California

Private Branding of the Public City
Oracle Park, the Blue Shield of California Theater, Ford GoBike—branding abounds in San Francisco.

In California, Struggles Over Insurance Regulation in the Era of Climate Change
Setting insurance rates by looking to the past to predict the future doesn’t make sense with increasing environmental uncertainties, argues the California insurance industry.

New Master Plan for L.A.’s Hollywood Walk of Fame
The plan will detail $4 million in improvements to one of the city’s biggest tourist draws.

Opinion: California Needs to Close Gig Economy Loopholes
A state bill would force gig companies to treat workers fairly and would stanch the flow of subsidies that keep customer costs artificially low.

A Route Through the City, S.F. Crosstown Trail Opens
After five years of planning, a San Francisco trail now runs across the city linking neighborhoods and greenspaces.

A Bikeshare Showdown Between Uber and Lyft
Lyft may soon not be the sole bikeshare operation in San Francisco as the city looks to expand the system and open the market up to other companies.

New on Netflix: How Street Vendors Create Vibrant Cities
Street vending has been a contentious issue in many places, but this part of the informal economy is important to the social and economic well-being of cities.

Eleven Units of Affordable Housing Coming to S.F. Bay Area Suburb
A new apartment building is going up in Danville, California, but the affordable housing it will provide is a drop in the bucket compared to the state’s massive housing needs.

Oakland's Adaptive Bike Share Program
The pilot program seeks to make bike share more inclusive by providing bikes designed to make biking easy and accessible for disabled riders.

Ban on Living and Sleeping in Vehicles Approved in San Diego
A recently reinstated ordinance prohibits people from living out of their cars. The city says it wants to people to use "safe parking lots" where other services are available.

Nipsey Hussle Wanted Community Partnerships for South L.A.’s Development Future
Before his death in March, Hussle has plans for an opportunity zone investment fund that would ensure the community wouldn’t lose out in the development process.

L.A. Failing to Reach Vision Zero Goals
The city has seen a rise in car crash deaths since implementing its Vision Zero initiative. Advocates say not enough action is being taken to make streets safer.

Many Lives, One Space on an L.A. Bus
A reporter rides the bus in Los Angeles and discovers the interesting, complicated, and sometimes heartbreaking stories that riders bring on board.

The Consultants Behind the CA High-Speed Rail Debacle
The state's high-speed rail project is billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule. A major problem is that consultants have been running the show from the start, say critics.

Tech Money Dominates S.F. Housing Market
The tech industry has created massive wealth, and the impacts on the real estate market are most dramatic in San Francisco.

Putting a Stop to Disabled-Placard Fraud in L.A.
The fine for misuse of a placard will increase considerably, but not everyone agrees this is the right way to address a growing problem.

California Bill Takes Aim at Vacation Rentals
Proposed legislation in California would limit short-term beach rentals in San Diego.

ADUs Offer Affordable Housing in California, but Challenges Persist
While accessory dwelling units have the potential to ease California’s housing crisis, homeowners still find the construction process difficult to navigate.

California's Upzoning Bill, SB 50, Would Allow Apartment Construction in Wealthy Communities
The proposed legislation would open up cities like Palo Alto to higher-density housing.

Transit Projects Would Provide Local and Regional Connectivity for L.A. Suburb
Two projects on the table in Glendale, California, a BRT line and a streetcar, would increase mobility options in the city.
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