Category Archive

Sadly, this is no surprise. But it’s it’s still news worth considering (every year, apparently). In its annually updated study released today, the Tax Foundation STILL ranks California the third worst “business tax climate” state in the U.S. Thank Goodness for New Jersey and anchor-clanker New York. http://taxfoundation.org/article/2014-state-business-tax-climate-index

San Diego’s beleaguered Mayor Bob “Headlock” Filner refuses to resign.  This intransigence baffles and enrages many San Diegans. Aside from the fact that Bob Filner is an arrogant, power-mad, sex-crazed, narcissistic megalomaniac, there are three practical reasons why he may well want to stay in office as long as possible.  Two are fairly well known — but one is not.  The …

I wrote about this topic before on 27 June.  Assemblyman Rocky Chavez (nominally ‘R’) is pushing a new subsidy for CA state college students, freezing the tuition for a new student for up to six years. Aside from it being a bad idea, he’s using incorrect numbers to justify this new giveaway, AB 159. Specifically, he claimed that CSU tuition …

I suspect a surprising number of people have misunderstood the Filner “sexual harassment” charges. Too many people (certainly the mayor’s dwindling cadre of remaining supporters) have been assuming that he is guilty of nothing more than ill-advised boorish behavior — insulting and demeaning women verbally. But finally women are coming forward to describe how Filner has PHYSICALLY gone after them. …

Mayor Filner blocks homeowner’s approved project.  A favor owed?  Pay-to-play”? VERY fishy.  Most important, it’s another incredible abuse of mayoral power.  Make it stop!! http://www.10news.com/news/la-jolla-couple-blames-mayor-bob-filner-for-home-project-delay-071113 La Jolla couple blames Mayor Bob Filner for home project delay Project was approved 30 months ago SAN DIEGO – A La Jolla family said San Diego Mayor Bob Filner abused his power when he …

Any veteran of local government knows of Bob Filner’s proclivities.  I’ve raised the issue a number of times with the press in “off the record” discussions over the years — the latest on the morning of the PM blockbuster announcement by the three Dem leaders. Indeed, many of us personally know at least one woman who has suffered the “Filner …

Turns out, the Paris trip cost taxpayers $22,000 — not the $10,000 originally reported.  Apparently most of this cost was the 2 man security detail sent with Filner. Only they weren’t sent with the mayor.  They missed the flight.  So for hours after arriving in the City of Light, the Mayor and his (then) betrothed were unprotected.  Guess he dodged …

A prominent local progressive attorney — usually an ally and supporter of Bob Filner — has “with great dismay” publicly called on the mayor to resign — likely because of the Sunroad $100K pay-to-play payments.  Check out the U-T article below. As I predicted, liberals will start distancing themselves from the loose cannon that is Comrade Filner.  Assuming that a …

Here’s another “mystery,” discussed in the BusinessWeek article below.  Well, a mystery for some, at least. California is losing businesses faster than any state in the nation — both in the number of businesses lost (no big surprise, given our size) and the RATE at which they are being lost. And this is NET lost businesses. Salient excerpt:  There were 1.3 …

“Lake Tahoe — where the billionaires are pushing out the millionaires.”

http://riderrants.blogspot.com/2013/07/rider-called-for-investigation-of.html On about 24 June, I submitted a written “call for investigation” to various law enforcement agencies, concerning the Filner-Sunroad Pay-to-Play $100,000 “donation.”  Included in my submission was a significant workup of the issues, and a number of informal exhibits were provided (all included or linked below). I’ve since discovered that I’m not the only one to submit such a request.  Retired judge Larry …

According to the latest U.S. census figures, the 2009 median household income in California is significantly higher than Texas… CA — $58,931 TX — $48,259 But, ADJUSTED FOR THE COST OF LIVING, the Texas median household income is significantly higher than California… TX — $53,009 CA — $44,456 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_States#Median_income

by Richard Rider, Chairman San Diego Tax Fighters I sent out the following as a press release the same day (4/24/13) that the American Lung Association released its annual “the sky is poison” press release.   The press regurgitated the ALA story (such scares make for improved ratings and great teaser ads), and ignored my caveats.   I’ve edited my release since …

You’re gonna love this. Turns out, the goofy process of the first CA HSR construction contract favors the husband of U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein!  The final contract has not been issued, as further negotiations with bidders are still to be completed.  But the Feinstein group has won the “leading candidate” designation — which makes them the odds-on favorite to land …

The story is out that the FAA is INTENTIONALLY causing massive airline flight delays to coerce the public into voting for tax increases. See the WALL ST JOURNAL editorial below. Never have we seen a more stark difference between President Reagan and President Obama.  Does ANYONE believe for an instant that the FAA brass would have organized such a work …

AB 13 – my bill to grant #Veterans in-state tuition – just passed out of Asm. Vets Affairs Committee! Next stop, Assembly Approps — Rocky Chavez (@AsmRocky) April 16, 2013 RIDER COMMENT I found this Tweet rather unsettling.  As I see it, this Rocky Chavez bill is a bad start for our new San Diego County GOP Assemblyman. If one …

For your edification, here’s your media bias story of the day.  For instance, NPR did a story on the “counterweight to the Tea Party” staging a protest outside the White House. Backed by numerous heavyweight leftist groups such as the AFL-CIO, Move-on, NOW, etc., the story got great media play, as all such political mega-rallies in DC deserve. But there …

I wrote the following letter to the editor in response to an article gushing with praise for the insane farm bill — and the resulting farm subsidies.  It was published by VOICE OF SAN DIEGO.  To give it wider circulation, I’m including it here and on other blogs and social media. http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/opinion/article_718e5a9a-9d93-11e2-81b8-001a4bcf887a.html Regarding VOICE OF SAN DIEGO article “Why the …

I write about and compare California with other states.  While I cover many aspects, most have to do with monetary issues — taxes, regulation, litigation, utility costs, education funding, etc. But we should also look at a broader index that includes not only the issues I highlight, but also compares the personal freedom factors among states.  For years the Mercatus …

RIDER COMMENT:  This is an unusually long post prepared by an ally — but most of it is in easily grasped graph form.  And that’s what I love about it. “Soquel-by-the-creek” tracks many of the same California factors as I, but he excels (perhaps a pun — not sure) at putting out his info in more useful form — graphs. …