Guest Commentary

Commentary

Yosemite National Park needs protection from man-made threats 135 years later

President Trump has urged the National Parks Service to delete inconvenient truths and has laid off 1,000 workers, endangering wildlife and Yosemite's history.

By Pedro Hernández • October 14, 2025

Commentary

California expungement law offers a fresh start to rehabilitated people held back by a conviction

An estimated 1 in 5 Californians live with a conviction on their record. A 2022 law gives many of them a chance to expunge their record and make greater contributions to their communities.

By Joanna Hernandez • October 10, 2025

Commentary

Californians should ignore the federal government’s false claims about our elections

Californians can count on their elections. That hasn't changed. What has changed is the volume of false claims from the federal government.

By Gowri Ramachandran • October 8, 2025

Commentary

‘Carrying fear’ while carrying a baby: Pregnant Californians deserve more maternity options

Pregnant Black people often internalize fear and face racial bias in health care. A bill would help by making more midwives and doulas accessible.

By Erica Moore-Smith • October 7, 2025

Commentary

Los Angeles housing permits are tanking, yet leaders want Newsom to veto a major reform

Signing SB 79 should be an easy call, but there's pressure from Los Angeles leaders to veto it. Newsom should know better than to let L.A. set state policy on housing.

By Marc Vukcevich • October 6, 2025

Commentary

If hate-fueled algorithms cause real-world harm, California tech companies should pay

California legislation that would enable people to sue social media companies if their algorithm spurs violence or other harms just needs the governor's signature.

By Jim Berk • October 3, 2025

Commentary

California’s insurer of last resort was meant to cover ‘riot-prone areas,’ not climate disasters

By continuing to lean on insurance-based solutions to deep-seated societal problems, California has put itself on a path toward repeating the mistakes of the past.

By Bench Ansfield • October 2, 2025

Commentary

Cities that ban or criminalize homeless services worsen California’s crisis

A bill on the governor’s desk would stop cities from chasing away supportive services and workers who help unhoused people survive the streets.

By Jed Leano • October 1, 2025

Commentary

California leaders enable gaming monopoly, tribal inequity by legislating for the wealthy few

California's wealthiest tribes, preparing for digital gaming, are pushing a bill to effectively ban less wealthy tribes from offering online sweepstakes games.

By Charlie Wright • September 30, 2025

Commentary

California needs to take a bolder stand for universities targeted by the White House

A federal lawsuit by the UC Regents would help fill gaps created by recent Supreme Court rulings. It would also provide legal and symbolic support to researchers who have been mostly fighting on their own.

By Blake Emerson • September 29, 2025