California

What California taxpayers can be thankful for

Published

2 years ago

November 27, 2022

What California taxpayers can be thankful for

Thanksgiving has all the time been a time of reflection, each on the nice and dangerous.

As taxpayer advocates, these of us at Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Affiliation have lots to criticize. California has the best revenue tax charge, highest state gross sales tax charge and highest fuel tax in America. And regardless of claims that Proposition 13 has decimated property tax income, California ranks 14th out of fifty states in per capita property tax collections.

On prime of those burdensome taxes, California constantly ranks on the backside amongst states as a spot to do enterprise.

Heavy-handed bureaucracies issuing senseless rules distinguish our state from people who foster and encourage free enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Few can argue that California has not declined in some ways within the final 40 years.

Demographers have measured the lack of the center class, more and more making the state house solely to the very rich and people simply struggling to get by.

Crime, homelessness, unlawful immigration and drug dependancy are all uncontrolled and our political management is both unwilling or unable to handle these severe issues. It’s particularly disheartening to see increasingly of our family and friends members depart the state despite the fact that many would favor to remain if they might afford to.

These of us who arrived in California a couple of many years in the past proceed to work to revive what we keep in mind about this state. Nonetheless, within the spirit of giving thanks, and regardless of all our complaints in regards to the politics of this state, we should not lose our perspective. The Golden State is, unquestionably, very tarnished, however beneath it’s nonetheless golden (or at the least will be once more).

From probably the most expansive view, the typical Californian remains to be lucky. First, as residents of america, we’re way more free than the overwhelming majority of humanity. We’re protected by a vibrant Invoice of Rights guaranteeing us freedom to worship, converse and assemble. And our elections, whereas contentious, are principally freed from the type of violence that’s present in different international locations experiencing regime modifications.

As for California, the latest election was definitely a combined bag. Nothing a lot has modified, leaving us with the dysfunction and corruption that accompanies one-party rule. Examples of waste, fraud and abuse stay legion.

However on the optimistic facet of the ledger, voters correctly rejected Proposition 30, a tax improve on high-earning Californians to fund electrical automobile subsidies. Though the tax would have been imposed solely on very rich people, voters are exhibiting hostility to tax will increase and skepticism about how the cash might be spent.

We’re additionally grateful for the knowledge of the unique Progressives within the early 1900s who gave Californians the best of direct democracy. Armed with the instruments of initiative, referendum and recall, Californians have prepared entry to powers to manage authorities and corrupt politicians that the majority states lack.

We’re particularly grateful that voters exercised the facility of initiative in 1978 passing the nonetheless iconic Proposition 13, which has allowed thousands and thousands of Californians to remain of their houses throughout their senior years. Regardless of California’s rising fame as anti-taxpayer, Prop. 13 stays extremely standard with voters throughout the political spectrum.

We’re additionally grateful that voters could have the chance to increase taxpayer protections in 2024 by the approaching qualification of the Taxpayer Safety and Authorities Accountability Act. This proposed constitutional modification will restore lots of Prop. 13’s taxpayer protections which were weakened by a hostile judiciary. It’s going to additionally give statewide voters the best to vote on all statewide tax will increase, even these enacted by the Legislature.

Lastly, we’re particularly grateful for the members of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Affiliation who, by their beneficiant donations, maintain our capability to advocate for fiscal sanity within the courts, the Legislature and within the media. It’s a problem to be a taxpayer advocate on this state, however the assist we obtain from our lots of of 1000’s of members reveals us how essential it’s to maintain preventing for on a regular basis Californians.

Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Affiliation.

Source link

California

Dickies to say goodbye to Texas, hello to Southern California

Published

7 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Press Room

Dickies to say goodbye to Texas, hello to Southern California

FORT WORTH, Texas — Dickies is leaving Cowtown for the California coast, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.

The 102-year-old Texas workwear brand, which is owned by VF Corp., is making the move from Fort Worth to Costa Mesa in order to be closer to its sister brand, Vans.

What You Need To Know

Dickies headquarters will be relocated from Texas to California, according to a Los Angeles Times report

The workwear brand has operated in Fort Worth since 1922

The report says the movie will occur in May 2025 and affect about 120 employees

Dickies headquarters is being moved by owner VF Corp. so that it can be closer to its sister brand, Vans

Dickies was founded in Fort Worth in 1922 by E.E. “Colonel” Dickie. Today, Dickies Arena is the entertainment hub of the city and home of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

The company is expected to make the move by May. Approximately 120 employees will be affected, the report said.

By moving one of its offices closer to the other, VF Corp. says it can “consolidate its real estate portfolio,” as well as “create an even more vibrant campus,” Ashley McCormack, director of external communications at VF Corp. said in the report.

Dickies isn’t the only rugged brand owned by VF Corp. The company also has ownership of Timberland, The North Face and JanSport.

VF Corp. acquired Dickies in 2017 for $820 million.

“Their contributions to our city’s culture, economy and identity are immeasurable,” District 9 City Council member Elizabeth Beck, who represents the area of downtown Fort Worth where Dickies headquarters is currently located, said in a statement to the Fort Worth Report. “While we understand their business decision, it is bittersweet to see a company that started right here in Fort Worth take this next step. We are committed to supporting the employees who remain here and will work to honor the lasting imprint Dickies has left on our community.”

Source link

California

Caitlyn Jenner says she'd 'destroy' Kamala Harris in hypothetical race to be CA gov

Published

14 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Press Room

Caitlyn Jenner says she'd 'destroy' Kamala Harris in hypothetical race to be CA gov

Caitlyn Jenner considers another run to become California governor

Caitlyn Jenner, the gold-medal Olympian-turned reality TV personality, is considering another run for Governor of California. This time, she says, if she were to go up against Vice President Kamala Harris, she would “destroy her.”

SAN FRANCISCO – Caitlyn Jenner, the gold-medal Olympian-turned reality TV personality, is considering another run for Governor of California. This time, she says, if she were to go up against Vice President Kamala Harris, she would “destroy her.”

Jenner, who publicly came out as transgender nearly 10 years ago, made a foray into politics when she ran as a Republican during the recall election that attempted to unseat Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021. Jenner only received one percent of the vote and was not considered a serious candidate.

Jenner posted this week on social media that she’s having conversations with “many people” and hopes to have an announcement soon about whether she will run.

Caitlyn Jenner speaks at the 4th annual Womens March LA: Women Rising at Pershing Square on January 18, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images)

She has also posted in Trumpian-style all caps: “MAKE CA GREAT AGAIN!”

As for VP Harris, she has not indicated any future plans for when she leaves office. However, a recent poll suggests Harris would have a sizable advantage should she decide to run in 2026. At that point, Newsom cannot run again because of term limits.

If Jenner decides to run and wins, it would mark the nation and state’s first transgender governor.

Source link

California

Northern California 6-year-old, parents hailed as heroes for saving woman who crashed into canal

Published

22 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Northern California 6-year-old, parents hailed as heroes for saving woman who crashed into canal

LIVE OAK — A six-year-old and her parents are being called heroes by a Northern California community for jumping into a canal to save a 75-year-old woman who drove off the road.

It happened on Larkin Road near Paseo Avenue in the Sutter County community of Live Oak on Monday.

“I just about lost her, but I didn’t,” said Terry Carpenter, husband of the woman who was rescued. “We got more chances.”

Terry said his wife of 33 years, Robin Carpenter, is the love of his life and soulmate. He is grateful he has been granted more time to spend with her after she survived her car crashing off a two-lane road and overturning into a canal.

“She’s doing really well,” Terry said. “No broken bones, praise the Lord.”

It is what some call a miracle that could have had a much different outcome without a family of good Samaritans.

“Her lips were purple,” said Ashley Martin, who helped rescue the woman. “There wasn’t a breath at all. I was scared.”

Martin and her husband, Cyle Johnson, are being hailed heroes by the Live Oak community for jumping into the canal, cutting Robin out of her seat belt and pulling her head above water until first responders arrived.

“She was literally submerged underwater,” Martin said. “She had a back brace on. Apparently, she just had back surgery. So, I grabbed her brace from down below and I flipped her upward just in a quick motion to get her out of that water.”

The couple said the real hero was their six-year-old daughter, Cayleigh Johnson.

“It was scary,” Cayleigh said. “So the car was going like this, and it just went boom, right into the ditch.”

Cayleigh was playing outside and screamed for her parents who were inside the house near the canal.

I spoke with Robin from her hospital bed over the phone who told us she is in a lot of pain but grateful.

“The thing I can remember is I started falling asleep and then I was going over the bump and I went into the ditch and that’s all I remember,” Robin said.

It was a split-second decision for a family who firefighters said helped save a stranger’s life.

“It’s pretty unique that someone would jump in and help somebody that they don’t even know,” said Battalion Chief for Sutter County Fire Richard Epperson.

Robin is hopeful that she will be released from the hospital on Wednesday in time to be home for Thanksgiving.

“She gets Thanksgiving and Christmas now with her family and grandkids,” Martin said.

Terry and Robin are looking forward to eventually meeting the family who helped save Robin’s life. The family expressed the same feelings about meeting the woman they helped when she is out of the hospital.

“I can’t wait for my baby to get home,” Terry said.

Source link