Dan Walters

An exterior view of City Hall in Sacramento near Cesar E. Chavez Plaza, on April 18, 2018. Photo via iStock Photo

Dan Walters

Sacramento, California’s capital, is also the capital of official sneakiness

California's capital city, Sacramento, has become a startling example of official sneakiness in how it conducts its business.

By

Dan Walters

• February 22, 2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom addresses the media during a press conference unveiling his 2024-25 January budget proposal at the Secretary of State Auditorium in Sacramento on Jan. 10, 2024. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

Gavin Newsom’s new budget is already leaking red ink as revenues fall behind

Six weeks ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a budget that would close a $38 billion deficit, but his elaborate financial maneuvers might not be enough.

By

Dan Walters

• February 21, 2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom addresses attendees during his inauguration for a second term at the Plaza de California in Sacramento on Jan. 6, 2023. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

Commentary

Gavin Newsom wants to resolve California’s long debate over mental health

California's efforts to care for the mentally ill date back to its admission as a state in 1850. The latest wrinkle is Proposition 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom's overhaul of mental health services.

By

Dan Walters

• February 20, 2024

Demonstrators rally outside of the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters in Los Angeles on Jan. 29, 2019. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo

Commentary

Unions strike a major blow in long-running conflict with Los Angeles charter schools

For years, school unions have waged a political war with charter school advocates. Los Angeles has been a major battleground. A new school board majority wants to evict some charters from its school buildings.

By

Dan Walters

• February 16, 2024

Students complete classwork at Stege Elementary School in Richmond on Feb. 6, 2023. Photo by Shelby Knowles for CalMatters

Commentary

California should not tolerate having so many children struggling to read

The ability to read is foundational for all other learning but California is not doing well. Adoption of a phonics-based system dubbed the "science of reading" has proven to be effective and should be universally adopted.

By

Dan Walters

• February 15, 2024

Students walk along the main walkway on the Madera Community College campus on Aug. 28, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Commentary

Community college bachelor’s degrees have been a win-win. California should offer more

After much political angst, California's community colleges have received limited authority to award four-year degrees. It's been a success for students that should be expanded.

By

Dan Walters

• February 14, 2024

Building a controversial tunnel on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, shown here on June 22, 2023, would cost $20 billion. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

Will cataloging California’s top policy issues inspire politicians to think long term?

California has many long-term public policy issues, but politicians tend to have short attention spans. A new legislative report that catalogs major issues could spur action.

By

Dan Walters

• February 13, 2024

A jumbo TV screen at the entrance of a restaurant in Florence, Kentucky promotes sports betting at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming, on Dec. 22, 2023. Photo by Carolyn Kaster, AP Photo

Commentary

Ironically, Californians and Missourians can’t legally bet on their Super Bowl teams

Sunday's Super Bowl in Las Vegas, the world capital of gambling, symbolizes the new alliance between professional sports leagues and the gambling industry. However, residents of the states with teams in the game, California and Missouri, cannot legally bet on it.

By

Dan Walters

• February 9, 2024

A pedestrian carries an umbrella while walking past a Silicon Valley Bank Private branch in San Francisco on March 14, 2023. Photo by Jeff Chiu, AP Photo

Commentary

Will California leaders nurture or strangle the state’s economic golden goose?

California's economic personality has undergone several dramatic changes over its 174-year history. How will state leaders address the economy's underlying problems and prepare for its uncertain future?

By

Dan Walters

• February 8, 2024

The state Capitol in Sacramento on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

Commentary

‘Trailer bills’ allow California lawmakers to enact policies with little public input

Over the last four decades, as California's state budget became more complicated, governors and legislators have used "trailer bills" to sometimes pass major legislation with little or no public input.

By

Dan Walters

• February 7, 2024