“If you think the system works, you’re dead wrong:” a discussion on California’s mental health system
CALmatters is a Sacramento-based nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. It works with more than 130 media partners throughout the state that have long, deep relationships with their local audiences, including Embarcadero Media (publisher of the Palo Alto Weekly, Mountain View Voice, Pleasanton Weekly and The Almanac in Menlo Park and their websites.)
Here are the most recent stories reported by CALmatters' team of journalists:
Should public pensions invest in Uber and Lyft? Sure, says the man who pushed to divest in guns
John Chiang says California's public pensions should stay invested in Uber and Lyft to improve worker benefits.
Mon, May 20, 2019 3:42 pm
With CA’s most closely watched housing bill on life support, what’s next?
On this emergency episode of "Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast," CALmatters' Matt Levin and the Los Angeles Times' Liam Dillon discuss why SB 50 failed, and what it means for other housing legislation going forward this year.
Mon, May 20, 2019 2:17 pm
Homelessness, vaping, potholes and kicks for a governor
Good morning, California. Ben Christopher is sitting in for Dan Morain, who is off for a couple more days. “San Francisco, where streets are named after union organizers and Mexican anti-imperialists, and local landmarks include murals from the Depression-era Public Works of Art Project, is becoming a paradoxical urban space: a homogenous corporate campus run […]
Mon, May 20, 2019 4:30 am
California gets a hollow win in tax battle
As California prevails in its tax battle with inventor Gilbert Hyatt, the Supreme Court's ruling for the state in his case could foretell a battle over abortion rights.
Mon, May 20, 2019 12:01 am
Industry aims to extinguish bills that would make California first state to ban flavored tobacco
As legislation to outlaw the sale of flavored-tobacco products flounders in the California Legislature, health advocates blame the influence the tobacco industry has with key state lawmakers. Vaping has skyrocketed among middle and high schoolers, many of whom are attracted by the sweet flavors. E-cigarette manufacturers such as Juul Labs in San Francisco say their products are intended only for adults and help them quit traditional cigarettes.
Sun, May 19, 2019 8:00 pm
Can California crack its housing nut?
California has a big shortage of housing, and a controversial proposal shows it's a tough political nut to crack.
Sun, May 19, 2019 12:01 am
Weekly CALmatters 05/17/2019
Highlighting all of CALmatters' work over the past week
Fri, May 17, 2019 9:28 pm
Weekly Walters 05/17/2019
A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.
Fri, May 17, 2019 5:46 am
Stalled bills, bashed bullet trains, spell check and an acquittal
Good morning and TGIF, California. Ben Christopher is sitting in for Dan Morain, who is taking time off. “This fight is far from over.”—Sen. Scott Wiener on Senate Appropriations Chair Anthony Portantino’s decision to hold his SB 50, which would have forced cities to allow more housing around mass transit and in single-family neighborhoods. Not going […]
Fri, May 17, 2019 4:30 am
In housing, privacy and more, a Capitol lightning round nixes controversial bills
Some of the most controversial ideas California lawmakers were considering this year were set aside as the Legislature culled hundreds of bills in a fast-and-furious annual procedural ritual.
Thu, May 16, 2019 6:56 pm
California’s hottest housing bill was just unexpectedly shelved. What you need to know:
The sudden demise of the year’s most controversial state housing bill was celebrated by some and bemoaned by others. But very few—supporters, opponents, and even the author himself—can claim to have seen this coming.
Thu, May 16, 2019 5:17 pm
Despite sharp growth in electric cars, vehicle emissions keep rising
Unless the emissions trend is reversed, the state could stall on its route to clean air.
Thu, May 16, 2019 4:01 pm
Asbestos in your makeup? Legislature rejects proposal to ban toxics from cosmetics
California lawmakers refused to bar the sale of cosmetics containing toxic chemicals after pushback from business interests, who said it would apply to trace amounts too small to be harmful.
Thu, May 16, 2019 3:01 pm
Feds’ harassment of journalists threatens coverage at the border
As our border becomes more of a battleground, it is high time for a set of Justice Department-style news media guidelines for Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to give journalists the protection they need to keep the public informed.
Thu, May 16, 2019 8:00 am
Fire, water, a Trump pardon and crunch time in the Capitol
Good morning, California. Ben Christopher is sitting in for Dan Morain, who is off this week. “Queen @LorenaSGonzalez, first of her name, House of San Diego, protector of budget.”—Assemblywoman Wendy Carillo on the eve of a key legislative deadline, giving a “Game of Thrones”-style shoutout to the chairwoman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, which will vote […]
Thu, May 16, 2019 4:30 am
A dangerous conflict-of-interest loophole
Public works project contracts are susceptible to insider dealing, and a pending bill in the Legislature might invite more misbehavior.
Thu, May 16, 2019 12:01 am
Key conflicts roil California’s ever-evolving waterscape
How the state's water supplies are divvied up over the next few years could shift them from agriculture to urban use and environmental enhancement.
Wed, May 15, 2019 6:21 pm
California can fix the bad math of new motherhood
Being a pregnant woman in California, in America, is fraught. I don’t feel supported, even as our society romanticizes motherhood. That's why Senate Bill 135 by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson is so critical. It would expand our family leave laws to cover nearly all workers in California.
Wed, May 15, 2019 9:00 am
This legislation would pry open hard-to-find government data
Good government is open, clear government. Citizens who are not accountants also should be able to easily read government financial documents. Senate Bill 598 encourages the adoption of a readily accessible digital reporting standard. Legislators should approve it.
Wed, May 15, 2019 8:00 am
Drawing lines on privacy, wildfire, water and schools
San Francisco bans use of facial-recognition technology. PG&E's new CEO to face lawmakers today. Attorney general sues to stop raising of Shasta Dam.
Wed, May 15, 2019 4:30 am
Newsom must now deliver on promises
Gov. Gavin Newsom has promised action on a wide range of societal ills, but now must deliver.
Wed, May 15, 2019 12:01 am
California can help provide opportunity for its heartland. Here’s how
Stockton did not fall behind by accident. Years of redlining, tax structures that undercut development and missed opportunities led to California's fragmented economy. It doesn’t have to be this way. One way we can spur a resurgence of economic prosperity is to use a new tax incentive called opportunity zones.
Tue, May 14, 2019 10:00 am
CALmatters takes home 23 awards from the California News Publishers Association
CALmatters took home 23 awards, including nine first place winners, at the California News Publishers Association Journalism Awards dinner in Long Beach, CA. The awards, given out May 4, celebrate the best journalism in the state. This was the first year digital news outlets like CALmatters could enter. “We’re very proud of our very talented […]
Tue, May 14, 2019 9:06 am
New currents of cooperation on California’s wicked water problems
Difficult negotiations on how to efficiently and fairly share water among farmers, cities including San Francisco, and fish and wildlife have been underway since 2012 with little resolution in sight—until last month. With the leadership of the Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration, representatives of farmers, cities and conservation groups are having productive negotiations.
Tue, May 14, 2019 8:00 am
Trade, taxes, health care, lending, and it’s getting hot
Stocks slide on trade wars. What a SCOTUS ruling on CA taxes has to do with abortion. Newsom takes health on the road. High-priced lending and heat laws.
Tue, May 14, 2019 4:30 am
Bonus: A discussion on police misconduct and transparency in California
Force of Law host Laurel Rosenhall moderated a panel in Sacramento on police misconduct and transparency in California.
Mon, May 13, 2019 10:38 pm
Weakling or bully? The battle over CEQA, the state’s iconic environmental law
Inside the Capitol’s corridors and pro-development quarters around the state, the California Environmental Quality Act is increasingly disparaged as a villain in the state’s housing crisis. But the act’s environmentalist defenders are pushing back, saying many projects slip too easily through—leading to overdrawn groundwater tables and disappearing forests. And whatever the urgency to build more housing, environmentalists say there’s nothing to preempt a rigorous review of commercial proposals—even ones as visually appealing as vineyards in the Napa Valley.
Mon, May 13, 2019 7:50 pm
As more Californians borrow at shockingly high interest rates, will state crack down on ‘predatory lending’?
Loans of less than $10,000 with rates of over 100% have swelled to nearly one-third of California's non-bank consumer lending market. Consumer advocates say that lenders are profiting off of borrowers’ desperation or lack of financial sophistication, and often make a bad situation worse. The lenders say the charge up to 200% to cover the risks they incur. The Legislature is considering a bill to cap the interest rate for such "small dollar" loans.
Mon, May 13, 2019 6:37 pm
California schools haven’t fully embraced laws protecting LGBTQ kids, study shows
In the past decade, California has adopted more than a half-dozen laws intended to prevent bullying, strengthen suicide prevention and cultivate inclusive learning environments for LGBTQ students in the state’s public schools. But the state’ school districts are implementing these new laws inconsistently, according to a new sweeping report-card style analysis from the Equality California […]
Mon, May 13, 2019 6:34 pm
Big Tobacco and e-cigarette companies should help clean up their mess
California has struggled to cut cigarette butt litter for decades. But with the rise in popularity of small cigars with plastic filters and e-cigarettes, the waste problem is getting worse.
Mon, May 13, 2019 8:00 am
Taxes, tech monopolies, and retired judges’ age discrimination claim
An inside look at Californians' tax bills, tech giants face antitrust, privacy scrutiny, retired judges claim age discrimination
Mon, May 13, 2019 3:30 am
LA Unified: A gang that can’t shoot straight
Los Angeles Unified School District wants voters to approve a new tax, but it's undermining its pitch by incompetent—or duplicitous—actions.
Mon, May 13, 2019 12:01 am
Storage is essential for California to achieve 100% green energy without blackouts
California can’t keep the lights on if we don’t have enough power available to meet demand at peak times, like in the evening when folks get home from work. The state has nowhere near enough storage to handle the thousands of megawatts of new renewable energy that will be coming down the pike.
Sun, May 12, 2019 8:00 am
How much do you and your neighbors pay in state taxes?
Think you pay too much in state income taxes? Well, if you made $82,643 and paid $5,000 to Sacramento, then for better or worse, you are the average California taxpayer. The state’s Franchise Tax Board breaks down personal income tax collections and total tax liability by ZIP Code. For the 2018 filing year, CALmatters took […]
Sun, May 12, 2019 12:01 am
Demography is California’s destiny
Demography is destiny, and California is experiencing it right now. One consequence is a relative decline in political influence.
Sun, May 12, 2019 12:01 am
Weekly CALmatters 05/10/2019
Highlighting all of CALmatters' work over the past week
Fri, May 10, 2019 7:26 pm
Weekly Walters 05/10/2019
A collection of commentaries by Dan Walters over the past week.
Fri, May 10, 2019 5:46 am
Huge surplus, mental illness, the Delta tunnel, and facial recognition
Huge budget surplus to benefit schools, Gov. Gavin Newsom vows to fight homelessness, new fees proposed to ensure access to clean water
Fri, May 10, 2019 3:30 am
5 takeaways from Newsom’s revised budget plan
Buoyed by California’s strong economy, Gov. Gavin Newsom sent state lawmakers a revised budget on Thursday that boosts his already-hefty January proposal to $213.6 billion. Ka-ching! Public schools will reap most of the gains if the Democratic-controlled Legislature rolls with him. Newsom also upped his ante on the housing crisis with a proposed $1 billion […]
Thu, May 9, 2019 6:23 pm
A Capitol Crime: How a 16-year-old murder reached California’s highest offices
Gov. Jerry Brown's grant of clemency to the brother-in-law of Speaker Anthony Rendon underscores not just Brown's thinking, but California's evolution on crime and punishment.
Thu, May 9, 2019 12:51 pm
How better wastewater management can help California adapt to climate change
Climate change is worsening water scarcity and flood risks. Advancements in engineering and technology can help prepare wastewater agencies for a changing climate. But significant shifts in policy and planning are needed to address these challenges.
Thu, May 9, 2019 11:30 am
A pesticide ban, car dealers’ clout, driverless cars, and roadkill
Newsom moves to ban widely used pesticide, private lawyer reaps millions for tax-sharing deals, and should drivers be required in driverless vehicles?
Thu, May 9, 2019 3:30 am
Californians must pitch in to make drinking water safe for everyone
Groundwater basins drawn down by years of drought contain dangerously high levels of nitrates, arsenic and other contaminants. One million Californians don't have safe drinking water and nearly 2 million more are not served by a regulated public water system and may not know if their water is contaminated. The Legislature must step in.
Thu, May 9, 2019 3:29 am
Excluding hydropower makes no sense
Excluding hydroelectric power from the state's renewable portfolio to reduce greenhouse gases makes no sense. A pending bill would bring some rationality to the situation.
Thu, May 9, 2019 12:01 am
Coming wave of seniors will strain a caregiver network already stretched thin
In a decade roughly 1 in every 5 people will be 65 or older—a group more racially and ethnically diverse, and more likely to be single and childless. The growing need: culturally sensitive and professional caregivers.
Wed, May 8, 2019 5:41 pm
Hot off the grille: Is California ready to legalize roadkill cuisine?
An advancing bill in California would legalize the "salvaging" of roadkill. Proponents promise safer roads, protected animals and less food waste. But will Californians stomach it?
Wed, May 8, 2019 4:12 pm
Tax breaks for parents, toxic jewelry, and a suicide barrier
Newsom provides tax breaks for parents, counties could lose health care dollars under plan for the undocumented, Becerra goes after toxic jewelry
Wed, May 8, 2019 4:30 am
USC’s George Tyndall is gone, but sexual abuse survivors still deserve a choice
Dr. George Tyndall was the only gynecologist available to women such as Vanessa Carlisle at USC. Now, survivors finally do have a choice: Accept a settlement offered by USC, or, if the Legislature approves a bill by Assemblywoman Eloise Reyes, file a separate suit. Legislators should approve the bill.
Wed, May 8, 2019 4:29 am
Be the first to know
Get the latest headlines sent straight to your inbox every day.
Vote now!
It's time once again to cast your vote for the best places to eat, drink, shop and spend time in Palo Alto. Voting is open now through May 27.
Watch for the results of our 2019 Best Of contest on Friday, July 19.
