California Voices

Viewpoints from across California

A group of five people, dressed in professional attire, sit on chairs on a stage in front of a crowd, with a banner behind them reading “Governor Candidate Forum.” Four of the five people sitting on stage have their hands up to answer the question while a crowd of people watches in the dark.

No clear frontrunner for governor, but new poll names five with the best shot

A poll shows three Democrats and two Republicans have voter support percentages in the teens. The top two vote-getters in June will face off in November.

By Dan Walters

A person in medical protective clothing, wearing a face mask and a hair net, pushes a hospital gurney through a hallway inside a hospital, viewed from an open door.

She spent six of her last years in arbitration with her HMO. Her husband’s still fighting the system

Arbitrators in medical disputes are supposed to be unbiased, but this couple suspected there is an incentive to favor HMO’s in arbitration.

By Stephen Martinez

Two people face each other as they speak: the person on the left has a happy expression and her arm to her chest, while the person on the right wears a grey suit jacket and glasses. Both people are standing in a park area on a sunny day. In the background is a fence to a baseball field.

A former political ally tests LA liberals’ allegiance to Mayor Karen Bass

Mayor Karen Bass isn't vulnerable on her right, but she may be on her left, as City Councilmember Nithya Raman, a Democratic Socialist and ex-supporter, runs against her.

By Jim Newton

A close-up view of a person's hand holding a sign that reads "We wants answers! No more deaths!" and they stand at the front steps of a building surrounded by other people holding signs.

California promised accountability for inmate deaths in jails. A year later, no results.

Lawmakers passed a law creating a state department to review inmate deaths, but it hasn’t completed a single death review in its first year.

By David Myers

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

California also failed to prepare

While the federal government and President Donald Trump take their lumps for failure to prepare for the pandemic, California officials, including former Gov. Jerry Brown, also were lax.

By Dan Walters • April 1, 2020

Commentary

If we can safely distance at the grocery store, surely we can do the same at parks

Instead of closing California parks and trails to halt the transmission of the coronavirus, why can’t we safely manage these resources with safe distancing.

By Guest Commentary • March 31, 2020

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks plays with her two-year-old daughter, Josephine Ambler, on her desk after being sworn into the California Assembly, December 3, 2018 at the State Capitol in Sacramento, California. Photo by Max Whittaker for CalMatters

Capitol

California election 2020: Will women continue to gain ground?

The number of women in the California Legislature is at an all-time high, but fewer than one-third is female. Will their numbers increase in November?

By Guest Commentary • March 31, 2020

Commentary

What a cost-analysis shows of going back to work during the coronavirus pandemic vs. California’s stay-at-home policy

In dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, is the stay-at-home cure (advocated by Gov. Newsom) worse than the economic problem (President Trump would like to end)? Read this cost analysis.

By Guest Commentary • March 30, 2020

Commentary

California must seize the opportunity to become a pioneer in online higher education

Spurred to offer online college courses because of the coronavirus pandemic, California should invest in an innovative education strategy.

By Guest Commentary • March 30, 2020

Commentary

PG&E makes two deals to survive

Two major actions should help PG&E's emergence from bankruptcy — a deal with Gov. Newsom and a guilty plea for the Camp Fire. But what then?

By Dan Walters • March 30, 2020

Commentary

L.A. County presented with ambitious plan to change its justice system to system of care

A report presented to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors lays out an ambitious justice system reform plan that would remove many people from incarceration to safe care.

By Guest Commentary • March 29, 2020

Commentary

Crisis reveals big financial shortcomings

The economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis has revealed problems in three sectors of the state government's finances that have long been ignored.

By Dan Walters • March 29, 2020

clean transportation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

Capitol

Governor, Legislature must help hydrogen power California’s clean transportation future

Much attention is focused on battery-powered vehicles, but state policymakers recognize the need for another clean transportation alternative: hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

By Guest Commentary • March 28, 2020

Commentary

In California’s battle against the coronavirus, we have a new class of superheroes

The Healthforce Center team at UC San Francisco has crafted a multi-front coronavirus battle plan for California Gov. Newsom that could redesign our health care system.

By Guest Commentary • March 27, 2020