Dan Walters

Commentary

Blue-state California now harassing journalists

Now we have a second instance in which California law enforcement officials try to crack down on journalists who obtained information the officials didn't want them to have.

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• May 23, 2019

Commentary

Trump doing California a bullet train favor

President Donald Trump wants to claw back the federal money for California's bullet train project and may be doing the state a favor.

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• May 22, 2019

image of the Sacramento State Capitol

Commentary

California gets a hollow win in tax battle

As California prevails in its tax battle with inventor Gilbert Hyatt, the Supreme Court's ruling for the state in his case could foretell a battle over abortion rights.

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• May 20, 2019

The Plaza Apartments in downtown San Francisco. Multiple tenant protection bills face key votes next week.

Commentary

Can California crack its housing nut?

California has a big shortage of housing, and a controversial proposal shows it's a tough political nut to crack.

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• May 19, 2019

Commentary

Weekly Walters 05/17/2019

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

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• May 17, 2019

image of the Sacramento State Capitol

Commentary

A dangerous conflict-of-interest loophole

Public works project contracts are susceptible to insider dealing, and a pending bill in the Legislature might invite more misbehavior.

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• May 16, 2019

Farming needs are a flashpoint in California's water wars. Photo by Pgiam, istock.com

Commentary

Key conflicts roil California’s ever-evolving waterscape

How the state's water supplies are divvied up over the next few years could shift them from agriculture to urban use and environmental enhancement.

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• May 15, 2019

Commentary

Newsom must now deliver on promises

Gov. Gavin Newsom has promised action on a wide range of societal ills, but now must deliver.

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• May 15, 2019

Commentary

LA Unified: A gang that can’t shoot straight

Los Angeles Unified School District wants voters to approve a new tax, but it's undermining its pitch by incompetent—or duplicitous—actions.

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• May 13, 2019

image of the Sacramento State Capitol

Commentary

Demography is California’s destiny

Demography is destiny, and California is experiencing it right now. One consequence is a relative decline in political influence.

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• May 12, 2019