Dan Walters

California Governor Jerry Brown and Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom greet well wishers after Brown delivered his final state of the state address in Sacramento on Jan. 25, 2018. Photo by Fred Greaves, REUTERS

Commentary

Newsom adopts Jerry Brown’s ‘canoe theory’ of political shifting

Gov. Gavin Newsom appears to be following predecessor Jerry Brown's "canoe theory" of politics, paddling alternatively on the left and right with his vetoes and bill signings.

By

Dan Walters

• September 26, 2023

A home burns as the Camp Fire rages through Paradise on Nov. 8, 2018. Photo by Noah Berger, AP Photo

Commentary

California Legislature whiffs on insurance crisis, punting to Newsom and Lara

The California Legislature adjourned this month without resolving the issue facing homeowners and their declining ability to acquire fire insurance. A move by the insurance commissioner to try and intervene seemed to double down on a major tradeoff.

By

Dan Walters

• September 25, 2023

A homeless encampment on W Street and Alhambra Boulevard in Sacramento on April 11, 2023.

Commentary

California politicians point fingers as tolerance of homelessness wears thin

As California's homelessness crisis continues, its politicians are carping over who should be held responsible for resolving it.

By

Dan Walters

• September 24, 2023

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at an event in anticipation of signing a bill on his proposed profit penalty plan in Sacramento on March 28, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr. , CalMatters

Commentary

Newsom burnishes his national image by waging new attack on oil industry

Emulating previous California politicians, Gov. Gavin Newsom is singling out the oil industry as he tries to build his national political image.

By

Dan Walters

• September 20, 2023

Fast food workers rally at the state Capitol in Sacramento on Aug. 31, 2023. Photo by Rahul Lal for CalMatters

Commentary

Few California workers belong to unions, but they scored big in Legislature this year

With a new leader at the helm, California's labor unions achieved major gains in this year's legislative session, even though only 17% of the state's workers belong to unions.

By

Dan Walters

• September 19, 2023

Fast food workers rally at the state Capitol in Sacramento on Aug. 31, 2023

Commentary

Compromise settles dispute over status of franchises in fast food industry

An 11th hour compromise in the Legislature settled a conflict over whether a new state agency would set wages and working conditions in the fast food industry and implicitly undermine the franchise business system.

By

Dan Walters

• September 18, 2023

A view of the stagnant water above Iron Gate dam, one of three dams being removed on the Klamath River on July 17, 2023. Once the dams are removed, this water reservoir will be restored to a flowing river. Photo by Semantha Norris, CalMatters

Commentary

Water rights reformers scored only a minor victory in the Legislature

Three measures to overhaul state oversight of water use, giving the state water board more authority over holders of senior water rights, were introduced in the Legislature this year but the most important two died.

By

Dan Walters

• September 17, 2023

In this photo illuminated by an off-camera flash, several homeless people stand next to their tents across the street from a luxury apartment building in Los Angeles on Jan. 17, 2023. Photo by Jae C. Hong, AP Photo

Commentary

California keeps its title as having the nation’s highest poverty rate

California has retained its position as having the worst poverty of any state, thanks to its very high living costs and a large low-income underclass.

By

Dan Walters

• September 13, 2023

Gov. Gavin Newsom stands offstage during a press conference on Feb. 1, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Commentary

Gov. Gavin Newsom may regret pledges to Black Californians

Gov. Gavin Newsom's promises to Black Californians about filling U.S. Senate seat and providing reparations for the lingering effects of slavery might be harder to fulfill than he originally thought.

By

Dan Walters

• September 12, 2023

People's Park in Berkeley on Aug. 16, 2022. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he'll work this year to reform a landmark state environmental law that he says has been weaponized by wealthy homeowners to block badly-needed housing for students at the University of California, Berkeley. Photo by Eric Risberg, AP Photo

Commentary

California housing policy takes two steps forward and one back

The last days of the 2023 session of the California Legislature have produced two major bills to close loopholes that anti-housing interests employ to block projects. But housing policy suffered a setback in the settlement of a lawsuit against San Bernardino.

By

Dan Walters

• September 11, 2023