We still don’t know if rates limits for PG&E, fire insurance and rent are working as we debate whether to expand them By Dan Walters, MERCURY NEWS https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/11/29/walters-california-consumer-price-regulation-often-protects-companies/# In the 19th century, California began experimenting with regulating the prices of vital...

By Staff Reporters, KCBS – San Francisco, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

By Staff Reporters, KNX – Los Angeles, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

By Blake Jones, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook-pm/2023/11/27/giving-californians-an-out-on-ai-00128791 With help from Alfred Ng TUNE IN, OPT OUT: Artificial intelligence can help decide whether you get a job, bank loan or housing — but such uses of the technology could soon be limited in California. Regulations proposed today would allow Californians to opt out...

By Staff Reporters, KCBS – San Francisco, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

Reforms labelled a "deregulation deal with insurers" By Mike Pangilinan, INSURANCE BUSINESS https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/catastrophe/california-voters-oppose-insurance-reforms-says-consumer-watchdog-467078.aspx California voters oppose proposed reforms that would provide insurance companies more leeway to set their rates in exchange for insuring homeowners in high wildfire risk areas, according to...

By David Goll, PALO ALTO WEEKLY https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2023/11/16/how-californias-fire-insurance-woes-are-impacting-peninsula-homeowners Over the past decade, multiple destructive wildfires have ravaged California, creating an unprecedented homeowners insurance crisis both locally and statewide. Obtaining new homeowners insurance policies — and even securing renewals on existing policies in...

By The Editorial Board, PRESS-ENTERPRISE https://www.pressenterprise.com/2023/11/16/la-city-hall-scandals-never-go-away/ There are new developments in some of the Los Angeles City Hall scandals, which continue to multiply like rabbits. Last Wednesday, the City Council agreed to pay $1.8 million to an LAPD officer who sued...

By Wes Venteicher, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2023/11/15/climate-scientists-on-strike-00127501 FIRE FIGHT: Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s main antagonist is out with a poll today throwing cold water on his plans to shore up the state’s crumbling wildfire insurance market. Consumer Watchdog’s poll, taken last month of 639 likely...

By JW August, TIMES OF SAN DIEGO https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2023/11/12/proposed-2024-ballot-measure-would-close-loopholes-in-california-public-records-act/ It was a milestone moment in open government in 1968 when then California Gov. Ronald Reagan signed into law what was intended to give all citizens a legal right to inspect and get copies of...

They say proposed changes threaten consumer protections under Prop 103 By Mike Pangilinan, INSURANCE BUSINESS https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/california-democrats-voice-concern-over-insurance-reforms-466094.aspx Thirty-two members of California’s Democratic Congressional Delegation have written a letter to insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara, expressing concern that his proposed reforms could weaken consumer...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU6BGRhfuAE&feature=youtu.be Carmen Balber says homeowners should push state lawmakers to hold insurance companies accountable, so what people can really do aside from shopping around is go to their state lawmakers and say enough is enough.

By Levi Sumagaysay, CAL MATTERS https://calmatters.org/housing/2023/11/fire-insurance-california/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZmTx3mhJlY Consumer Watchdog's Carmen Balber says it shouldn't have taken the medical board almost 3 years to post its case against the doctor. 

By Mike Pangilinan, INSURANCE BUSINESS https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/property/consumer-group-highlights-loopholes-in-californias-insurance-reforms-465492.aspx A consumer advocacy group in California has claimed that a rule introduced by insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara lacks substantial consumer benefits and is marred by “loopholes.” The rule, which is part of a larger reform...

By Clare Fonstein, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/california-loses-four-home-insurance-companies-18457381.php Four small insurers say they will not renew California home policies starting in 2024.  The four companies -- Merastar Insurance Co., Unitrin Auto and Home Insurance Co., Unitrin Direct Property and Casualty Co. and...

Some insurance companies have cancelled homeowners policies or refused to write new policies By John Woolfolk, MERCURY NEWS https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/10/27/consumer-group-says-records-show-insurance-commissioner-drafted-proposed-market-fix-with-industry-lobbyists/ A consumer group says California's Department of Insurance communications obtained through a records request show the commissioner's proposed fixes to the state's...

By Dan Bacher, THE DAILY KOS https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/10/26/2201823/-Valero-Posts-2-6-Billion-3rd-Quarter-Profit-On-CA-Gasoline-Margins-70-Greater-Than-Other-Regions?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web Los Angeles, CA—The third quarter report to shareholders by Valero Energy Corporation shows it made 70% more per gallon in California than in any other region of the U.S. or the globe that it...

By Rob Nikolweski, THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2023-10-26/will-san-diegans-see-another-spike-in-natural-gas-bills-this-winter As the weather turns chilly in the coming weeks and months, San Diego Gas & Electric officials are guardedly optimistic that utility customers with natural gas hookups won’t see a repeat...

By Staff Reporters, KNX – Los Angeles, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.