Project Spotlight
Out of state, out of mind
Environmentally stringent California sends nearly half its toxic waste across its borders.
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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Sara, Etna
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HOUSING
Commentary
How a San Diego group uses wildfire reduction work to treat homelessness
After discovering an elaborate encampment in a fire-prone canyon, a group in San Diego was inspired to develop a skills training program for unhoused people that helps reduce fire risk and connect them with jobs.
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
Despite Newsom veto, California should still provide free condoms to public school students
A bill that would’ve required public schools to give students access to free condoms was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, but young advocates worried about the rise in sexually transmitted infections are vowing to keep pushing for access.
ENVIRONMENT
Commentary
Offshore wind success in California requires developers, policymakers embrace ‘ocean justice’
As offshore wind faces setbacks on the East Coast, California has a chance to establish long-term success. Developers and policymakers at all levels can get there by embracing “ocean justice” principles.
ECONOMY
Commentary
Ticket resellers have upended live music. California must restore power for artists and fans
Industrialized, third-party resellers have upended the live entertainment ecosystem in California with harmful tactics that hurt fans and artists alike. A proposed reform would rightly ban some of the worst practices.
COMMENTARY
Guest Commentary
For California to achieve universal broadband access, every technology should be considered
California’s utility regulators are considering a fiber-only strategy to close the state’s digital divide, but fiber can be prohibitively expensive and time consuming to deploy. Newer generations of fixed wireless offer a promising alternative.
California will keep struggling with homelessness until federal leaders step up
Californians ask why homelessness keeps rising despite enormous local and state investments. Much of it is one-time funding. Ongoing support for housing has traditionally come from the federal government.
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
It’s a new year, but California will continue to struggle with existential issues in 2024
As California enters a new year, its most striking public policy issues remain unresolved, and an immense budget deficit will make dealing with them more difficult.
POLITICS AND THE CAPITOL
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Commentary
Despite what political campaigns say, one election won’t determine the fate of US democracy
The stakes for the next election are high, but the narrative that 2024 will determine the future of American democracy is wrong. Democracy is about more than campaigns. It is about shared political community, which we are at risk of losing.
Newsom deserves credit for doing what few Democrats will, confronting GOP in DeSantis debate
Democrats need to push back more aggressively against the GOP, argues veteran strategist Garry South. Gavin Newsom has been doing this in so many ways, and the debate with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was part of that.
EDUCATION
Commentary
School book bans and anti-trans policies teach California children the wrong lessons about acceptance
In parts of California, school boards are attempting to restrict access to certain books and pass controversial parental notification policies. A queer college student and political consultant says these efforts not only endanger students but teach children the wrong lessons about acceptance.
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.
EXPLAINERS
Explore CalMatters’ explainer “card decks” to discover the data-driven context you need to make sense of big issues confronting California.
COLLEGE BEAT
More Coverage
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The new CA laws you need to know
Monday marked the day many new California laws went into effect, including the state’s new concealed firearm restrictions that, until Saturday, had been blocked by a federal judge. The law…
