Dan Walters

Commentary

Newsom’s vacillation on vaccinations, Phase 2

Another heated confrontation over vaccinations is looming in California's Capitol and once again Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to straddle the fence.

By

Dan Walters

• January 26, 2022

A worker welds. As California attracts higher-educated workers, it is running out of blue-collar labor. Photo via iStock

Commentary

California’s poor face new dilemma: inflation

California has the nation's highest poverty rate, COVID-19 has hit poor families the hardest and they must now contend with escalating inflation of living costs.

By

Dan Walters

• January 25, 2022

Commentary

Can downtown Sacramento recover from COVID-19?

Downtown Sacramento has been hard hit by COVID-19, stalling its recovery from years of decay. Can it snap back?

By

Dan Walters

• January 24, 2022

Commentary

Will California’s new school data system really work?

Gov. Gavin Newsom is creating a new system to collect data on education that should tell Californians how well schools are performing, but healthy skepticism is warranted.

By

Dan Walters

• January 23, 2022

Commentary

California politicos now talking tough on crime

California's liberal politicians are talking tough on criminals as the state sees an upsurge in robberies, homicides and other crimes.

By

Dan Walters

• January 19, 2022

Commentary

Newsom backs away from single-payer health care pledge

California Gov. Gavin Newsom once promised to bring single-payer health coverage to the state but is now content to settle for something less.

By

Dan Walters

• January 18, 2022

Dan Walters

California leads, but where is it going?

As California politicians boast about nation-leading policies, they are also unwinding older policies that once led the nation.

By

Dan Walters

• January 17, 2022

A concerned doctor reads medical information in a hospital hallway. More than 1300 doctors applied for a new California program in which the state pays down their student loans in exchange for their agreement to treat Medi-Cal patients.

Commentary

California tries new approach on social maladies

Faced with myriad social pathologies, California will try a new approach - more integrated and aggressive treatment.

By

Dan Walters

• January 16, 2022

Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed the media during a press conference where he unveiled his budget proposal for 2022-23 in Sacramento on Jan. 10, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

Newsom bases budget on rosy economic scenario

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's new budget would spend nearly $300 billion in the 2022-23 fiscal year, but will the revenues support the plan?

By

Dan Walters

• January 12, 2022

Commentary

California’s school crisis gets short shrift

California's huge public school system is in crisis, with declining academic achievement and financial squeezes, but Gov. Gavin Newsom new budget gives it short shrift.

By

Dan Walters

• January 11, 2022