Posted on April 19th, 2006 — in Children and Families :: Social Policy
The National Center for Youth Law examines the California foster care system, and finds that the state is failing to meet federal standards. On a variety of criteria — repeat abuse or neglect, the frequency of reunification with parents or adoption, continued mistreatment in foster care — the Golden State is failing to help its most helpless children. The report also has county-by-county numbers that provide interesting local comparisons.
Broken Promises: California’s Inadequate and Unequal Treatment of Its Abused and Neglected Children
Child Welfare Performance in California: A County-by-County Analysis
Posted on April 13th, 2006 — in Growth, Development & Infrastructure
The Legislative Analyst assesses the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and considers options for making the region’s government work better.
SANDAG: An Assessment of Its Role in the San Diego Region
Posted on April 13th, 2006 — in Public Finance
The California Budget Project sets the record straight on who pays taxes in California. Measured as a share of family income, California’s poorest families pay the most in taxes. Other eye-openers: California is a moderate tax state, and the number of high-income residents who paid no taxes tripled between 1996 and 2003.
Who Pays Taxes in California?
Posted on April 13th, 2006 — in Economy and Business
Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network publishes the latest indicators and points the way towards the “idea economy” of the future. Seems the brain of the valley is shifting from left (analytic) to right (creative).
2006 Index of Silicon Valley
Posted on April 12th, 2006 — in Economy and Business :: Education :: Growth, Development & Infrastructure
The Bay Area Economic Forum’s tenth annual economic profile finds the Bay Area living up to it’s rep as one of the most inventive and competitive economies in the nation. However the region is vulnerable to talent drain as baby boomers retire, foreign workers return to their home countries, and all are lured away by cost-of-living savings elsewhere. Policy recommendations include strengthening the K-12 pipeline to professional careers and addressing the need for affordable housing.
The Innovation Economy: Protecting the Talent Advantage
Posted on April 7th, 2006 — in Demographics :: Social Policy
Demos looks at the combined impact of the growth in African American and Latino populations and the disparities in opportunity experienced by these two groups. Unless disparities are corrected the California population in 2020 will be less educated and lower paid.
The Future Middle Class: African Americans, Latinos and Economic Opportunity
Posted on April 7th, 2006 — in Economy and Business
The Public Policy Institute of California presents current patterns and recent trends in California’s exports, foreign direct investment, and gateway activity.
California and the Global Economy: Recent Facts and Figures, 2006 Edition
Posted on April 7th, 2006 — in Economy and Business
A California Budget Project report on job growth questions whether the half million new jobs added since November 2003 are really something to brag about. Turns out most of them were in low-wage industries where hourly earnings have lost purchasing power.
California’s Job Growth Was Strong, But Wage Gains Were Weak Between 2003 and 2005