Jackie Botts

California Divide

California, 13 other states sue to stop Trump’s food stamp cuts

Fourteen states, including California, filed suit Thursday against the Trump administration to block a rule that would eliminate food stamps for an estimated 688,000 Americans. “No one should have to choose between a hot meal and paying their rent,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “Yet again, the Trump Administration has failed […]

By Jackie Botts • January 16, 2020

Housing

Cities should act on homelessness or face lawsuits, Newsom task force says

Recommendations by Gov. Gavin Newsom's task force on homelessness in California call for a legally enforceable 'mandate to end homelessness' on the November ballot, echo the governor's request for more funding and call for a homelessness czar.

By Matt Levin and Jackie Botts • January 13, 2020

Explainers

California’s homelessness crisis — and possible solutions — explained

California's most vexing issue is also its most shameful: the large and rising number of residents who lack a safe place to call home. Here's what you need to know about the problem — and possible solutions.

By Matt Levin, Jackie Botts, Manuela Tobias, Marisa Kendall and Erica Yee • December 31, 2019

WhatMatters

Kamala Harris folds, Duncan Hunter pleads guilty, PG&E wants to hand out coolers

Kamala Harris ends presidential campaign. PG&E wants to give coolers to low-income residents during power shutoffs. Why it's hard to punish car burglars.

By Dan Morain and Jackie Botts • December 4, 2019

California Divide

“We need the food that we lost.” Low-income families still reeling from blackouts

Pacific Gas & Electric turned off power to Ana Patricia Rios’ neighborhood in Sonoma County for eight days in October, three at the beginning of the month and five near the end. The mother of three young boys watched twice as nearly all of the food in her refrigerator spoiled. She threw out at least […]

By Jackie Botts • November 22, 2019

California Divide

College students, seniors and immigrants miss out on food stamps. Here’s why.

A college student in Fresno who struggles with hunger has applied for food stamps three times. Another student, who is homeless in Sacramento, has applied twice. Each time, they were denied. A 61-year-old in-home caretaker in Oakland was cut off from food stamps last year when her paperwork got lost. Out of work, she can’t […]

By Jackie Botts and Felicia Mello • November 6, 2019

California Divide

These laws could make life a little easier for low-income Californians

A suite of low-profile bills could make life just a little easier for millions of Californians living in or near poverty. Think of these bills as a bit like aspirin: they don’t get at the roots of poverty but they could relieve some of the pain.

By Jackie Botts • October 10, 2019

WhatMatters

Gloria Allred, #MeToo, a PG&E alliance, union wins, implicit bias, and vaping

Women's rights attorney comes under scrutiny in book on #MeToo movement. New alliance forms in battle over PG&E. Unions celebrate legislative wins.

By Dan Morain and Jackie Botts • September 20, 2019

California Divide

Getting food stamps to poor Californians is surprisingly difficult

Pressure is increasing on counties to sign up more people for food stamps in a state with one of the nation’s lowest participation rates. But greater enrollment may require more money or more state intervention.

By Jackie Botts and Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado • September 2, 2019

California Divide

Lawmakers tackle a severe housing shortage for renters who have federal vouchers

The biggest federal housing program for low-income renters is failing to help many Californians because there aren’t enough landlords who accept Section 8 vouchers for rent. State lawmakers are considering two solutions, a carrot and a stick.

By Manuela Tobias and Jackie Botts • August 28, 2019

Jackie Botts

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