Economy surges, but future cloudy

Last year was a strong one for California’s $3.4 trillion economy.

The state added 621,400 jobs, finally regaining the nearly 3 million that were initially lost during the COVID-19 pandemic as Gov. Gavin Newsom shut down major economic sectors. The year ended with a near record-low 4.1% unemployment.

“California continues leading the nation’s economy,” Newsom boasted after the December employment report was issued this month. Earlier he projected that if California were a nation, it would be close to surpassing Germany as the globe’s 4th most powerful economy.

All good. In fact, some economists believe that California’s job growth is so strong that only a shortage of workers – due to a decline in the number of Californians seeking work – is a major impediment to expansion.

That’s the economic upside.

The downside is that no one seems to know whether the good times will continue or the state will experience one of its periodic recessions, which tend to hit about once a decade.

For the last few months, the Federal Reserve System

We’re not terrorists

has been attempting to dampen inflation by raising interest rates. Its stated hope is that the economy will cool off enough to curb inflation but avoid a sharp downturn into recession.

It’s not yet clear whether the system’s efforts will work as planned and economists are mixed in their projections of what lies ahead economically for the nation, not only because of the Federal Reserve’s actions but other factors, such as the war in the Ukraine.

Newsom’s proposed 202324 budget reflects that uncertainty.

“The uncertain future paths for inflation and Federal Reserve policy pose short-term risks,” the budget declares. “If high inflation persists longer than expected or if the Federal Reserve policy causes greater pullbacks by businesses or individuals, the economy could tip into a mild recession.

In response to “Letter: DHS event canceled,” by Anoosh Jorjorian, published Jan. 11, there is nothing hateful about saying it’s wrong to sterilize children and medicalize their bodies based on feelings. Feelings change with perspective and life experience.

We do not give dangerous cancer treatments without proof of a cancer diagnosis, so why are we giving cancer drugs to children who may be feeling uncomfortable with their growing and changing bodies? Why are we telling distressed children their perfectly healthy bodies might be “wrong”?

Over the last few months, parents like me have expressed concerns peacefully with compassion. Yet the Director of Yolo Rainbow Families has made inflammatory accusations against us in this publication as well as on Facebook, labeling us “far right,” “fundamentally un-American” and claiming our comments have led to “threats of violence.” These statements are false, defamatory and a blatant attempt to silence diversity. We are parents, not domestic terrorists.

Truly liberal and open-minded people use logic and reason to guide their decision making, not slurs and phobia

Speak out

President

“This could lead to a steeper decline in investment and interest-sensitive consumption, which in turn could cause a larger decline in economic growth and reduced nonfarm employment and personal income growth.”

“The biggest economic threat is continued inflation,” an analysis by the Public Policy Institute of California contends. “While December consumer data marked six straight months of slowing inflation, prices have not yet abated enough. Until that happens, the Federal Reserve will likely continue to take steps to slow the economy, increasing the risk of a recession.”

Recession fears and other factors are already having an effect on the budget, turning what Newsom and legislators thought was a nearly $100 billion surplus last summer into a multi-billion-dollar deficit due to sharp declines in projected revenue, mostly taxes from high-income Californians.

The most powerful engine of California’s economy, and therefore of the state’s revenue stream, is the Bay Areacentered technology industry, whose major firms are sharply reducing payrolls indoctrination tactics. Please get curious. Do not be afraid to ask questions of your own. Here are some of the ones we’ve been asking:

Why have the UK, Sweden, and Finland stopped medical intervention based on gender for children?

Why are there more than 40,000 young people now expressing profound regret for the irreversible damage done to their bodies by “gender affirming surgeries”? Additionally, why do suicide completion rates increase over 19% post-surgery? https://www.researchgate. net/publication/291340368_Gender_ Dysphoria_in_Adults

Why has our school district contracted with CommuniCare Health Centers to provide legal and medical referral services to children as young as 12 without parental consent? Parents should view Elevate Queer Yolo’s intake form: https:// docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf SMvJuiMYE7miA47HFpFxy7OECd0jI 68ydL6DiYS--_sG6Vw/viewform for themselves. Consider if these services are appropriate for children to access on their own.

Finally, why did the Davis Parent University disregard its own safeguarding guidance of “12 and over with an adult,” which a representative stated followed “Pepper’s own research” for her lecture on “The Transgender Child”? Instead, making it accessible to anyone with a link and

Building, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202224-3553; email: https://www.padilla. senate.gov/contact/contact-form/

House of Representatives through layoffs after expanding during the pandemic to serve the shift to work-athome employment. promoting it directly to seventh-graders through their student portals?

Despite the layoffs, the region was still adding jobs during December — in fact 84% of the jobs California gained during the month, which attests to the mixed economic signals the state is experiencing.

“We don’t see anything catastrophic happening with tech,” Patrick Kallerman, vice president of research with the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, said. “I don’t see the tech industry collapsing.” While economists debate over the economic future and Capitol politicians dicker over how to deal with the projected deficit, their constituents are turning sour.

A November poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found high pessimism about the economy with 69% of Californians surveyed saying they expect bad times in the next year and 62% expecting periods of higher unemployment during the next five years.

— CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to Commentary.

Allie Snyder Davis

Pedestrianize downtown

I heartily agree with Bill Tourney (Jan. 17) and numerous others in our community, advocating for a pedestrianized downtown, starting with the block on G Street, between Second and Third streets, already closed to traffic. Let’s keep G Street closed and keep going. G Street represents the beginning of transforming our downtown into calm, green, welcoming destination.

Having lived in England for twenty years, it is common to encounter pedestrianized town centers in cities and towns all over Great Britain. This creates the kind of cafe culture our climate is ideally suited for. It encourages people of all ages and abilities, including our consistently overlooked disabled community, to comfortably navigate our town center, without the threat of being mowed down.

If we’re serious about being a green city, let’s expand G Street and close all of downtown to cars and motorized transportation.

If put to a vote, I’m confident the majority of people living and working in Davis will support this progressive initiative.

Marsha Coupé Davis

The Hon. Joe Biden, The White House, Washington, D.C., 20500; 202-456-1111 (comments), 202-456-1414 (switchboard); email: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

U.S. Senate

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 331 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202-224-3841; email: https://www. feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/ e-mail-me

Sen. Alex Padilla, 112 Hart Senate Office

Rep. Mike Thompson, 268 Cannon Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515; 202225-3311. District office: 622 Main Street, Suite 106, Woodland, CA 95695; 530-753-5301; email: https:// https:// mikethompsonforms.house.gov/contact/

Governor Gov. Gavin Newsom, State Capitol, Suite 1173, Sacramento, CA 95814; 916-4452841; email: https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/ gov40mail/