Budget Woes

By Jill Stewart
Published on January 29, 2004

One year ago, Gov. Gray Davis was calling for across-the-board cuts in every state department except the prisons, mass layoffs of workers and huge bites out of most programs for the disadvantaged.

Recall Quandaries

By Raphael J. Sonenshein
Published on August 14, 2003

Jewish leaders continue to decry Mel Gibson's forthcoming Jesus movie for supposedly threatening to whip up anti-Semitism. Due out next April, "The Passion" identifies Jewish priests as instigators of the crucifixion.

Your Letters

Published on July 31, 2003

Does Gov. Davis expect the 67 percent of the Jews that vote for the Democratic Party to become whores and support him for the $40.2 million donated to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Zimmer Museum and the Skirball Museum ("Davis Recall Fight Plays Jewish Card" July 25)?

Davis Recall Fight Plays Jewish Card

By Marc Ballon
Published on July 24, 2003

With his political fortunes darkening and support for the recall growing, the beleaguered Gov. Gray Davis has turned to members of his disparate ethnic and religious coalition to save his job. In the past six weeks, prominent African American, Latino and gay and lesbian political and business leaders have held a series of high-profile events to condemn the recall as an illicit power grab by the radical right and a threat to California.

Now, Davis and his allies are playing the Jewish card.

Budget Worries

By Mike Levy
Published on January 24, 2002

Gov. Gray Davis' proposed state budget for 2002-2003 has local Jewish organizations worried. With the state's approximately $12 billion deficit (in a proposed $98 billion budget) covered by program cuts, along with loans and spending deferrals, local agencies such as Jewish Family Service (JFS) and Jewish Vocational Service may face a significant reduction in funding.

Paying Kids to Read

By Jane Ulman
Published on August 24, 2000

"Pay me to read? That would be awesome," my son Jeremy says.
Not only is he perpetually in debt, but he was also faced with a formidable list of books to read before beginning sixth grade at Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School in Northridge on Sept. 5.

"But it would be wrong," he immediately adds.

Her Call to Duty

By Tom Tugend
Published on September 16, 1999

Terri R. Smooke sat at a table at Starbucks on Beverly Drive catching up on her letter writing.
"It's been so hectic the last few weeks, I've got to use every spare moment," she explained.

Smooke's appointment calendar started overflowing a month ago, when she took a call from Sharon Davis, wife of California Gov. Gray Davis.