San Francisco's Planning Commission President violated conflict of interest law by taking $20,000 from a developer.
"As The Chronicle reported Friday, Chinchilla was paid $20,000 to help the son of prominent Chinatown businessman Pius Lee win a permit to convert a vacant movie house in the Outer Mission District into a Walgreens drug store.According to sources who asked not to be quoted by name, Lee says Chinchilla was hired to deliver the four commission votes needed to obtain the permit. Lee complained about the matter to Supervisor Aaron Peskin after the project got only three votes at a meeting last month."
Thanks to Laura Kranz
FULL STORY: S.F. planning chief faces ethics scrutiny

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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