Dan Walters

San Francisco City Hall lit up red, white and blue for Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

In Los Angeles County and San Francisco, government reform is on the ballot

In November voters in Los Angeles and San Francisco will decide whether to overhaul the structure of their local government.

By

Dan Walters

• August 30, 2024

A person in a kitchen at a fast-food restaurant prepares a meal, while in the foreground, four trays sit on a counter.

Commentary

California’s fast food workers got a $20 minimum wage, but is it working? It’s debatable

After months of political maneuvering and negotiations, California's fast food workers got a minimum wage hike. Whether that resulted in fewer jobs is still in dispute.

By

Dan Walters

• August 29, 2024

Commentary

With 28 months to go, will Newsom now pay more attention to his day job?

In his second term, Newsom still has 28 months as governor. Will he pay more attention to his governance record, or will he continue his quest for national relevance?

By

Dan Walters

• August 28, 2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom, wearing a navy blue suit, claps as other attendees behind him hold signs that read "We love Joe."

Commentary

As Kamala Harris ascends to presidential nominee, Gavin Newsom’s political future remains cloudy

With Vice President Kamala Harris anointed as the nominee for president, Gov. Gavin Newsom's presidential ambitions, if any, are blocked at least for the time being.

By

Dan Walters

• August 27, 2024

California Governor Jerry Brown leaves the Assembly Chambers after his final State of the State address at the State Capitol in Sacramento Jan. 25, 2018. Photo by Max Whittaker

Commentary

Oakland needs serious leadership changes. What about bringing back Jerry Brown?

Oakland often seems like California's municipal basket case with problems almost too numerous to list. It needs some adult supervision. How about Jerry Brown?

By

Dan Walters

• August 23, 2024

Gas prices at a filling station in west Fresno on May 7, 2024. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Commentary

As inflation keeps hitting pocketbooks, California politicians scramble to respond

Inflation keeps biting Californians, and politicians at the federal and state level are scrambling to align themselves with the angst that voters feel.

By

Dan Walters

• August 22, 2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed the media to unveil his 2024-25 January budget proposal at the Secretary of State Auditorium in Sacramento on Jan. 10, 2024. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

California sued twice after enacting a corporate tax law with billions at stake

A decades-old battle over taxing corporate income has been rekindled in a dispute involving Microsoft, a retroactive change in taxation law and two lawsuits.

By

Dan Walters

• August 21, 2024

A police car parked on the sidewalk of a store as pedestrians walk by or ride their scooters.

Commentary

Crime was once California’s biggest political issue. It’s made a major comeback

Crime was once an issue that drove California politics before Democratic lawmakers and voters enacted reforms. Decades later, it has returned as a potent political force with a ballot measure that seems to be winning.

By

Dan Walters

• August 20, 2024

Commentary

Big Medicine and Newsom square off in battle over billions in health care tax dollars

Major payers in California's health care industry are pushing a ballot measure that would punch a hole in the state budget, blocking it from tapping a special health care tax.

By

Dan Walters

• August 16, 2024

A close up frame of a self-checkout kiosk at a Walmart in Compton.

Commentary

Unions try to protect jobs in California with legislation to limit use of digital technology

Digital technology has transformed the workplace, but unions hope to protect jobs by limiting its use in grocery stores.

By

Dan Walters

• August 15, 2024