In summary

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

A dangerous conflict-of-interest loophole

Public works project contracts are susceptible to insider dealing, and a pending bill in the Legislature might invite more misbehavior.

Newsom must now deliver on promises

Gov. Gavin Newsom has promised action on a wide range of societal ills, but now must deliver.

LA Unified: A gang that can’t shoot straight

Los Angeles Unified School District wants voters to approve a new tax, but it’s undermining its pitch by incompetent—or duplicitous—actions.

Demography is California’s destiny

Demography is destiny, and California is experiencing it right now. One consequence is a relative decline in political influence.

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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...