Hassan Munro said he can’t understand why rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft would fight to keep their drivers as independent contractors. The San Diego resident who has been driving for both companies for seven years said it puzzles him as an Iranian American.

In a time of ecological, political and social crises, it isn’t easy to command attention. Yet, occasionally, a simple image can cut through the noise. Last week, a photo of two children outside a Taco Bell captured this disgraceful moment in California history.

Some of the best laws passed by Congress in the past decades, on issues like Social Security, taxes and welfare, were the result of input from and compromise between the two parties. Now is time to put partisan politics aside and find compromise to help our small businesses.

This is an independent opinion. Want to respond? Write your own commentary! Email hoa@ivn.us.

For a week in August, Californians were exhorted to conserve electricity during the extreme heat wave, and subjected to rolling blackouts for the first time since 2001. While residents conserved, the non-essential business of live horse racing continued with the blessing of the California Horse Racing Board. 

Progressive Democrats were fighting an uphill battle as they pushed for a new law allowing more Californians to take time off from work to care for a baby or sick family member. With business groups lobbying hard against it, the proposal had split Democrats and, as Monday’s conclusion of the legislative year drew closer, appeared at risk of failure.

A new poll shows City Councilwoman Barbara Bry leading Assemblyman Todd Gloria by 37% to 34% in the race for Mayor, but 29% of likely voters remain undecided at five weeks before mail voting begins.

MAINE - Independent US Senate candidate Lisa Savage tweeted the announcement this week that she has been invited to four debates ahead of the hotly contested election in November. With control of the Senate at stake, a lot of eyes will be on the tight race in Maine:

Harrisburg, Penn. - Pennsylvania was among a handful of states that made headlines for failing to meet the demand for absentee ballots during its primary elections over the summer.

Jean-Huy Tran grew up in Orange County, home to more than 200,000 Vietnamese-Americans, one of the largest Vietnamese populations in the U.S. He became accustomed to seeing elected officials of Vietnamese descent in office, including Tony Lam, the first Vietnamese person to hold elected office in the U.S. 

But, when Tran made his way to San Diego 15 years ago, he found a different story. 

This is an independent opinion. Want to respond? Write your own commentary! Email hoa@ivn.us.