An Early Prediction on What the New Year Will “Likely” Bring

(Editor’s Note: California’s Capitol tries to gather information from a fairly large pool of sources. What follows is a prediction that seems to encapsulate what a number of knowledgeable people have said is likely to happen next year – “likely” being the operative word. The only certainty for 2011 is, to paraphrase the Betty Davis admonition, “Fasten your seatbelts it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”    Read more »

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This Just In…Be Sure to Mark the Calendar

(Editor’s Note: “All the people at this party they’ve got a lot of style. They’ve got stamps of many countries; they’ve got passport smiles. Some are friendly. Some are cutting. Some are watching it from the wings. Some are standing in the center, giving to get something.” Joni Mitchell, first verse of  “People’s Parties.”)    Read more »

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Can’t Judge a Book By Its Cover But the Other Two Are True

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From the Ecclesiastes 1:9 File…

“Major state responsibilities, such as education and criminal justice, require a long planning horizon and a greater level of stability.

“The current budgetary timetable does not provide sufficient time for program review, evaluation and change nor does it allow for long-term planning.

“With a two-year budget, the Legislature will be able to spend more time evaluating program outcomes and effectiveness.    Read more »

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Trying to Find California’s Virtual Constitutional Convention

Thought the idea of a state constitutional convention was abandoned earlier this year for lack of money?

Think again.

There’s just a few more days left in the one-month ratification period for the reCon, e-Con, short for the reConstitutional e-Convention.

The e-convention is part of reThinkCali.com, which was created by the New America Foundation.    Read more »

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Which Saint Raymond is the City of San Ramon Named After?

San Ramon in Contra Costa County — smack dab in the heart of the San Ramon Valley and the headquarters of Chevron and 24-Hour Fitness – has a population of more than 65,000 and isn’t named after Saint Raymond of Pennafort.

Saint Raymond of Pennafort, a Dominican friar, is the patron saint of lawyers.    Read more »

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More Predictions About California’s Economic Outlook in 2011

Focusing on the Central Valley, the part of California hit hardest by the implosion of the housing and construction industry, unemployment in several key areas will remain in the high double digits for at least the next two years, according to the Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.    Read more »

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Speaking of California’s Double-Digit Unemployment Rate…

Several recent forecasts predict very modest job growth in 2011 but still show a double-digit unemployment rate.

In October, Leslie Appleton Young, the California Association of Realtors’ chief economist, predicted an unemployment rate this year of 12.3 percent (See post below) and 11.4 percent in 2011.

On October 29, the Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Pacific in Stockton predicted 12 percent unemployment in 2011 for the Central Valley but unemployment dropping into the single digits in the Bay Area by the end of 2011.    Read more »

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California’s November Unemployment Rate Still 12.4 Percent

SACRAMENTO – California’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 12.4 percent in November, and nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 1,600 during the month, according to data released today by the California Employment Development Department from two separate surveys.

The U.S. unemployment rate increased in November to 9.8 percent.

In November 2009, the unemployment rate in California was 12.3 percent.    Read more »

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In the Holiday Spirit, This from California’s State Treasurer

STATE BUDGET GAP NARROWS

Dennis R. Ferguson, a 74-year-old retiree, has done his part to close California’s budget gap, sending the state a $10,000 check to pay back — with “interest” –unemployment benefits he received 46 years ago.

On the November 23, 2010 check, Ferguson wrote:

“REPAYMENT FOR WHAT CALIF. DID FOR ME!”    Read more »

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