In summary
Highlighting all of CALmatters’ work over the past week
Recent Articles
LeBron James’ move to Lakers could cost him $20 million in taxes
By Judy Lin
Over the course of his four-year $153.3 million contract, LeBron James could pay more than $20 million in California income taxes. That’s about $1 for everyone in the state workforce.
If teachers strike at Los Angeles Unified School District, don’t expect it to stay in L.A.
By Ricardo Cano
The threatened teachers’ strike at Los Angeles Unified School District is already reverberating in public schools across California, and could be felt by taxpayers and communities throughout the state.
Minneapolis just eliminated single-family zoning. Should California cities follow suit?
By Matt Levin
Minneapolis made national headlines earlier this month when the city council forced neighborhoods previously zoned only for single family homes to allow the construction of duplexes and triplexes. Is this the right cure for California’s housing woes?
Could California succeed where Wall Street fails? Five things to know about a state-run bank
By Felicia Mello
There’s a surge of California interest in the idea of a state-run bank to support the weed market and fund student loans and affordable housing. But would it work?
The year in California politics, as told through Twitter: #2018
By Matt Levin
Californians suffered from déjà vu in 2018. Here’s a recap of some of the biggest stories in state politics, as told through the medium that once again dominated it.
How to become a farmer in California? Get a mentor
By Julia Mitric, California Dream Project
A new generation of small farmers in California—many with horticulture skills but little to no business background—are turning to nonprofit mentors to help them succeed.
Jerry Brown—most forgiving governor in modern California history
By Ben Christopher
Gov. Jerry Brown issued his regular Christmas pardons this week, concluding a record-breaking eight years that make him the most forgiving governor in modern California history.
What Jerry Brown fixed and couldn’t fix
By Dan Morain
Gov. Jerry Brown spoke of things he fixed, tried to fix and fears can never be fixed. He sat in the main room of the home he and Anne Gust Brown have built on land his great grandfather, August Schuckman, bought for $1 an acre in the 1850s. Newsom has not yet stopped by the Browns’ home. It’d be worth the trip.
Commentary
Brown Redux, Part 1: The son also rises
By Dan Walters
Jerry Brown’s political career got off to fast start, thanks to sharing his father’s name, but the relationship between the two was complex.
Brown Redux, Part 2: Could he have been president?
By Dan Walters
Jerry Brown made three failed bids to become president, but if he had played the game differently, he might have made it.
Brown Redux, Part 3: A second act in California politics
By Dan Walters
After a long absence from politics and stint on talk radio, Jerry Brown rekindled his career by running for mayor of Oakland.
Brown Redux, Part 4: What will be his legacy?
By Dan Walters
Jerry Brown’s legacy as the state’s longest serving governor will depend on how the policy changes he launched turn out in the long run.
My turn: Smart land use policy can help combat climate change
By F. Noel Perry and Dick Cameron
Through strategic land management, planning, and conservation practices, we can use our natural and working forests, parks, ranch land and farms to store carbon, and help cut greenhouse gas emissions while preparing for hotter, drier conditions.
My turn: Corporate boards must avoid ‘check-the-box’ mentality as they diversify
By Steven C. Currall
Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law requiring California-based publicly traded corporations to add women to their boards. Qualified women are available. Women should be added for their skills, not simply to increase gender diversity. The recent California legislation, however, does not address how increasing diversity impacts boardroom deliberations.
My turn: What new water deals mean and what work is left to be done
By Karla Nemeth
The California Department of Water Resources signed three agreements updating how the state and federal projects share environmental and financial obligations associated with their operations. They could help define how California’s water gets delivered. But significant decisions must be made in coming months.
My turn: Marriage, hope and asylum in the time of Trump
By Andrea Hartsough
A desire to work isn’t sufficient grounds for asylum. They needed to share their painful, personal, tragic stories, and document them if possible, in order to show a justifiable fear of returning to their country. Being married helps.