Gov. Gavin Newsom

Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court Rules on State-Imposed Social Distancing Restrictions

In a 5-4 decision, the court voted to uphold the prohibition of religious services that was part of California Gov. Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home order. While the restriction had since been loosened, the plaintiff wanted all restrictions removed.

June 1, 2020 - The Washington Post

Santa Monica Bikes

Reopening California: Respected County Health Official Issues Warning

Dr. Sara Cody, the Santa Clara County health officer widely credited for leading the Bay Area into issuing a 6-county shelter-in-place order on March 16, the nation's first, warns that the pace of reopening is too fast.

May 31, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Coronavirus Protest

The Rush to Open: California is No Exception

California was the first state to require all residents to submit to a stay-at-home order, and it appears that Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to ensure it's not the last one to relax that order, regardless of whether it meets the federal guidelines.

May 7, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

New York City

Part II: The New Regionalism of the Coronavirus Pandemic

Part I was shutting down the economy on a multi-state basis in the absence of federal leadership. Part II will be opening them up in spite of federal assertiveness.

April 16, 2020 - Politico

Homeless

The Crisis Within the Crisis: Homelessness and Housing Pushed to the Brink by COVID-19

Cities, states, and the federal government are trying to prevent a repeat of 2008 while still facing the challenges of inequality and poverty that grew out of the previous recession.

March 26, 2020 - James Brasuell

Public Transit Ridership

40 Million Californians Ordered to Stay At Home to Contain Coronavirus

The largest state in the country has been ordered to shelter in place.

March 20, 2020 - California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

Shipping San Francisco Bay

Bay Area Ordered to Shelter in Place

Six Bay Area counties have taken drastic action to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus. "Please read this Order carefully. Violation of or failure to comply with this Order is a misdemeanor punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both."

March 17, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

Pacific Coast

Housing Litigation by California Attorney General Yields Results

A landmark state lawsuit will be settled if the Huntington Beach City Council approves an amended specific plan that increases housing. The lawsuit was enabled by 2017 legislation strengthening California's 50-year-old housing element law.

January 27, 2020 - Los Angeles Daily News

The Penninsula

Are Charter Cities Subject to California's Housing Laws?

After a San Mateo County Superior Court judge ruled that charter cities are exempt from the Housing Accountability Act, aka the anti-NIMBY law, the state stepped in to support the appellant, a YIMBY group that launched a "Sue the Suburbs" campaign.

January 24, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

Fracking

Gov. Newsom's Phase-out of Oil Production Prompts Backlash in Kern County

Almost 80% of oil extraction in the nation's sixth largest oil-producing state occurs in Kern County. Supervisors see the California governor's climate plan to reduce oil production as a threat to the county's economic well-being.

December 17, 2019 - The Bakersfield Californian

California State Water Project

New Oil and Gas Drilling in California May Be Subject to Moratorium

Gov. Gavin Newsom pleased environmentalists by doing what his predecessor, Gov. Jerry Brown, refused – halting all new oil and gas fracking and placing a moratorium on another extraction method linked to a massive oil spill in Kern County.

December 9, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

San Bernardino Skyline

Opinion: Regional Planning Fails the Needs of Southern California's Housing Crisis

The director of a leading "Yes In My Backyard" (YIMBY) organization in Southern California questions the effectiveness of a Regional Housing Needs Assessment methodology recently published by the Southern California Association of Governments.

October 28, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco, California

Social Equity Cited in Veto of California Road Pricing Bill

Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a unique road pricing bill due to concerns that charging a fee would limit access to driving on two blocks of Lombard Street, a popular tourist attraction in San Francisco that is severely congested.

October 18, 2019 - ABC KGO TV 7 - San Francisco

Ca73

Governor's Transportation and Climate Actions Stir Controversy in California

California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order last month directing state agencies to consider climate goals in their spending and operations. Two weeks later, three highway widening projects were deleted, and locals are crying foul.

October 18, 2019 - Streetsblog California

Lombard Street San Francisco

Crooked Lombard Street Won't Be Tolled After All

Another of the surprising roster of vetoes by California Governor Gavin Newsom over the weekend includes a bill that would have set limitations for traffic on San Francisco's Lombard Street.

October 15, 2019 - Associated Press via The Mercury News

Granny Flat

New Laws Amount to Single-Family Zoning Ban in California

For years, the California legislators have been passing bills to allow accessory dwelling units on single-family residential lots. These laws haven't attracted the same attention as other failed laws, but their effect is significant.

October 14, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Port of Oakland

Two New California Laws Take Aim at Pollution from Heavy-Duty Trucks

Trucks, which disproportionately contribute toward air pollution, will soon be subject to similar types of smog checks that apply to light-duty vehicles. A second bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom will spur movement toward cleaner alternatives.

October 1, 2019 - The Mercury News

California

California's Ability to Set Auto Emissions Standards to Be Revoked

The announcement was made Wednesday morning in a series of tweets by President Trump while raising cash from willing donors at several fundraisers in California. The formal announcement from EPA and DOT is set for Thursday.

September 19, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta

Environmental Law, Resistance to Trump Administration Splits California Democrats

California has made a practice of resisting changes to environmental regulations pursued by the Trump administration, but the latest legislative effort to protect the state's waterways was a bridge too far for the governor.

September 17, 2019 - Sacramento Bee

Metro Bikes

California Adds Bikeshare and E-Bikes to its List of Dirty, Old Car Replacement Options

The Clean Cars 4 All program provides incentives for low-income Californians to replace old, polluting cars with an electric car or a transit pass. Now residents can also choose electric-assist bikes and bikeshare as a mobility option.

September 12, 2019 - California Bicycle Coalition

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