VOICES

COMMENTARY-The battle over critical race theory – at its core, a “different” way of looking at race relations in the U.S. – continues to heat up.

COMMENTARY-I doubt few would argue that the most important aspect of life, is life itself. With it, there is hope. There is opportunity. There is joy and laughter. Without it, none of these.

VOICES-I first met Jerry Silver in 2006, shortly after the L.A. City Council approved a lawsuit settlement that gave Clear Channel and other big sign companies the right to put up more than 800 digital billboards on the city's commercial streets. 

COMMON DREAMS-Amid a deadly northwestern heatwave that scientists have described as "the most extreme" in recorded history, footage uncovered by CNN shows Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin flippantly dismissing the established science of human-caused climate change during an event hosted by a GOP-aligned advocacy group. 

CAL MATTERS-Ten days. That’s how much time Californians who want to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom have to declare their candidacy in the quickly approaching recall election.

RACIAL RECKONING-“The United States is a nation founded on both an ideal and a lie.”

When Donald Rumsfeld died peacefully at home this week at the un-tender age of 88, his family lauded "his extraordinary accomplishments" and "the integrity he brought to a life dedicated to country"; his heedless former boss and enabler cited "an exemplary public servant and a very good man."

COMMENTARY-On this Independence Day 2021, I reflect on the America I love so much and how it looks very different from the one I knew as a child in the 80s and 90s.

VOICES-A few days ago, I spoke at an Asian hate crimes awareness event where my speech was received well enough that a liberal host invited me to be a guest on her radio show. I said great and we traded numbers.

LABOR FORCE-Republicans have finally found an issue to run on in next year's midterm elections. Apparently Dr. Seuss and Mr. Potato Head weren't gaining enough traction…

LGBTQ POLITICS-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) shared a video of a traumatized girl “testifying” in front of a school board that she’s being taught to hate white people and how to “turn” transgender yesterday as part of her ongoing smear campaign against the LGBTQ community. 

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.