March 2023

Housing

What the decay of one mobile home park means for affordable housing in California

In the new episode of "Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast," CalMatters Housing Reporter Manuela Tobias shares her findings from a five-month investigation on California’s mobile home parks, the last stop in housing affordability for the state’s most vulnerable residents.

By Manuela Tobias • March 23, 2023

WhatMatters

Newsom’s oil profit penalty passes first test

From CalMatters’ politics reporter Alexei Koseff: Whatever lingering concerns legislative Democrats may have about Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recently revised proposal to punish oil companies for high gas prices, they seem ready to pass it anyway — and fast. The bill sailed through its first committee hearing Wednesday, a week after Newsom’s office announced major changes […]

By Lynn La • March 23, 2023

California Divide

California workers can’t get timely hearings on wage theft claims. State orders audit.

It takes the state nearly 800 days — four times longer than is legal — to handle wage claims. Lawmakers ordered an audit to start Sept. 1, if agency issues aren’t addressed by then.

By Alejandro Lazo and Jeanne Kuang • March 22, 2023

CalMatters en Español

Trabajadores de California no pueden tener audiencias a tiempo sobre reclamos de robo de salarios; el Gobierno ordena una auditoría

EN RESUMEN El estado tarda casi 800 días, cuatro veces más de lo legal, en manejar los reclamos por cuestiones salariales. Los legisladores ordenaron que una auditoría comience el 1 de septiembre, si los problemas de la agencia no se resuelven para entonces. Read this article in English. El auditor estatal independiente de California investigará […]

By Alejandro Lazo and Jeanne Kuang • March 22, 2023

CalMatters en Español

Los autos eléctricos son inexistentes en comunidades latinas y afroamericanas; ¿Quiénes son los compradores?

EN RESUMEN Las comunidades con altas concentraciones de autos eléctricos son prósperas, con educación universitaria y al menos 75% con poblaciones de raza blanca y asiática. En contraste, los autos eléctricos son casi inexistentes en las comunidades de raza negra, latina, de bajos ingresos y rurales, lo que revela la enorme tarea que enfrenta California […]

By Nadia Lopez and Erica Yee • March 22, 2023

CalMatters en Español

California podría reducir su nuevo programa de préstamos hipotecarios diseñado para ayudar a primeros compradores de vivienda

EN RESUMEN El gobernador Newsom quiere gastar $300 millones el primer año, lo que podría ayudar a unos 2,300 compradores. Pero los precios de las viviendas están cayendo y las tasas hipotecarias están aumentando, lo que complica el lanzamiento del programa. Read this article in English. En esta economía, ¿quién tiene suficiente dinero para el […]

By Alejandro Lazo • March 22, 2023

Environment

Who buys electric cars in California — and who doesn’t?

Communities with high concentrations of electric cars are affluent, college-educated and at least 75% white and Asian. In contrast, electric cars are almost nonexistent in Black, Latino, low-income and rural communities — revealing the enormous task that California faces electrifying the entire fleet.

By Nadia Lopez and Erica Yee • March 22, 2023

Commentary

Hydrogen may help replace fossil fuels in California but it’s still a greenhouse gas

A growing body of research warns that hydrogen itself can be a powerful contributor to global warming but neither local agencies nor California regulators seem to be paying attention.

By Guest Commentary • March 22, 2023

California Divide

State may scale down its new home loan program designed to assist first-time homebuyers

Gov. Newsom wants to spend $300 million the first year, which could help about 2,300 buyers. But home prices are falling and mortgage rates are rising, complicating the launch.

By Alejandro Lazo • March 22, 2023

WhatMatters

More pain for California’s forced sterilization patients

Patients who were already victimized once by California’s forced sterilization program — and who are running out of time to claim state compensation — were nearly victimized again. This time, it’s because of a data breach that exposed their personal and medical information. Last December, a researcher looking into the sterilization of thousands of female […]

By Lynn La • March 22, 2023