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Articles by Jim Wunderman
Housing abundance in California first requires water abundance | Opinion Original
California’s housing goals could be threatened by a lack of water. The state has a housing crisis, and to make any progress on building more housing, we need to concurrently make progress on water.
Secure California’s water future - Capitol Weekly
Opinion by JIM WUNDERMAN and DAN DUNMOYER posted 08.22.2025 Capitol Weekly welcomes Opinions on California public policy or politics. Click here for more information about submitting an Op-Ed. OPINION – The Golden State’s weather whiplash, seen year after year, intensified by climate change, is straining the state’s entire water supply.
Viewpoint: The Bay Area needs to rally around San Francisco tourism
Residents of the region could do more to help with San Francisco's comeback, Hotel Council of San Francisco CEO Alex Bastian and Bay Area Council CEO Jim Wunderman write.
How cutting housing red tape will keep California green
When we launched the New California Coalition almost five years ago, we had a few specific goals in mind. Build housing at scale, fast. Slash homelessness. Secure our water and energy future. Unlock economic opportunity for all Californians. Do it all by uniting job creators, disillusioned Californians, and common-sense voters of every political stripe. Progress is a frustrating game of inches scratched out against entrenched interests and political inertia.
California Proposition 4 a critical climate-change chance
‘‘And it never failed that during the dry years the people forgot about the rich years, and during the wet years they lost all memory of the dry years. It was always that way,” John Steinbeck wrote in “The Grapes of Wrath.” California’s climate is enjoying a rich spell. We’ve been blessed with two consecutive wet years, our reservoirs are mostly full and the horrors of the 2017-21 drought-fueled wildfire seasons are fading — yet we can’t let this brief good fortune lull us into complacency.
Greater urgency needed to advance California’s transition to broadband - Capitol Weekly
Opinion by JIM WUNDERMAN posted 06.12.2024 Twitter Facebook Email OPINION – Nearly three years ago, at a rural elementary school, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that committed the state to increasing equitable, affordable access to high-speed internet service across California by building a state-owned internet backbone network and local broadband networks.
Why SF should pull plug on electric infrastructure takeover
San Francisco Mayor London Breed and the Board of Supervisors recently passed a budget that rightly focuses on The City’s top priorities, including addressing a decadeslong homelessness and housing crisis, responding to dire concerns about crime and public safety, ending an insidious and deadly drug and fentanyl epidemic, and charting a new course for a downtown and economy left reeling from the pandemic. Even under the best of circumstances, fixing these serious problems is going to take years.
Clear California goals needed to develop future water supply Original
Over the past decade, California has withered and swelled under huge swings in annual rain and snowfall. We’ve endured two of the most severe droughts in recorded state history, two of the wettest years on record, and even one of those rare occurrences — the average water year. The trend, however, is clear. California is getting warmer, and the drought intervals between our wet years are getting longer.
California Voice: Landmark CEQA environmental law needs to be changed
Like our changing climate and its many impacts on our communities, economy and environment; like the collapse of critical infrastructure; like the humanitarian homelessness crisis on our streets and the housing shortage driving it; like so many other slow-motion disasters that have befallen us, the warning signs have been unmistakably clear. Just as often, we have ignored them, denied them and been slow to act.
Opinon: Lack of environmental law reform threatens California’s future
Like our changing climate and its many impacts on our communities, economy and environment; like the collapse of critical infrastructure; like the humanitarian homelessness crisis on our streets and the housing shortage driving it; like so many other slow-motion disasters that have befallen us, the warning signs have been unmistakably clear. And just as often, we have ignored them, denied them and been slow to act.
Future of California at risk the longer landmark CEQA environmental law remains unchanged
Tracy Hernandez and Jim Wunderman Special to CalMatters Like our changing climate and its many impacts on our communities, economy and environment; like the collapse of critical infrastructure; like the humanitarian homelessness crisis on our streets and the housing shortage driving it; like so many other slow-motion disasters that have befallen us, the warning signs have been unmistakably clear. And just as often, we have ignored them, denied them and been slow to act.
Opinion: California's Future at Risk Unless We Reform CEQA to Permit Critically Needed Progress
Like our changing climate and its many impacts on our communities, economy and environment; like the collapse of critical infrastructure; like the humanitarian homelessness crisis on our streets and the housing shortage driving it; like so many other slow-motion disasters that have befallen us, the warning signs have been unmistakably clear. And just as often, we have ignored them, denied them and been slow to act.
Newsom made the right call on delaying Delta water flows Original
Over the past 10 years, California has seen two of the most severe droughts in a millennium separated by two of the wettest years on record. This erratic weather, volatile even by California standards, shattered heat records, killed millions of trees, fueled explosive wildfires and caused significant flooding. As California’s changing climate pushes us deeper into uncharted climate waters, past records are becoming a less reliable tool for predicting current and future weather patterns.
To bridge the remote work desert, S.F. should cultivate life sciences industry
The dramatic shift to remote work that we’ve experienced over the past three years has had a profound and transformative impact on the Bay Area, our cities and our economy. Office buildings in business districts sit empty or partially empty. Downtown streets that once bustled are eerily quiet. And the jobs and tax revenue generated by businesses big and small is shrinking.
Funding for San Francisco's downtown has been approved. Now what?
Earlier this week, Mayor London Breed and the Board of Supervisors agreed to move forward with a spending plan for the next fiscal year that preserves the bulk of the funding targeted for recovery efforts in the city’s economic core. This was viewed as a positive sign by The City’s diverse business community, which wants San Francisco to make economic recovery a top priority. But it’s just the beginning.
California should create more water - much more | Modesto Bee
Despite recent rain, California's drought persists. THE FRESNO BEE Wouldn’t you know it? Just like washing your car, almost the moment I finished writing this article, the skies opened up. I’d write one every day if it meant ending our water woes. But it tells you everything you need to know about California’s dire water situation – that the atmospheric river that recently pummeled Northern California and other parts of the state doesn’t even begin to make a dent in our drought.
Column: California should create more water — much more
Wouldn’t you know it? Just like washing your car, almost the moment I finished writing this article, the skies opened up. I’d write one every day if it meant ending our water woes. But it tells you everything you need to know about California’s dire water situation — that the atmospheric river that recently pummeled Northern California and other parts of the state doesn’t even begin to make a dent in our drought. And it highlights the urgency for California to create more water. Much more.
Opinion: Alameda County needs to support A’s waterfront ballpark Original
Transformative is an adjective that gets tossed around a lot these days, but when it comes to the waterfront ballpark at Oakland’s Howard Terminal, it’s probably an understatement. The ballpark at Howard Terminal is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to honor Oakland and boost the entire region’s economy for decades.
Californians may not be fleeing, but they're not happy
Last week, a curious news release from the University of California surfaced and set off a small media frenzy that cheerily amplified its headline conclusion: The “California exodus” is a myth. Outlets up and down the state touted the “massive” UC study that “debunked” the idea of Californians leaving the state in droves. Instead, readers were issued breathless, self-assured proclamations about how the data do not support the idea of hordes of Californians racing for the exits.
California’s economic outlook in ‘deep trouble.’ Will we reach a point of no return?
California has become deeply complacent in taking care of its economy and willfully negligent in taking for granted our incredible economic success. “The California dream is in deep trouble,” Leon Panetta said recently about the growing flight of jobs and investment from the state to places like Texas, Florida and Arizona. Whether or not what’s happening is a mass exodus is beside the point — waiting for California to reach a point of economic no return is unacceptable.
Opinion: Businesses need newspapers for coronavirus recovery
Breaking News Pinnacles National Park reopens, but with some restrictions Local newspapers across California play a vital and indispensable role during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing invaluable information about the virus and its many impacts on our communities, economy and public healthcare system, and highlighting the myriad efforts to halt its spread.
Opinion: Businesses need newspapers for coronavirus recovery
Breaking News Pinnacles National Park reopens, but with some restrictions Local newspapers across California play a vital and indispensable role during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing invaluable information about the virus and its many impacts on our communities, economy and public healthcare system, and highlighting the myriad efforts to halt its spread.
CALmatters Commentary: Here’s a cure for state’s growing fiscal disaster
CALmatters Commentary: Jim Wunderman By Jim Wunderman, special to CALmatters One of the most interesting and important debates around Covid-19 is the question of whether the cure – sheltering in place and sidelining much of our economy – is worse than the disease.
Here’s a cure for California’s growing fiscal disaster
One of the most interesting and important debates around COVID-19 is the question of whether the cure – sheltering in place and sidelining much of our economy – is worse than the disease. I’m not here to offer an opinion on that, but rather to propose another quandary we are about to face: whether the “cure” for our mounting fiscal woes – massive cuts in California government services – is actually worse than the “disease,” a short term fiscal shortfall of massive proportions.
Marin Voice: California lawmakers can be pro-worker and pro-innovation
California and the Bay Area have thrived creatively, economically and culturally because we attract top talent, encourage risk-taking and give people the flexibility and freedom to pursue their dreams on their own terms. It’s a successful formula that reflects California’s indomitable entrepreneurial spirit and empowers people to do great things. It’s not something that policymakers should undermine or artificially constrain.
CALmatters Commentary: In Dynamex fight, lawmakers can be pro-worker and pro-innovation
Jim Wunderman, Special to CALmatters Commentary Published 10:53 a.m. PT July 26, 2019 Mick Stevens, artist (Photo: Mick Stevens/via CartoonStock.com) California and the Bay Area have thrived creatively, economically and culturally because we attract top talent, encourage risk-taking and give people the flexibility and freedom to pursue their dreams on their own terms. It’s a successful formula that reflects California’s indomitable entrepreneurial spirit and empowers people to do great things.
California legislators should shape Dynamex ruling to help innovation
By Guest Commentary published: July 22, 2019 In the Dynamex fight, California lawmakers can be pro-worker and pro-innovation California and the Bay Area have thrived creatively, economically and culturally because we attract top talent, encourage risk-taking and give people the flexibility and freedom to pursue their dreams on their own terms. It’s a successful formula that reflects California’s indomitable entrepreneurial spirit and empowers people to do great things.
Opinion: The same PUC that wanted to tax texts wants to control the Internet
Text, Skype, or WhatsApp your friends: New state legislation, Assembly Bill 1366, will preserve and extend California’s successful internet policy and deserves broad support. The story begins in 2012, when Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1161 into law. The law prevented the California Public Utilities Commission from regulating certain Internet services associated with smartphones, like free messaging and video calling apps like Skype, WhatsApp, and FaceTime.
Opinion: The same PUC that wanted to tax texts wants to control the Internet
Text, Skype, or WhatsApp your friends: New state legislation, Assembly Bill 1366, will preserve and extend California’s successful internet policy and deserves broad support. The story begins in 2012, when Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1161 into law. The law prevented the California Public Utilities Commission from regulating certain Internet services associated with smartphones, like free messaging and video calling apps like Skype, WhatsApp, and FaceTime.
Opinion: The same PUC that wanted to tax texts wants to control the Internet
Text, Skype, or WhatsApp your friends: New state legislation, Assembly Bill 1366, will preserve and extend California’s successful internet policy and deserves broad support. The story begins in 2012, when Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1161 into law. The law prevented the California Public Utilities Commission from regulating certain Internet services associated with smartphones, like free messaging and video calling apps like Skype, WhatsApp, and FaceTime.
Public-private partnerships can help California get moving again
California’s promise to move people and goods efficiently and safely remains a cornerstone of economic, social and environmental quality for all. Yet 85 percent of the state’s urban interstate freeways are congested, and we’re just now playing catch-up on overdue repairs to our transportation system, thanks to gas tax increases lock-boxed for those improvements.
Public-private partnerships can help California get moving again
California’s promise to move people and goods efficiently and safely remains a cornerstone of economic, social and environmental quality for all. Yet 85 percent of the state’s urban interstate freeways are congested, and we’re just now playing catch-up on overdue repairs to our transportation system, thanks to gas tax increases lock-boxed for those improvements.
Public-private partnerships can help California get moving again
California’s promise to move people and goods efficiently and safely remains a cornerstone of economic, social and environmental quality for all. Yet 85 percent of the state’s urban interstate freeways are congested, and we’re just now playing catch-up on overdue repairs to our transportation system, thanks to gas tax increases lock-boxed for those improvements.
Public-private partnerships can help California get moving again
California’s promise to move people and goods efficiently and safely remains a cornerstone of economic, social and environmental quality for all. Yet 85 percent of the state’s urban interstate freeways are congested, and we’re just now playing catch-up on overdue repairs to our transportation system, thanks to gas tax increases lock-boxed for those improvements.
Public-private partnerships can help California get moving again
California’s promise to move people and goods efficiently and safely remains a cornerstone of economic, social and environmental quality for all. Yet 85 percent of the state’s urban interstate freeways are congested, and we’re just now playing catch-up on overdue repairs to our transportation system, thanks to gas tax increases lock-boxed for those improvements.
Public-private partnerships can help California get moving again
California’s promise to move people and goods efficiently and safely remains a cornerstone of economic, social and environmental quality for all. Yet 85 percent of the state’s urban interstate freeways are congested, and we’re just now playing catch-up on overdue repairs to our transportation system, thanks to gas tax increases lock-boxed for those improvements.
Public-private partnerships can help California get moving again
California’s promise to move people and goods efficiently and safely remains a cornerstone of economic, social and environmental quality for all. Yet 85 percent of the state’s urban interstate freeways are congested, and we’re just now playing catch-up on overdue repairs to our transportation system, thanks to gas tax increases lock-boxed for those improvements.
Housing crisis won't be solved in a house divided
We've learned a few things about housing in 2018, and now it's time to roll up our sleeves to make real progress in 2019. Last January, the California Legislature rejected more onerous rent control as the solution to the housing crisis. Voters did the same, overwhelmingly rejecting Prop. 10 on November 6 after a wasteful, nasty $100 million campaign that only diverted time and resources better spent on housing.
A case for high-quality early learning in California - Capitol Weekly
Opinion A young girl looks examines the illustrations in a book.
Opinion: California PUC may approve tax on text messages - srsly
It’s not quite a lump of coal, but California regulators may dampen holiday spirits early this year by approving a controversial tax on text messaging. The proposed text tax, to be voted on in early January by the California Public Utilities Commission, would appear at the bottom of customer bills, and cost average Californians—not wireless carriers or big businesses–approximately $45 million a year. It’s still not clear exactly how the tax would be levied.
Opinion: California PUC may approve tax on text messages - srsly
It’s not quite a lump of coal, but California regulators may dampen holiday spirits early this year by approving a controversial tax on text messaging. The proposed text tax, to be voted on in early January by the California Public Utilities Commission, would appear at the bottom of customer bills, and cost average Californians—not wireless carriers or big businesses–approximately $45 million a year. It’s still not clear exactly how the tax would be levied.
Opinion: California PUC may approve tax on text messages – srsly
It’s not quite a lump of coal, but California regulators may dampen holiday spirits early this year by approving a controversial tax on text messaging. The proposed text tax, to be voted on in early January by the California Public Utilities Commission, would appear at the bottom of customer bills, and cost average Californians—not wireless carriers or big businesses–approximately $45 million a year. It’s still not clear exactly how the tax would be levied.
Opinion: California PUC may approve tax on text messages - srsly
It’s not quite a lump of coal, but California regulators may dampen holiday spirits early this year by approving a controversial tax on text messaging. The proposed text tax, to be voted on in early January by the California Public Utilities Commission, would appear at the bottom of customer bills, and cost average Californians—not wireless carriers or big businesses–approximately $45 million a year. It’s still not clear exactly how the tax would be levied.
California voters can prepare for the election deluge. Here’s how
There’s a megastorm coming to California this fall, but not a drop of rain nor a snowflake will fall. The November election will inundate voters with a torrent of hyperbolic campaign rhetoric and big promises, a blizzard of negative advertising and a tsunami of other screeching political communications and outreach.
California voters can prepare for the election deluge. Here’s how
There’s a megastorm coming to California this fall, but not a drop of rain nor a snowflake will fall. The November election will inundate voters with a torrent of hyperbolic campaign rhetoric and big promises, a blizzard of negative advertising and a tsunami of other screeching political communications and outreach.
California voters can prepare for the election deluge. Here’s how
There’s a megastorm coming to California this fall, but not a drop of rain nor a snowflake will fall. The November election will inundate voters with a torrent of hyperbolic campaign rhetoric and big promises, a blizzard of negative advertising and a tsunami of other screeching political communications and outreach.
California voters can prepare for the election deluge. Here’s how
There’s a megastorm coming to California this fall, but not a drop of rain nor a snowflake will fall. The November election will inundate voters with a torrent of hyperbolic campaign rhetoric and big promises, a blizzard of negative advertising and a tsunami of other screeching political communications and outreach.
California voters can prepare for the election deluge. Here’s how
There’s a megastorm coming to California this fall, but not a drop of rain nor a snowflake will fall. The November election will inundate voters with a torrent of hyperbolic campaign rhetoric and big promises, a blizzard of negative advertising and a tsunami of other screeching political communications and outreach.
Opinion: Next California governor must focus on climate adaptation
California’s efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions have made the state an icon in the fight against climate change, a status validated by Gov. Jerry Brown hosting the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco next month. Yet despite its success, California is only slowly beginning to take action to help communities adapt to the brutal changes in our climate already well underway.
Opinion: Next California governor must focus on climate adaptation
California’s efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions have made the state an icon in the fight against climate change, a status validated by Gov. Jerry Brown hosting the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco next month. Yet despite its success, California is only slowly beginning to take action to help communities adapt to the brutal changes in our climate already well underway.
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