California

Proposed Law Would Ban Unaccompanied Adults from City Playgrounds in L.A.
There is plenty of debate surrounding a proposed law that would prohibit adults from entering city-owned playgrounds unless in the company of children.

Review of November 2016 Transportation Ballot Measures
About 50 transportation measures appeared on local ballots on November 8, 2016. To date, Planetizen reviewed outcomes in nine regions in six states. Here we compare the measures in terms of revenue, taxes, projects, and reasons for failure.

Homeless Deaths on the Rise in Sacramento
Activists call for policy makers to curb deaths among Sacramento, California's homeless population.

New Year's Day State Gas Tax Increases, Decreases, and What Lies Ahead
Pennsylvania, the state that had the highest gas tax last year, saw the highest gas tax increase of 7.9 cents per gallon, the final increment of a 2013 law. Michigan's 7.3 cents tax increase, signed into law in 2015, is the second largest increase.

Lucas Museum Finally Finds a Home—in Los Angeles
This story has had more twists than the end of Empire Strikes Back, but it seems like it finally might end in Los Angeles.

Debate Renewed: Can Uber and Lyft Solve Congestion?
A new study predicts the congestion relief benefits of carpooling services offered by Transportation Network Companies. A skeptical audience replies.
More Details of Bus Rapid Transit's Expanding Reach in San Francisco
The Geary bus corridor was the #1 pick for a subway according to a Muni survey, but commuters will have to settle for bus rapid transit. A milestone was reached when the San Francisco County Transportation Authority approved the design and EIR.

13 Years Later—Environmental Review for San Francisco Bus Rapid Transit Project Complete
The California Environmental Quality Act-mandated review process for a proposed bus rapid transit project in San Francisco took 13 years to complete.

New Housing Report Finds California Fails to Produce 100,000 Units Annually
The report by the state Department of Housing and Community Development is in the form of a draft assessment that solicits comments. For the last 10 years, the state produced on average 80,000 units annually, while the need was for 180,000 units.
Oil Companies Ordered to Cease Injection of Wastewater into California Aquifers
Seven oil companies, including Chevron, have been injecting wastewater into 10 aquifers for decades despite never receiving permission from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to do so. The aquifers are not currently used for drinking water.

Purple Line Extension Gets $1.6 Billion Boost in Los Angeles
The Purple Line subway extension is picking up momentum in Los Angeles. With construction already underway on the first phase, the second phase should commence in 2018.

Trump: The Ultimate Unintended Consequence
In Sacramento, a protracted fight involving the California Environmental Quality Act downsized a proposed development. It also added fuel to the pro-Trump, anti-development fire that swept the nation on November 8.

Building Small to Make California Homes More Affordable
A Santa Ana small lot development could be an example of how California could become more affordable by building more dense urban-style homes throughout the state.
Michigan the Latest to Preempt Municipalities from Banning Plastic Bags
Michigan has joined a small but growing list of states that have passed laws prohibiting municipalities from banning single-use plastic bags or charging for bags, as is done in California. Critics assail it as an 'attack on local control.'
Report: California Should Treat Housing Crisis like Climate Change
The California Apartment Association released a report on what it will take to solve the state's chronic housing shortage. Cities that are loath to permit new residential developments, both affordable and market rate, will not be pleased.
Fear of Low-Income Housing Blocks Veterans' Housing Project Near San Diego
In November, the city of Poway, California rejected a veterans' housing project. The story is informative for the way communities rally to obstruct the addition of low-income housing.

San Francisco's Red Carpet Transit Lanes to Continue Through March Evaluation
San Francisco's red, transit-only lanes are a demonstration project. The lanes first appeared in 2013 and were supposed to last two years, with state and federal regulators to determine whether they would continue. The state evaluation began Dec. 6.

Feds Put $75 Million Toward San Francisco BRT Project
The $223 million Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit project in San Francisco received a major cash infusion from the federal government this week.

Oakland Stadium Deal Gains Support
The Raiders are threatening to move to Las Vegas, but the city of Oakland intends to offer a land and infrastructure deal to convince the team to stay.
San Luis Obispo County Leaders Ponder What's Next After Transportation Measure Fails
The November 8 sales tax measure fell 0.37 percent short, but there's new hope from Sacramento with the reintroduction of a gas tax measure. Democrats now hold the bare supermajority in both the Assembly and Senate needed to pass tax increases.
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