Image by DouwdejagerOPINION – It wasn’t long ago that General Motors (GM) led a coalition of automotive companies to support the Trump administration’s assault on California’s right to set its own emission standards. Now, GM is at it again, this time targeting California’s auto lemon law, widely regarded as the best in the nation.
Image by geckophotosOPINION – AB 3129 is deeply flawed legislation that would undermine California’s healthcare system — and the health of Californians — by imposing unnecessary and costly regulations.
Image by Dragon ClawsOPINION – As a former corporate employee and now a minority business owner, I have worked tirelessly to reduce workplace bias and discrimination. With my new company, I’m successfully using artificial intelligence to help solve these vexing problems, so I was surprised and disappointed when I recently reviewed well-intended, but terribly misguided, AI bias legislation
Rat poison trap box container. Image by richard johnsonOPINION – Contrary to popular belief, rodents do not carry more parasites than other animals. It is worth noting however, that rats exposed to anticoagulants have significantly higher loads of Leptospira spp. infections – which can spillover to humans operating antagonistically against public health.
View of a public park in Santa Barbara. Image by Jack N. MohrOPINION – Studies have continuously shown that spending time in nature does more than just refresh the body, it renews the spirit and mind. Parks and beaches offer a place to play and they offer a place to belong by knitting our communities together in ways that are hard to quantify, but easy to feel.
Image by BurlinghamOPINION – Pharmacy benefit managers, like CVS Health’s PBM, play a vital role in keeping my patients’ drugs affordable and accessible. However, I am increasingly worried about possible legislation here in California which would limit PBMs’ ability to help manage costs for patients like the ones I serve.
Image by Natalya SambulovaOPINION – Patients in California continue to struggle with balancing high health care costs with other daily essentials. Yet, little-known health industry middlemen called pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are making it harder for patients to get the care they need by raising costs at the pharmacy counter and threatening the viability of local pharmacies.
Image by Alexander SikovOPINION – In May of this year, Governor Newsom warned, “If we over-regulate, if we overindulge, if we chase the shiny object, we could put ourselves in a perilous position.” Sadly, Senator Scott Wiener’s SB 1047 bill falls into the trap Governor Newsom warned about.
Image by XurzonOPINION – The Neighborhood Decarbonization Act is crucial in ensuring that Californians, regardless of income, can protect themselves from the dangers of extreme heat and live safely and comfortably in their homes.
Cement plant and ready mix concrete. Image by Maksim SafaniukOpinion – Cement and concrete in our state must continue to be available at scale. It is vital for every aspect of our built environment, and as our weather becomes more extreme, it is critical to keep producing a resilient and durable material like concrete to future-proof our communities.