California

Environmental Law, Resistance to Trump Administration Splits California Democrats
California has made a practice of resisting changes to environmental regulations pursued by the Trump administration, but the latest legislative effort to protect the state's waterways was a bridge too far for the governor.

2021 Opening Expected for San Francisco's Central Subway
Mark your calendars (but maybe use pencil).

Consumer Group Accuses States of 'Punishing' Electric Vehicle Drivers
The advocacy division of Consumer Reports published a study to highlight the practice of what could soon be a majority of state governments: charging electric vehicle owners an additional registration fee to compensate for forgone fuel tax revenue.

L.A.'s New Tool for More Efficient City Asset Management
Controller Ron Galperin on his latest announcement proposing the creation of the Los Angeles Municipal Development Corporation, a nonprofit entity that would be tasked with managing city assets in a more strategic way.

Frequencies Restored on L.A.'s Expo Line After Rider Backlash
Trains were already crowded on the Metro Expo Line when they ran every six minutes during peak hours. When Metro cut frequencies to every eight minutes in June, riders were not pleased.

L.A. Unveils Plans for Historic Water Infrastructure Tax
Katy Young Yaroslavsky discusses the the Measure W Implementation Ordinance and the committee appointees tasked with determining how this new funding will flow into community water projects.

City to Bicyclists: Berkeley Not in Idaho
Berkeley, California might have a reputation of a very progressive city, but when it comes to cycling, it appears to have little tolerance for cyclists who roll through stop signs. Police are justifying the crackdown on the terms of a state grant.

Trump Administration Rolls Back Clean Water Protections
Environmentalists worry that the latest action by the Trump administration on the environment will set a dangerous precedent that is difficult to overturn with a more conservative Supreme Court.

Friday Eye Candy: A Love Song for Swimming Holes
There's still technically some time left in the summer of 2019 to enjoy a dip, or a frolic, in a swimming hole.

Statewide Rent Control, Eviction Protections Adopted in California
It's been a historic year for rent control on the West Coast, as California joins Oregon as the first states to approve statewide rent control laws.

Kanye West's Unpermitted Vision for Housing Utopia Has Been Demolished
Kanye had 45 days to submit plans for the unpermitted buildings built on his property in Calabasas, California. Instead, the rapper tore the buildings down.

California Adds Bikeshare and E-Bikes to its List of Dirty, Old Car Replacement Options
The Clean Cars 4 All program provides incentives for low-income Californians to replace old, polluting cars with an electric car or a transit pass. Now residents can also choose electric-assist bikes and bikeshare as a mobility option.

California Cities That Plan Housing Might Now Have to Build it
If Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 as expected, downzonings, density reductions, housing construction moratoriums, and housing caps will become illegal.

Google's San Jose Transit Village Plans Revealed
Google's plans for the Diridon Transit Village are much more clear.

Los Angeles Could Broaden Homeless Sleeping Prohibition to a Quarter of the City
There won't be many places left to sleep for the massive population of homeless living in the city of Los Angeles.

Anti-Development Forces Strike at L.A.'s Transit Oriented Communities Program
There's a new front in the city of L.A.'s ongoing conflict between anti-development forces and efforts to add density at and around transit.

California to Las Vegas High-Speed Rail: Expected for Construction in 2020
Virgin Trains USA, formerly Brightline, is making progress on long-anticipated plans for a high-speed rail connection between Las Vegas and Victorville, California.

Urban Congestion Pricing Might Finally Come to California
If Gov. Gavin Newsom signs legislation by San Francisco Assemblyman Phil Ting, motorists who want to drive the 'world's most crooked street,' a huge tourist draw, will be forced to participate in a pilot 'reservation and pricing program.'
A Rainbow Halo to Memorialize the Location of Traffic Fatalities
A Vision Zero program in Los Angeles is memorializing the tragedies of traffic collisions at 100 locations around the city.

New Research Ties Lack of Density to Lack of Affordability in California
New research using the Terner Center California Residential Land Use Survey also connects demographic trends to housing development opposition.
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