Gov. Gavin Newsom will deliver his first State of the State address to a joint session of the California Legislature at 11 a.m. today. You can watch it live on The California Channel at this link. Go to CALmatters.org afterward for coverage and live analysis. Political junkies who would like to compare Newsom's speech with...
Walters: Newsom Raises the Housing Bar on Himself
Gavin Newsom began his governorship this month by promising to confront what he described as California’s most important issue, an ever-increasing shortage of housing. “This is the issue,” Newsom said as he introduced his first state budget. California’s chronic housing shortfall, particularly for low- and moderate-income families, and its soaring costs...
Gov. Newsom: Is He Getting Things Done?
Walters: State Tax Reforms or State Tax Increases?
There is a substantial list of governance issues that former Gov. Jerry Brown said were important, but that he left on his desk for successor Gavin Newsom. For instance, although he and the Legislature enacted a very modest reform of public employee pensions, he repeatedly said it was only a...
Newsom Vows Energy Will Flow Despite PG&E Bankruptcy
SAN FRANCISCO — The nation's largest utility said Monday it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy because it faces at least $30 billion in potential damages from lawsuits over the catastrophic wildfires in California in 2017 and 2018 that killed scores of people and destroyed thousands of homes. The move...
Walters: A Cautious Budget With a Bold Housing Plan
Jerry Brown is a hard act to follow but his successor as governor, Gavin Newsom, acquitted himself well – if very lengthily – in presenting his first state budget on Thursday. For nearly two hours, Newsom explained his $209.1 billion 2019-20 budget and fielded questions from reporters, displaying in minute...
Newsom's First Budget Is $144B. And It Increases 'Rainy Day' Fund.
SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a $144 billion general fund budget in his first spending plan Thursday, up 4 percent from the current year. The new governor's budget includes $13.6 billion to build the state's reserves and to pay down state debt and its growing pension liability. It's...
Walters: 'Dr. Newsom' Wants to Cure State's Tech Disease
One of the great mysteries of California politics is why, in a state that boasts of its digital innovation, its government has such a miserable record on using technology. We’ve seen an endless litany of technology projects that run up enormous costs but fail to deliver promised efficiencies, or in...
Newsom Proposes Wildfire Spending and a 911 Fee
COLFAX — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday pledged fresh investments to prevent, fight and escape wildfires, including millions to help local governments improve their communication during emergencies and a fee to fund an update for the state's 911 system. Newsom outlined $105 million in new fire-related spending on top...
Brown's Last Valley Snub: Appoints Hollywood Agent to UC Board
Ever since Fred Ruiz left the UC Board of Regents, many in the San Joaquin Valley have hoped someone from the area would succeed him. The wait will continue, at least another year for the region that is home to UC Merced. In a final snub to the Valley, Gov....