Dan Walters

A person kneels down to the floor to pet a small dog at surrounded by tents, bikes and other items at a homeless encampment at a parkway.

Commentary

Disorganization, city-county feuds impede California’s efforts to reduce homelessness

State officials can't tell what reduces homelessness due to program secrecy and a lack of coordination between city and county governments.

By

Dan Walters

• September 18, 2024

An ARCO station sign on the left foreground side of the frame showing gas prices ranging from $4.09 to $4.69 per gallon near a Sinclair station across the street with prices ranging from $3.99 to $4.59 per gallon.

Commentary

Gavin Newsom can’t prove price gouging at the pump but wants new refinery law

Gov. Gavin Newsom has called the Legislature into special session to deal with gas prices but offers scant evidence to back his allegations of price-gouging.

By

Dan Walters

• September 17, 2024

Commentary

California’s dysfunctional ‘dashboard’ of school ratings finally gets a well-deserved beatdown

Years ago, California education officials adopted a "dashboard" to inform the public about what was happening in public schools, but it was never very useful and now faces withering criticism.

By

Dan Walters

• September 13, 2024

Students line up on the first day of school at Loma Vista Elementary School in Salinas on Aug. 8, 2023. Photo by Semantha Norris, CalMatters

Commentary

California schools face twin perils: chronic absenteeism and declining enrollment

California's public schools face a one-two punch of decreasing enrollment and increasing truancy, which contribute to their financial distress.

By

Dan Walters

• September 12, 2024

Mattresses lay on top of each other in a makeshift playground at Stockton Park Village in Stockton on Nov. 22, 2022. Bob Riley, 87, lives in the area where he states that the owner let the park go and garbage hasn't been picked up for months. Photo by Rahul Lal, CalMatters

Commentary

Once again, California beats every other state when it comes to poverty

California has the unenviable position of having the nation's highest level of poverty, a new calculation shows, driven by its sky-high living costs. It's not the first time and likely won't be the last.

By

Dan Walters

• September 11, 2024

A person, wearing a light blue blouse, is led out of a building by another a law enforcement official while handcuffed.

Commentary

Convicted rapist Andrew Luster granted parole before California lawmakers close loophole

A 2016 penal reform ballot measure proposed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown had loopholes that eventually benefitted perpetrators of sex crimes. The Legislature recently voted to close one loophole that allowed notorious serial rapist Andrew Luster to be granted parole.

By

Dan Walters

• September 10, 2024

Commentary

Warehouse regulation bill attracts strange bedfellows in support and opposition

Culminating years of debate over the environmental impacts of Southern California's massive array of warehouses, the Legislature has passed a bill regulating future construction.

By

Dan Walters

• September 6, 2024

A plot of land with vehicles and various belongings staggered around while three people stand nearby a cart with items.

Commentary

California has spent billions on homelessness but lacks hard data on outcomes

California officials point fingers of blame at each other over the growing homelessness crisis, but hard data on how money has been spent and what effect it's had is lacking.

By

Dan Walters

• September 5, 2024