California Divide

Covering income inequality across the state

Families carry boxes full of fresh produce during a food bank event at El Verano elementary on Nov. 1, 2019. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

How hungry is California? Millions struggle to eat well in an abundant state

How bad is California hunger? A lot depends on your access to food aid, which expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic but is being reduced.

Rya Jetha

Jeanne Kuang

and

Jeremia Kimelman

Members of the Reparations Task Force listen to testimony during a hearing at the March Fong Eu Secretary of State offices in Sacramento on June 29, 2023. Photo by Semantha Norris, CalMatters

California Divide

California gets reparations recommendations, as some bemoan Supreme Court’s ruling and Newsom’s absence

The first-in-the-nation state-appointed task force report contains hundreds of recommendations for reparation, including a proposal that the state apologize and make financial amends for slavery and decades of racist policies.

Wendy Fry

Rya Jetha

and

Alexei Koseff

• June 29, 2023

An IN-N-OUT fast food restaurant in Encinitas on May 9, 2022. Photo by Mike Blake, Reuters

Politics

Is California using an old labor board to get around a fast food industry referendum?

An obscure 1910s-era labor board once regulated everything from canneries to film sets to sheep farms. Why is California trying to revive it now?

Jeanne Kuang

• June 27, 2023

Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes speaks to the crowd gathered for the Child Care Providers United rally at the state Capitol in Sacramento on June 15, 2023. Photo by Julie A Hotz for CalMatters

California Divide

California child care providers demand raises from Gov. Newsom as budget deadline looms

Providers say home daycare businesses may need to close if the state continues paying too little in child care subsidies.

Jeanne Kuang

• June 22, 2023

A customer picks produce at the farmers' market in Fairfield on June 15, 2023. Photo by Semantha Norris, CalMatters

Politics

How fresh will CalFresh be? Food benefits on the table in state budget talks

A popular program doubles CalFresh benefits to buy fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets. It is among the California food benefit programs on the table in the budget negotiations between legislative leaders and Gov. Newsom.

Rya Jetha

• June 19, 2023

Debris and water damaged furniture on the side of a road in Planada on Feb. 8, 2023. The town was hit by flooding in January after heavy rainstorms rolled through the area. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/Catchlight Local

California Divide

California flooding harmed 4 out of 5 households in this city. A study tallies the damage

Planada, a small mostly Latino town, was among the first to be flooded in January. Researchers say 83% of families suffered economic losses.

Nicole Foy

• June 15, 2023

A rental sign in front of an apartment complex in central Fresno on June 28, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

California Divide

Renters’ rights: California advocates chip away at landlords’ political influence

As groups representing landlords and real estate pour millions of dollars into political coffers to influence housing policy, tenant groups are celebrating recent victories.

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

• June 15, 2023

Tammy Rodriguez, 52, an employee with the San Luis Obispo Department of Motor Vehicles. Rodriguez has 27 years of state service, including five years in San Luis Obispo. June 5, 2023. Photo by Julie Leopo for CalMatters

California Divide

‘Down to our last dimes’: State workers say California paychecks no longer cover the bills

State workers say their lower than private sector salaries were offset by pensions, better benefits, job security. Is the tradeoff still worth it?

Jeanne Kuang

• June 14, 2023

Volunteers and staff with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano load groceries into cars in Vallejo on June 7, 2023. Photo by Shelby Knowles for CalMatters

California Divide

A catastrophic hunger crisis? California food banks are being flooded by families seeking help

As extra pandemic benefits end, food banks say that they're becoming long-term supermarkets for Californians facing food insecurity. Several bills to boost CalFresh are before the Legislature, but the state budget deficit may get in the way.

Rya Jetha

• June 9, 2023

Downtown Fresno on June 17, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

California Divide

Why Fresno? This California downtown has a $250 million earmark in Gavin Newsom’s budget

The money will go to infrastructure, parking, and other investments city leaders say would lure residential developers to downtown.

Nicole Foy

• June 7, 2023

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

California Divide

Welfare: As US tightens work rules, California considers loosening them

State lawmakers want to loosen CalWORKs job requirements so people keep cash benefits. Congress’ debt limit deal could curb that.

Jeanne Kuang

• June 2, 2023