One of California’s closest ever votes was one of its most important. In 1911, nearly 250,000 residents showed up to the ballot boxes to vote on Proposition 4, an amendment to the Constitution of California that would recognize women’s right to vote. The amendment passed by a margin of just 3,587 votes — approximately one
January 1st, 2020 will not only mark a new decade, but for animal rights enthusiasts it will mark the one-year anniversary of the enactment of California’s Assembly Bill No. 485, which requires all dogs, cats, and rabbits sold in California pet stores to be sourced from animal shelters or rescue groups. Although California is not
Many Americans depend on services from their local hospitals, which function as their safety net in case of an emergency and for some, a routine care facility. Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) are relied on by thousands of rural communities nationwide, yet 38% of these hospitals currently face severe financial distress or the potential for financial
In the wake of the great recession, the Inland Empire’s economy struggled to find its feet as the manufacturing and construction industries faltered. The story of the last ten years’ recovery is one of changes, as the Inland Empire’s economy has shifted towards jobs in healthcare, education, and, increasingly, logistics. In this new economy, Amazon
As California hospitals scramble to meet state deadlines for seismic compliance, a bigger problem is looming: can they afford it? In the wake of the 1994 Northridge earthquake that struck the San Fernando Valley, causing structural damage to eleven hospitals, California lawmakers looked for ways to improve seismic resilience across the state. One of the
At 6.7 million, the number of food-insecure Californians in 2019 tops the population of 86 different countries. A person is defined as food insecure if they lack consistent access to enough food for an active and healthy lifestyle. Almost all California counties have food insecurity rates between 10 and 18 percent. The problem is not
While policy makers search for a way to cut down traffic in one of the most congested cities in the world, Los Angeles drivers wait. An earlier blog post of the Lowe Down, Is the Commuting Price Right?, explored the per-mile tax idea that policy makers have to cut down on congestion. While this idea
Since the first international Olympic Games in 1896, the Olympics has served as an opportunity for host cities to boost their economies. Employment surges are largely attributed to sudden increases in jobs needed for preparations, staffing, and construction. As Los Angeles looks to the 2028 Olympics, The Lowe Institute has used data from past Olympics
The absence of an appropriation bill enacted the Antideficiency Act which forces non-essential government operations, including the National Parks Service, to stop during the shutdown. The National Parks Conservation Association reports the Department of the Interior were able to employ just under 3,300 of the 20,000 NPS employees as “essential staff” to keep National Parks
What could be worse for Inland Empire commuters than the daily, lengthy drive into Los Angles? Having to pay a per-mile tax on that ride. With the LA County Metro Transit Authority considering a congestion tax, we performed an analysis to predict the cost of Inland Empire workers commuting to Los Angeles. No matter how
