blog post A Regional Look at California’s Latest Employment Trends By Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Jenny Duan, Julien Lafortune Mar 30, 2023 While employment is higher than it was before the pandemic, California’s economy could face headwinds in the coming months. We look at how seven major regions are faring and discuss the factors driving job growth in different parts of the state.
blog post Saving Precious Water in the Colorado River’s Upper Basin By Andrew Ayres, Sarah Bardeen Mar 28, 2023 Climate change is putting pressure on all the states that rely on the Colorado River for water. We spoke with University of Wyoming professor Kristi Hansen about an innovative pilot program that’s finding new ways to save water in the increasingly parched basin.
blog post Housing Costs Have Californians Considering an Interstate Move By Dean Bonner Mar 27, 2023 More than four in ten Californians say that housing costs have made them seriously consider moving, and an overwhelming majority of this group say they would leave the state. The share of Californians considering a move out of the state has about doubled across all income and education groups since 2004.
blog post Despite State Action, Grim Views on Housing Persist By Dean Bonner Mar 22, 2023 While policymakers have taken steps in recent years to address the state’s housing challenges, seven in ten Californians say that housing affordability is a big problem—the highest share since 2017. In addition, a solid majority of residents are very concerned that the cost of housing will prevent their family’s younger generation from buying a home in their part of California.
blog post Sites Reservoir’s Novel Approach to Storing Water for the Environment By Gokce Sencan Mar 20, 2023 The proposed Sites Reservoir would take a novel approach to storing water to benefit freshwater ecosystems when they need it most. We spoke with Jerry Brown, executive director of the Sites Project Authority, to learn more about plans for the reservoir and its ecosystem water budget.
blog post An Epic Snowpack May Test Water Management in the San Joaquin Valley By Jeffrey Mount Mar 13, 2023 Nothing improves our understanding of water like a “stress test”—and it’s starting to look like the San Joaquin Valley will face one this spring, when California’s epic snowpack begins to melt. This week on our blog, Jeff Mount speculates about what may lie ahead for the valley.
blog post Californians Are at Odds with the US Supreme Court By Rachel Lawler Mar 10, 2023 PPIC surveys find that Californians’ views diverge from some of the most high profile and contentious rulings of the US Supreme Court, including those on abortion rights and gun ownership. Less than four in ten Californians approve of how the court is handling its job—a record low.
blog post A Visit to the Valley By Tani Cantil-Sakauye Mar 9, 2023 PPIC president and CEO Tani Cantil-Sakauye reflects on her recent visit to Fresno and Del Rey, during which she experienced the beauty, dynamism, and collaborative spirit of the San Joaquin Valley.
blog post Eviction Rates Plunged During the Early Part of the Pandemic By Joseph Herrera, Jennifer Paluch Mar 6, 2023 Early in the pandemic, policymakers took various steps to protect renters from the economic disruptions caused by COVID-19. Evictions in California have declined sharply, though the expiration of key tenant protections are expected to cause evictions to increase.
blog post Testimony: Adapting California’s Water Rights System to the 21st-Century Climate By Ellen Hanak, Brian Gray, Jeffrey Mount Feb 28, 2023 PPIC Water Policy Center director Ellen Hanak and senior fellows Brian Gray and Jeffrey Mount testified before the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee Informational Hearing, “How Should California’s Water Right System Adapt to a 21st Century Climate?” today. Read their prepared remarks.
