economic inequality

A memorial for victims of the shooting at Geneva Presbyterian Church, in Laguna Woods, in 2022. Photo by Mike Blake, Reuters

Commentary

Hate crimes are increasing in California. The state is hoping a hotline can help

The number of reported hate crimes increased 22% in California in 2021. Following a model from Los Angeles County, state leaders launched a statewide hotline and resources.

By

Julie Lynem

• July 6, 2023

Demonstrators for and against the U.S. Supreme Court decision to strike down race-conscious student admissions programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina confront each other, in Washington D.C. on June 29, 2023. Photo by Evelyn Hockstein, AP Photo

Commentary

What the Supreme Court affirmative action ruling means for California

The U.S. Supreme Court this week rejected affirmative action in university admissions, ruling that race-conscious decisions are unconstitutional. The decision will have a limited impact on the UC system, but private schools like Stanford will be heavily affected.

By

Guest Commentary

• June 30, 2023

A man starts a fire while his wife sleeps inside their makeshift tent along a barbed wire fence near Highway 99 in southwest Fresno on Feb. 11, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela for CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Housing

The biggest survey of homeless Californians in decades shows why so many are on the streets

The largest survey of homeless Californians in decades aims to dispel myths about what drives that state’s most pressing crisis. It found that addiction and mental health conditions rarely cause homelessness.

By

Marisa Kendall

• June 20, 2023

Julia Elliott prepares slices of pizza for customers at Nabolom Bakery in Berkeley on Jan. 19, 2022. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

Commentary

Workplace angst helping ‘job killer’ bills survive in California Legislature

The California Chamber of Commerce has targeted 17 bills on its annual "job killer" list. The eight survivors all relate to workplace issues.

By

Dan Walters

• June 19, 2023

Farmworkers in a strawberry field in Santa Paula on April 15, 2020. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo

Commentary

Newsom can honor idol Bobby Kennedy’s legacy by helping California’s farmworkers

Gov. Gavin Newsom cannot just invoke the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy without finishing his march against poverty. Newsom can take significant steps toward that goal by expanding the safety net for vulnerable farmworkers.

By

Guest Commentary

• June 14, 2023

Residents in a Planada drive through a flooded neighborhood on Jan. 11, 2023. The town was under evacuation orders after a series of storms flooded the area. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Commentary

California leaders made promises after Planada flooded. They need to keep them

Residents in the flood-ravaged Central Valley town Planada are struggling to recover from the January storms. A UC Merced report estimated the predominantly Latino farmworker community needs $20.3 million in state relief. A 58-year resident is calling on state leaders to honor the promises they made after surveying the damage.

By Anastacio Rosales • June 13, 2023

Volunteers and staff with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano load groceries into cars in Vallejo on June 7, 2023. Photo by Shelby Knowles for CalMatters

California Divide

A catastrophic hunger crisis? California food banks are being flooded by families seeking help

As extra pandemic benefits end, food banks say that they're becoming long-term supermarkets for Californians facing food insecurity. Several bills to boost CalFresh are before the Legislature, but the state budget deficit may get in the way.

By

Rya Jetha

• June 9, 2023

Downtown Fresno on June 17, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

California Divide

Why Fresno? This California downtown has a $250 million earmark in Gavin Newsom’s budget

The money will go to infrastructure, parking, and other investments city leaders say would lure residential developers to downtown.

By

Nicole Foy

• June 7, 2023

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd of supporters at PGT Innovations in Venice, Florida, on Feb. 28, 2023. Photo by Mike Lang, Reuters

WhatMatters

Florida: Yes, we sent migrants to California

From CalMatters reporter Marisa Kendall: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration took credit Tuesday for shipping 36 asylum-seeking migrants to Sacramento over the past week, prompting another round of political shots between Florida officials and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. In a written statement, a spokesperson for the Florida Division of Emergency Management characterized the migrants as […]

By

Lynn La

• June 7, 2023

Volunteers Terry Scovil (center), and Shendi Klopfer load the car of a community member with food from the Trinity County Food Bank at the Trinity County Fairgrounds on Feb. 8, 2023. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

Commentary

Despite California’s immense wealth, millions remain mired in poverty

California received another reminder this week that, despite its world-class economy, the state has millions of families mired in poverty.

By

Dan Walters

• June 7, 2023

Economic Inequality