In summary

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

1872 law gives police a license to kill

Shooting first and asking questions later might have been acceptable police conduct in 1872 California. It can’t be in the 21st century.

State Supreme Court ducks key pension issue

The California Supreme Court has ducked a fundamental issue in state’s pension crisis, leaving “California rule” up in the air.

Newsom housing plan may have fatal flaw

Gov. Gavin Newsom is taking a carrot-and-stick approach to California’s housing shortage, but it may have a fatal flaw.

A crackdown on misusing public funds for campaigns?

The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission wants the authority to prosecute local government officials who misuse public funds for campaigns.

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...