California Voices

Debra Gore-Mann and Paul Goodman, Greenlining Institute: California needs to hold internet service providers accountable. The Federal Communications Commission—the federal agency that is supposed to regulate them—is being run by a chairman bent on eliminating every consumer protection he can get his hands on.

Will California force local communities to shelter the homeless? Gov. Gavin Newsom may be leaning in that direction.

Mike Males, Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice: Young people deserve a lot better than yet another recycling of so-called “reforms” pushed by interest groups casting about for more clients to rescue a failed juvenile system California should be reforming out of existence.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's budget presentation indicates anew that he wants to become president.

Raphael J. Sonenshein, Pat Brown Institute at Cal State L.A.: Health care in the Democratic presidential debates has largely focused on Medicare for All versus the more incremental public option. Medicare for All has great appeal to many Democrats, but struggles with other voters. Why don’t candidates talk about a program with wide appeal—Medicaid.

Ling Ling Chang, Republican Diamond Bar: With sex-trafficked children constantly kept on the move, law enforcement agencies in multiple jurisdictions and non-profit service providers must work together. That’s why I introduced Senate Bill 35. Although Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed this legislation, I remain steadfast in my commitment to combating sexual predators who take advantage of trafficking victims.

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to ramp up spending on "entitlements" but the state's economy is showing signs of slowing.

Jody Hudson, Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation: With one unnoticed bite, Alex Hudson had gone from a healthy athletic 12-year-old bundle of energy to bearing a decade-long burden of an incapacitating and unknown disease. I still have many questions about how Alex’s condition could have gone undiagnosed for so long. But I choose to look forward in making a positive change, and not look back at what should have happened in her case.

State and federal demographers differ on California's population and the 2020 census will settle the conflict. California could lose a congressional seat due to slow population growth.

Bill Lucia, EdVoice: Nearly half of California students can’t read at grade level. The key to developing strong readers is providing teachers with the preparation and knowledge. Lawmakers should make teaching practices based on the science of reading a budgetary and policy priority.