California Voices

Liz Bergeron, Pacific Crest Trail Association: Shortchanging our public lands is shameful and shortsighted given their value. The Pacific Crest Trail Association not only supports tackling the maintenance backlog, we support full and permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

California politicians often make sweeping policy decrees, then fail to check how the money to implement the policies is spent.

The state Supreme Court is making it easier for conflicts of interest in local bond issue transactions to go undetected. Think: baseball.

It's a new year and a new decade, but California still faces a mélange of contradictions.

Joe Buscaino, National League of Cities: Presidential candidates must commit to helping solve our housing and homelessness crises. Candidates should tell voters what their plan is to make sure every person has a place to call home. And whoever is elected in November must commit himself or herself to fulfilling a pledge to provide housing for all.

Stacy Torres, UC San Francisco: Before you toss off an “Ok Boomer” or a head-shaking, “Kids these days,” first consider our linked lives and destinies. Young people must understand that supporting policies to help elders increases their livelihoods. And elders can be more proactive in pushing for programs and policies that invest in young people’s well-being and growth.

Heather Cooley, Pacific Institute: California has a chance to model what a truly resilient water system looks like, combining nature and technology to make the most of every drop and dollar. Reuse reduces the need to divert water from streams already stressed by rising temperatures and shrinking snowpack and can curb ocean pollution associated with sewage outfalls.

Richard Thomason, Blue Shield of California Foundation: California can afford to invest more in the prevention of domestic violence. Research shows we can’t afford not to invest in research and programs to do the difficult work to stop the cycle of harm so that we can create a new generation of Californians who are safer and stronger than ever before.

Another chapter in the California bullet train saga as the state contemplates upgrades to San Joaquin Valley section now under construction.

Dr. Gilmore Chung, Venice Family Clinic: With the increased risk posed by the rise in fentanyl in our region, time is running out. Every Narcan prescription, every test for fentanyl in street drugs and every person who asks for help represent another chance to improve someone's health, prevent an unnecessary death and ultimately provide hope.