Dick Price: In their fondest hopes, the activists behind Prop C and measures like it see these messages prompting members of Congress to support a constitutional amendment overturning the Citizen United ruling.
How Gloria Romero Became the Face of Proposition 32
By
Matthew Fleischer: Nothing has been more surprising than the decision of Romero, a former California State Senate Democratic majority leader, to serve as the measure’s frontwoman.
Another California Knightmare
By
Carl Matthes: Steve Knight comes by his prejudice naturally as the youngest son of William “Pete” Knight, the man who, in 2000, successfully brought Proposition 22 to stop same-sex marriage.
Disclose Act: Save This Bill, Get a Rush
By
We have about a day and a half to save a groundbreaking bill that will make corporations and big-spending One Percenters who buy political ads, reveal their identities in their commercials so you’ll know who’s trying to manipulate your vote. The California DISCLOSE Act, AB 1148, authored by progressive champion Assemblywoman Julia Brownley (D – [...]
Hope and Change: Landmark Human Rights Victories
By
Julie Gutman: As the international community prepares to mark the 61st annual Human Rights Day on December 10, here is a short list of some of the best human rights developments of 2011 outside the Middle East.
Progressives Face Uphill Climb Designed to Make Them Fail
By
Paul Hogarth: In Washington, the filibuster rules in the U.S. Senate have stalled our federal agenda. In Sacramento, the two-thirds vote requirement has given us a blue state with an Alabama budget.
Yes on Prop 15: One Small Step for Democracy
By
Michael Sigman: Californians can do something about time-consuming fundraising, nefarious corporate influence, and obscene personal spending in American politics on Tuesday, June 8. A victory for Proposition 15, the California Fair Elections Act, will mean that the race for the Golden State’s Secretary of State will be a “clean money election” in 2014 and 2018. A small step, but a necessary one.
AB2727 – The Bradford/Bass Re-Entry Employment Opportunity Act: Addressing The Lifelong Challenges of Ex-Offenders (Not A Minute Too Soon)
By
Anthony Asadullah Samad: If California is serious at reducing its prison costs, ex-offenders will have to be re-trained and employers will have to be more tolerant of people trying to get their lives back on track. Is that even possible? One thing about American culture, as it relates to any offender, is that despite we profess to being a forgiving society, or want to redeem the best in those who have made mistakes, the truth of the matter is that it always lets the ex-offender know that they are just that, “ex-offenders.”
The Usual Suspects: Arizona and the Black/Latino Divide
By
Sikivu Hutchinson: Homegrown black support for or ambivalence about the Arizona law is symptomatic of a deep vein of frustration, anger, cultural resentment and xenophobia. Study after study indicates that African Americans are the most residentially segregated, suffer the greatest discrimination in job application and employment, and are amongst the biggest recipients of predatory mortgage loans.
California Assembly Outdoes the LAUSD and City of L.A. in Sending Mixed Message with AB 1832
By
Jasmyne A. Cannick: While Californians were fixated on Tiger Woods and the trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor Monday, the State Assembly took a unified step in stifling the voice of the People to bring about change
LGBTs Make Gains
By
Carl Matthes: Despite a lack of movement towards equal rights on the national political stage for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Americans (Where are you Democratic Liberals and Progressives when we need you?), there are three important LGBT gains as we enter 2010.
Our Candidate-Centered System Needs to Go
By
Under our system, as you have probably noticed, almost all political resources go to candidates and their advertising campaigns. Granted, a lot of money is required to run for office but a more sound approach would involve party building especially on a local level; party building not so much for elections but for issue campaigns.
Wake Up California Assembly! Who Are You Punishing with This Prison Budget?
By
If we can’t make sensible reforms to save money in our corrections’ system, then more children will lose their health care, more teachers will be laid off, and more health and safety programs will be cut. Inevitably, we will have more people stealing more pizza and headed off to the only government program left: prison.
Friday Feedback: Paul Koretz Comments on the Death Penalty and Innocent People
By
Every Friday the LA Progressive features a comment that was particularly noteworthy. This week we are featuring a comment that was submitted in response to “It Is Likely We Have Executed Innocent People” by Sharon Kyle. The comment was submitted by former California Assembly Representative Paul Koretz who is currently running for Los Angeles City [...]
Turning a Red District Blue: Is the Third Time a Charm for Ferial Masry?
By
by Dick Price – When classes end at Reseda’s Grover Cleveland High School, American History teacher Ferial Masry drives across town to a restaurant, changes her clothes in the ladies room, and begins walking the streets of the western San Fernando Valley, a traditional Republican stronghold she hopes to represent in the California Assembly as [...]
California Assembly Passes Foreclosure Reform Bill But More Needed to Protect Future Borrowers from Predatory Loan Practices
By
Legislation that would reform the foreclosure process in California for the benefit of homeowners trying to hold on to their homes passed the Assembly today on a 55 to 18 vote, just one vote above the two-thirds majority it required. Ten Republican Assemblymembers joined 45 of the 48 Democrats in voting for the bill, while [...]
Kevin de Leon Hits the Ground Running
By
As a first-time elected official, Assemblymember Kevin de Leon stepped into a big job this year. Named Assistant Majority Floor Leader at the start of his first term, Kevin supported the Assembly Democratic leadership team of Speaker Fabian Nunez and Majority Floor Leader Karen Bass in dealing with over 1,000 bills in his first term [...]
Portantino Reflects on His First Year in the California Assembly
By
In May 2006, the Northeast Democratic Club endorsed Anthony Portantino as its choice for the 44th Assembly District seat being vacated by Carol Liu, who had termed out. In the June 2006 primary, Portantino was selected as the Democratic Party candidate in the general election, and in the November 2006 general election, he captured 58.3% [...]
The Iron Rainbow
By
Self-Segregation in the Democratic Party? Over the past few months, my husband, Dick, and I have attended several functions put on either to raise funds for or celebrate victories that were ultimately achieved in three local California Assembly Districts: ADs 44, 45, and 48. The two of us enjoy good relationships with people in all [...]
PCL offers monthly Open House Events on the 2nd Saturday at 2pm and 3rd Thursday at 6pm. Click here to learn more.
Recent Comments