California Governor

Members and supporters of the United Farm Workers march through Fresno during day 10 of their 24-day march on Aug. 12, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

California Divide

Newsom relents, signs farmworker union bill after pressure from Biden and labor

Two days before deadline, after vetoing a similar bill last year and resisting months of marches, vigils and posturing, including a note from President Biden, Newsom changed his mind on a farmworker labor bill.

By

Jeanne Kuang

• September 28, 2022

Los Angeles resident Walter Forster attends a California Reparations Task Force meeting held at the California Science Center in Los Angeles on Sept. 23, 2022. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

California Divide

Reparations task force: State could owe Black Californians hundreds of thousands of dollars

Black Californians could be due hundreds of thousands of dollars for housing discrimination, incarceration, and health disparities alone, consultants said at reparations task force hearings.

By

Levi Kalish

• September 26, 2022

Commentary

Make California a national beacon for reproductive health care access

The governor must sign legislation to expand access and safeguard protections for sexual and reproductive health care here in California—including abortion care.

By

Guest Commentary

• September 13, 2022

Fast-food workers and other SEIU members marched to the Capitol to deliver postcards and petitions in support of AB257 to the Governor's Office on May 31, 2022. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

California Divide

Newsom signs bill to regulate wages for fast food workers

The governor announced his decision on Labor Day. Supporters swayed moderate Democrats by removing a provision that would have put fast food corporations on the hook for labor violations at franchise locations.

By

Jeanne Kuang

• August 30, 2022

Commentary

500,000 Californians stand to benefit from new apprenticeship plan

Expanding apprenticeship will create new opportunities for women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, workers facing barriers and both in-school and out-of-school youths for whom the opportunity cost of higher education is simply too high.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 15, 2022

Commentary

State’s wimpy plan to cut pollution needs muscle

The governor must demand that the California Air Resources Board strengthen its proposed air pollution-reduction rule, speeding the transition to all-electric vehicles.

By

Guest Commentary

• July 13, 2022

Commentary

The Diablo Canyon Power Plant won’t stop power outages

Nuclear power peddlers are blaming the state’s shift to renewable energy for power outages to justify keeping the Diablo Canyon Power Plant open. This is a false narrative.

By

Guest Commentary

• July 1, 2022

Commentary

Investment in housing is the bottom-line answer to homelessness

This budget season, the Newsom administration and the Legislature must allocate steady — not temporary — funding for rental assistance and the creation of permanent, supportive housing.

By

Guest Commentary

• June 24, 2022

Commentary

California can lead the nation by funding changes to school food program

With rising food prices, ongoing supply chain disruptions, and federal waivers that provide schools with increased meal reimbursements and flexibility set to expire on June 30, multiyear investments in California’s school food system are essential.

By

Guest Commentary

• June 15, 2022

Commentary

Baked-in problems with California’s rent relief program need fixing

The state must reopen its Emergency Rental Assistance Program and make it easier for Californians to apply successfully and pay off pandemic rent debt.

By

Guest Commentary

• June 3, 2022