Melody Gutierrez

Northern California Toll Lane

Toll Lane Expansion in Inland Empire Begins After Voters Reject Gas Tax Repeal

The day after California voters soundly rejected a repeal of a one-year old 12-cents gas tax increase and new annual vehicle registration fees. the Riverside County Transportation Commission launched a study to extend toll lanes on Interstate 15.

November 20, 2018 - The Press Enterprise

Scooter Share

More Rights, Fewer Responsibilities, for Electric Scooter Riders in California

A bill that would toss the helmet requirement for adult e- scooter riders and allow them to ride on roads where the speed limit is 35 mph, up from the current limit of 25 mph, is on Governor Jerry Brown's desk. He has until Sept. 30 to decide.

September 4, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Balloons and Straws: Where's the Connection?

Think "The Graduate," but now the emphasis in the future of plastics may be on restrictions. California may become the first state to restrict access to plastic straws, and balloons could be next due to the harm they cause the marine environment.

August 26, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Retro Streetcar

Tenant Advocates Turn in Signatures for Rent Control Ballot Measure in California

The measure would repeal the 1996 Costa-Hawkins Act that places limits on rent control ordinances. Repealing the act would allow cities with rent control to consider expanding rent control to provide tenants greater protections.

April 28, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Electric Car Charging Station

Gov. Jerry Brown Calls for Five Million ZEVs on California Roads by 2030

The executive order calls for $2.5 billion for rebates and electric charging and hydrogen fueling stations, subject to approval by legislature. His earlier executive order called for 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles by 2025.

January 29, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

California Grows by 301,000 to 39.5 Million

The 0.77 percent growth rate comes mostly from increased births, reports the California Department of Finance. The Census Bureau estimated the population increase at 20 percent less for the same time period: July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017.

December 26, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Wood Fire Smoke

California to Implement Wood Smoke Reduction Program

The program is voluntary, providing incentives to replace older, uncertified wood stoves for cleaner replacements or alternatives. In addition to decreasing air pollution, it reduces emissions of a "super climate pollutant," black carbon.

October 21, 2017 - California State Senate

California Earning Clean Air Despite the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

While premature to claim victory, a report from the San Francisco Chronicle suggests that the California Air Resources Board will prevail in a looming showdown with the U.S. EPA over whether to allow the state to set vehicle emission standards.

July 13, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Gas Tax Increases Have Their Limits

Even if newly revised transportation legislation supported by Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic leaders to raise fuel taxes and fees should pass into law, the funding mechanism may not prove sustainable in the long term.

April 8, 2017 - KPCC

Gas and Bikes

Gov. Jerry Brown and State Democratic Leaders Agree on Gas Tax Deal

Revised transportation funding legislation is needed to meet California's ballooning infrastructure deficit, but it needs a supermajority to pass, and it contains a fatal flaw for clean air activists.

April 3, 2017 - Streetsblog California

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