Portside

“If Detroit fails it will hurt our nation as a whole. It will send a message to minority and urban youth that their futures are as hopeless as they seem and the country doesn't care. It will add to a national atmosphere of hopelessness and decay. And we will have missed an opportunity to turn the tide for America's cities.”

Some warehouse workers in California will strike Walmart today. They are protesting alleged retaliation for exposing safety risks.

Despite the odds, competing measures, and conventional wisdom that says voters will not approve tax hikes, unions and community groups built a successful campaign to pass a tax hike for California's richest residents.

Legislators are set to vote on a historic $20.6 billion budget this week that would have the state take a giant step toward further privatization of education, end teacher tenure, and compensate victims of the government eugenics program.