Ethan Varian

@adampnathan Here's another non-paywalled link: mercurynews.com/2025/10/31/new…

@adampnathan According to the gov's office, it may well be because there are fewer encampments of state property. (Some areas have reported recent declines in homelessness.) But city officials told me they've struggled to coordinate with Caltrans to close dangerous camps

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered CA agencies to ramp up encampment closures. But data we obtained through a public records request shows sweeps declined after the order: mercurynews.com/2025/10/31/new…

As catastrophic wildfires spur insurance companies to raise homeowner premiums and drop policyholders across California, the industry has blamed climate change for fueling the blazes. Yet insurers continue to invest billions in oil and gas @ethanvarian eastbaytimes.com/2025/10/19/ins…

A great story by my colleague @ethanvarian on the early results of Prop 36 — which CA passed with 70% of the vote — so far: mercurynews.com/2025/08/17/pro…

At the same time, prosecutors in San Francisco and Alameda County -- two places at the heart of the homelessness crisis -- have mostly refrained from charging drug possession felonies. Neither DA's office would explain why.

That creates "great incentives for defendants to just plead out for a short sentence,” one county prosecutor explained to me. “Of course, if there were no wait list and robust services, their decisions might be different.”

I requested charging and treatment data from across the Bay Area + CA to see whether Prop 36 is compelling homeless drug offenders into care. I found the law is off to a slow start, largely due to a lack of treatment options. @mercnews/@EastBayTimes mercurynews.com/2025/08/17/pro…

Really important accountability piece by @ethanvarian on the slow uptake of the treatment pillar of Prop. 36 @mercnews

I wrote about Adrian Gutierrez, who died on the street in Contra Costa County despite multiple attempts to get him to help. Could new statewide drug and mental health reforms have saved him? mercurynews.com/2025/03/03/hom… mercurynews.com/2025/03/03/hom…

Fremont council walks back controversial ‘aiding and abetting’ clause in recent camping ban trib.al/r7NfZXF

Does Fremont’s camping ban make it a crime to help homeless people? trib.al/nW6Je1y

Still, Cordell said she stands by her findings in the report, including the possible conflict of interest, Corpus/Aenlle retaliating against staff and using racist/sexist slurs in the workplace.

But the author of the report, retired Judge LaDoris Cordell, acknowledged to me she made an error about Aellne’s role in the deal.

SCOOP: I obtained an email confirming the FBI has asked about a property deal at the center of the San Mateo County sheriff scandal. mercurynews.com/2025/02/11/san…

If approved, Fremont's camping ban would appear to be among the very strictest anywhere in CA. Story by @Kyle_Martin35

After record surge in homelessness, Bay Area counties tackle new count of unhoused populations trib.al/wAOim77