Commentary
Study provides new ammo for K-12 schools battle
A new study of California's K-12 schools concludes that the "achievement gap" remains large, and more efforts—along with a lot more money—are needed to close it.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yousef Baig
California Voices Editor
Denise Amos
California Voices Deputy Editor
Dan Walters
Columnist
Jim Newton
Contributor
Pedro Rios
Contributor
Robert Greene
Contributor
Commentary
Proposition 8: More regulation of kidney dialysis centers
Yes on Proposition 8: Kidney dialysis centers need more regulation for patient safety. No on Proposition 8: This initiative would harm patient care.
Commentary
Gov. Jerry Brown’s carbon-free legacy—at what cost?
Gov. Brown wants California to be a global leader in reducing or eliminating carbon emissions to fight global warming. But what that entails, and how much it costs, are blanks to be filled in later.
Commentary
Weekly Walters 09/14/2018
A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.
Commentary
My turn: Protect small businesses from predatory lending
By Mark Herbert Mark Herbert of Concord is Small Business Majority’s California director, mherbert@smallbusinessmajority.org. He wrote this commentary for CALmatters. Loans can make an entrepreneur’s dreams come true, but they can just as easily destroy those dreams. Leila Bardales found that out the hard way. Leila and her husband, part of Small Business Majority’s network […]
Commentary
Two education bills do the right things
Overcoming powerful opposition, the Legislature passed two bills that would, if signed, make it easier for adolescent students to learn and easier for older students to obtain college degrees.
Commentary
Proposition 10: Should California expand rent control?
By Peter Dreier Peter Dreier is E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics and founding chair of the Urban & Environmental Policy Department at Occidental College, dreier@oxy.edu. He wrote this commentary for CALmatters. Almost half of California’s population–17 million people–are renters. Many of them spend more than half of their income on rent, plunging many full-time […]
Commentary
Feinstein, Harris pursue agendas in Kavanaugh hearings
California's U.S. senators, Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris both played big roles in last week's confirmation hearings on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. While Feinstein was critical of the circus-like atmosphere of the hearings, Harris contributed to it. But both were pursuing personal political goals.
Commentary
My turn: Regulations and taxes stifle family businesses
By Grant Deary and Carol Burger Grant Deary is executive vice president overseeing marketing and external affairs for Nor-Cal Beverage Co., grantd@ncbev.com. Carol Burger is president of Burger Rehabilitation Systems, info@burgerrehab.com. They wrote this commentary for CALmatters. Family business owners look to the next quarter-century, not just the next quarter. We treat our employees as […]
Commentary
My turn: Students need the right tests, not more tests
California students need more than a test score. They need a test that opens the door to college.