Misreading Santa Ana Recall Defeat

Published on November 28, 2023

Commentary I’ve been skeptical of recalls since the ouster of Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in 2003 led to the disastrous administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Which I wrote about in these pages in, “The Media Is Helping Schwarzenegger Rewrite His Governorship.” So it was natural I expressed my skepticism of the attempted recall of Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Jessie Lopez in three articles, “Voters to Decide Extent of Union Dominance in Santa Ana,” “Santa Ana Recall Is About Union Power—Only,” and “Unions Defeated in Santa Ana Council Recall Attempt.” Unfortunately, I’m forced to disagree with most of the election analysis of Gustavo Arellano, one of the best journalists in California, in his Los Angeles Times column, “A failed recall heralds a new era for Latino politics in Orange County.”...

Continue reading on website
Other news

Use of Ontario Food Banks Rose 38 Percent Last Year, Reaching ‘Crisis Level,’ Report Says

November 28, 2023
Food bank use has “reached a crisis level” in Ontario, rising 38 percent in the last year, a report released by Feed Ontario has found.More than 800,000 people in the province used a food bank between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, the highest single-year increase ever reported, according to Hunger Report 2023.Written by Feed Ontario, a collective of hunger relief organizations, the report ind

Los Angeles Moves to Further Limit Rent Increases on Rent-Controlled Units

November 28, 2023
The Los Angeles City Council Nov. 28 approved an ordinance that would limit rent increases on rent-stabilized units to 4 percent, or up to 6 percent if landlords cover gas and electric costs.Councilors voted 11–2 in favor of the ordinance, which will now return to the council on Dec. 5 for a second and final vote before it can be enacted.Councilors John Lee and Traci Park voted against it, while C