blog post Helping the San Joaquin Valley Find New Uses for Fallowed Farmland By Sarah Bardeen Mar 8, 2023 In Sarge Green’s 40-plus year career, the water management specialist has worn an astonishing number of hats. He’s now deeply involved in efforts to help San Joaquin Valley farms and communities cope with the challenges of implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. We spoke with him about how to manage farmland that will be transitioning out of intensive irrigation.
blog post As a Pandemic Medi-Cal Policy Ends, Some Californians Will Fall through the Cracks By Paulette Cha Mar 1, 2023 On April 1, officials restarted regular Medi-Cal eligibility reviews that had been paused during the pandemic. While this change will reduce state General Fund spending on Medi-Cal, it will also result in some still-eligible individuals being disenrolled from the program.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: The Future of Agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley By Alvar Escriva-Bou, Ellen Hanak, Spencer Cole, Josué Medellín-Azuara Feb 8, 2023 Agriculture is a key driver of the regional economy in the San Joaquin Valley, but water for irrigation is an ongoing—and growing—concern. Our latest research offers the most accurate, nuanced, and localized look at where fallowing may need to occur—and details the policy and management actions that could lead to better outcomes.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas Feb 1, 2023 Key findings include overwhelming majorities say housing affordability and homelessness are a big problem; many Californians worry younger generations will be unable to afford a home. Majorities expect bad times ahead for the state financially. Approval of Newsom and Biden has remained steady, while approval has fallen for the US Supreme Court and Congress.
blog post Crisis Communication Suffers During Natural Disasters By Jeffrey Mount Jan 12, 2023 Walloped by a series of atmospheric rivers, California is grappling with an unfolding natural disaster. In any disaster, communication is key—but this past weekend, our senior fellow Jeff Mount gained firsthand experience of some of the challenges facing our fractured communication systems.
blog post Video: A Conversation with US HHS Secretary Becerra and California HHS Secretary Ghaly By Stephanie Barton Dec 9, 2022 PPIC’s Mark Baldassare talks with Xavier Becerra and Dr. Mark Ghaly about the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and how the US and California are applying this knowledge to improve public health readiness and response.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas Nov 9, 2022 Amid rising prices and economic uncertainty, more than two in three Californians are pessimistic about how the state’s economy will do over the next year. An overwhelming majority of employed Californians are at least somewhat satisfied with their jobs, but satisfaction declines among lower-income residents.
blog post Video: How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy By Mary Severance Oct 7, 2022 Understanding the size and needs of the state’s homeless population is more important than ever. Discharge data from emergency departments—frontline providers for homeless Californians—can help.
event 2022 Election Preview Oct 6, 2022 With one month to go before a highly consequential election, what does the political landscape look like in California and the nation? A panel of top political journalists will discuss emerging themes and issues, and assess the mood of the voters.
Report How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy By Shannon McConville, Hemal Kanzaria, Renee Hsia, Maria Raven Sep 19, 2022 Discharge data from emergency departments provide information on where people experiencing homelessness go for hospital care and on the conditions for which they are treated. If linked with data from homeless assistance programs and safety net services, this information can help policymakers make targeted investments and evaluate outcomes.