California Voices

Naava Ellenberg, a young Democrat: The California Democratic Party has announced a new program entitled the California Young Democrats Ambassador Program. With this program, two or three ambassadors will be non-voting members of every standing committee in the state’s party. Isn’t that great? We will get to be in the room where decisions are being made. Too bad we will have no say in those decisions.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has claimed ownership of the wildfire/Pacific Gas and Electric crisis, but now must deliver.

Sen. Jeff Stone, Riverside County Republican: Thanks to the liberal policies embraced by the governor and the Democratic majority, California has gasoline that is averaging $4.20 a gallon compared to the national average of $2.65, 2 million people had their power cut for days, and we are just one dry winter away from suffering through another man-made drought.

Emily Estus, UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and School of Public Health: To really improve services and get students the help they need, we need to break the cycle of perpetually underfunding student health and counseling by changing how we think about providing and funding care.

Attorneys general slant official summaries of ballot measures to affect what happens at the polls.

Juan Haines, San Quentin News: I’ve had my new set of teeth for about five months. Today, my friends compliment me on my smile. I put on a little weight and my health is much improved. And I appreciate that the governor and the Legislature have ended the $5 co-pay.

As California increases its income tax bite on the wealthy, some are tempted to flee, but how many do is debatable.

Mary Creasman, California League of Conservation Voters: We’re missing the bigger picture about the climate crisis. The PG&E power shut off is a story about the climate crisis and corporate greed. It is a story about how California is unprepared for the massive change we need to make in order to cope with what’s happening.

Californians pay high gasoline prices, but there's a "mystery surcharge" that Gov. Gavin Newsom wants investigated.

Christina Kim, Educators for Excellence-Los Angeles: Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law legislation by Sen. Nancy Skinner, Berkeley Democrat, to end suspensions for “willful defiance” for 4th through 8th-graders. This new law represents a big moment for California. We know that suspensions for willful defiance and disruption are too often used to push students, particularly students of color, out of school.