blog post How Climate Change Drives Disaster Cascades By Lori Pottinger Jan 29, 2019 California has had a devastating series of natural disasters in recent years. We talked to Amir AghaKouchak of UC Irvine about how climate change amplifies natural hazards.
blog post Adapting to an Uncertain Water Future By Jeffrey Mount, Ellen Hanak Dec 10, 2018 To avoid major social and economic disruptions, California should greatly increase efforts to adapt its water system to a changing climate.
page Poverty & Inequality Oct 19, 2018 More than a quarter of Californians live in or near poverty, and the longstanding divide between rich and poor poses a major challenge for our state and nation. PPIC builds understanding of what economic disparities mean for households and communities, while highlighting policies that can broaden opportunity and increase well-being.
Report The 2020 Census and Political Representation in California By Eric McGhee, Sarah Bohn, Tess Thorman Oct 9, 2018 If the 2020 Census does a poor job of counting traditionally undercounted populations and immigrant communities, the state could easily lose one of its 53 seats in the House of Representatives.
blog post Hurricanes Are Getting Worse. California Should Take Note By Jeffrey Mount Sep 17, 2018 California is no stranger to extreme floods that rival hurricanes in terms of damages. These actions could help reduce risks.
blog post Make California’s Water Grid Climate-Ready By Jeffrey Mount, Ellen Hanak Sep 6, 2018 Climate pressures are seriously stressing the state’s water system. California must prepare its water grid for greater extremes and growing water scarcity.
blog post 2020 Census: Where Are California’s Hard-to-Count Communities? By Vicki Hsieh, Tess Thorman Aug 1, 2018 The 2020 Census is closer than you think. PPIC’s new interactive maps highlight hard-to-count communities across the state and why they are hard to reach.
Report The Impact of Proposition 47 on Crime and Recidivism By Mia Bird, Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin, Steven Raphael Jun 12, 2018 Passed by voters in November 2014, Proposition 47 brought broad and significant changes to California’s criminal justice system. Undertaken in the wake of public safety realignment in 2011, Proposition 47 reduced the penalties for certain lower-level drug and property offenses and represented a further step in prioritizing prison and jail space for higher-level offenders.
Report K–12 Reforms and California’s English Learner Achievement Gap By Laura Hill May 30, 2018 English Learner (EL) students have been a key part of California’s K–12 system for decades. They currently make up about 21 percent of the public school population. English Learner status is meant to be temporary, and indeed, reclassified English Learners (those who are deemed English proficient) are among the best-performing students in the state. But students who remain ELs for longer periods generally have poor outcomes.
blog post Pretrial Risk and Cash Bail By Justin Goss Feb 20, 2018 Reforming the bail system could save funds and free up scarce jail beds—even while maintaining public safety.