California Voices

Steve Swatt and Susie Sawtt, authors: By late 1958, a handful of fed-up Beverly Hills moms–many with husbands in the entertainment industry–had had enough. Savvy in the ways of publicity, the women of SOS held colorful marches and publicity stunts to garner public attention and support. Often, they brought their children to events wearing gas masks. The group earned a reputation as a tenacious fighter for families fearful of dirty, unhealthful air.

The California Paradox is incredible economic prosperity amidst rising poverty and income disparity.

In California, 45% of children live in low-income households and 46% of those families are single-parent families. The idea that SB 328 will not harm any students ignores the real-world constraints under which working-class families and single parents operate.

More than a quarter of California homes are still without wireline broadband Internet, and, of these homes that do not subscribe, the majority are low-income, less educated, African American, or Latino. Comcast has a program to help bridge the digital divide.

California unions scored big wins in the Legislature this year, hoping to arrest declining union membership in the state.

Jerry Sanders and Alfredo Pedroza, San Diego Chamber of Commerce: Gov. Gavin Newsom can help improve that vital relationship by signing Senate Bill 558. It’s a bill that will grant official recognition to the importance of our close proximity and shared values, which have resulted in one of the strongest economic, cultural, and social regions in the world.

Dan Jacobson, Environment California: To slow the spread of forest fires, drought, and rising sea levels, we need to accelerate every one of our clean energy strategies. We need to expand our horizons and find a way to harness the wind off our coast to power an electric grid that will rely more than ever on clean, renewable energy.

A 44-year-old political battle about payouts for medical malpractice may be headed back to the ballot, unless doctors and lawyers reach agreement.

LaVarne Burton, American Kidney Fund: For 22 years, the neediest patients in California have turned to the American Kidney Fund for help staying insured. We help only low-income patients. If Gov. Gavin Newsom signs AB 290, signed, the American Kidney Fund will end our program for the 3,700 dialysis and transplant patients we help in California and all those who might need our assistance in the future.

Leslie Teicholz and Leif Wellington Haase, writer and consultant: The need for affordable housing scarcely requires more justification. But now that the state’s largest health care providers and reform advocates are backing affordable housing initiatives, it brings new momentum and ideas to debates in Sacramento.