VOICES

This week, Senate Republicans in lockstep blocked key reforms of the For the People Act that would address gerrymandering and big money in politics, plus enhance ethics for federal office holders.

After decades of educating us about the horrific history of Texas slaveowners refusing to let their illegally kept African-descended humans know that they were actually free, then-89-year-old African American activist Opal Lee began her historic 1,400-mile walk from her Texas home to Washington DC in 2016. 

Former Attorney General Bill Barr said the Justice Department always knew Trump's claims of election fraud were "bullsh*t," according to an excerpt from journalist Jonathan Karl's upcoming book published in the The Atlantic. 

VOICES-Some time ago, regular CityWatch contributor Ken Alpern told me I should write for CityWatch too, so here I am.  

PEACE VOICE-Remember the Space Force? You know, the sixth branch of the U.S. military, officially created in 2019, “establishing space as a warfighting domain and guaranteeing that the United States will dominate in that environment just like all others.” 

ALPERN AT LARGE-One of the greatest and boldest things the late Democratic President Harry Truman did was to recognize the State of Israel on May 15, 1948.

CAL MATTERS-How you interpret California’s latest unemployment numbers may have a lot to do with whether you’re a glass half-full or glass half-empty kind of person.

VOICES-The verdict against Derek Chauvin for second and third-degree murder and manslaughter is one step toward holding police accountable for their actions, albeit in a criminal law context.

SPEAKING AS THE CALIFORNIA BUDGET-Do you really think that bulking me up with your billions will solve California’s post-pandemic problems? 

Two words have evoked the ire of a growing contingent of our society: Law Enforcement. It’s almost painful to say the word police without feeling collective guilt about the actions of a few bad eggs.

LIVING WAGE DEBATE-A recent newspaper article had an astonishing headline: "Labor shortages end when wages rise." 

While the world was set on pause due to the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant industry has been trying to stay afloat.