Facebook's Plans To Spend $1 Billion on Housing Development Is a Drop in the Bucket
The source of the state's housing affordability problems are onerous government regulations and fees that artificially drive up the costs of housing.
California
Gavin Newsom, Supporter of Massive Gas Tax Hike, Demands Investigation of $4 per Gallon CA Gas Prices
The governor's request comes after the release of a report finding the state's taxes and regulations explain half of the higher prices Golden State motorists pay.
Californians Are Fleeing the State's Progressive Policies
California's progressive political imperatives are having such glaring real-world repercussions that it's hard to keep ignoring them.
Vaping Panic Ignores How E-Cigarettes Save Lives
H.L. Mencken defined Puritanism as "the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy." The rub against vaping, and other smokeless tobacco products, is that people enjoy it.
Federal Judge Says California Can't Force Trump To Release His Tax Returns in Exchange for Ballot Access
Written ruling says the state is violating the rights of voters as well as the presidential candidates.
No Charges for Off-Duty Cop Who Killed Man in a California Costco
Would that outcome have been the same for those of us who aren't in law enforcement?
How Rent Control Laws Hurt Tenants
California is about to get a real world lesson in how rent control laws can't solve a housing crisis.
With A Republican in the White House, Democrats Rediscover the Virtues of Federalism
Give the Republican Party control of the White House and Congress, and it's only a matter of time before Democrats discover the virtues of devolving authority to state and local governments.
Don't Destroy the Constitution To Fight Drag Queen Reading Hour
Putting up with some drag-queen storytelling seems like a small price to pay to live in a relatively free society.
Did California Just Abolish Single-Family Zoning?
The Golden State now allows homeowners to build up to two accessory dwelling units on their property by right.
E-Cigarette Restrictions Raise a Question: Can Governors Unilaterally Ban Products They Don't Like?
Pending restrictions on vaping products in Michigan and New York are based on an alarmingly broad understanding of the executive branch's "public health" authority.
California's 'Workers Rights' Bill Does No Favors to Drivers or Consumers
California lawmakers have approved Assembly Bill 5, which poses an existential threat to the gig economy in the state.
New California Bill Says Uber's Drivers Are Employees. Uber Disagrees.
The bill would upend the gig economy.
California Passes Statewide Rent Control Despite a Massive Housing Shortage
Economists have long warned that rent control only limits housing supply and drives up prices in the long-run
California Has Completely Crapped the Bed Rolling Out Legal Marijuana
The black market still dominates. And more enforcement and fines aren’t going to fix it.
Uber and Lyft Offer Drivers a $21 Minimum Wage. California Lawmakers Say It's Not Enough.
The state is set to pass a sweeping bill that would reclassify drivers as employees.
Unions Aiming to Repeal California's Property Tax Caps
Californians' tax rates are among the nation's highest in almost every category, but their property tax levels have remained reasonable. That could change soon.
Berkeley Might Become Third City in the Country to Decriminalize Shrooms
Next week, the Berkeley city council will consider a measure to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms and other "entheogenic" substances.
California's Political Leaders Strike Deal on Rent Control
Rent increases could be capped at 5 percent plus inflation under a new agreement struck by Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders.
California Might Resurrect Redevelopment Agencies That Were Wasteful Exercises in Corporate Welfare
Milton Friedman famously observed that "nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program." The rare demise of a government program, it seems, is temporary too.
A Border Patrol Agent Pleads Guilty To Hitting a Migrant in the Face While in Custody
Jason Andrew McGilvray will resign from the federal agency.
California's Top Court Finally Allows Law Enforcement Agencies to Share List of Problem Cops With Prosecutors
Powerful unions and state-mandated secrecy made it a fight to know about misconduct.
When Governments Act on Fear and Panic, Injustice Is Often the Result
It's necessary to confront the threat of white nationalism on the political right, but it must be done without handing new powers to law enforcement and government.
Do These 21 Mass Shootings That Did Not Happen Show the Benefits of California's 'Red Flag' Law?
Only if you assume they would have happened in the absence of gun confiscation orders.
Activists Try To Stop Redevelopment of 'Historic' Business Over Owners' Objections. Again.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is suing to prevent Amoeba Music's Hollywood location from becoming a 200-unit apartment building.
California Governor Gavin Newsom Throws His Support Behind Rent Control Bill
The Golden State toys with bad fixes to its worsening housing affordability problems.
Suit Challenges California's New Background Check Law for Ammunition
The law demands use of Real I.D. compliant identification for background checks that many state residents don't have
Neighbors Claim Los Angeles 'Emoji House' Is 'Bullying,' Demand New Rules Against Murals
Owners painted the house bright pink and added two funny emojis after neighbors complained about illegal Airbnb rentals.
California Follows the Disastrous Flood Insurance Path to Fire Insurance Fiasco
If market-rate wildfire insurance is too expensive for homeowners, maybe that's telling us something about the risks of living amidst pretty tinder.
San Francisco Judge Overturns Illegal Warrant Used to Monitor Journalist's Phone
Superior Court Judge Rochelle East says the warrant violated California law.
Berkeley, California Will 'Degenderize' Its Municipal Code, Getting Rid of Words Like 'Manhole' and 'Ombudsman'
The progressive bastion is trying to make its laws more inclusive, semantically at least.
San Francisco's Top Economist Confirms Vape Ban Means More Smoking
The city is banning e-cigarettes while actual cigarettes remain legal.
California Lawmakers Pass Bill Limiting Police Use of Deadly Force
Officers will now have to argue that killing was necessary and not just say they had a fear they were in danger.
How Libertarian Politician Jeff Hewitt Won in California
Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Hewitt is now the highest elected Libertarian Party member in the U.S.
California's Politically Powerful Unions Aim To Crush Sharing Economy
A state Supreme Court ruling sets a new, higher bar for determining when workers can count as independent contractors rather than employees. It might ruin some online firms' business models.
California Politicians Want More Federal Money to Keep Doing a Terrible Job With Homelessness
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti doesn't like President Donald Trump's insults, but does want more money from his administration.
California Police Agencies Were Supposed To Make Misconduct Records Public. Why Isn't It Happening?
Media outlets are seeing foot-dragging, destroyed records, and demands for big money for compliance.
Facial Recognition Tech Straight Out of 'Robocop' Could Be a Real Threat to Civil Liberties
As governments and law enforcement agencies rush to incorporate facial recognition tech, California lawmakers have a chance to slam on the brakes.
NCAA Doesn't Want California To Allow Student-Athletes To Be Paid
NCAA has warned the state that if the "Fair Pay To Play Act" passes, all California schools would be ineligible to participate in postseason play.
Attempts to Build a Safe Injection Site for San Francisco Drug Users Pushed to 2020
Lawmakers struggle to pass a bill protecting operators from arrest and prosecution.
Can California Ban Gun Shows From Public Fairgrounds?
A district judge says no, but don't expect the state’s gun-grabbing politicians to give up.
Can $1 Billion From Google Really Solve the Housing Crisis in the Bay Area?
The tech giant's plan to add 20,000 homes will require lots of government permission slips and other investors' money.
