Erika D. Smith

The vice president is well-positioned to fix the state’s big problems — and prove that left-leaning ideals can turn into pragmatic policies.

The city has finally decided to compensate Black and Latino families for property taken in the 1960s and 70s. It's a model that should work elsewhere.

Too many of America’s urban spaces lack affordable housing and streets that feel clean and safe. And voters are watching.

Too many of America's urban spaces lack affordable housing and streets that feel clean and safe. And voters are watching.

The California governor should tout the immediate advantages of electric cars — not just the long-term climate benefits.

President-elect Trump should not reprise his first-term habit of threatening to dispense federal disaster aid according to how many supporters he has in a given state or county.

A resident hoses down hot spots in a fire-ravaged property after the Palisades Fire swept through in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Eugene Garcia/AP)

Governor Gavin Newsom and local officials face an agonizing choice: relax standards to get new housing up fast, or harden building codes against the next fire.

Governor Gavin Newsom and local officials face an agonizing choice: relax standards to get new housing up fast, or harden building codes against the next fire.

“My whole life was in that house.” I've lost track of how many friends, acquaintances and strangers have said those words to me in the week