California FocusOpinionElias: City-state relations are at an all-time lowThomas D. EliasMay 17, 2023 May 17, 2023098 Dozens of cities in most parts of the state are out of compliance today with a 1960s-era housing law signed by then-Gov. Ronald Reagan....
California FocusOpinionElias: Hard left behind drive to retire FeinsteinThomas D. EliasMay 10, 2023 May 10, 20230155 This months-long campaign is an effort by the relentlessly uncompromising hard left of the state Democratic Party to take over a key post....
California FocusOpinionElias: Anti-hate talk is fine, but it’s time for actionThomas D. EliasApril 19, 2023 April 19, 20230162 If California is serious about fighting hate, its government might take a few actions that have long been authorized....
California FocusOpinionElias: ‘Decarceration’ idea doesn’t last very longThomas D. EliasApril 12, 2023April 14, 2023 April 12, 2023April 14, 20230143 Most police, prosecutors and politicians of all stripes don’t think it’s possible to reduce crime by letting criminals go free....
California FocusOpinionElias: Gas gougers’ win streak comes to an abrupt endThomas D. EliasApril 5, 2023 April 5, 20230140 Until recently, California’s wealthy cadre of gasoline gougers were on a major, lucrative roll. ...
California FocusOpinionElias: Local control backers attempt new initiativeThomas D. EliasMarch 29, 2023March 30, 2023 March 29, 2023March 30, 20230219 The folks who vowed in 2021 they’d repeal SB 9 and 10 hope to circulate petitions for a new initiative aimed at those laws and...
California FocusOpinionElias: Will ‘Greater Idaho’ inspire new State of Jefferson push?Thomas D. EliasMarch 22, 2023 March 22, 20230210 The Greater Idaho movement is far younger than the notion of a State of Jefferson, but it has moved much further toward its goal....
Arts & EntertainmentCalifornia FocusOpinionElias: Western grid proposal threatens Enron-like crisisThomas D. EliasMarch 15, 2023 March 15, 20230213 Regional electricity transmission organizations manage multi-state movements of power mostly to benefit companies that own the power lines....
California FocusOpinionNew cars all electric by 2035? Maybe notThomas D. EliasMarch 8, 2023 March 8, 202301204 More than a dozen Republican state attorneys general have filed a court document claiming the federal law behind the idea is unconstitutional....
California FocusOpinionElias: Mass transit merits potential budget cutThomas D. EliasMarch 1, 2023 March 1, 20230197 A look at the numbers gives a pretty good idea why Gavin Newsom chose transit to help make up a predicted $22 billion deficit....
California FocusOpinionElias: Major questions for state’s gas companiesThomas D. EliasFebruary 22, 2023 February 22, 20230974 The nation’s biggest natural gas utility, SoCalGas, over the last two months more than tripled charges to most of its 21.8 million customers....
California FocusOpinionElias: California resists bullying along Colorado RiverThomas D. EliasFebruary 15, 2023February 16, 2023 February 15, 2023February 16, 20230317 Southwestern states that draw water from the Colorado River are trying to bully California but Gavin Newsom isn’t standing for it....
California FocusOpinionElias: Decision time on gasoline gougingThomas D. EliasFebruary 8, 2023 February 8, 20230227 The “special” legislative session on gasoline price gouging called for last Dec. 1 by Gov. Gavin Newsom has dragged on for months....
California FocusOpinionElias: The fantasy world of state housing policyThomas D. EliasFebruary 1, 2023 February 1, 20230164 If you’re looking for sure things among bills under consideration in the state Legislature, think of one word: housing....
California FocusOpinionElias: Utility execs might pay for negligent decisionsThomas D. EliasJanuary 25, 2023 January 25, 20230164 Corporate utility executives whose decisions cost lives and burn homes and other buildings have been warned....