California

The Importance of Bus Stop Benches
Noticing a need in his community, a California mayor found a fast and affordable way to put seating at every bus stop in town.

O.C. City To Create Rental Registry to Enforce Rent Control Laws
Santa Ana will require landlords to register their properties and rent increases and is creating a seven-seat board to help enforce rent stabilization and settle disputes.

Oregon to End Sales of Gas-Powered Vehicles by 2035
There must be something about having a coast on the Pacific Ocean that makes states set policies to accelerate the end of the internal combustion engine.

S.F. Accelerates Parking Removal at Bus Stops From 7 Years to 18 Months
Reviewing changes in bulk will make it easier for the Municipal Transportation Agency to remove parking around bus stops in San Francisco.

L.A. ‘Wildlife Ordinance’ to Protect Biodiversity With Zoning Changes
The Los Angeles City Planning Commission recently approved a new Wildlife Ordinance. The City Council will make the final decision about the ordinance’s approval.

California Home to Almost One Third of U.S. Unhoused Population
Despite efforts at the state and local level to address the growing homelessness crisis, California is seeing the fastest increase in its unhoused population in the country.

L.A. Ends COVID Eviction Protections
Some of the nation’s longest-lasting eviction protections are set to expire in February, while the future of other renter assistance programs remains uncertain.

How the Restaurant Scene Became a Symbol of Gentrification
While redevelopment-related displacement is the result of broader market forces and policy decisions, restaurants and cafes have become an emotionally charged flashpoint for the debate over gentrification.

Identifying and Improving Schools Most In Need of Greening
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has developed an index to help identify the schools that are most in need of greening resources.

Critics Expect L.A.’s New ‘Mansion Tax’ to Chill Development Market
A new real estate transfer tax won the approval of L.A. voters after being promoted as a “mansion tax.” No some real estate and development experts are saying that the new transfer tax will have a much broader impact on the real estate market.

Orange County Lagging on Supportive Housing Goals
The county is far behind its goal of building 2,700 supportive housing units as the region grows more unaffordable.

California’s Year in Bike Policy
Bike and pedestrian advocates saw some big legislative and political wins in 2022.

Southern California Water District Declares Drought Emergency
State water officials say the region’s agencies will only receive 5 percent of their requested supplies for the start of 2023 due to intense drought conditions that continue to sap western water supplies.

Superfund Project to Deliver Massive Water Supply Boon to Los Angeles
The semi-arid region of Los Angeles is often mistaken for a desert, but the local water supply is also constrained by the environmental sins of the 20th century. The water supply equation of Los Angeles will soon change, however.

First Full Builder’s Remedy Application Filed in Santa Monica
In the time that it took Santa Monica to bring its housing plan into compliance with state requirements, a developer filed over a dozen preliminary applications under the obscure ‘builder’s remedy’ policy.

The Importance of Restoring Degraded Lands in Los Angeles County
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors just approved the Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+), which highlights the need for transforming degraded lands such as landfills and oil fields into parks and open spaces, particularly in underserved communities.

Bike Lanes Pitted Against Fire Safety in Oakland
The city’s fire department is pushing back on proposed bike lanes and narrower streets, citing concerns about emergency access.

San Jose Eliminates Parking Minimums
The California city is the largest in the country to abolish parking requirements, joining a bevy of other localities that are shifting to less car-oriented development.

L.A. County Calls for Flood Control Improvements
Recently revealed estimates put far more people in the region at risk for catastrophic flooding than previously thought.

Los Angeles To Phase Out Oil Drilling
The city has banned new wells and will end all extraction within two decades.
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