Even in progressive California, the pendulum swings on crime policy, partly based on the public’s mood. This past session, the Democratic-controlled Legislature got a little tougher in some cases, with some timely intervention by Gov. Newsom and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas on a bill to increase punishments for repeat child...
Newsom Hypocrisy Exposed by His Handling of Diversity Reporting Bills
Coming soon to California: a diversity reporting mandate for venture capital firms. Not coming soon to California: a diversity reporting mandate for Gov. Gavin Newsom. As the bill signing period wrapped up earlier this month, Newsom approved a measure that will force venture capital firms operating in California to collect and disclose...
Teacher Shortage in Computer Science Puts CA Near the Bottom of National Rankings
Five years ago, California embarked on an ambitious plan to bring computer science to all K-12 students, bolstering the state economy and opening doors to promising careers — especially for low-income students and students of color. But a lack of qualified teachers has stalled these efforts, and left California...
Newsom Hypocrisy Exposed by His Handling of Diversity Reporting Bills
Coming soon to California: a diversity reporting mandate for venture capital firms. Not coming soon to California: a diversity reporting mandate for Gov. Gavin Newsom. As the bill signing period wrapped up earlier this month, Newsom approved a measure that will force venture capital firms operating in California to collect and disclose...
With Federal Aid Dipping, CA’s Poverty Rate Is Rising Again
The average poor working adult in California makes $28,000 annually — barely enough to pay for rent, food, and bills. Federal and state aid helped buoy millions of families nationwide during the pandemic, but many people have slipped back into poverty now that those aid programs have ended, according to...
California Republicans Defy Trump by Buying Into ‘Ballot Harvesting’
For years, Republicans have railed against “ballot harvesting” as an underhanded tactic by Democrats to win elections. But for the 2024 election, the California GOP is going big on collecting ballots from voters and dropping them off at election offices or polling places, which is legal in California, with...
Some Morro Bay Residents Are Dead Set Against CA’s Offshore Wind Farms
MORRO BAY — Joey Racano used to have a dining room table. Now the sunlit nook off the family kitchen more often than not serves as a conference room. The table is covered with maps, thick binders bulging with tech reports, towers of meeting minutes, abandoned coffee mugs — the...
$25 Minimum Wage for Healthcare Workers Bill Awaits Newsom’s Verdict
Gov. Gavin Newsom greenlit 56 bills Wednesday to help ease the state’s affordable housing crisis. And with three days left to take action, he’s gone through most major bills on other pressing issues as well. But there are still a handful of significant ones he has yet to decide. Perhaps...
Newsom Vetoes Free Condoms for Students, Decriminalizing Transit Fare Cheaters
Gov. Gavin Newsom took a day off from bill signings and vetoes on Monday. But he unleashed such a big flood of bill decisions over the weekend — about 470 — that legislators and advocacy groups, not to mention reporters, are still catching up. Key Bills Signed • Cosmetic chemicals:...
Newsom Gives His Veto Pen a Workout. Which Big Bills Did He Bounce?
Up against an Oct. 14 deadline and with more than 700 bills on his desk heading into the weekend, Gov. Gavin Newsom decided the fate of bills — a lot of bills. The governor’s office put out a big batch of nearly 150 actions on Saturday, a second one on...