August 2020

Sen. Scott Wilk reacts after mouthing the F-word Friday morning during the senate floor session. Image via Senate livestream

Politics

Unmasked: Tempers flare and patience frays as California lawmakers hit viral end of session

For anyone who has spent the last five months working from home, these teleconference call mishaps ought to sound familiar: Your lunch delivery arrives smack in the middle of a presentation, or your dog won’t stop yapping. An exasperated colleague drops a muted but unmistakable F-bomb. A co-worker mocks a colleague’s comments to his “hon” […]

By

Ben Christopher

• August 31, 2020

Person opening a door. In an emergency measure, California renters financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic will be protected from eviction until at least next February. But while tenants, landlord and banking groups all urged lawmakers to approve the evictions deal, the compromise’s specifics have left some parties severely disappointed. Image via iStock

Housing

Analysis: How renters, landlords and banks fared in the eviction compromise

A compromise to prevent feared eviction tsunami passes Legislature with little time to spare.

By

Matt Levin

• August 31, 2020

WhatMatters

Last chance to avoid evicting renters

Good morning, California. It’s Monday, August 31. Legislative session ends today The fate of hundreds of thousands of California renters teetering on the brink of eviction — and of the landlords who depend on their rent payments — hangs in the balance of a cliffhanger vote lawmakers will take today. Their vote on a controversial […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• August 31, 2020

The State Capitol in Sacramento, California, September 10, 2015. California Bills.

Explainers

The final say: Gov. Newsom has decided which of these 2020 bills will be California law

In a year when the coronavirus pandemic upended every aspect of normal life, the impact in the California Capitol was also dramatic. Lawmakers took an unprecedented two-month pause in the spring, when Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide order for people to stay home to prevent the spread of the virus. They returned to the […]

By

CalMatters Staff

• August 31, 2020

Commentary

It’s time to reopen health clubs and gyms

When it comes to concerns about COVID-19 in health clubs, initial research suggests these are far outweighed by the benefits of physical activity.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 31, 2020

Commentary

Add nuclear waste to list of social injustices

Report: Black, Indigenous and people of color are especially vulnerable to harm from the handling and storage of radioactive waste.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 31, 2020

Reader Reactions

Trophy hunting produces little revenue for African countries

You don’t save endangered species by killing them, and African communities see little benefit from hunting.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 31, 2020

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Dan Walters

Do crises help or hurt tax hikes?

In the midst of a pandemic, a recession and myriad other crises, California voters will decide the fate of tax increase measures that would raise billions of dollars if passed.

By

Dan Walters

• August 31, 2020