In summary

A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.

A cautious budget with a bold housing plan

Newly inaugurated Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes his first budget, takes cautious approach to spending and outlines assault on housing shortage.

Dr. Newsom wants to cure state’s tech disease

California chronically fails in using technology to improve state government operations, but Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to fix it.

Trump, Newsom share a similar problem

Donald Trump and Gavin Newsom have similar political problems in delivering on promises they made during their campaigns.

Brown leaves Newsom a managerial mess at DMV

Jerry Brown tends to shun responsibility for problems in state government and he’s leaving behind a doozy for successor Gavin Newsom – a managerial mess in the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Gavin Newsom’s keeping it all in the family

As Gavin Newson becomes governor of California, he’s writing a new chapter in the saga of four intertwined San Francisco families.

We want to hear from you

Want to submit a guest commentary or reaction to an article we wrote? You can find our submission guidelines here. Please contact CalMatters with any commentary questions: commentary@calmatters.org

Dan Walters has been a journalist for more than 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. He began his professional career in 1960, at age 16, at the Humboldt Times...