California

A crowd of people play in the sand at a California beach at sunset.

California may destroy its beaches trying to save homes from El Niño

Boulders and seawalls can protect homes from waves, but ultimately destroy sandy beaches.

October 1, 2026 - Los Angeles Times

Construction for California's high-speed rail line. A concrete bridge stretches over a dirt field.

California high-speed rail accomplishes only one legislative goal in 2026

The majority of the agency's failed pitches were never developed into written proposals.

October 1, 2026 - Cal Matters

A group of smiling people cut a blue ribbon in front of Sacramento's new light rail station.

After decades of planning, Sacramento gains new light rail station

Trains will arrive every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during non-peak hours.

September 30, 2026 - KCRA

A river surrounded by yellow grass and tall evergreen trees.

As El Niño approaches, Newsom vetos bill aimed at protecting California levees from flooding

Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state’s allocated $170 million was enough funding; State experts estimate it will cost $3.3 billion to repair the California Delta's levees.

September 30, 2026 - Cal Matters

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with both hands half-raised. Two American flags, and the flag of California, are behind him.

California lawmakers approve just 5% of much-needed LA28 transportation funding

State legislators appear just as unwilling as Trump to pay for Olympics-related transportation projects.

September 28, 2026 - LA Times

Four cars of the LAX SkyLink. They are white, and there is no clear front or back. They have black windows.

LAX SkyLink opening delayed again, contractor won’t commit to new deadline

The project was supposed to open its doors to the public in 2023.

September 27, 2026 - LA Times

A Caltrain train picks up a large crowd of people at a station.

Caltrain may slash over one-third of its stations

If Bay Area voters reject two transit tax measures, Caltrain, BART and AC Transit will see steep service cuts.

September 27, 2026 - Mercury News

Gavin Newsom standing behind a podium, pointing at the camera. The flag of the United States and the flag of California are behind him.

Newsom kills bill requiring polluting factories near schools to undergo environmental review

In his veto letter, Newsom wrote that protecting communities and strengthening manufacturing “were not mutually exclusive.”

September 27, 2026 - Cal Matters

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaking behind a podium, pointing a finger upwards. The American and California flags are behind him.

New bill requires California data center developers to create water scarcity plans

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed 7 bills intended to give California communities more information about the impact of proposed data centers.

September 24, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

Two women sit inside a Metropolitan Transit System streetcar.

San Diego may kill one-third of its bus routes as budget crisis looms

Under the city's proposed plan, 21% of Metropolitan Transit System riders would lose access to transit services.

September 24, 2026 - San Diego Union-Tribune

A downtown area in Los Angeles, with a Taco Bell visible. People wait to cross the street towards a tall apartment building.

The LA housing policies making developers turn away from the city

Despite LA’s housing shortage, developers say the city’s "mansion-tax" and pandemic-era policies make it an unappealing place to build housing.

September 23, 2026 - Los Angeles Times

People cross a wide street in San Francisco, with tall buildings in the background.

New density bill would require 7 California cities to establish regional transit hubs

The bill would also require major cities in California to permit high-rise residential buildings.

September 23, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

People walking down a hill on a steep street in San Francisco, with buildings on the right.

San Francisco supervisor looks to establish city’s first department of housing

The proposed agency would coordinate planning and financing around housing, as well as support affordable housing production.

September 23, 2026 - Mission Local

A map showing Brightline West's intended route from  Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Brightline West’s future may rely on $6 billion federal loan

The company has until Nov. 2 to make a $400 million equity investment into its proposed high-speed rail line.

September 17, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

A Metro bus drives down a street on a rainy day. Parallel to the bus is a line of parked cars, then, a line of umbrellas.

LA Metro’s ultimatum: no extra buses for LA28 if federal funding isn’t imminently secured

If Metro does not provide additional buses, LA28 organizers will have to find a new way to manage Olympic traffic. LA28’s budget does not include a line item for transit.

September 17, 2026 - LAist

A sunrise over clear lake. A dock extends into the lake, and there are hills in the distance.

Tribes to co-manage California’s biggest lake, protect its sacred fish

The Clear Lake hitch, a fish only found in Clear Lake, must contend with mercury contamination, algal blooms and predatory invasive fish in the watershed.

September 13, 2026 - LA Times

Daniel Lurie, in a suit and green tie, speaks behind a podium with the American flag in the background.

As prices skyrocket, San Francisco Mayor declares rent emergency

Landlords in San Francisco have initiated over 2,400 evictions since January, putting the city on track to see more evictions this year than during any year in the past decade.

September 11, 2026 - New York Times

Aerial of ramps, bridges and traffic on the Harbor 110 and Century 105 freeway interchange in Los Angeles. The main road splits off in opposite directions midway through the photo.

DOT loans LA Metro $802.5 million — for interstate expansion

The project will include widening 20 bridges and implementing dynamically priced toll collection.

September 9, 2026 - Spectrum News

Against a cloudy sky, a group of planes cloud seed by spraying salt into the clouds.

Data center provider partners with “cloud seeding” company to artificially trigger rainfall

With cloud seeding, planes or drones release salt compounds into clouds to make them produce rain.

September 9, 2026 - The San Francisco Standard

Downtown Los Angeles California engulfed in smog.

California lawmakers secure climate funding from Newsom

Senate Democrats fought for the deal after changes to California’s carbon market threatened climate program allocations.

September 8, 2026 - Cal Matters

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

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