California’s Massage Industry Explosion

Why Did a Law Intended to Regulate Massage Parlors Have the Opposite Effect?

For the record, I did not intend to get naked for this column.

But the woman at the local massage parlor insisted that I remove my pants and underwear before she would put her hands on me. And so I took it all off–in order to better understand today’s California.

Judging by our streetscapes, this is a state of massage. It has become nearly impossible to drive a thoroughfare anywhere in California without encountering multiple massage parlors. Since the 2007 arrival of the Great Recession, no retail business sector has grown faster, …

by Joe Mathews | November 20, 2014

Covering California’s Least Amazing Race

If Traditional Media Can’t Make Predictable Elections Compelling, Maybe TMZ and a Poet Laureate Can

by Joe Mathews | November 6, 2014

In the end, Neel Kashkari lacked the courage to do the one thing that might have made him a household name, and thus competitive in the race for California governor: …

Mr. President, Please Stop Visiting California

You Take Our Money. You Cause Massive Traffic Jams. And You Don’t Pay Attention to Our Biggest Problems.

by Joe Mathews | October 2, 2014

Bad news: President Obama is coming to California again.

Mr. President, I realize such a statement may seem jarring to you and your strongest supporters. After all, our state (and this …

California Pre-K Is Doomed

The State’s Lack of Ambition Will Kill Universal Preschool Before It Starts

by Joe Mathews | September 25, 2014

Hard to believe that only a decade ago—back in the fall of 2014—the future of pre-kindergarten looked so promising in California.

State leaders were congratulating themselves on passing a budget …

Last Week’s Gubernatorial Debate Should Have Been the Last

I Tried Hard to Care. I Failed.

by Joe Mathews | September 11, 2014

Did we just watch the last California gubernatorial debate–ever?

Trick question. It appears very few of us bothered to watch last week’s debate between Governor Jerry Brown and challenger Neel …

Why Are Californians Obsessed With Where Their Politicians Live?

In a State of Thousands of Overlapping Government Jurisdictions, It Doesn’t Make Sense to Punish Elected Officials Who Live in One District and Represent Another

by Joe Mathews | August 14, 2014

Admit it: You’re not exactly sure where you live, are you?

Don’t be embarrassed to acknowledge that, beyond knowing your street address, you’re a little uncertain. California has so many thousands …

California politics

California’s Massage Industry Explosion

Why Did a Law Intended to Regulate Massage Parlors Have the Opposite Effect?

Covering California’s Least Amazing Race

If Traditional Media Can’t Make Predictable Elections Compelling, Maybe TMZ and a Poet Laureate Can

Mr. President, Please Stop Visiting California

You Take Our Money. You Cause Massive Traffic Jams. And You Don’t Pay Attention to Our Biggest Problems.

California Pre-K Is Doomed

The State’s Lack of Ambition Will Kill Universal Preschool Before It Starts

Last Week’s Gubernatorial Debate Should Have Been the Last

I Tried Hard to Care. I Failed.

Why Are Californians Obsessed With Where Their Politicians Live?

In a State of Thousands of Overlapping Government Jurisdictions, It Doesn’t Make Sense to Punish Elected Officials Who Live in One District and Represent Another

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California’s Last Stand Against San Francisco Imperialism

Only San Jose Can Stop the City by the Bay from Gaining Too Much Power and Money

Why California’s Weakest Local Governments Should Not Survive COVID-19

Instead of Mourning Their Collapse, We Should Consolidate Local Governments to Make Them More Powerful

To Be Blunt, California’s Marijuana Industry Is Stoking High Anxiety

Once Weed Becomes Legal, Paradoxically, We'll Need to Step up Policing Our Cash Crop

Will California’s Housing Shortage Epidemic Infect the Rest of the West?

A Visit to Utah Shows How the Crisis Has Spread, and Suggests Some Cures

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