As the former executive director of the California State Association of Counties, I have had a birds-eye seat to observe that what the state soweth, local governments often reapeth.

Whether through legislation or regulation, Sacramento takes too many actions that appear oblivious to the downstream effect on cities and counties.

Now, the state is at it again.

This time, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is attempting, in an end-run around the normal regulatory process, to impose “emergency” harsh and unjustified new rules on the metal-recycling industry — the one aspect of California’s troubled recycling sector that is still going strong. Why? Because they believe they can, I guess.