Opinion columnist

Dan Walters

Dan Walters is an opinion columnist for CALmatters. CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. For more by Dan Walters, go to Commentary.

Resisting technology and other labor-saving corporate moves to preserve jobs has become, as the writers’ strike demonstrated, a major goal for labor unions, both in contract bargaining and the political arena

Opinion |
Technology and labor trade-offs create dilemma for California’s economy

October 1, 2023 at 12:27 p.m.

Resisting technology and other labor-saving corporate moves to preserve jobs has become, as the writers’ strike demonstrated, a major goal for labor unions, both in contract bargaining and the political...

The situation is a big headache for Gov. Gavin Newsom – one of his own making– because he must quickly name someone to fill out the remaining 15 months of Feinstein’s term because of the Democrats’ paper-thin Senate majority.

Opinion |
Dianne Feinstein always did things her way in long political career

September 29, 2023 at 1:03 p.m.

The situation is a big headache for Gov. Gavin Newsom – one of his own making– because he must quickly name someone to fill out the remaining 15 months of...

The carping among politicians – all from the same party – tells us that they know the public will exact retribution if the crisis continues to worsen.

Opinion |
California politicians point fingers as tolerance of homelessness wears thin

September 24, 2023 at 6:01 a.m.

The carping among politicians – all from the same party – tells us that they know the public will exact retribution if the crisis continues to worsen.

When Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher resigned from the Legislature last year to become the state’s top union official, it marked a new era of labor’s political influence in a state where just 17% of workers belong to unions.

Opinion |
Few California workers belong to unions, but they scored big in Legislature this year

September 19, 2023 at 10:54 a.m.

When Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher resigned from the Legislature last year to become the state’s top union official, it marked a new era of labor’s political influence in a state where...

In all likelihood, therefore, California is destined to continue its unenviable position as the nation’s poverty leader.

Opinion |
California keeps its title as having the nation’s highest poverty rate

September 13, 2023 at 10:51 a.m.

In all likelihood, therefore, California is destined to continue its unenviable position as the nation’s poverty leader.

Newsom is caught between hopes of Black leaders for substantial reparations and the utter lack of popular support.

Opinion |
Gov. Gavin Newsom may regret pledges to Black Californians

September 12, 2023 at 12:36 p.m.

Newsom is caught between hopes of Black leaders for substantial reparations and the utter lack of popular support.

The final days of the 2023 legislative session are producing new pro-housing laws that close legal loopholes often used to block or delay projects.

Opinion |
California housing policy takes two steps forward and one back

September 11, 2023 at 9:59 a.m.

The final days of the 2023 legislative session are producing new pro-housing laws that close legal loopholes often used to block or delay projects.

The chronic shortcomings of FI$Cal and other expensive IT programs aren’t politically sexy, so they don’t get the attention that culture conflicts and other headline-grabbing issues garner.

Opinion |
High-tech California struggles to use technology managing state government

September 5, 2023 at 10:42 a.m.

The chronic shortcomings of FI$Cal and other expensive IT programs aren’t politically sexy, so they don’t get the attention that culture conflicts and other headline-grabbing issues garner.

We’ll see if California’s new woke math curriculum improves its standing, or drives us even lower.

Opinion |
Will California’s new math curriculum improve state’s woeful rankings?

September 3, 2023 at 7:00 a.m.

We’ll see if California’s new woke math curriculum improves its standing, or drives us even lower.

The stakes are high in both the state’s many strikes and what happens in the Capitol over the next few weeks.

Opinion |
California unions make major push with strikes and legislative actions

August 28, 2023 at 10:41 a.m.

The stakes are high in both the state’s many strikes and what happens in the Capitol over the next few weeks.

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