Assemblymember Laurie Davies. Photo by Joha Harrison, Capitol Weekly. From the start of her career in local government, Assemblymember Laurie Davies has taken a hands-on approach to problem solving. That perspective still shapes how she operates in Sacramento, where Davies has built a reputation as a pragmatic lawmaker focused less on ideology and more on how policies affect the people she represents.
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A photo illustration of California's tax code. (Image: Vitalii Vodolazskyi, via Shutterstock)The word “tax” sparks a wide array of reactions in most people. But what exactly is a “tax levy?” Intrepid Capito lobbyist and law professor Chris Micheli explains it all for you.
Fiona Hutton, of Fiona Hutton and AssociatesCAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: There was an old ad slogan for a well-known brokerage firm: When EF Hutton talks, people listen. The sentiment survives today, with a slight modification: When Fiona Hutton talks, people listen. Hutton runs one of the state’s premiere public affairs firms, with a score of employees handling strategic planning, research & insights, media relations and more for a host of high-powered clients. Fiona Hutton and Associates celebrates their 25th anniversary this year, and Hutton joined us to talk about her early years as a one-woman (and a baby) shop, what it’s like to do this work in LA, and the challenges of being a woman in this business.
Jessica Caloza. Photo by Ellie Appleby, Capitol Weekly. The first Filipina elected to the Legislature, Assemblymember Jessica Caloza represents Los Angeles, serving a working-class, immigrant-heavy district. She has built her career on a simple idea shaped by her own experience: that government can transform lives when it works.
Happy senior couple from behind looking at front of house and carOPINION – Over five years ago, California made a historic commitment to prepare for the demographic shift underway as millions of Californians live longer, healthier lives. Buy homelessness among adults 50+ is growing faster than any other age group, with nearly half of Californians experiencing homelessness over age 50.
Lobbyist, author and McGeorge law professor Chris Micheli offers a quick look at what’s coming up this week under the Capitol Dome.
Poor children are forced to work constructionOPINION – California has been a hotbed for human trafficking for years. Despite this growing issue, the California Legislature has dragged its feet in providing support for preventative solutions.
Aerial view of unfinished wooden frames of affordable houses under construction. Development of residential housing in American suburbs. Real estate market in the USA.OPINION – With some of the most expensive housing in the country, the Legislature has spent years trying to make it easier to build more homes by cutting red tape and reducing unnecessary barriers. The Legislature passed a major housing reform package meant to help projects move faster and build the housing Californians desperately need. The goal was right. But parts of that law lack the legal certainty to be effective.
One Pound of Organic CannabisOPINION – California voters were promised something simple and reasonable when they approved cannabis legalization under Proposition 64: a tightly regulated industry that would fund youth programs, protect children, and operate responsibly. Nearly a decade later, that promise has been broken.