Columns

July 1 is the start of a new fiscal year for local governments. This is when the county, cities and schools start spending new tax money based on recently approved 2016-2017 budgets. All these budgets tend to launch with the same conclusions: there is never enough tax revenue; there are too many unmet needs; employee and pension costs keep going up; and everything could be solved if we only agreed to raise new taxes and vote for more long term debt bonds.

Vet vetting

Thank you to the community

One granny’s story

For the love of books

Saini appreciation

In a provocative presentation to the Windsor/North County Democratic Club on June 23 progressive activist, Dale Axelrod, contended that the primary process was rigged by the Democratic Party establishment against Senator Bernie Sanders in a way that even Senator Sanders may not have fully considered.

Not all Fourth of Julys have been as historic as this year seems to be. We stand just 10 or so generations beyond the original 1776 founding of our country and our Declaration of Independence. Our times are nowhere as monumental as the Independence Days celebrated during our Civil War or the bleakness of two world wars. Yet, right now, we have arrived at a historic defining point as we debate — and must decide — what America’s “greatness” truly is, how it was created and whether it has been lost or needs a radical reformation.

Wohler Bridge area closure

Why Wohler Bridge Parking area is closed