Project Spotlight
California’s unemployment crash
A year-long CalMatters investigation finds that the state was primed for disaster by years of missed red flags and failed reforms.
Commentary Spotlight
Voices: What should California do about homelessness?
To better understand the solutions and areas of consensus, CalMatters asked a few of the people involved to weigh in.
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Morris, Erickson
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CALIFORNIA DIVIDE
A statewide media collaboration to raise awareness about poverty and income inequality through in-depth journalism and community outreach.
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Commentary
Brownsville, Texas, to Los Angeles: The migrants forced to travel through American politics
Since June, nearly 1,000 migrants have been bused from Texas to Los Angeles as a political stunt. A patchwork system has emerged to provide care, services and a humane entry to U.S. life once they reach California.
ENVIRONMENT
Commentary
California wants to rollback environmental rules for cannabis. That won’t help ailing growers
California’s environmental regulations are not to blame for the struggles of small pot farmers. County permitting decisions, the local political climate, and the inability of law enforcement to eradicate illicit cultivation have been much bigger hurdles.
POLITICS AND THE CAPITOL
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Commentary
Why Newsom’s Senate appointment gives California voters more power in the 2024 election
A bill in Congress would bar California governors from appointing senators and instead require an accelerated special election. But history shows that appointments routinely lose elections, giving voters the rare opportunity to pick a new U.S. senator.
Why California’s newest batch of gun restrictions won’t make the state safer
California passed a series of gun restrictions this year, including an excise tax on firearm and ammunition purchases. While the revenue is supposed to fund gun violence prevention, the state’s lackluster history with prevention programs suggests little will actually change.
EDUCATION
Commentary
Many Black students can barely afford Cal State. Tuition hikes will only make it worse
The California State University system is considering annual tuition hikes to help cover a billion-dollar budget gap. Increasing attendance costs could make it harder for Black students who are already facing stubborn achievement and economic disparities.
ECONOMY
Commentary
California’s unemployment insurance system is so poorly funded it pays 2004 wages
There are plenty of examples California can emulate to fix its unemployment insurance system. The governor and Legislature just need to summon the courage to do it.
HOUSING
Commentary
California needs to change its homelessness policies, not spend more money
Despite spending by Democrat lawmakers, California’s homeless population kept growing over the last five years. The current approach of throwing money at the problem is clearly not working.
JUSTICE
Commentary
San Quentin Prison is decaying and California would rather ‘transform’ it than fix it
California’s whopping $14.4 billion prison budget and the governor’s $360.6 million price tag to “transform” San Quentin into a rehabilitation center seemingly overlook the existing…
HEALTH
Commentary
As hospitals and maternity wards close, here’s one way California can prevent stillbirths
Expectant parents are losing access to prenatal care or driving long distances with so many California hospitals closing maternity wards to cut costs. A mother whose first child was stillborn shares her story and an important practice that public agencies should raise awareness about.
COMMENTARY
Guest Commentary
Shifting how California funds its mental health system is critical to getting more people off the streets
To reach tens of thousands of people living in tent encampments, California must prioritize and focus the billions generated through the Mental Health Services Act. Proposition 1, going before voters in March, is a major step towards the original law’s promise.
Housing alone won’t solve homelessness. California must expand its mental health system
California can’t solve homelessness without vastly improving the public mental health system. Without treatment and interventions, those with a serious mental illness deteriorate and lose housing.
We want to hear from you!
Want to submit a guest commentary or reaction to an article we wrote? You can find our submission guidelines here. For questions, please email commentary@calmatters.org or call (916) 234-3081.
DAN WALTERS
Closed-off Interstate 10 is no stranger to major damage or political attention
Interstate 10 is one of the country’s major coast-to-coast freeways and has iconic status in Southern California. A weekend fire not only damaged the freeway but once again made it the center of political attention.
EXPLAINERS
Explore CalMatters’ explainer “card decks” to discover the data-driven context you need to make sense of big issues confronting California.
COLLEGE BEAT
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WHATMATTERS NEWSLETTER
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California Legislature shake-up on public safety
Back in July, when criticism over the Assembly public safety committee’s decision to stall a bill to increase penalties for child sex trafficking was at an all-time high, Assemblymember Reggie…
