Juliet Williams
@jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social
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📥 234
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Politics Editor, CalMatters. First Amendment champion. Former @AP.
The story behind the long, messy legislative fight this year over a bill meant to address teaching about antisemitism in California schools.
@bystellayu.bsky.social
and
@mzinshteyn.bsky.social
:
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Censorship or protection? Inside California’s ‘hardest’ fight of the year over antisemitism
In the fight over preventing antisemitism in schools, no one disputes the need to protect Jewish students. Lawmakers and critics diverged sharply on how to do it.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/10/school-antisemitism-bill-signed/
5 days ago
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Capitol Weekly
12 days ago
Proposition 50 would require CA to use new congressional district maps. On October 14, proponents from each side will offer arguments in a debate moderated by
@wordsmith24.bsky.social
of Capitol Weekly &
@jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social
of
@calmatters.org
capitolweekly.net/events/calif...
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California Votes: Proposition 50 - October 14, 2025 - Capitol Weekly
Join Capitol Weekly, CalMatters, and the University of California Student and Policy Center for: . California Votes: Proposition 50 Should Californians support mid-decade redistricting? . October 14, ...
https://capitolweekly.net/events/california-votes-proposition-50-october-14-2025/
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
CalMatters
about 1 month ago
Gavin Newsom's Democratic redistricting plan would merge conservative rural Modoc County with liberal Marin County, angering ranchers.
https://cal.news/46cOw4J
📷 Miguel Gutierrez Jr.
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California lawmakers pushed through hundreds of bills in the final days of the Legislative session. Here are some we're watching for Gov. Newsom's action:
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Which of these 2025 bills will Gavin Newsom sign?
California lawmakers sent Newsom hundreds of bills to sign or veto by Oct. 12. Here's a look at some of the most high-profile ones.
https://calmatters.org/explainers/california-gavin-newsom-bills-signing/
about 1 month ago
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Well, that's a wrap on this year's legislative session. Kudos to my
@calmatters.org
colleagues, who were all over every move.
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California Democrats end legislative session with climate deal – and infighting
The session stretched into Saturday, prolonged by last-minute backroom deals on climate and energy, sparking deep frustration among some lawmakers.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/09/california-legislature-end-of-session-2/
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Ben Christopher
about 1 month ago
The passage of this bill, nearly a decade in the making, slaps a symbolic bow on what has already been a banger of a year for controversial and ambitious housing production legislation in California.
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
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Your neighborhood could get seven-story buildings if it's near a train station
A bill California lawmakers approved allows dense apartments near transit stations, overriding local zoning to address the housing crisis.
https://calmatters.org/housing/2025/09/neighborhood-transit-upzoning/
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Politics palate cleanser
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
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Congratulations
@akoseff.bsky.social
! We will miss you.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
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Negotiations that could have a major effect on California's air quality, gas supply, transportation networks and the future of Medi-Cal are all taking place behind closed doors, with virtually no input from the public.
@bystellayu.bsky.social
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California’s top Democrats rush key policies in secret talks
Major climate and energy reforms hang in the balance as California leaders talk in private to reach last-minute deals. The secrecy leaves little time for the public to weigh in.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/09/california-end-of-session-secret-deals/
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
CalMatters
about 1 month ago
California lawmakers are scrambling to finalize a last-minute deal that would extend the state’s landmark greenhouse gas reduction program – known as cap and trade – through 2045.
https://cal.news/4ptq6LU
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The secret negotiations that could reshape California's climate policy
Lawmakers, oil industry leaders and environmental justice groups are meeting behind closed doors to try to reach a deal to extend California’s landmark cap-and-trade program.
https://cal.news/4ptq6LU
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Gavin Newsom is their biggest foil, but California Republicans are shying away from making him the center of attention in their campaign against Proposition 50.
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Why Republicans are avoiding their favorite target in California’s redistricting fight
Gavin Newsom wants the campaign for Proposition 50 to be a battle between him and Donald Trump. The GOP says it needs another way to win over voters.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/09/california-gop-proposition-50-campaign/
about 1 month ago
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@jeannereporter.bsky.social
's story on soaring temperatures in California prisons and the new, tiny, step toward addressing them will make you exasperated and sad for the people affected.
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Will officials finally address California's shocking prison cell temperatures?
After years of complaints from inmates and advocates, California is finally embarking on a plan to cool some cells. But it’s only a test, and there’s no indication the state will take broad action.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/09/california-prison-heat-death-pilot/
about 2 months ago
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Will California’s high-speed rail project be delayed even further?
California lawmakers rejected a plan to roll back permitting rules for high-speed rail amid strong opposition from local governments and utilities.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/high-speed-rail-fails-suspense-file/
about 2 months ago
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Beating Trump to the punch in California?
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Newsom deploys 'crime suppression' teams statewide while mocking Trump's threats
The governor is making the first move in his battle with Trump over crime, sending CHP officers into six California cities.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/newsom-crime-chp-deployment/
about 2 months ago
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Find out if your vote could be affected by Newsom's redistricting plans with these cool maps comparing before & after. Great work by
@jeremiak.com
&
@akoseff.bsky.social
!
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How Newsom’s California redistricting plan might impact your vote
Here's how your vote could change in 2026 if voters approve Gov. Gavin Newsom's congressional redistricting proposal.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/find-out-if-your-vote-could-be-affected-by-newsoms-redistricting-plans/
2 months ago
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
CalMatters
2 months ago
If she were elected governor, former Senate leader Toni Atkins would oversee contracts with her spouse's many consulting firms.
cal.news/4mBgKeI
📸 AP
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Alexei Koseff
2 months ago
Half a dozen Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas to stop a Republican-led redistricting scheme met Friday with top California Democrats as they draw their own new congressional lines
calmatters.org/politics/202...
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Redistricting rebuttal: Texas Democrats cheer Newsom’s map-drawing plans
A half dozen Texas Democrats met with Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats in Sacramento as they draw new House seats for California.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/newsom-redistricting-texas-democrats/
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Alexei Koseff
2 months ago
“At this moment, I believe I can make the greatest impact by focusing on California’s financial future,”
@eleniforca.bsky.social
said in a statement
calmatters.org/politics/202...
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California's second-in-command drops bid for governor in 2026
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis says she'll instead seek to become state treasurer in 2026. Kounalakis was trailing in a fielded crowd of Democrats seeking to become governor
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/california-governors-race-kounalakis/
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Ned Resnikoff
2 months ago
Next Democratic president should expropriate Trump's wealth to pay for scraping all this Temu shit off the walls of the White House.
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Huge props to
@gauchoesque.bsky.social
and
@jeannereporter.bsky.social
for giving me the layperson's understanding of a proposed shared power network in the West:
calmatters.org/politics/202...
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Could California prevent more blackouts by joining a Western power market?
The state built a clean grid. Now lawmakers are eyeing opening its market to states that rely on coal. Critics say it’s a risky bet.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/western-regional-power-market/
2 months ago
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The time for a decision has finally come. Let the governor's race begin!
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Kamala Harris announces she won't run for California governor
Conjecture about whether Harris would run for governor began almost immediately after she lost the November election to President Donald Trump.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/07/kamala-harris-governor-california/
3 months ago
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Powerful story today by
@akoseff.bsky.social
on the Afghans in California who are caught in legal limbo as the Trump administration changes policies:
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They worked with the U.S. in Afghanistan. Now Trump could return them to the Taliban
Afghans who fled the Taliban and resettled in California have lost legal protections and financial support in President Trump's second term.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/07/afghan-refugees-california-trump/
3 months ago
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Angus Johnston
3 months ago
Spokane politician arrested by feds at his home for protesting ICE kidnapping of two immigrants at check-in appointment. "Former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart … was indicted by a federal grand jury and [will] be charged with conspiracy to impede or injure law enforcement."
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Spokane ICE protesters, including Stuckart, arrested by federal agents
Federal agents on Tuesday morning arrested and searched the homes of multiple people who took part in a June 11 mass protest against immigration enforcement in Spokane.
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/jul/15/spokane-ice-protesters-including-stuckart-arrested/
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The Carpenters Union is "a pariah" among California construction trades unions,
@jeannereporter.bsky.social
and
@frombenc.bsky.social
report. Yet the Carpenters struck the deal for the biggest overhaul of California's environmental law in a generation. Here's the backstory:
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With carpenters’ help, California eases housing rules—and sparks labor clash
California’s new environmental reform law, backed by carpenters, eases housing construction rules but deepens divisions within the labor movement.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/07/california-construction-unions-housing/
3 months ago
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Alexei Koseff
3 months ago
Earlier this year, the governor demanded that state workers return to the office four days a week — then he negotiated away the requirement in return for other savings in union contracts,
@mayacmiller.bsky.social
reports:
calmatters.org/politics/202...
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Gavin Newsom ordered state workers back to the office. Why he backtracked
Newsom argued state employees needed to boost productivity and rebuild public trust by working in-office nearly full-time. Why delay? Politics, critics say.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/07/state-workers-return-to-office/
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
CalMatters
4 months ago
For months, a plan to create an infrastructure financing agency largely shielded from the public eye sailed smoothly through the state Senate. Lawmakers only backtracked when transparency advocates sounded the alarm.
cal.news/44cKpEP
📝 Martin do Nascimento
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Lawmakers continue to try to keep documents that belong to the public secret and unsearchable.
@bystellayu.bsky.social
is keeping them accountable for
@calmatters.org
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Lawmakers backtrack on plan to keep infrastructure agency's business secretive
A plan to create a secretive infrastructure entity glided through the state Senate. Lawmakers are now backtracking after transparency advocates sounded the alarm.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/07/california-infrastructure-nonprofit-transparency/
4 months ago
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An excellent explanation by
@frombenc.bsky.social
of the Legislature's vote to claw black a longstanding environmental regulation often used to block housing.
#CalMatters
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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Beautiful storytelling. The people’s business.
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Levi Sumagaysay
4 months ago
The House wants to raise the SALT deduction cap, while the Senate wants to keep it at $10,000, the limit first established in 2017 to help pay for tax cuts for big corporations. Here's my look at how the outcome could affect millions of high-income California taxpayers.
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Congress is fighting over this tax deduction. Here’s how it affects Californians
The House wants to raise the SALT deduction cap, which would help wealthy Californians pay less in federal taxes. The Senate disagrees.
https://calmatters.org/economy/2025/06/salt-deduction-taxes-california/
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
First Amendment Coalition
4 months ago
FAC has sued the CIty of San Diego to force the city to disclose records about SDPD officers' use of force against Marcus Evans. Evans had his hands in the air when he was shot with beanbag rounds and mauled by a police dog.
firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fa...
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FAC Sues San Diego for Public Records About Controversial Use of Force Against Marcus Evans
Police Officers Shot Evans with Beanbag Rounds and Deployed a Police Dog that Mauled His Arm
https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/news/post/fac-sues-san-diego-for-public-records-about-controversial-use-of-force-against-marcus-evans/
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Mikhail Zinshteyn
4 months ago
California voted to bar immigrants from schools and social services in 1994. Now most Californians see immigrants as a benefit to the state. Read this story of the last 30 years that
@frombenc.bsky.social
and I reported. Smart editing by
@jwilliamsjourno.bsky.social
calmatters.org/politics/202...
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
First Amendment Coalition
4 months ago
The First Amendment gives the press and reporters the right to observe, document, and record protests in public from a reasonable and safe distance. If you are a reporter with questions about your right to cover protests, reach out to our free legal hotline:
bit.ly/FACLegalHotl...
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Alexei Koseff
4 months ago
The California Legislature passed a state budget today that relies more on borrowing than spending cuts to close a projected $12 billion deficit, aiming to push off difficult decisions about priorities even as that gap is only expected to grow in future years.
calmatters.org/politics/202...
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Democrats resisted some of Gavin Newsom’s budget cuts, but left tough choices for later
The budget state lawmakers approved rejects some Medi-Cal cuts, and pays for public transit and higher education. Now the real negotiations with Newsom begin.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/california-budget-legislature-approves/
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Law enforcement agencies across Southern California violated state law more than 100 times last month by sharing information from automated license plate readers with federal agents... From my colleagues at
@calmatters.org
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California police are illegally sharing license plate data with ICE and Border Patrol
LAPD and the counties of San Diego, Orange, and Riverside have repeatedly shared automated license plate reader data to federal agencies
https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2025/06/california-police-sharing-license-plate-reader-data/
4 months ago
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Ben Christopher
4 months ago
“The president is of course limited to his authority,” Breyer said. “That’s the difference between a constitutional government and King George.”
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
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Can Trump deploy troops in LA? A federal judge hears Newsom's case today
Gov. Newsom argues Los Angeles does not need the military to keep the peace: "To put it bluntly, there is no invasion or rebellion in Los Angeles; there is civil unrest that is no different from episo...
https://calmatters.org/justice/2025/06/los-angeles-marines-newsom-lawsuit/
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Alexei Koseff
4 months ago
A carefully calibrated truce between
@gavinnewsom.bsky.social
and Donald Trump, forged in the wake of January’s devastating wildfires across Los Angeles, collapsed over the weekend — putting both the governor and California at increasing risk of reprisal
calmatters.org/politics/202...
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The quiet truce between Gavin Newsom and Donald Trump is over
Newsom’s anger is escalating after Trump called in the National Guard to Los Angeles without his consent. Newsom is questioning the president’s mental fitness and called him a “stone cold liar.”
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/california-newsom-trump-national-guard/
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Juliet Williams
First Amendment Coalition
4 months ago
With 24 other orgs, FAC condemns the treatment of journalists covering the protests against ICE raids in LA. Targeting journalists violates the First Amendment.
firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025/06/09/c...
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Coalition Condemns Harm to Journalists Covering Protests Against ICE Raids in Los Angeles
See the 2024 Impact Report >>
https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/2025/06/09/coalition-condemns-harm-to-journalists-covering-protests-against-ice-raids-in-los-angeles/
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It took longer than many of us expected, but the fragile Trump-Newsom detente has exploded in full public view. By
@akoseff.bsky.social
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The quiet truce between Gavin Newsom and Donald Trump is over
Newsom’s anger is escalating after Trump called in the National Guard to Los Angeles without his consent. Newsom is questioning the president’s mental fitness and called him a “stone cold liar.”
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/california-newsom-trump-national-guard/
4 months ago
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As if there wasn't enough going on in California today, Democrats in the Legislature responded to Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed deep cuts to social services with a "no thanks" proposal relying on borrowing. By
@bystellayu.bsky.social
@jeannereporter.bsky.social
and
@mzinshteyn.bsky.social
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Lawmakers say no to Newsom’s big social service spending cuts
The governor proposed major cuts to Medi-Cal and other social programs to close a $12 billion deficit. Democrats in the state Legislature are proposing more borrowing to keep those programs afloat.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/california-budget-legislature-proposal/
4 months ago
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
CalMatters
5 months ago
Even when a bill dies one year, and even if a governor kills it, there’s a strong likelihood it will return, especially if big money interests like labor unions and business groups want it signed into law.
buff.ly/87igcRx
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Alexei Koseff
5 months ago
A "MAGA-nificent" city council transformed Huntington Beach into the conservative bulwark of California. Liberal critics hope they've finally gone too far as a special election next week has become "ground zero" in the national battle over library books.
calmatters.org/politics/202...
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Is it sex education or porn? A California city comes to blows over library books
MAGA-aligned leaders took over the city council and set up a community review board for library material and singled out LGBT books. Have they gone too far?
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/huntington-beach-library-books-election/
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Yousef Baig
5 months ago
"...as dense urban neighborhoods grow more costly, lower- and moderate-income renters, the very people most likely to ride the bus, are pushed out and replaced by a more affluent set who, on the whole, tend to favor getting around by car."
@frombenc.bsky.social
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
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How gentrification is killing the bus: California’s rising rents are pushing out commuters
Gentrification has led to fewer bus and train riders, a study from UCLA researchers found, showing how the housing crisis affects all areas.
https://calmatters.org/housing/2025/05/la-gentrification-public-transit/
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Khari Johnson
5 months ago
State agencies don't use high risk automated systems, a state report claims, but legislative staff say it could cost billions of dollars for CA agencies to assess high risk AI they use or plan to use. A source told me those two things can't be true + somebody's lying
calmatters.org/economy/tech...
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State claims there’s zero high-risk AI in California government—despite ample evidence to the contrary
A state report provided to CalMatters says 200 agencies reported no automation around sensitive decisions. Some called the report befuddling.
https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2025/05/california-somehow-finds-no-ai-risks/
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Sacramento police say the state senator was driving while under the influence of a drug when crash occurred. Footage seen by CalMatters appears to show she had the right-of-way.
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A California senator was arrested for DUI; police say it was for the influence of drugs
Footage seen by CalMatters appears to show that Sen. Sabrina Cervantes was not at fault when an SUV smashed into her vehicle.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/05/sabrina-cervantes-dui-allegation/
5 months ago
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
5 months ago
A controversial $125 million deal California struck with Google last year to prop up the state’s struggling journalism industry is already on track to shrink — before any of the money has been delivered to news outlets. via
@jeannereporter.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/pzvzv3w5
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Money promised to “save” local news vanishes as California proposes deep cuts
Lawmakers struck a handshake deal with Google last year to pay local news outlets in exchange for less regulation. Now, the budget deficit could prompt the tech giant to pull back.
https://tinyurl.com/pzvzv3w5
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Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed deep budget cuts this week. But he's doubling down on his proposal to boost Hollywood tax incentives to $750 million a year.
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Gavin Newsom pushes tax credits for Hollywood while proposing major cuts
As he details deep cuts to public health care and universities in his budget, one thing remains intact: $750 million in tax credits for Hollywood.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/05/california-film-tax-credit-gavin-newsom-hollywood/
5 months ago
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California's budget deficit hits $12 billion, throwback to another era. Newsom says the state economy was booming before Trump announced his tariffs. By
@akoseff.bsky.social
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California's budget woes are back: State faces $12 billion deficit
With President Donald Trump's tariffs wreaking havoc on California’s economy and health costs rising, state leaders will have to make tough cuts
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/05/california-budget-revision-may-2025/
5 months ago
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reposted by
Juliet Williams
Alejandro Lazo
5 months ago
Come work
@calmatters.org
! We're looking for the next amazing Environment and Health Editor to lead a lineup of stellar environment and health reporters here in California. Details:
calmatters.org/about/jobs/e...
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Californians are waiting to see the results of Democratic legislators' "affordability agenda." Much of the talk isn't even happening until this summer, though. By
@bystellayu.bsky.social
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Five months later, California's 'urgent' affordability push moves at a snail's pace
In December, California’s Democratic legislative leaders deemed affordability an “urgent” issue this year. So far they have little to show for it.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/05/california-legislature-affordability-crisis-democrats/
6 months ago
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