Dan Walters

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Even when the coronavirus health threat recedes, California will face a severe recession that will hammer state and local government budgets.

By

Dan Walters

• April 16, 2020

Commentary

Toilet paper short, food abundant

The panicky buying of toilet paper hints at the chaos that would occur if food was in short supply. We should have a new appreciation of what it takes to put food on our tables.

By

Dan Walters

• April 15, 2020

Commentary

Gavin Newsom has shined so far

Gov. Gavin Newsom has performed very well in managing California's piece of the coronoavirus pandemic but it's only been a month and many challenges lie ahead.

By

Dan Walters

• April 13, 2020

Commentary

California economy clobbered — for how long?

California's high-flying economy has crashed into the coronavirus and the effect is dramatic. But how long will it last and what will be the net effect?

By

Dan Walters

• April 5, 2020

Commentary

Three big Democratic clashes in California

Elections between competing factions of Democrats are the most interesting political duels in California, as three examples in Southern California show.

By

Dan Walters

• April 2, 2020

Commentary

California also failed to prepare

While the federal government and President Donald Trump take their lumps for failure to prepare for the pandemic, California officials, including former Gov. Jerry Brown, also were lax.

By

Dan Walters

• April 1, 2020

Commentary

PG&E makes two deals to survive

Two major actions should help PG&E's emergence from bankruptcy — a deal with Gov. Newsom and a guilty plea for the Camp Fire. But what then?

By

Dan Walters

• March 30, 2020

Commentary

Crisis reveals big financial shortcomings

The economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis has revealed problems in three sectors of the state government's finances that have long been ignored.

By

Dan Walters

• March 29, 2020

Commentary

Virus attacks California ballot measures

Among the coronavirus pandemic's many effects, it will alter the November election by keeping some proposals off the ballot and making approval for tax and bond measures more difficult.

By

Dan Walters

• March 26, 2020

Commentary

Newsom veers off the rails

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom caused alarm and confusion for Californians while making pronouncements about dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.

By

Dan Walters

• March 25, 2020