John Guenther

Conservation group leader stresses dialogue in environmental debate

Leaders take stock of the economy in America’s Finest City

Because of the state’s inability to create a workable budget, California schools are trying to educate the next generation of students with $20 billion less than they had a few years ago.

Latinos, like most Californians, want a government they can hold accountable, one that makes the American Dream attainable. But according to dozens of Latino leaders we’ve spoken to during the last 3 years, our state government’s inability to make and stick to priorities, to focus on long-term solutions and to consistently support quality education, the American Dream remains out of reach to many Latinos.

To be competitive, California businesses needs a stable and predictable government. They want their elected leaders to be accountable to them, and they want to be able to see what they are getting for their tax dollars and what the state’s more than $100 billion in public programs are achieving.

Despite the time and energy devoted to sparring and parrying between state and local governments, cooperation and coordination between local groups and agencies with less involvement from Sacramento might actually accomplish the results and outcomes Californians have a right to expect from publicly funded programs.