Susannah Kopecky

News maven interested in politics, history, language, law, and information organization. Has contributed to numerous publications and served as copy editor and editor-in-chief for several news publications.

What Would YOU Do With $50 Billion?

What would you do with $50 billion? Would you balance a budget, and keep funds to spare? Would you hire more police and firefighters and/or increase their salaries? Would

By Susannah Kopecky

April 15, 2009

Water, Water, Every-, er, Nowhere?

I remember back in school, when one kid seemed to be taking too long at the drinking fountain, the next person would yell "Save some for the fishes!"

By Susannah Kopecky

April 13, 2009

We Didn't Have a Budget, But They Had Ideas!

True, California did not have a cohesive budget for months. Even while the governor struggled to force cohesion, even mandating that state employees take a proverbial during the work week.

By Susannah Kopecky

April 7, 2009

So Is It Flooding or Drying?

So is it time to stock up on bottled water, or to buy a raft? It's hard work living in California. On nearly a daily basis, residents are

By Susannah Kopecky

April 7, 2009

Lottery Modernization Act: Less Modern Than You Might Think

In the beginning of "Pretty Woman," when the camera pans over a party, and a magician is playing slight-of-hand-tricks with some women, using witticisms aimed

By Susannah Kopecky

April 5, 2009

Legislate Google Earth?

I once had an acquaintance who was arguing with another friend over the location of a certain beach. Was it 20 minutes South of one city, or 10 minutes North

By Susannah Kopecky

April 5, 2009

Energy Costs to Rise

Southern California Edison was recently given the green light by the California Public Utilities Commission to raise monthly rates. And on April 4, electricity bill rates may change noticeably for

By Susannah Kopecky

March 29, 2009

California: A Business Kind of Town

Remember that part in "True Lies" where Harry Tasker, as played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, tells his family he's leaving for a technology conference in Europe? Later

By Susannah Kopecky

March 21, 2009

San Francisco: The New Hollywood?

"48 Hours." "Princess Diaries." "Mrs. Doubtfire." These are just a few of the megahit movies that took place in San Francisco proper. Is San

By Susannah Kopecky

March 21, 2009

House Much Did You Say That Is?

Don't believe the naysayers who pooh-pooh the idea that the The Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan will only help a small fraction of California homeowners: the data

By Susannah Kopecky

March 18, 2009

Furlough Fridays: A Thing Of The Past

Friday, March 6 marked the last mandatory furlough day for tens of thousands of state workers in California, according to the Sacramento Bee and MarketWatch. Now, the next time Californians

By Susannah Kopecky

March 16, 2009

Can You Spare A Job, Bud?

Recently speaking with my father, the topic of California's unemployment came up. Trying to estimate the number of unemployed (this was before the official statistics came out), he

By Susannah Kopecky

March 12, 2009