August 2020

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

Dan Walters

California gambles with stopgap legislation

California politicians are gambling on high-risk stopgaps to relieve the impacts of COVID-19's recession.

By

Dan Walters

• August 23, 2020

Commentary

Rent control is a disincentive to build affordable housing

The primary path to the middle class for American families is through property ownership. However, for many African Americans, Latinos and other minorities, the opportunity has been out of reach because of discriminatory housing laws and economic inequality. It’s alarming that a measure on the November ballot would make this lack of access worse and […]

By

Guest Commentary

• August 22, 2020

Firefighters attempt to stop a grass fire from jumping a road in Vacaville on Aug. 19, 2020. Firefighters across the state continue to battle against 560 fires, which have burned an area equivalent to the state of Rhode Island. Photo by Karl Mondon, Bay Area News Group

Politics

Amid raging fires and pandemic, Newsom calls relationship with Trump ‘very effective’

Despite some political bickering, Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed there will be “no politics in this space” as he thanked the Trump administration for emergency assistance.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• August 21, 2020

Rep. Maxine Waters speaks with attendees at the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention at the George R. Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco on June 1, 2019. Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr

Housing

Podcast: Rep. Maxine Waters on eviction cliff, Newsom’s pandemic response

On this episode of "Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast", CalMatters' Matt Levin and the Los Angeles Times' Liam Dillon interview Rep. Maxine Waters.

By

Matt Levin

• August 21, 2020

Shawnee Whaley, 57, wears a mask as she rests on a cot at the Ulatis Community Center in Vacaville after evacuating her home on August 18, 2020. Whaley said she and her mother, who lives across the street, had to leave in a matter of minutes, leaving almost everything behind. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Environment

A collision of crises: Central Valley suffers searing heat, smoke and virus hot spots

The dangerous trio has Californians unable to escape unhealthful air and reluctant to leave home.

By

Rachel Becker

• August 21, 2020

Shawnee Whaley, 57 años, utiliza una mascarilla mientras descansa en una cama en el Centro Comunitario Ulatis en Vacaville después de evacuar su casa el 18 de agosto de 2020. Whaley dijo que ella y su madre, que vive al otro lado de la calle, tuvieron que evacuar en cuestión de minutos, dejando casi todo atrás. Fotografía de Anne Wernikoff para CalMatters

CalMatters en Español

La combinación de crisis: El Valle Central se enfrenta a un calor infernal, al humo y los focos de infección del virus.

La peligrosa combinación hace que los californianos no puedan escapar del aire nocivo y se resistan a salir de casa.

By

Rachel Becker

• August 21, 2020

WhatMatters

Inside Newsom’s tumultuous DNC appearance

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, August 21. From prime time to Santa Cruz forest Gov. Gavin Newsom was set to make the biggest appearance of his political career Thursday night — but things didn’t go as planned. Newsom backed out of his prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention Thursday morning, citing the need […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• August 21, 2020

Capitol

Democrats divided: Newsom’s family-leave plan faces resistance from his own party

The pandemic has revealed a schism between progressive Democrats and moderates, wrestling with the needs of hard-hit businesses and working parents and caregivers.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• August 21, 2020

Capitol

‘Mad Max’ in California? Energy crisis is avoidable

If we are serious about avoiding blackouts and continuing our progress toward an emission-free grid, we must expand nuclear and hydroelectric power.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 21, 2020

Adam Sciambi, right, and daughter Noa, 3, play with sidewalk chalk on Valencia Street in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco on July 25, 2020. Several blocks of the neighborhood are closed to vehicles every Thursday through Sunday to allow for outdoor dining and foot traffic. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Events

Pandemic, wildfires, scorching heat: How to help our children cope

In an online discussion hosted by CalMatters, three prominent child health experts offered suggestions for families struggling with the multiple crises confronting the state and nation.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• August 20, 2020