We have a housing package! It’s such big news, we’re breaking it into two mega-pods: This week dedicated to the politics behind the package, and next week to its crucial policy details. Matt and Liam discuss the late-night drama at the Capitol (6:50), Asm. Marc Levine as YIMBY heel (9:30), the broad political forces that […]
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Posted inPolitics
How much will California redistricting shift political power?
California’s citizens redistricting commission is designed to be nonpartisan, but party politics will be influenced by its final congressional and legislative maps. Most studies say Democrats will still have the upper hand.
Posted inPolitics
California redistricting: Which incumbents are in tough spots?
The state’s redistricting commission isn’t supposed to consider where current elected officials live. And the preliminary maps put some House members and state legislators into less politically friendly districts, or in the same district as another incumbent.
Posted inWhatMatters
Newsom is running out of time
Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, October 7. Big decisions await T-minus three days. That’s how much time Gov. Gavin Newsom has left to decide the fate of the remaining bills on his desk — and as the deadline draws nearer, the buildup for big-ticket and contentious proposals is getting more intense. The direct impact of […]
Posted inWhatMatters
Fighting fire with fire
Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, September 21. Big 2022 campaign issue Fires move fast, but politicians move faster. Early Monday, Assemblymember Marc Levine of San Rafael announced plans to challenge fellow Democrat and State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in 2022, charging that Lara hasn’t done enough to prevent Californians living in fire-prone areas from losing […]
Posted inCommentary
California wildfires ignite an insurance crisis
California’s never-ending wildfires have ignited an insurance crisis that demands bold new thinking.
Posted inWhatMatters
In switch, lawmakers accelerate Newsom recall election
Democratic lawmakers are taking steps to move up the date of the all-but-certain election to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom — a sign they may be listening to arguments that doing so could help him stay in office. Thursday morning, the state Department of Finance released estimates showing it would cost California’s 58 counties at least […]
Posted inWhatMatters
Public safety debate reignites
Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, May 27. Surge in gun violence A Wednesday mass shooting at a San Jose rail yard that left nine people dead, including the gunman, has revived what seems to be an endless cycle: calls for immediate action that eventually peter out until the next crisis hits. President Joe Biden, condemning […]
Posted inWhatMatters
Key reason unemployment rate fell: Californians dropped out of workforce
It’s a troubling trend: For two out of three months in 2021, California’s unemployment rate shrank partly from thousands of people dropping out of the workforce. The Golden State’s unemployment rate hit a pandemic low of 8.3% in March, down from 8.5% in February, according to figures released Friday by the Employment Development Department. But […]
Posted inCommentary
Housing crisis hasn’t gone away
The pandemic has worsened California’s housing crisis and new state housing goals will be a political test.