Political malpractice
Tom Steyer didn’t see it coming. Last week, reparations activists cornered the billionaire gubernatorial candidate outside his SUV in a Los Angeles parking lot, demanding...
From the Cheap Seats
Misdirected outrage
There is a ritual in San Diego households. Each month, the SDG&E bill arrives and the total registers sharply because San Diego carries the highest...
How Sacramento built an energy crisis and called it climate policy
Soon after the launch of U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard closed the Strait of Hormuz, shutting down the flow of nearly...
From the Cheap Seats: Sacramento’s idea of a transition
In 1991, California had more than 40 refineries. By the end of 2026, it will have fewer than 11. Of those, only five are large...
From the Cheap Seats: Fool’s gold
California has long been known as the Golden State. In 1968, the Legislature made the nickname official, capturing a history shaped by the Gold Rush,...
From the Cheap Seats: An Indecent Proposal
In the 1993 film “Indecent Proposal,” a couple accepts a million dollars for a single night that destroys their marriage. California’s Proposition 50 offers a...
From the Cheap Seats: A favor from Terra
San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer did residents a big favor recently by making known how she wants to lead county government. She also made...
From the Cheap Seats: Tough love
One of the most significant issues during the recent elections in California was the persistent problem of homelessness. In full campaign mode, candidates mirrored voter...
From the Cheap Seats: Flip the script
Two years ago, The Coast News published a commentary entitled “The Elephant in the Room,” referring to an enormous presence in school board elections —...
From the Cheap Seats: Flat-footed
The race this year for San Diego County Board of Supervisors, District 3, pits first-term incumbent Terra Lawson-Remer against challenger Kevin Faulconer. Lawson-Remer has name...
From the Cheap Seats: Say no to ‘Density’ Preston
The election for District 2 seat on the Encinitas City Council is an open race with no incumbent, so voters have a distinct and consequential...
From the Cheap Seats: Too clever
San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer recently used a cute ploy to show her progressive supporters that she is in their corner. For the rest...
From the Cheap Seats: Meltdown in California continues
Tuesday, July 16, was another big day in state politics, as the ongoing meltdown in California was met with a sharp response from Elon Musk....
From the Cheap Seats: Liberating local government
A recent decision of the U.S. Supreme Court has important implications for localities in California trying to address the problem of homelessness. With a 6-3...
From the Cheap Seats: Court rejects taxpayer safeguard initiative
In a unanimous opinion published on June 20, the California Supreme Court made clear that the people of this state are not sovereign but rather...