Report Achieving Universal Broadband in California By Joseph Hayes, Niu Gao, Darriya Starr, Amy Gong Liu Mar 29, 2023 In 2021, California invested over $6 billion to expand broadband infrastructure, address affordability, and promote digital literacy. This report examines barriers to installing broadband in underserved communities and offers recommendations as the state aims to close the digital divide.
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.
Report The Impact of Health Insurance on Poverty in California By Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon, Shannon McConville Mar 27, 2023 The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Californians gain health insurance over the past decade. In addition to improving access to care, the ACA has increased financial well-being. This analysis focuses on the significant contribution of publicly funded health coverage—particularly Medi-Cal—to family resources across the state.
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 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.
Explainer Is College Worth It? By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Cesar Alesi Perez, Vicki Hsieh, Hans Johnson Mar 8, 2023 Rising college costs and a reluctance to take on debt lead many students and families to wonder if college will actually yield a brighter future with higher earnings and better jobs. In this explainer, we explore whether the benefits of a college degree outweigh the costs.
blog post Californians’ Views on Governor Newsom and the State of the State By Mark Baldassare Mar 7, 2023 Majorities of California adults (58%) and likely voters (57%) approve of Governor Newsom—good news for him as he forgoes the traditional state of the state address to speak directly with communities around the state.
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 New Horizons for Senior Fellow Alvar Escriva-Bou By Sarah Bardeen Feb 24, 2023 In over seven years at the PPIC Water Policy Center, senior fellow Alvar Escriva-Bou has contributed enormously to our research, particularly around drought, agriculture, and the San Joaquin Valley. Now, as he moves on to a new chapter as a faculty member at UCLA, we asked him to reflect on his time at PPIC—and to tell us more about what’s next.
blog post Homeless Populations Are Rising around California By Jennifer Paluch, Joseph Herrera Feb 21, 2023 Between 2020 and 2022, California’s homeless population increased by 6%. While this growth was largely concentrated in urban areas, the number of people experiencing homelessness declined in San Francisco and Orange County.
