Columnists

On April 4, 1968, I was in the Navy. I was at that time only a third of the way through basic training. Upon arrival at boot camp, a month

Everything has already been said.  Every argument has been made. Every scandal has been aired in public. Every outrage has been explained, countered, debunked, reaffirmed and recycled. And yet nothing

Before being elected to the state Assembly, I was an advocate for nurses for many years. In many of our fights to provide health care, we went up against huge

One year ago, Southern California experienced one of the most devastating wildfire disasters in American history.  Over the days and weeks that followed, 14 fires erupted in and around L.A.

By David Hegg Over the past few months, I’ve noticed a monumental amount hypocrisy in society. We’ve read shocking news that those we trusted were living double lives. Those we

I’ve always been a night owl and find peace in small hours when milk men and vampires stir. The Saugus Café was sanctuary, back when it was famous for being

It didn’t take long for the new year to get interesting.  Donald Trump wasted no time asserting himself as the strong man of the world, allies and competitors be damned.

The Service Employees International Union recently filed an initiative with the California Attorney General’s Office called the 2026 Billionaire Tax Act. It is possible that the SEIU could obtain a

By David Hegg As the New Year has arrived, I’ve been pondering the idea of “stepping out of my comfort zone.” Like me, you’ve heard this many times. “Step out

For many families in Santa Clarita, Sacramento can feel like a black box: big promises, long debates and results that don’t match the cost of living we face every day. 

I wonder how I’ll do this year. It’s 2026, just a couple days into it. My New Year’s Resolutions are still sporting the “WET PAINT” sign. Looking back, I haven’t

The New Year arrives the way it always does: a date change. A fresh page. A familiar temptation to believe that simply making it this far means we must be

Part 1 of 2 Some of the current laws on our books, although counterintuitive and grossly unfair, are nevertheless unaddressed year after year. Imagine what simple and easy adjustments to

By David Hegg Someone came up with the haunting truth that what actually died during COVID was trust. We became a nation of skeptics. Many began to doubt what we’d

We’ve seen a special election sweep through all of California — Proposition 50. Gavin Newsom’s latest campaign to gain more congressional seats. Will it win or lose in the courts?

The year 2026 is right around the corner and I know I  am paid to rend flesh and entrails over the myriad of civilization-ending issues facing us. But, right now?

It is the holiday season. Christmas for most of the country. A time when we repeat familiar words about peace, kindness and goodwill. Words we hear so often that we

What a year it has been! Not even one full year into the Trump Administration and we’re dealing with Epstein file leaks, an unstable economy, the perpetual question of whether

By David Hegg We’ve all heard that “to err is human, to forgive divine.” If you’re wondering what it comes down to, it’s this: We all mess up. No matter

Bah humbug!  In California, one must be careful uttering such a phrase, as it may require a permit, a public comment period, a carbon-offset fee, and/or a disclosure under Proposition