Commentary

Students are joining teachers in the rain today on the picket line at Marshall High School in Los Angeles, as an LAUSD teachers strike began. Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News

Commentary

Two crises point to a larger societal ill

A strike by Los Angeles Unified School District teachers and Pacific Gas and Electric's announced intention to declare bankruptcy are symptoms of a larger malady of arrogance and irresponsibility by large institutions.

By Dan Walters • January 20, 2019

Commentary

My turn: What Trump could have said from the Oval Office

What if Donald Trump had used those nine minutes, or even a portion of them, to convey a different message, one that reminded us of what binds us rather than what separates us, reminded us to help those, as the song says, who are walking on the boulevard of broken dreams? What if?

By Guest Commentary • January 19, 2019

Climate Change

My turn: Air board’s plan to raise fees threatens our economy and climate goals

The California Air Resources Board has adopted an aggressive regulation, baking in higher consumer and industry costs in the hope of squeezing out more emission reductions. This approach not only flouts the express will of the Legislature, but undermines the moral authority for engaging in state-level greenhouse gas regulation.

By Guest Commentary • January 18, 2019

Commentary

Weekly Walters 01/18/2019

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

By Dan Walters • January 18, 2019

Commentary

My turn: Why I joined the picket line at Manual Arts High in L.A.

For many people outside Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Unified School District strike might seem far away, with little relevance to their daily lives. But the strike hits closer to home than you might think.

By Guest Commentary • January 17, 2019

Commentary

My turn: Finally, California seems determined to end homelessness

If our government is going to truly prioritize housing all Californians, cities and counties must be required to put a significant portion of any incentive funding from the state toward directly supporting the production of homes at levels affordable to people most in need.

By Guest Commentary • January 17, 2019

Commentary

Should California revive redevelopment?

Seven years ago, Jerry Brown and the Legislature abolished redevelopment. There are efforts to bring it back, but Brown's successor as governor, Gavin Newsom, has thrown cold water on the idea.

By Dan Walters • January 17, 2019

Commentary

My turn: Sell PG&E for parts and build community energy instead

By Catherine Brinkley Catherine Brinkley is an assistant professor of human ecology at University of California, Davis, who has written extensively on community energy infrastructures, ckbrinkley@ucdavis.edu. She wrote this commentary for CALmatters. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is filing for bankruptcy. Again. When PG&E filed in 2001, it was the third largest bankruptcy filing in […]

By Guest Commentary • January 16, 2019

Commentary

State tax reforms or state tax increases?

California's budget is dangerously dependent on taxing a relative handful of wealthy people. Newly inaugurated Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will work on tax reform.

By Dan Walters • January 16, 2019

More apartments would go up near transit under a bill that its sponsor says is vital to helping California meet its ambitious housing goals. Photo via Creative Commons.

Commentary

My turn: Don’t blame environmental law for California’s housing crisis

As legislators resume discussions regarding policy solutions, we must be clear: California’s environmental regulations did not cause the housing crisis and eviscerating the California Environmental Quality Act would harm disadvantaged communities.

By Guest Commentary • January 15, 2019

Commentary: California Voices

Sign In