Dan Walters

Apprentices sort through wire ropes called chokers at Iron Workers in Benicia on June 20, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

Commentary

California economy lags, but not Nebraska

California's economy was tied for the nation's highest unemployment rate in October while Nebraska had the lowest.

By

Dan Walters

• December 5, 2021

Commentary

California gun law headed to Supreme Court?

California's ban on firearms magazines holding more than 10 rounds has been upheld by a federal appeals court - but the U.S. Supreme Court may have the last word.

By

Dan Walters

• December 1, 2021

An active farmer's alfalfa field in Lancaster, on July 2, 2021. Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

Commentary

Drought has big impacts on California agriculture

California's serious and prolonged drought is having serious and prolonged impacts on California's agricultural industry, the nation's largest.

By

Dan Walters

• November 30, 2021

Commentary

Crime could become hot issue in 2022

Political reaction to a spate of smash-and-grab retail thefts indicates that crime could be a hot button issue in next year's California elections.

By

Dan Walters

• November 29, 2021

A vacant parking lot overlooked by the Urban Town House Project construction site in Long Beach, on July 22, 2021. The affordable housing project will be for low-income families. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

Commentary

California housing crisis drifts toward political war

California politicians have been jousting over the state's chronic housing shortage but now the debate is turning into a political war.

By

Dan Walters

• November 28, 2021

An election and redistricting illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

Commentary

LA County’s board is too small for 10 million people

Los Angeles County has 10 million residents but just five county supervisors. The difficulty of drawing new supervisorial districts underscores the need to enlarge the county's governing board.

By

Dan Walters

• November 24, 2021

Commentary

Will high-income Californians get a big tax break?

One of the sticking points in President Joe Biden's $1.85 trillion social policy legislation is a change in tax law that would have huge effects on California.

By

Dan Walters

• November 23, 2021

Legislative budget leaders announced a deal on Tuesday. Image via iStock

Commentary

How should California spend its big budget surplus?

California's treasury is awash in money, even as the state's overall economy is sluggish, and the debate is beginning over how to spend the huge surplus.

By

Dan Walters

• November 22, 2021

Commentary

‘Achievement gap’ still plagues California schools

In 2013, California's system of financing public schools was overhauled in an effort to close the "achievement gap," but we still don't know whether it's working.

By

Dan Walters

• November 21, 2021

Commentary

Paying so much to earn so little

Why do California students take on immense debts for college educations that result in jobs that pay so little? Call it "diploma creep."

By

Dan Walters

• November 17, 2021