September 2019

A new state law letting NCAA athletes strike endorsement deals has been signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. But what does that mean in the short term?

Critics have long argued that California's child support payback system for families using public assistance is overly punitive, disproportionately affects low-income people, and can drive a wedge between children and their parents. Now, two bills on Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk could change the system.

Becky Boblak, a Berkeley mom: Only about 10% of students travel on their own steam to school. One-third take buses and about 50% get to school via car. I understand why. It just isn’t safe. Too often, the danger is from a car speeding down the street.

Re: “With Gov. Newsom’s veto of SB 1, California seems stuck in same old water fight ‘binaries’,” Sept. 29, 2019. It’s easy to get caught up in the heated rhetoric of the moment as did Kim Delfino in her guest commentary. Water users working to finalize the voluntary agreements were faced with a difficult situation. […]

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a chilling proposal earlier this year to double detention capacity in California with 5,600 new beds, all near those offices. If built, these facilities will further entrench incarceration for generations to come. That’s one reason why Gov. Newsom should sign AB 32. It would provide a critical check on this underhanded move.

Hospitalizations tied to cannabis vaping. California to offer child care help for parent-students. Will new use-of-force law protect mentally ill?

Having acted twice to protect California's children, Gov. Gavin Newsom can have a trifecta by signing legislation to mandate later school starting times.

California has increased awards to up $6,000 for UC, Cal State and community college students with children, but delays and funding limitations are making it clear that for “nontraditional” students, more must be done.

Kim Delfino, Defenders of Wildlife: In his State of the State speech, Gov. Newsom said that to protect our water supply and delta fisheries, we “have to get past the old binaries.” After the veto of SB 1, the question is whether the governor and his administration will break the “old binaries,” and demand from the water users what is truly necessary to ensure a future that includes a healthy Bay Delta for all.

Can a nine-county regional agency in the San Francisco Bay Area solve its chronic and acute shortage of housing?