Dan Walters

Students wears masks while working inside a 4th grade class amid the COVID-19 pandemic at Washington Elementary School in Lynwood on Jan. 12, 2022. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo

Commentary

Declining enrollment clobbers California’s schools

Declining enrollment in California's public schools pose a financial dilemma for local school systems and political issue for the governor and the Legislature.

By

Dan Walters

• April 26, 2022

Commentary

Marion Joseph was right about teaching phonics

While Marion Joseph, a fierce advocate for phonics in reading instruction, has died, one California school district's experience validates her position.

By

Dan Walters

• April 25, 2022

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

Commentary

Californians don’t get much bang for billions of bucks

Two new reports indicate that California taxpayers are not getting much bang for the billions of bucks they spend on public services.

By

Dan Walters

• April 24, 2022

California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks at a protest demanding the state make meaningful investments in crime prevention and healing in response to the pandemic-fueled rise in violence plaguing communities on the steps of the California State Capitol, February 23, 2022. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

Commentary

As COVID-19 recedes, Californians have new worries

A new poll found that Californians' worries about COVID-19 have receded, but their attention has shifted to some old issues and two new ones, crime and gas prices.

By

Dan Walters

• April 20, 2022

Commentary

Californians turn negative on high tax burdens

Californians bear one of the nation's highest tax burdens and two new polls indicate they are resenting it.

By

Dan Walters

• April 19, 2022

Sacramento Police crime scene investigators place evidence markers on 10th street at the scene of a mass shooting that killed six and injured 12 in Sacramento on Sunday, April 3, 2022. Photo by Jose Carlos Fajardo, Bay Area News Group

Commentary

Gov. Brown pushed for softer treatment of violent felons

Fingers of blame are being pointed about the early prison release of a man accused of being one of the shooters in a downtown Sacramento gang shootout. But the politician most responsible is former Gov. Jerry Brown.

By

Dan Walters

• April 18, 2022

People walk on a beach path as evening winds kick up sand in Long Beach on April 18, 2021. California's population has declined for the first time in its history and is now just under 39.5 million. AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Commentary

California’s shrinking population has big impacts

Expansive projections of California's population growth have been proven wrong and if anything, the state is now losing population with serious social and economic impacts.

By

Dan Walters

• April 10, 2022

At center, Monica Madrid, and other members of the community show their support at a candlelight vigil for the victims of a mass shooting, in Sacramento on April 5, 2022. Photo by Rahul Lal for CalMatters

Commentary

California’s gun restrictions are a failure

California has the nation's most restrictive gun laws but they have failed to stem the increase in gun ownership, the availability of illegal guns by criminals or gun violence.

By

Dan Walters

• April 6, 2022

Commentary

California labor law: how to sue employers

A law that Gray Davis signed in 2003, five days after voters decided to oust him from the governorship, is the the subject of new political and legal conflicts.

By

Dan Walters

• April 5, 2022

The California Aqueduct, a central component of the California State Water Project. Photo via iStock

Commentary

California water war peace treaty? Not quite

Gov. Gavin Newsom claims progress on settling California's decades-long conflict over water allocation but it's a partial deal at best

By

Dan Walters

• April 4, 2022