March 2023

An aerial view of wetlands on Sherman Island, part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in Sacramento County in 2019. Photo by Ken James, California Department of Water Resources

Commentary

Newsom’s Delta decisions are the sort of responsive moves California needs for water crisis

The decision to suspend environmental regulations for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta – and then reverse it a few weeks later – was applauded by many who believe California's climate extremes require a more flexible approach to managing the water crisis.

By Charley Wilson • March 17, 2023

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to the media after announcing the state's plan to address homelessness across the state at Cal Expo in Sacramento, on March 16, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

WhatMatters

Newsom on tour: Next stop, San Quentin

In March 2019, as one of his first major decisions in office, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a moratorium on executions. He later dismantled the lethal injection chamber at San Quentin State Prison — a move that garnered plenty of criticism despite the fact that California has not executed anyone since 2006. Today — on Day […]

By

Lynn La

• March 17, 2023

An inmate walks around the exercise yard at San Quentin State Prison on April 12, 2022. Photo by Eric Risberg, AP Photo

Justice

Gavin Newsom moves to ‘transform’ San Quentin as California prison population shrinks

San Quentin housed California’s death row for decades. Now Gov. Newsom wants the prison on San Francisco Bay to emphasize rehabilitation and helping inmates re-enter society.

By

Nigel Duara

• March 16, 2023

CalMatters en Español

Gavin Newsom busca ‘transformar’ la prisión de San Quentin a medida que se reduce la población carcelaria de California

EN RESUMEN San Quentin albergó el corredor de la muerte de California durante décadas. Ahora el gobernador Newsom quiere que la prisión en la Bahía de San Francisco haga hincapié en la rehabilitación y ayude a los reclusos a reinsertarse en la sociedad. Read this article in English. La prisión de más alto perfil de […]

By

Nigel Duara

• March 16, 2023

CalMatters en Español

Proyecto de ley en California financiaría la defensa a la deportación para todos los inmigrantes; incluidos aquellos con delitos graves

EN RESUMEN El estado ya paga algunas facturas legales en las cortes de inmigración, pero no para aquellos con antecedentes penales graves o violentos. Si no pueden pagar un abogado, se enfrentan solos a la deportación. El asambleísta Reggie Jones-Sawyer dice que ese no es un debido proceso. Read this article in English. En California, […]

By

Wendy Fry

• March 16, 2023

Commentary

Recall of self-driving Tesla cars doesn’t go far enough. California must take action

A nationwide recall of more than 362,000 Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving software fell short on several key areas. One of the company's biggest critics is calling on California leaders to take additional measures to guarantee safety.

By

Guest Commentary

• March 16, 2023

Jocelyn Gonzalez Fierros, a Chico State University student, at her residence in Chico on March 15, 2023. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

California Divide

California colleges rush to get more students on food assistance before pandemic rule ends

Most college students don’t qualify for CalFresh, California’s food stamps program, despite high rates of food insecurity. A pandemic-era rule that made it easier to get aid ends soon.

By

Jeanne Kuang

and

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• March 16, 2023

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents transfer an immigrant after an early morning raid in Duarte on June 6, 2022. Photo by Damian Dovarganes, AP Photo

California Divide

California bill would fund deportation defense for all immigrants, including those with felonies

The state already pays some legal bills in immigration court – but not for those with serious or violent felony records. If they can’t afford a lawyer, they face deportation alone. Assembly member Reggie Jones-Sawyer says that’s not due process.

By

Wendy Fry

• March 16, 2023

California Gov. Gavin Newsom at a press event on Mare Island in Vallejo on Sept. 16, 2022. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

WhatMatters

What will Gavin Newsom roll out on his California tour?

From CalMatters politics reporter Alexei Koseff: At long last, a resolution to the fall standoff between Gov. Gavin Newsom and local officials over their plans to decrease street homelessness. That’s the first takeaway from Newsom’s four-day statewide tour to launch his 2023 policy agenda, which kicks off this afternoon in Sacramento, before heading to the […]

By

Lynn La

• March 16, 2023

Gov. Gavin Newsom addresses the media during a press conference announcing new gun legislation targeting the state's public carry laws on Feb. 1, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Politics

Blocked by legislators, Newsom shifts oil profits penalty plan to regulators

The Newsom administration announces it will go through the state Energy Commission instead of the Legislature for a penalty on windfall profits of oil refiners.

By

Alexei Koseff

• March 15, 2023