In a November 2, 2018 talk, retired Judge Oliver Wanger discusses his 2010 decision, to throw out a federal study that formed the basis for protecting the delta smelt by saying: “The public cannot afford sloppy science and uni-directional prescriptions that ignore California’s water needs.” The state Legislature had failed “to provide the means to […]

By Luis Alvarado, President of Familias Unidas de California Governor Brown has seen it all before. Severe drought conditions that plagued the state in 1976-1977 looked eerily familiar to the California’s most recent drought. On both occasions, Governor Brown took the initiative to declaring a state of emergency. In 2014, with California experiencing such unpredictable […]

In late January, the first formal state audit of the California bullet train project was authorized by the legislature’s joint audit committee. The audit was authorized after the rail authority disclosed that the cost of building the first 119 miles of track in the Central Valley would cost $10.6 billion, which is a 77 percent […]

Senate Constitutional Amendment 9 (SCA 9) is looking to exclude rainwater capture systems from property tax reassessments starting in 2019. New construction, renovation, new ownership and some purchases for a home require a property tax reassessment, which usually increases a tax bill. The proposal, introduced by state Senator Steve Glazer (D-Orinda), could encourage homeowners to […]

Get ready to pay more for gasoline and diesel in California starting next week because of the statewide excise tax to pay for transportation projects. Effective Wednesday, November 1st, the statewide excise tax on gasoline will jump by 12 cents per gallon to 41.7 cents. The excise tax on diesel fuel will jump by 20 […]

As Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced) expressed concern at the actions being taken by the California Fish and Game Commission regarding Bobcat trappings, Chairman Jack Baylis was clear in his disregard by the state legislature, by conveying the message that: it is our view that we can do whatever we want. On behalf of the majority […]

Gas prices are going back up and they are expected to hit the $4 dollars a gallon mark by Feb 14th.  Part of the reason: unlike other states, California is required to use a special summer blend, which means, California drivers get to pay more at the pump. See Video: Gas Prices Set To Increase In […]