As we come to the end of a turbulent year—with expectations of major changes in the next—I want to take a brief moment of reflection. In California and across the nation, we face tremendous divides—political, social, and economic. It’s an anxious time, and it’s important for us to take care of ourselves and connect with each other as 2024 winds down. I hope you find some restorative time over this holiday season.
Meanwhile, the work of facing California’s challenges will go on. PPIC’s approach to these challenges—an objective, fact-based, nonideological approach—is critical to creating a common understanding and bringing people together to find solutions. Now more than ever, our leaders need a trusted, impartial source of information to make well-informed decisions for California, its resources, and its people. That’s where PPIC comes in.
In the past year, our work has contributed to critical areas of the policy conversation. While these contributions have ranged across many important topics—from criminal justice to education to health care to water policy—I want to highlight just a few timely issues here.
California’s economy. Affordability and the uncertain state of the economy have been top-of-mind for Californians all year long. Building on PPIC’s long-standing commitment to understanding the economic forces shaping our state, we launched the PPIC Economic Policy Center this past February—with the aim of identifying practical policy solutions that promote a robust, resilient economy and improving the prospects of workers, families, and businesses statewide. In addition to delivering key facts on California’s economy, the center is hosting meetings and events on a wide range of issues—including the state of rural California.
2024 election. The PPIC Statewide Survey is a trusted source of public opinion, providing a voice for all Californians, including likely voters. In this highly consequential year, the survey was essential to understanding the mood and preferences of California’s people. In the fall, we hosted a well-attended election preview with seasoned state and national political commentators. And our experts across the institute were busy producing timely analyses on election-related issues for voters and other decisionmakers.
Civics education. If this year has taught us anything, it’s the importance of creating greater awareness of our collective obligations to our democracy and to each other. Over the past year, PPIC planned and piloted an ambitious program aimed at reaching youth in high schools and community colleges. We hosted convenings with experts and practitioners, organized sessions with students around the state, and partnered with teachers to create engaging programs and content. We plan to expand these efforts in 2025.
PPIC cannot do its work alone. We rely on an extensive network of advisors and other engaged Californians to ensure our relevance, expand our reach, and increase our impact. Our colleagues in local, state, and federal government are crucial in putting our research into practice. We thank our board of directors, statewide leadership council, and members of the business and nonprofit communities who serve as our ambassadors. And we are deeply grateful to the individuals and organizations providing PPIC with vital financial support.
In closing, I want to share some important institutional news. After 23 years as the owners of 500 Washington Street in San Francisco, we have recently sold the building. We are looking forward to finding new offices in San Francisco in 2025 and to focusing solely on our core mission of improving public policy in California.
I’m proud of the work PPIC has accomplished this year. Looking forward, the institute is poised to offer essential information and analysis to newly elected officials and other leaders, along with many opportunities for constructive dialogue. I hope you will continue to share your perspectives and suggestions with me and lend your support to our efforts in the exciting year ahead.
Wishing you all a healthy and happy holiday season!
