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A nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom committed to explaining California policy and politics.
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Student Reflections: Looking Back on School during COVID
A photo essay project of CalMatters and CatchLight
FEATURED CALMATTERS MEMBER
“I read and support CalMatters to get beyond the PR spin, to see how California governments are serving or failing their goals.”
-Don, Northridge
CalMatters en Español
Las políticas públicas y las leyes de California, explicadas.
HEALTH
Commentary
We need to rebuild California’s public health workforce
To bring COVID under control and address other ongoing public health emergencies, we need a well-trained army of public health workers.
ELECTION 2022
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Commentary
Planned ballot initiative would restore clean air by reducing emissions
The clean air ballot initiative is a true California call to action: ambitious and forward-looking, focused on the well-being of all of our communities.
Vote to reduce plastics and clean up our environment
I have endorsed the California Plastic Pollution Reduction & Recycling Act, which will be on the ballot in November.
CALIFORNIA DIVIDE
A statewide media collaboration to raise awareness about poverty and income inequality through in-depth journalism and community outreach.
JUSTICE
Commentary
Unfounded concerns about State Bar’s efforts to close the justice gap
Current proposals to broaden access to legal services are predicated on sound regulatory frameworks that keep the public protected.
HOUSING
Commentary
Steps state leaders can take to address the affordable housing crisis
Progress in dealing with California’s affordable housing crisis has been abysmal, and this is unacceptable. Here are a few actions to take now:
EDUCATION
Commentary
Ethnic studies and civics need to be taught together, not separately
Ethnic studies can teach our children about their commonalities and their unique identities. Civics can teach them how to work toward compromise. California’s plan, however, is for these lessons to be taught separately. That makes no sense.
Reaction to a lesson involving the N-word goes too far
In leading a classroom discussion about the evolution of language, the Sacramento-area teacher introduced the offensive word. Now some parents and the school district want to take away her teaching credential.
Narrowing the digital divide with pandemic benefits
The Emergency Broadband Benefit program offers a subsidy each month toward broadband service for eligible households.
ECONOMY
Commentary
Newsom’s gas rebate would stymie state’s climate goals
The governor should be speeding up the transition to zero-emission technologies, not padding the coffers of profit-rich oil companies.
ENVIRONMENT
California’s Drought Crisis
A CalMatters series investigates what’s improved and what’s worsened since the last drought — and vividly portrays the impacts on California’s places and people.
Commentary
State should step in to protect Joshua trees
The state Fish and Game Commission should list western Joshua trees under the California Endangered Species Act, safeguarding the trees and offering proof of California’s commitment to fighting climate change.
POLITICS AND THE CAPITOL
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
2021 in review
Here’s your primer: What California state government has been up to in 2021
History will remember 2021 as the year when a windfall of governmentspending sought to address years of inequality, poverty and a growingpopulation left behind. Trillions of dollars were spent by the federal government, but California’s state government, facing the nation’s highest poverty rate, also saw an unprecedented budget surplus that the state’s supermajority Democrats used…
Commentary
Why Disney’s lip service to LGBTQ+ people is no longer enough
Corporations can no longer pay lip service to the rights of LGBTQ+ people while actively undermining them through their political donations.
COLLEGE BEAT
More Coverage
COMMENTARY
My Turn
A policy approach to make California a state of ‘Belonging’
California must show the nation a way that offers complete democratic participation, inclusion and a narrative of “Belonging.” Here’s how:
DAN WALTERS
How taxes are decided in California
Two pending California budget-related bills, one to tax lithium extraction and another to reduce taxes on marijuana, demonstrate the arbitrary nature of tax policy
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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.
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