Guest Commentary

Given the scale and scope of the issues facing our state and nation, and the depth and breadth of distrust in government, it is essential that the fundamental act of democratic participation be safeguarded against all anti-democratic threats.

Assembly Bill 124 would allow courts to consider an individual’s age, history of trauma and victimization at the hands of human traffickers or intimate partners, potentially reducing criminal penalties. It would allow individuals like me to be seen not as criminals, but as the survivors and humans that we are.

I wasn’t surprised to hear California has a reparations committee, and I do know we each bear some part of the collective responsibility for the injustices perpetrated by any government of which we are a part — and in my case, perpetrated by my family.

While water delivery curtailments are necessary in a drought year to keep rivers from going dry, they don’t provide protections for nature. We must set aside enough water to support the salmon and other aquatic life.

The Santa Barbara school board unanimously has enacted a policy requiring vaccinations for all teachers and school staff, or weekly testing. Every school district in the state should do the same.

In the run-up to the Sept. 14 election, California voters should be aware of four critical issues at stake and look beyond the political ads to gauge the serious consequences of a successful recall.

California urgently needs to prepare for heat waves by expanding access to cooling. The California Energy Commission has an opportunity to help do so when it votes Wednesday on our statewide building code.

California’s homeschool charter schools put power and control in the hands of parents, so that they decide how best to improve the learning of their kids.

The Democrats have botched their recall options: No prominent Democrat officially has entered the recall race. As a result, conservative talk-show host Larry Elder, the leading contender, could be elected with 18% of the vote.

En resumen Estos proyectos piloto podrían ayudar a reestructurar nuestra economía estatal en una que priorice la prosperidad compartida sobre el acaparamiento de la riqueza individual. Pero para crear un cambio significativo a nivel macro, se debe pasar la batuta a nuestros líderes federales. Por Libby Schaaf Libby Schaaf es la alcaldesa de Oakland, officeofthemayor@oaklandca.gov. […]