Thanks to a vigorous signature gathering effort bankrolled by the American Progressive Bag Alliance, a bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last September that outlawed single-use plastic bags will be decided by the electorate in November 2016.
"The statewide ban, hailed by environmental groups as a way to reduce litter and ocean pollution, had been scheduled to go into effect in July," writes Paul Rogers of the San Jose Mercury News. "But large companies that manufacture plastic grocery bags, led by Hilex Poly of South Carolina, said the measure would harm the state's economy and that it unfairly allowed grocers to charge customers 10 cents per paper bag."
The Secretary of State's Office said (Feb. 24) that a random sampling found that the measure's supporters collected at least 555,236 valid signatures -- more than the 504,706 needed to qualify the referendum for the 2016 ballot. [The group submitted 800,000 signatures.]
Rogers write that the referendum is anticipated to produce one of the most expensive campaigns in history. The plastics industry will need to overcome current polling showing that voters like the controversial measure "by a margin of 59 percent to 34 percent," according to a poll taken by the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Times in November, writes Rogers.
Supporters of the ban have organized under the group, California vs. Big Plastic.
FULL STORY: California's plastic-bag ban suspended by ballot referendum
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.