event Reforming California’s Initiative Process Oct 24, 2013 About the Program The popularity of California’s initiative process has endured for over a century. But according to a new PPIC report, state residents also believe improvements are needed. A panel of leaders—representing the three branches of state government—will discuss how the process is working and how to respond to the public’s desire for reform. This project is supported with funding from The California Endowment and the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
Occasional Paper, Report State-Local Fiscal Conflicts in California: From Proposition 13 to Proposition 1A By Elisa Barbour Dec 7, 2007 Fiscal relations between California’s state and local governments have been contentious for the past three decades. The conflicts in intergovernmental relations can be traced back to Proposition 13, approved by the voters in 1978, as well as to subsequent state ballot initiatives that have fiscally constrained state, city, and county governments. By giving the state government more control over local revenue and also limiting state and local taxing and spending power, the voter measures have engendered a “zero-sum” political atmosphere in which fiscal considerations have dominated intergovernmental policymaking. However, many of the problematic aspects of the post-Proposition 13 local fiscal system have been the product not of ballot initiatives but of government actions or inactions. Within voter-imposed fiscal constraints, California’s state and local governments have had substantial room to shape fiscal and governance outcomes. This paper traces the evolution of the state-local relationship in California since Proposition 13 and concludes that California governments need to move beyond fighting over fiscal resources and to focus instead on the core problems facing the state.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Special Survey on Californians and the Initiative Process By Mark Baldassare Aug 25, 2005 Some findings of the current survey A majority of likely voters across age, income, education, racial and ethnic groups, and in every region of the state, oppose holding a special election this fall. When asked which ballot issue was most important to them, a higher percentage of likely voters (16%) volunteered the answer “none” than named any one measure. At this time, likely voters are not very enthusiastic about the three reform measures on the fall ballot that are supported by the Schwarzenegger administration: Proposition 74 (teacher tenure), 49% support, 42% oppose; Proposition 76 (spending and funding limits), 28% support, 61% oppose; Proposition 77 (redistricting), 34% support, 49% oppose. Governor Schwarzenegger’s approval ratings are at a low point: Only 34% of state residents approve of the way he is handling his job. The state legislature fares even worse, with a 27% approval rating. This is the 58th PPIC Statewide Survey and the first in a series of three surveys focusing on Californians and the initiative process. This special survey series is funded by The James Irvine Foundation.
blog post Many Support Rent Control, but Prop 10 Lags By Dean Bonner Oct 19, 2018 Support for Prop 10, which would expand the authority of local governments to enact rent control, lags among California's likely voters yet support for rent control remains strong, generally.
Report Public Safety Realignment: Impacts So Far By Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin Sep 28, 2015 Prompted by a federal court order to reduce prison overcrowding, California’s 2011 historic public safety realignment shifted many correctional responsibilities for lower-level felons from the state to counties. The reform was premised on the idea that locals can do a better job, and it was hoped that incarceration rates and corrections costs would fall. At the same time, critics predicted crime would rise. Four years since its implementation, realignment has made several important impacts: Realignment significantly reduced the prison population, but the state did not reach the court-mandated population target until after the passage of Proposition 47 in November 2014, which reduced penalties for many property and drug offenses. The reform challenged county jails and probation departments by making them responsible for a greater number of offenders with a broader range of backgrounds and needs. The county jail population did not rise nearly as much as the prison population fell, reducing the total number of people incarcerated in California. Realignment did not increase violent crime, but auto thefts rose. Research so far shows no dramatic change in recidivism rates. State corrections spending remains high, but there is reason to believe expenditures could drop in the future. Realignment has largely been successful, but the state and county correctional systems face significant challenges. The state needs to regain control of prison medical care, which is now in the hands of a federal receiver. And the state and counties together must make progress in reducing stubbornly high recidivism rates.
press release Brown Holds Big Lead—Majorities Support Water Bond, Measure to Ease Crime Penalties Sep 23, 2014
Occasional Paper, Report The California Initiative Process-How Democratic Is It? Feb 1, 2002 Prepared for the event "The California Initiative Process--How Democratic?", February 7, 2002. Co-sponsored by The Commonwealth Club of California and the Public Policy Institute of California
blog post After COVID, Community Colleges Must Focus on Improving Online Courses By Daniel Payares-Montoya Aug 17, 2022 As California continues to rebound from the pandemic, enrollment in community colleges’ online courses remains higher than in face-to-face courses. What are the keys to ensuring high-quality online instruction?
blog post Is the Top-Two Primary to Blame for Low Turnout? By Eric McGhee Jun 9, 2014 Should we blame California’s new "top-two” primary for the abysmal voter turnout in the June election?
