoring a mom as she breaks down while recounting the suffering her children are experiencing due to the board’s refusal to...

TAGS: LA, Los Angeles

California’s Regulatory Hostility Prevents More New Homes

By Edward Ring
07/02/2019
The median home price in Los Angeles County is $618,000. In Santa Clara County it’s $1.2 million. In the entire state of California, including the somewhat more “affordable” inland counties, the median home price is $548,000. The national median home price? $227,000. There’s a reason for this. For decades, California’s state and local governments have made it harder and more expensive for any...

TAGS: Housing, Los Angeles

How Does a California Family Survive?

By Edward Ring
07/01/2019
It’s common enough to discuss the high cost-of-living in California. It’s become a serious topic, at last. But for Californians who are used to paying ridiculous prices for everything, it may be helpful to present a comparison in the form of an annual family budget. How much does it cost to take care of a...

TAGS: Democrats, energy, Los Angeles, San Diego

Angelenos wonder: Have we been ripped off?

By Reiss Becker
06/11/2019
Rapper Biggie Smalls said it best: “Mo Money” means “Mo Problems.” For proof, consider that Californians have generously contributed billions of dollars to solve the problem of homelessness – and the situation has only deteriorated. In 2016, Los Angeles voters approved Proposition HHH, taxing themselves in order to house the homeless. Supporters recently trumpeted their...

TAGS: homelessness, Housing, Los Angeles

How AB 195 May Help Restore “Impartiality” to Local Ballot Language

By Edward Ring
05/30/2019
Every two years in November, California’s local agencies ask the voters to approve hundreds of new taxes and bonds. California’s primary ballot every other June also features dozens, if not hundreds of new requests for local tax increases and borrowing. And in times of dire urgency, special elections are called. For example, this Tuesday, June...

TAGS: CalPERS, CalSTRS, LAUSD, Los Angeles, Measure EE, pensions, UTLA

California’s Unaffordable “Affordable” Housing

By Edward Ring
04/23/2019
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...

TAGS: affordable housing, economics, homelessness, Housing, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Zoning

How Much Do Los Angeles Police Officers Make?

By Edward Ring
08/05/2014
There’s a deep seated frustration and anger among the rank and file due to their low pay. Det. Tyler Izen – President, Los Angeles Police Protective League, July 28, 2014, KTLA Channel 5 Low pay, of course, is relative. It’s very difficult to objectively determine what a police officer should be paid. There aren’t jobs in...

TAGS: Los Angeles, Los Angeles Police Protective League, public safety unions, total compensation