This week in Realignment: May 17, 2013
In a sign that public safety realignment is gaining prominence, Gov. Jerry Brown touched on the issue in his short statement on his May budget revision Read More
Christopher Nelson
Editor in Chief, California Forward
Chris Nelson is the Editor in Chief of the California Forward blog. He received his B.A. in English from Duke Univeristy and his Master's degree from USC's Annenbeg School for Communication & Journalism.
During his tenure at USC, he wrote and edted for the blog Pop + Politics, which was founded by former NPR host Farai Chideya, he was the founding co-editor of USC's online news publication Neon Tommy, he covered the 2008 election for the Huffington Post's Off the Bus project, he wrote two feature-length pieces for Los Angeles Magazine, he covered the DNC in Denver and Obama's Inauguration in Washington D.C., was a News21 Fellow and was awarded the school's Most Outstanding Print Student upon graduation.
Articles
Gov. Brown emphasizes continued discipline in his May budget revision
In past years, the May Budget Revisions have reflected the need for major spending reductions. The final budget reflects which programs will survive. Read More
This week in Realignment: May 10, 2013
Campaign season for the 2014 elections is already heating up and public safety realignment is fast becoming one of the most politicized topics. Read More
Sen. Leland Yee speaks on voting & civic education
Were able to ask State Sen. Leland Yee (D - San Francisco) about his views on some vital topics on the FOCE’s agenda. Read More
This week in Realignment: May 2, 2013
We have no way to determine if realignment is working or will work because no money was put into research Read More
This week in Realignment: April 26, 2013
This week we discuss the alarming lack of data being collected on AB 109 and how such data could be put to good use if the state would simply require it and provide funding. Read More
Bringing government closer to the people: It’s getting better
Is technology bringing government closer to the people? The answer is "possibly." Read More
This week in Realignment: April 19, 2013
With all of the speculation and prognostication surrounding public safety realignment, arithmetic provides the most succinct summary of what is happening. We give you our public safety realignment weekly digest. Read More
Online voting registration’s influence set to expand in California
As more and more data is analyzed from last November’s election, the impact of the recently-enacted Online Voter Registration (OVR) in California continues to crystallize. Read More
This week in Realignment: April 12, 2013
In the realm of public safety realignment, there are two layers: what is actually happening and how the media chooses to connect those dots and report on the subject. Read More
Future of California Elections: The many facets of reform
The right to vote is one of the most intrinsic to our democracy and the number of moving parts involved with guaranteeing this civic right are vast Read More
This week in Realignment: April 5, 2013
Our weekly digest of the news in the world of public safety realignment. Read More
This Week in Realignment: March 29, 2013
The recognition that realignment is, by nature, a local issue is a vital one Read More
Checking in: Where does prison realignment in California stand right now?
As is always the case, nothing this complex, involving billions of dollars of funding and a shift of tens of thousands of prisoners across 58 counties, is strictly black and white. Read More
Following the Dark Money
Campaign finance disclosure is a critical pillar in the overall discussion of transparency in government during Sunshine Week Read More
California transparency and open government movement finds its roots in Brown Act
We begin with this historical context of the Brown Act and the open government movement in California Read More
What does transparency mean to you?
One week from Monday marks the start of Sunshine Week, a global recognition of transparency efforts and an opportunity for watchdog organization to issue scorecard reports on local municipalities, states, and countries. Examples are all around us as to why such a week is necessary. It's an ideal as a standard but the gap between desire and reality is quite large. Read More
Pew study finds common ground in California with SOTU address
The country’s eyes are trained squarely on the election process in 2013. President Obama’s State of the Union speech confirmed as much when he announced a bi-partisan commission to conduct election oversight across the country. Read More
Video: Ann Ravel and the FPPC are keeping elections honest
We had a chance to sit down for an extended and very frank conversation with Ann Ravel, Chair of California's Fair Political Practices Commission. Read More
Gov. Brown wants the Supreme Court out of California prisons
Gov. Jerry Brown made a bold yet calculated play this week to challenge the Federal Court’s continued jurisdiction over the California prison system as part of a ruling that mandated a reduction in the state prison population. Read More
Building on 2012’s successes in 2013
The fiscal outlook this year is better, thankfully, and there is great momentum carrying over to 2013 in oyher areas as we look to determine the big issues we'll need to face as a state. Read More
Taking year-end inventory of government transparency in California
Looking back over the past year, the citizenry of California scored some wins in government accountability with upgrades like citizen redistricting and online voter registration. But the halls of state government are still being obscured by dark campaign money and shady legislating, such as the infamous gut-and-amend. Will 2013 be the Year of Transparency? Read More
New national survey shows strong support for radical simplification
A new nationwide survey of U.S. voters released earlier this month resoundingly indicates that people want to streamline government, making it less complex and more efficient as a path toward reducing our deficit. Read More
Sharing responsibility with citizens a model for local government?
Hermosa Beach takes engagement to another level and empowers residents with duties the city and others like it are having a difficult time efficiently handling. Read More
Happy Thanksgiving!
As Californians, it's very easy to look at far we need to go for most of the year instead of how far we've come. Today, the glass is half-full, if not more so. Read More
Election Day in California: Many reasons for pride
With so many stories coming from so many other states about purported voter fraud and attempts at marginalizing minority voters, the narrative was quite the opposite in the Golden State. Read More
The coming tidal wave: What does California’s huge voter registration surge mean on Nov 6?
Well over three quarters of the eligible voters in California registered to vote, or about 18.2 million people in total, according to an official statement released by Secretary of State Debra Bowen's office. Although the approximately 986,000 new voters who registered in the 45 days prior to the October 22 deadline doesn't surpass 2008's record 1.2 million tally in the same timeframe, this year's surge is still significant and the overall number does represent a new record total. Read More
California voter registration sees record efforts on college campuses
Student organizations spearheading voter registration efforts on California State and University of California campuses this cycle registered almost 70,000 students, significantly besting respective efforts in 2008. Read More
California gas prices: what happened and what’s next?
With the Legislature out of session and the general election still a few weeks away, the airwaves have been dominated by talk of sky-high prices at the pump. We do a mini round-up so you have an idea as to what's happening and where we go from here. Read More
Felix Baumgartner, Red Bull and the California economy
As 8 million people watched Felix Baumgartner jump from 128,000 feet above sea level, it made us realize what this indicates about the state of education and innovation in California and America. Read More
October 9: Two big milestones in the voting process
Today is the official launch of the vote-by-mail process in California and also the day that sample ballots are mailed out. We offer a few tips if you are planning on voting by mail instead of in person on November 6. Read More
Remembering Lt. Gov Mervyn M. Dymally
Voices from around the state, including our own Bob Hertzberg, offer remembrances of a trail-blazing and stand-up California politician Read More
What did we learn from National Voter Registration Day in California?
A full six weeks before November 6 hits, this Tuesday was designated National Voter Registration Day. National organizations that have been perennial advocates such as Rock The Vote down to many, many state and local organizations joined hands in mobilizing Californians to register. Read More
Report: California criminal justice could rethink treatment of pre-trial detainees
Today the Partnership for Community Excellence released a report that details several steps counties could take aimed at reducing their pretrial detainee population and increasing the overall efficiency in how that population is processed and ultimately save significant budget money. Read More
Task Force releases report on California budget
In June of 2011, Richard Ravitch, former Lieutenant Governor of New York, and Paul Volcker, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, took matters into their own hands. They shared a growing concern over the financial trajectory of the nation and how this trickled down into state budgets in the form of continued structural imbalances and an inability to provide basic services or invest in the future of state residents. Read More
Online voter registration a reality today in California
California is making the foray into the world of online voter registration. It's not voting...but it's a definite step in the right direction and will absolutely remove barriers for many to participate in the democratic process Read More
Weekend Warrior: CAFwd newsletter kicks off in style
We wrap up the week for you with a few bullet points for Saturday reading. Read More
California Pensions: Lack of transparency mires coming reform
If you have been following the path of pension reform through the final few days of the California Legislature session this week, you might be scratching your head thinking you have walked into bizarro world Read More
Cautious optimism defines current state of California prison realignment
As early data show positive signs, restructuring has the California government poised to tackle realignment with a new look Read More