September 29th, 2009 02:22pm

Tech watch: CNN on your phone?

by PeteGolis

Fooling around with the new CNN iPhone application -  which was released today. (You can read the Associated Press story here.) Is  this new ap worth $1.99? Probably not. Still, this reworking of existing technologies reminds us again that communication and journalism are being transformed. On my phone, I’m watching a video posted a few minutes ago by a guy half-way around the world. The video shows flooding caused … Read More »

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September 27th, 2009 07:15am

Annadel still needs your support

by PeteGolis

It’s great news that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday backed away from plans to close 100 state parks, including Annadel State Park and Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park. The thousands of Californians who urged the governor to abandon this wrongheaded proposal can take this moment to celebrate. But don’t be lulled into believing that the threat to Annadel and other state parks no longer exists. Reacting to political pressure, Schwarzenegger scrounged … Read More »

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September 25th, 2009 09:54am

A walk through another downtown

by PeteGolis

Several years ago, a delegation of Santa Rosa city officials and business leaders traveled to San Luis Obispo to see what it takes to build a vibrant downtown. The Central California city is usually placed on the short list of cities that have figured out how to maintain a successful downtown in the era of big-box stores and online retail. The Downtown Market in Santa Rosa, for example, was borrowed from … Read More »

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September 22nd, 2009 07:43am

The real OC – where the automobile is king

by PeteGolis

If you want to understand why reducing California’s carbon foot print won’t be easy, do what I did last week: Spend a couple of days in the sprawl of high-rise office buildings and shopping malls that define the landscape of Orange County. Near the hotel where I was staying, there was a long, concrete bridge leading to one of America’s poshest shopping malls. (If you like Cartier and Gucci, Bloomingdales and … Read More »

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September 21st, 2009 12:14pm

Tax reforms? Good luck with that

by PeteGolis

California’s system of taxation has evolved into a monstrosity that is unreliable, disjointed, inequitable and destructive. There was a reason, after all,  that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders established a special commission to come up with a better way. But the tax reform panel recommendations expected this week will have a shelf life of about 15 seconds. Here’s why: - This particular list of recommendations is too ambitious and too … Read More »

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September 20th, 2009 12:57pm

The sad news about Sawyer’s News

by PeteGolis

When John Sawyer announced plans to close Sawyer’s News – a downtown mainstay for 64 years – folks lined up the usual suspects. Blame a bad economy, they said. Blame big-box stores and chains. Blame state tax laws that make cities dependent on sales tax revenues from big-box stores. Blame city parking fees and fines. Blame the city’s decision to replace parking meters with ticket dispensers. Blame the city’s erratic … Read More »

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September 17th, 2009 11:27am

Forty years later, meet The Beatles

by PeteGolis

I asked Facebook friends whether I should spring for one of the new Beatles box sets. Of course, they said, it’s only money. Well, no. At $299 (for the monaural package) and $260 (for stereo), it’s too much money. Instead, I bought four of the remastered CDs, all albums that I don’t already own. First impressions: It’s better. A lot better. The remastered songs contain so much more musical information than what … Read More »

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September 13th, 2009 11:11am

Mad as hell about most everything

by PeteGolis

Shades of the recent town hall meeting in Petaluma, the name-calling associated with the health care debate came to Congress on Wednesday night. “You lie,” Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina shouted at the President of the United States. Embarrassed and fearful of the political fallout, the House GOP leadership quickly instructed Wilson to apologize, and so he did, no doubt disappointing the folks who like to shout early and … Read More »

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September 11th, 2009 11:50am

Taking California back from the political insiders

by PeteGolis

It’s no surprise that Californians have a low opinion of state government. The latest poll results from the Public Policy Institute of California – read them here – only confirm what we have known for a long time: The government in Sacramento is dysfunctional, unaccountable and embarrassing. Only one in five state residents believes state government serves the public interest. One poll result does offer encouraging news for anyone who wants … Read More »

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