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Jackie Botts

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Jackie covered income inequity and economic survival for the The California Divide collaboration from 2019 through 2021. She was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting in 2021 for a Reuters data-driven investigative series that examined “qualified immunity,” a legal doctrine that shields police who use excessive force. Jackie is a Report for America corps member.

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California Divide
‘We live paycheck to paycheck’: Undocumented workers struggle as economy grinds to a halt
More than 2 million undocumented workers, who do not quality for many state and federal benefits, are among the hardest hit Californians as the economy is battered by the coronavirus pandemic. Congress is working to provide an emergency relief fund that could benefit U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents. However, undocumented workers are not included. Also, […]
By and • March 24, 2020
Elizabeth Hopkins, left, fills Sal Vega’s shopping bag with canned goods at a food distribution site in Martinez, CA. Vega, 76, wears a mask, gloves and sunglasses to protect himself while out of the house. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters
California Divide
More Californians are hungry, seeking help amid coronavirus job losses
A line of 500 to 600 people standing six feet apart snaked around a parking lot and multiple city blocks in downtown Los Angeles. Many were hotel and restaurant workers, Dodger Stadium employees and airline chefs. All had lost their jobs or were working reduced hours amid the coronavirus pandemic. One by one, they walked […]
By • March 19, 2020
California Divide
Can’t pay your power bill? Don’t worry, you’re safe for now as California utilities suspend shutoffs
Six utilities serving more than 21 million Californians have announced that they will not shut off customers’ power for non-payment as the coronavirus continues to disrupt daily life. Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Pacific Power are taking the step until further notice. The Los Angeles Department of […]
By and • March 13, 2020
A large sign hangs over the warehouse that says, 'Thank you volunteers' in the volunteer center at the Alameda County Community Food Bank on July 25, 2019. The food bank relies on roughly 100 volunteers every day to package thousands of meals to be distributed. Photo by Anne Wernikoff/CalMatters
California Divide
Food banks face shortages of volunteers; many Bay Area pantries close as coronavirus spreads
On a typical day at the vast food bank warehouse in San Jose, 80 to 100 volunteers pack apples, oranges, pears, squash and cabbage into boxes to be shipped out to hundreds of distribution sites across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. On Tuesday, just 17 volunteers showed up. All told, more than 1,000 volunteers […]
By , and • March 13, 2020
Thousands gathered to support democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders at a campaign rally at Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, CA on February 17, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters
California Divide
Are low-income voters Bernie’s secret weapon?
By Ben Christopher, Jackie Botts and Jacqueline García For all the talk of electability, Sen. Bernie Sanders would have the Democratic presidential nomination in the bag if every voter were like Ryan Frye, his two adult brothers, his sister-in-law and his parents.  The family, which shares a home in the small, rural town of Newman […]
By , and • February 28, 2020
California Divide
Los Angeles County eliminates criminal fees. Will California follow?
Los Angeles County will stop billing people millions of dollars a year for the costs of their incarceration in an effort to lighten the financial burden on former inmates. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to eliminate all criminal administrative fees over which the county has discretion after hearing  testimony from […]
By • February 19, 2020

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