Even before President Trump took office, California was not meeting its emissions reduction goals.

California environmental leaders are calling on state agencies to prioritize investing in active transportation and public transit, particularly as the new administration works to dismantle environmental protections and discourage the shift to electric vehicles and renewable energy, writes Damien Newton in Streetsblog California.
In a letter to the California Transportation Commission, California Air Resources Board, Caltrans, and the Department of Housing and Community Development, the group of advocates notes that “California still controls how the state spends its own transportation dollars, and thus is responsible for meeting its own Climate goals.”
Regardless of the federal administration in power, California transportation agencies have continued to prioritize highway building and car-centric development at the expense of public transit and multimodal transportation infrastructure.
The letter includes seven suggestions for actions state leaders can take to meet its climate goals and safeguard its environment. These include making a statewide effort to shift investments away from highway expansion, aligning the transportation budget with the state’s climate action plan, and creating a ‘Plan B’ for emissions reduction goals that compensates for potential reductions in federal support.
FULL STORY: Enviro Leaders: EV’s Won’t Save Us, Invest in Transit and Active Transportation

Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86
Urbanists are mourning the loss of a dynamic voice for parking reform and walkable cities.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

Federal EV Charging Program Suspended
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program planned to fund the construction of hundreds of EV charging stations across the country.

A Monument to Resilience: Native Hawaiian Art Installation Honors History and Healing
The towering ʻUmeke Lāʻau installation by Native Hawaiian artist Meleanna Aluli Meyer, unveiled at Honolulu's city hall, is a powerful symbol of cultural resilience and healing.

Rethinking Fire-Resistant Landscaping: Which Trees Should We Plant?
Fire experts emphasize the need to replace highly flammable trees like Mexican fan palms and eucalyptus with fire-resistant species such as oak, sycamore, and toyon, while also strengthening home fire defenses to reduce wildfire risks in California.

Fremont, California Criminalizes Homelessness, “Abetting” Encampments
Non-profits worry the ordinance, which does not explicitly exempt service providers, will have a chilling effect on unhoused residents and those who offer resources.
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