Steven Greenhut

New Bay-Delta rules highlight state’s slow water progress by Steven Greenhut | November 6, 2026 If you turn a map of California on its side with the Nevada border to the north, you’ll notice a low-lying area where nearly half of the water from the Sierra Nevada Mountains drains before ...

My recent trip to Malibu from LAX was my first post-wildfire drive through the Pacific Palisades and, my goodness, there’s nothing like seeing something with one’s own eyes to grasp the enormity of the devastation. The obliterated hulks along Pacific Coast Highway 21 months after the tragedy raises multiple issues, ...

Newsom saves cities from bipartisan pension-hiking legislation by Steven Greenhut | October 9, 2026 Jerry Brown took his share of indefensible positions in his final two terms as governor, but even Republicans acknowledged that he was the last adult in Sacramento — a backstop against the zaniest ideas in the ...

California’s long-distorted insurance market reached a level of dysfunction in 2023 that had tangible consequences for average homeowners. Following a series of costly wildfires, they struggled to find insurance, faced soaring prices and, in many cases, had no choice but to turn to the overburdened, state-created insurer of last resort, ...

SACRAMENTO – Following the collapse of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s push for legislation addressing wildfire liability, a new Pacific Research Institute booklet warns California policymakers against responding to the state’s continuing wildfire and insurance challenges by reversing regulatory reforms that are finally showing signs of restoring competition and coverage. The warning ...

New Solano city’s travails spotlight state’s maddening approval process by Steven Greenhut | September 10, 2026 California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature deserve credit for trying to reduce some impediments to building housing and other projects in our red-tape-laden state. But the latest development fracas in Solano County ...

California pensions: A bipartisan push to destroy municipal budgets by Steven Greenhut | September 4, 2026 Four years ago, California enjoyed an astounding $97.5-billion surplus, but now the supposedly “balanced” budget faces an intractable structural deficit, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Given economic headwinds caused by runaway inflation and fears ...

California’s latest ‘green’ strategy threatens local recycling efforts By Steven Greenhut | August 7, 2026 California’s state recycling agency, CalRecycle, boasts that “California is building a circular economy that can recycle all waste by reducing how much trash we make [and] creating responsible recycling markets.” There’s nothing wrong with recycling, of ...

California has one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines, which meanders 1,100 miles from Imperial Beach to Crescent City. And, of course, everyone wants to “Save Our Coast” and assure public access to beaches, which is why Californians voted 55% to 45% in 1972 for Proposition 20. It promised to protect ...