California Voices

an Smutny-Jones, Independent Energy Producers Association: It is understandable why lawmakers are angry about PG&E’s failure to invest properly in its infrastructure as local communities have suffered greatly from power shutoffs and wildfires. It is wrong, however, to blame California’s world-leading renewable energy policies.

Dr. John Maa, San Francisco surgeon: An entire generation of youth has been exposed to the dangers of a lifetime of nicotine addiction by Juul’s actions. As California is home to Juul, we have a special obligation to take the lead in ending this epidemic.

Are California's voters getting turned off by constant pleas for new taxes? A new study of what happened in very affluent, very liberal Marin County suggests that they "tax exhaustion" may be developing.

Laura Holmes Haddad, cancer-patient advocate, speaker and author: I was 37 years old, and the mother of two children ages 1 and 4, when I was diagnosed with Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer. It is a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer that attacks the lymphatic system around the breast. A clinical trial saved my life. So why aren’t more cancer patients enrolling?

Local government officials complain about rising pension costs but shy away from telling voters that is why they need to pay more taxes.

Jeffrey Mount, PPIC Water Policy Center: The federal endangered species act protection is often used as a proxy for protecting the environment, something the act are not intended to do. Here’s why we need a better tool.

California voters will once again weigh in on crime and punishment next year./ A referendum sponsored by the bail bond industry seeks to overturn a new law eliminating cash bail.

Jason Peltier, Coalition for a Sustainable Delta: We have a choice: continue to live the never- ending “Groundhog Day” of conflict, apocalyptic rhetoric and litigation, or embrace the opportunities to meaningfully improve the way we make decisions and get things done for the good of all. More science and less politics will be key.

Contradictory positions by local courts mean the state Supreme Court must clarify legal ambiguity about tax elections that it created.

Ted Lempert, Children Now: From criminal justice reform to environmental stewardship to humane immigration policies, California’s leaders make the state a model of effective governance for the federal government and other states. But no matter how you look at it, the state ranks near the bottom of states when it comes to our kids.