California Voices

J.P. Rose and Tiffany Yap, Center for Biological Diversity: California should list mountain lions under the state endangered species act. Listing imperiled cougar populations under our endangered species law would finally give state and local decision-makers a clear legal requirement to protect them.

Tonia McMillian, Child Care Providers United: Child care workers are largely women of color. We have suffered for too long without a recognized voice in our industry. That’s why my provider sisters and I have spent the past two decades fighting to gain respect for the work we do, and for access to a union.

Shouldn't public schools be as accountable for outcomes as charter schools, for-profit colleges and community colleges?

Re: “Later school start times is no solution for teenagers,” Oct. 4, 2019 As a physician specializing in sleep medicine, I am concerned by the misleading statements in the Oct. 4 guest commentary. The commentary ignores the key health issue that schools that start too early for the sleep needs of adolescents are the primary modifiable […]

Alan Steinbrecher and Sean SeLegue, State Bar of California: Only 27% of low-income Californians received legal services when they needed them. People above the income threshold for legal aid barely fared better. In short, the vast majority of Californians who have a problem that could be resolved or mitigated with a legal solution instead struggle alone with their problems. The State Bar is working on solutions that could affect the legal profession.

Private colleges and universities educate many students who are parents. They should have equal access of CalGrants with student-parents at public universities and colleges.

Clare Coleman and Julie Rabinovitz, Essential Access Health: In California, home to the largest, most comprehensive Title X provider network in the nation, a broad range of agencies have withdrawn from program participation. These include federally qualified health centers, city and county health departments, Planned Parenthood affiliates, and women's health clinics. California could start facing some real barriers to access, including longer wait times, and cutbacks in outreach programs and health center hours.

Government regulation is supposed to protect the public but it also spawns political maneuvering by economic interests.

Steve Swatt and Susie Sawtt, authors: By late 1958, a handful of fed-up Beverly Hills moms–many with husbands in the entertainment industry–had had enough. Savvy in the ways of publicity, the women of SOS held colorful marches and publicity stunts to garner public attention and support. Often, they brought their children to events wearing gas masks. The group earned a reputation as a tenacious fighter for families fearful of dirty, unhealthful air.

The California Paradox is incredible economic prosperity amidst rising poverty and income disparity.