economic inequality

People sitting in front of computers at the the Sacramento Works job training and resources center in Sacramento on April 23, 2024. The center provides help and resources to job seekers, businesses and employers in Sacramento County. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Higher Education

Passed over for promotions, no jobs in sight: Some deaf Californians question what’s fair

Federal and state law require businesses to accommodate employees with disabilities, to an extent, but deaf people question whether employers are doing enough.

By

Adam Echelman

• July 11, 2024

Dentist Ann Chen, left, and dental assistant Phuong Truong, right, work on a student patient at the Shop 55 Wellness Center at Oakland High School in Oakland on May 10, 2024. Through the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP), Oakland High is able to offer a variety of medical services such as dental care to students. Photo by Juliana Yamada for CalMatters

Commentary

California faces a variety of workforce shortages. It can’t afford to cut training programs

Most job training initiatives in California are government-funded, but many are grappling with cuts as the state and local governments face budget deficits. A Latino immigrant who entered the dental industry after completing job training programs shares what's at stake.

By Edgar Alas • July 9, 2024

The Secretary of State building in Sacramento on Nov. 7, 2022. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Education

The effort to bring back affirmative action in limited form is dead

The measure’s author said it would compete with other priorities this year, including an effort to fend off a proposed constitutional amendment to punish retail thieves and another to restrict forced labor in prisons. He wants to propose it for a future election season.

By

Mikhail Zinshteyn

• June 25, 2024

Assemblymember Akilah Weber speaks during the State of Black California Tour at Crawford High School in San Diego on June 15, 2024. Photo by Kristian Carreon for CalMatters

California Divide

California’s Black legislators make case for reparations bills while launching statewide tour

California’s Black Legislative Caucus is touring the state to promote reparations bills that address forced prison labor and efforts to improve health, longevity and financial equity. The six-city tour is meant to urge the public to get involved in lobbying lawmakers.

By

Deborah Brennan

• June 17, 2024

The Salton Sea at Bombay Beach on Feb. 4, 2023. Photo by Ariana Drehsler for CalMatters

Commentary

How California can rewrite the extraction business model and boost Salton Sea communities

The Salton Sea region has long been a vital part of California's farm industry. In the coming years, it will also be critical for the state's water supply and global lithium production. A proposed climate bond offers key investments to solidify that future.

By Silvia Paz • June 12, 2024

Dr. Amos C. Brown, Jr., vice chair for the California Reparations Task Force, holds a copy of the book Songs of Slavery and Emancipation, as he and other members of the task force pose for photos at the Capitol in Sacramento, on June 16, 2022. California's first-in-the-nation task force on reparations for African-Americans issued the report Wednesday, June 1, 2022, that documents the harms perpetuated by the state against African Americans and recommendations on how to address those wrongs. Photo by Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo

Commentary

California wasn’t a slave state, but its legacy shaped our laws. An apology is a crucial step for healing

Even though California was accepted into the union as a free state, it had a significant role in perpetuating racial discrimination and inequality. An official apology from the state of California would be a crucial step toward reconciliation and healing.

By Reggie Jones-Sawyer • June 11, 2024

A shopper reaches for an item in an almost empty shelve at an Albertsons grocery store in San Diego on Jan. 19, 2022. Photo by Ariana Drehsler/Sipa USA via Reuters

Commentary

Inflation hits California families hardest. It’s shaping their views on the economy

Stubbornly high inflation is souring how Californians view an economy marked by historically low unemployment. It could affect this year's elections as lower-income families keep absorbing higher prices.

By

Dan Walters

• May 31, 2024

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock

Economy

Your guide to California’s increasing minimum wage: Getting by in an expensive state

California's minimum wage is among the highest in the nation but the state's high cost-of-living strains even full-time workers.

By

Liliana Michelena

,

Adam Ashton

and

Erica Yee

• May 28, 2024

Pizza Hut employees strike to protest ongoing wage theft and abusive scheduling practices in Los Angeles Jan. 26, 2024. Photo by Lauren Justice for CalMatters

Commentary

California cities keeps spending to crack down on crime. What about wage theft?

California workers victimized by wage theft continue to wait years before they recover what employers stole. A former Oakland hotel worker wonders who will enforce the law after companies are ordered to pay.

By Francisco Antonio Callejas Bonilla • May 24, 2024

Diapers are stored in the basement at the Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Dec. 14, 2020. Photo by Liz Martin, The Gazette via AP Photo

Commentary

California has helped fund diaper banks for years. Families need that support to continue

For years, California has supported diaper banks. But with the funding set to expire and the state facing a massive budget deficit, an Orange County service provider is calling on California leaders to honor their commitment to families.

By Hiram Rodriguez-Franco • May 20, 2024

Economic Inequality