FresnoBee.com: Opinion

EDITORIAL: Government settlement with banks doesn't go far enough

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Millions of Americans owe more on their homes than their property is worth. For many of these "underwater" homeowners, Thursday's self-congratulatory announcement by federal and state officials of a $25 billion settlement with big mortgage servicers are "too little, too late." Read comments

EDITORIAL: Fresno Unified wisely manages its finances

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:24:41 PST

In this tough economic environment for government agencies, the Fresno Unified School District has managed its finances to the point where it can avoid layoffs next school year, and is even going to expand its transitional kindergarten program to all elementary schools. Read comments

EDITORIAL: Apple should provide safe working conditions

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

Apple has built a loyal following because of its ingenuity and willingness to buck norms. Its customer base tends to be highly educated, concerned about conditions in foreign countries and affluent enough to afford the latest, cool new Apple product.Yet many of Apple's most devoted customers are concerned over reports about worker conditions at Apple subcontractor plants in China. Read comments

EDITORIAL: Dropout task force must represent entire community

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:36:58 PST

The dropout problem in the Fresno Unified School District has been ignored for far too long, and a comprehensive solution to the crisis has fallen victim to district politics. Now Superintendent Michael Hanson has belatedly formed a dropout commission called a Graduation Task Force. Read comments

EDITORIAL: Flood control plan is starting point for change

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

If California is to help protect the Central Valley from floods over the next half century, it can't just place Band-Aids on its system of levees, dams, weirs and bypasses. Read comments

EDITORIAL: Delay water bond bill, and trim out the pork

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:19:25 PST

The longer the state delays making crucial fixes to its crumbling water infrastructure, the more costly it will get. Unfortunately, the $11.1 billion water bond on the November ballot has so much pork in it that voters are likely to kill it, and that will set back the effort for years. Read comments

EDITORIAL: State's cleaner car goal won't work without buyers

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:59:49 PST

The California Air Resources Board has unanimously approved new regulations that mandate car manufacturers to cut smog emissions from new vehicles by 75% by 2025 and greenhouse gases by 34%. Read comments

EDITORIAL: State shouldn't bank on windfall from Facebook IPO

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

The Facebook public stock offering will produce a tax windfall for the state, but it also offers state leaders a lesson in California's unwieldy tax system. Read comments

EDITORIAL: State must grapple with aging prisoners

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:39:51 PST

California finally is making headway in reducing numbers in overcrowded prisons — enough to get the federal courts to say that the end of federal receivership “appears to be in sight.” Read comments

EDITORIAL: Let's focus on the real enemy -- breast cancer

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PST

The fight against breast cancer is so crucial that we must not allow politics to get in the way of finding a cure. That happened for a few days when the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation decided to end funding to Planned Parenthood. Read comments