blog post A Tight Labor Market: Challenges for Business, Opportunities for Workers? By Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Vicki Hsieh, Julien Lafortune Nov 21, 2022 Last week’s jobs report indicated strong job growth and continued low unemployment in California. Under the right conditions, this could spell greater economic returns to both workers and businesses.
blog post How a New Way of Counting Prisoners Has Changed Redistricting By Jennifer Paluch, Eric McGhee, Heather Harris Nov 2, 2022 For the purposes of drawing state legislative and congressional districts, California now counts state prisoners as residents of their last known address, rather than as residents of prisons. Though the effects are small, communities with large numbers of residents who have been sent to prison now do not lose representation to the few communities in which the prisons are located.
Report Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops By Magnus Lofstrom, Joseph Hayes, Brandon Martin, Deepak Premkumar Oct 10, 2022 Traffic stops have emerged as a key driver of racial disparities in law enforcement and an area of potential reform. Our new report examines whether certain types of traffic stops could be enforced in alternative ways that reduce racial disparities and risks to officers and civilians without jeopardizing public safety.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops By Magnus Lofstrom, Joseph Hayes, Brandon Martin, Deepak Premkumar Oct 10, 2022 Our findings suggest that nighttime traffic stops for non-moving violations—especially those made by local police and sheriff departments—deserve consideration for alternative enforcement strategies. However, any changes need to be balanced against the possibility of hampering efforts to confiscate dangerous contraband, especially firearms.
Report Storing Water for the Environment By Sarah Null, Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray, Kristen Dybala ... Aug 22, 2022 Large reservoirs are essential for managing water in California’s highly variable climate—but over the years, the construction and operation of these reservoirs have had significant environmental costs. Our new research outlines how reservoir operations could be changed to improve the health of the state’s fragile freshwater ecosystems.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas Mar 23, 2022 Key findings include Majorities of Californians across party lines support sanctioning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, even if sanctions lead to higher energy prices. A third of Californians—and nearly half of lower-income residents—say recent price increases have caused serious financial hardship in their households. Over half of Californians are concerned about covering their housing costs, and six in ten say homelessness is a big problem in their part of the state. Partisans are divided on the need for restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19.
blog post Two Years of Wide Variation in Crime Trends By Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin Mar 21, 2022 Increases in crime during the first year and a half of the pandemic—particularly in homicide and aggravated assault—have been troubling, but most crime numbers are now relatively close to the low levels seen over the last decade.
blog post Who Stands to Gain from Changes in School Enrollment Funding? By Julien Lafortune, Joseph Herrera Jan 31, 2022 The state legislature is considering a change in how California K–12 schools are funded. Examining how attendance varies across districts—and how this relates to student demographics—sheds light on which districts might see the largest funding increases.
blog post Dangers Lurk in the San Joaquin Valley’s Dust By Sarah Bardeen Jan 10, 2022 In the San Joaquin Valley, concerns about airborne dust—and its health impacts—are growing. We speak with two experts who say people are right to be concerned.
blog post Uncertain Fate Awaits Prison Worker Vaccine Mandate By Heather Harris, Joseph Hayes Oct 28, 2021 As the battle over mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for prison workers unfolds, the well-being of prisoners, prison staff, and their communities hangs in the balance.
