Sam Liccardo

As voters cast ballots in the last few days leading up to California’s Nov. 8 election, who will they blame for the state’s persistent housing and homelessness crises? Gov. Gavin Newsom’s surprise Thursday announcement — that he’s withholding $1 billion in state homelessness funding until local governments and service providers come up with more ambitious […]

Community choice aggregators were supposed to provide cheaper electricity, but some now charge more than large utility companies.

Less than a week away from California’s full reopening, key details remain unresolved. On June 15, the state will eliminate the color-coded blueprint that’s governed our lives for much of the past year — another six counties moved into less restrictive tiers on Tuesday, by the way — and allow businesses to reopen at full […]

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, May 12. Newsom previews changes If you’re looking for a sign that California is approaching the end of the pandemic, here it is: The state may soon ease workplace rules that require employees to wear face masks and physically distance from each other. Next week, California’s workplace safety agency is […]

With a budget surplus bonanza, Gov. Newsom calls for spending $12 billion more to end homelessness in California. One idea: expanding motel conversions, an emergency plan during the pandemic.

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, April 30. Meet Asm. Alex Lee It isn’t even halfway through the legislative year, and three lofty progressive proposals have already been squashed — showcasing the sharp divide within California’s Democrat-dominated Legislature. A bill to create single-payer health care? Tabled last week. A bill to ban corporations and “business entities” from […]

California elected officials are rapidly losing credibility at a critical point in the pandemic, with hospitalizations at an all-time high and Gov. Gavin Newsom expected to announce a state lockdown today. On Tuesday, the San Francisco Chronicle broke the news that Mayor London Breed attended a dinner party with seven other people at the three-Michelin-starred […]

Some California schools are reopening but most kids remain at home and adults are squabbling over when and if they can get back into the classroom.

With a series of temporary protections that helped Californians get through the first few months of the pandemic set to expire soon, Gov. Gavin Newsom hinted he will today extend some programs in another flex of executive power. Additional federal unemployment benefits of $600 per week end July 31, foreshadowing a wave of evictions and […]

California cities respond to calls to defund police as state lawmakers consider legislation to combat racism. What went wrong with pandemic prep deals.