Commentary

A person stands at a podium smiling while speaking to a crowd, with large teal campaign signage in the background reading “Becerra for Governor.” Four other people stand on the left side of stage as they look towards the speaker.

If California’s race for governor is a stress test for democracy, it’s failing

The top-two primary system can produce chaos and disengaged voters. This year’s picks for governor are coming from a small share of voters.

By Daniel Wolf

A person smiles and applauds while standing in front of a large blue-and-yellow campaign sign. They wear a floral-patterned outer layer over dark clothing and are photographed outdoors in daylight.

Pratt out, Raman in: What Los Angeles voters can now expect in the mayoral race

Nithya Raman's success at making the runoff in the L.A. mayor's race means Karen Bass will need to answer difficult questions about high living costs and public safety.

By Jim Newton

A side-view of a person with short gray hair and wearing a black blazer, as look towards another person. A stage with red, blue curtains and a banner that reads "Voters Decide" can be seen in the background, alongside blurred people.

Mahan, Villaraigosa just learned why so few California mayors make the leap to governor

Few California mayors ever become governor. Their skills might be perfectly suited to the job, but those exact same skills, when exercised, may be precisely what makes voters wary of them.

By Robert Greene

A person wearing a baseball cap and a pink scarf over a white shirt places yellow flowers on a pile of other flowers on the concrete outside of a detention center. The person is inside a circle of people during a vigil around a flagpole outside the detention center.

Long after protests ended, this interfaith group rallies to remember LA immigrants taken by ICE

An interfaith group known as the "godmothers of the disappeared" meets weekly at the federal courthouse in Los Angeles to remember and advocate for the people detained by immigration authorities over the last year.

By George B. Sánchez-Tello

The Grand Central Market in Los Angeles, on Jan. 19, 2022. Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

Commentary

California restaurants shouldn’t be shocked law banning ‘junk fees’ applies to them

California restaurant operators are apparently shocked that a new law prohibiting so-called "junk fees" will apply to their industry, saying it will adversely affect their businesses.

By Dan Walters • May 7, 2024

Commentary

California restricts how police respond to protests. Why were bean bag shotguns used at UCLA?

A 2021 California law restricts when police can use rubber bullets, bean bag rounds and tear gas on protesters. A retired LAPD officer questions why less lethal munitions appeared to be indiscriminately fired into the pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA last week.

By Jeff Wenninger • May 6, 2024

A machine separating manure from waste water being fed into the digester at the Legacy Ranches near Pixley on Sept. 29, 2023. Several farms house digestors systems that feeds methane gas to the CalGren facility to produce renewable natural gas. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Reader Reactions

Sustainable farms need to come together, not cast blame over California methane program

Many California farmers have embraced sustainability and strive to curb their climate impact. Instead of casting blame over controversial programs, a Merced farmer says industry peers should be working together.

By Simon Vander Woude • May 3, 2024

A crowd gathers on the pier to celebrate Independence Day in Santa Monica on July 4, 2021. Photo by Kyusung Gong, AP Photo

Commentary

After losing population in recent years, California is starting to grow again. Is that a good thing?

California has long experienced economic and population booms and busts. After several years of population decline, the state is beginning to grow again. Is that a good trend or a negative one?

By Dan Walters • May 3, 2024

The San Gabriel Mountains behind the city of Los Angeles, from Kenneth Hahn Park on Feb. 26, 2023. Photo by Mike Blake, Reuters

Commentary

LA quality of life is at a record low, survey shows. Why political leaders shouldn’t ignore that

Some local officials may simply ignore the results of UCLA's annual quality-of-life survey of Los Angeles, which reported the lowest score in its nine years. The better response would be to dig deeper into the results because there is policy guidance within the data.

By Jim Newton • May 2, 2024

California's report on the state's own financial health is tardy again. The state Capitol in Sacramento on April 29, 2024. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

Lagging revenue continues to drive California budget deficit as deadline nears

With the June 15 deadline for the state budget approaching, the amount of tax revenues and the size of the budget deficit loom large for California Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislators.

By Dan Walters • May 2, 2024

Commentary

USC decision to deploy police on Gaza war protesters distorts public perception against students

A University of Southern California student says the actions and statements by administrators in recent weeks, including the decision to send police to arrest 93 pro-Palestinian protesters, has wrongly skewed public sentiments against their own students.

By Antonio Wu • May 1, 2024

Casa Sueños, an affordable housing complex at 3500 E. 12th St. in Oakland on Aug 7, 2023. Photo by Semantha Norris, CalMatters

Commentary

New battlegrounds emerge in California’s endless housing conflict

California's perpetual political war over housing, pitting the state against local communities, has two new battlegrounds: one on the San Francisco Peninsula, the other in Southern California.

By Dan Walters • May 1, 2024

Physician assistant Brett Feldman checks his patient, Carla Bolen’s, blood pressure while in her encampment at the Figueroa St. Viaduct above Highway 110 in Elysian Valley Park in Los Angeles on Nov. 18, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Commentary

California needs constitutional change if it wants to get serious about homelessness

A California woman who was previously homeless says a proposed constitutional amendment is a critical step to ensure the state has enough housing for every person.

By Kim Reeder • April 30, 2024

Sheep grazing near solar panels at the Kettleman City Power solar farm on July 27, 2022 Sheep are let into the facility to eat bugs and graze on dry grass that could be a fire hazard. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Commentary

As California cracks down on groundwater, what will happen to fallowed farmland?

California water regulators are cracking down on the overuse of groundwater by farmers. Enforcement could prompt them to idle thousands of acres of farmland and poses larger questions about what will happen to the affected fields.

By Dan Walters • April 30, 2024

California Voices

Viewpoints from across California