Guest Commentary

Commentary

Reform that re-traumatizes: California’s elderly parole program burdens victims, frightens the community

Under elderly parole, inmates 50 or older who served 20 years or more could be eligible for a parole hearing — regardless of how violent their crime was.

By Jenn Carson • March 2, 2026

Commentary

California’s high schools should be teaching ethnic studies courses but aren’t

Guest Commentary written by Julia Barzizza Julia Barzizza is a graduate student at UC Davis. She is the winner of the 2026 UC Davis Center for Poverty and Inequality Research Black History Month Student Essay Contest, from which this commentary was adapted. California was the first state to make ethnic studies a high school graduation […]

By Julia Barzizza • February 27, 2026

Commentary

She spent six of her last years in arbitration with her HMO. Her husband’s still fighting the system

Arbitrators in medical disputes are supposed to be unbiased, but this couple suspected there is an incentive to favor HMO’s in arbitration.

By Stephen Martinez • February 26, 2026

Commentary

California is ‘nowhere near’ emissions goals. It’s still sending organic waste to landfills

California trucks much of its organic waste to landfills instead of recyclers, largely because of an exclusive franchise hauling system.

By Clemens Stockreiter • February 25, 2026

Commentary

Uber’s ballot measure would protect rideshare companies, not riders, from safety lapses

A proposed California law — if it made it to the ballot — would cap medical payouts in vehicular accidents and shrink lawyers’ payments in lawsuits against rideshare companies.

By Jamie Court and Nick Rowley • February 24, 2026

Commentary

Gavin Newsom’s last budget belies his ‘California for All’  pledge

The 2026-27 proposal fails to respond to President Donald Trump’s cuts. Nor does it help families meet needs for housing, food and health care.

By Chris Hoene • February 23, 2026

Commentary

The problem is clear: Medi-Cal is failing to protect children’s eyesight

Poor children are struggling at school because of undetected and uncorrected vision problems. Medi-Cal has been neglecting vision care.

By Dr. Brian Park and Ted Lempert • February 20, 2026

Commentary

California can learn from European countries that tried wealth taxes

Of 14 European countries that taxed personal wealth, all but three repealed it, citing capital flight, disappointing revenue and high costs.

By Jared Walczak • February 19, 2026

Commentary

California can sidestep scandal and banish bias while counting votes 

Open source voting systems are more transparent and cheaper than the state’s current contract with Smartmatic, which is facing bribery charges.

By Trent Lange • February 18, 2026

Commentary

Who’s running for California Insurance Commissioner? Here’s a look at the field of candidates

There are 15 candidates vying to be the state's top insurance regulator, a hot seat as thousands of LA residents try tapping insurance to help them recover from wildfires.

By Guest Commentary • February 17, 2026