blog post Video: Learning from CalFresh Pandemic Boosts By Stephanie Barton Sep 17, 2024 PPIC researcher Tess Thorman discusses a new report that explores how increased CalFresh food assistance benefits affected eligible households during the pandemic—and what this experience means for addressing economic downturns in the future.
blog post How Has California’s K–12 Education Landscape Changed over the Past Thirty Years? By Laura Hill, Julien Lafortune, Iwunze Ugo Sep 13, 2024 As part of an ongoing series commemorating PPIC's 30th anniversary, researchers Laura Hill, Julien Lafortune, and Iwunze Ugo reflect on the major developments that have shaped K–12 education over the past three decades as well as key challenges that lie ahead.
blog post Overwhelming Majorities Are Concerned about Homelessness, Support Many Policies to Address It By Deja Thomas Aug 13, 2024 More than nine in ten Californians say homelessness is at least somewhat of a problem in their part of the state. When asked about certain policies to address homelessness—providing short-term financial support for families experiencing homelessness, converting empty office spaces to affordable housing, and building developments of tiny or small homes—majorities across parties and regions express support.
blog post How Have California’s Water Issues Changed in the Past Thirty Years? By Sarah Bardeen, Ellen Hanak, Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray Aug 5, 2024 PPIC drew its first breath thirty years ago—back when Ace of Base was topping the charts and the White House had launched its very first webpage. What has changed in California’s water in the past three decades? We sat down with our experts to find out.
blog post Commercial Burglaries Fell in 2023, but Shoplifting Continued to Rise By Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin Aug 2, 2024 Recently released data show that commercial burglaries across California declined last year but remain slightly above their pre-pandemic level. Meanwhile, shoplifting continued to grow statewide in 2023 and reported incidents are now more than one-quarter greater than before the pandemic.
blog post Few Californians Are Prepared for a Disaster By Dean Bonner Jul 31, 2024 While an overwhelming majority of Californians say the threat of wildfires is a problem in their part of the state, just over one in three Californians report being prepared for a disaster.
blog post Unpacking the Supreme Court’s Recent Ruling on the “Chevron Doctrine” By Sarah Bardeen, Brian Gray Jul 17, 2024 What is the Chevron doctrine, and why did the Supreme Court recently abolish it? We asked our senior fellow Brian Gray, a retired environmental law professor, to help us understand the implications of the US Supreme Court’s decision.
blog post Mass Shootings in California By Heather Harris Jul 16, 2024 The number of mass shootings in California has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, with about one mass shooting per week over the past two years. However, since 2019 Los Angeles County—by far the state's most populous—has experienced dramatic highs and lows in the number of mass shootings.
blog post Californians Are Split on Pronoun Use at School By Lauren Mora Jul 10, 2024 Californians overall—as well as public school parents in particular—are divided on whether schools should allow students to go by pronouns that differ from their biological sex. Views on this issue vary widely across political parties, regions, and demographic groups.
blog post Does Managed Retreat Make Sense in Wildfire-Prone Lands? By Sarah Bardeen Jul 8, 2024 The concept of “managed retreat” originated in coastal areas that are dealing with sea level rise. Now, the term is increasingly used in discussions around wildfire—but does that make sense? We asked two researchers to tell us more.
