California

A New Player in Planning Los Angeles: Marqueece Harris-Dawson
The new chair of the Planning and Land Use Management committee of the Los Angeles City Council will influence how the city grapples with homelessness, an expanding rail system, and the 2028 Olympics.

A Sprinkle of Stores: Wrestling With Jacobs's Uncertainty
Jane Jacobs used vague terms to describe the number of stores necessary for a safe and vibrant streetscape. Here, author Fanis Grammenos attempts to discover a more specific number to attach to this prescription.

Los Angeles Wants its River Back From the Feds
Regional officials don't think the federal government is doing enough to warrant continued ownership of the Los Angeles River flood control channels that cut a 40-mile path through the city and county.

White House Ends Talks with California Over Fuel Efficiency Standards
Ending the talks means litigation will have to settle the conflict over the two standards: California and 12 other states continue to use the Obama-era standard of 36 mpg by 2025, while the administration's rule freezes standards at 2020, or 29 mpg.

Role of S.F. Parklets as Public Space Not Always Clear
Parklets in San Francisco are available for public use, but often they serve as extensions of the dining rooms of eateries.

Everywhere, Signs of Demise for the Planning Status Quo
The plans, they are a-changin.

Scientists Warn Mega-Storm Could Make 'Lakes' of California Cities
If you live in California, you've heard predictions of a disastrous earthquake dubbed "the big one." Now, scientists are warning of an epic rainstorm that could cause three times as much damage.

In 2018, Autonomous Vehicles Drove 2 Million Miles in California
Autonomous vehicles are racking up quite a track record in California—and fewer of the miles driven by autonomous vehicles in 2018 had humans at the wheel than in 2017.

Trump Administration Targets California High-Speed Rail After Border Wall Lawsuit
The Trump administration has canceled a nearly $1 billion grant assigned to the California high-speed rail project and is attempting to get the state to return the $2.5 billion it has already spent on the $77 billion project.

Momentum Builds for Public Housing in California
A "white supremacist" law that blocks public housing in the state is up for repeal—again.

Steady Loss of San Francisco Bay Area Affordable Housing
Skyrocketing rental costs are hitting low-income residents even harder as available subsidized housing continues to disappear.

Taking the Carbon Emissions Out of Buildings
Much of the focus on decreasing carbon emissions is on the electrical grid and vehicles. But, buildings are a huge contributor, and California is leading the way in making electrification a priority.

How to Treat Nature Deficit Disorder in L.A. Without Getting on a Freeway
Los Angeles is surrounded by beautiful nature in the form of hills, mountains, beaches, and deserts, but its notorious traffic can make it hell to get there. L.A. County Park Planner Clement Lau describes his favorite nearby nature doses.

More Fallout From Downsizing California High-Speed Rail
A San Francisco Chronicle editorial warns that San Francisco must find funds, intended to come from the state's ambitious rail project, to extend the Caltrain commuter rail line to the SalesForce Transit Center.

New Report on San Francisco Transportation Trends: Driving on the Rise
The city is seeing more transit use and biking, but driving and congestion are also on the rise.

Deep Economic and Racial Injustice Found in California Pollution Exposure
A new study confirms the facts of environment justice that has long been common knowledge in affected communities. Now the evidence can be mapped, as well.

More Bad Polling News for Cordon Area Congestion Pricing in the U.S.
Only a handful of cities in North America are considering applying tolls to congested urban streets, as opposed to highways. Efforts in one of those cities, San Francisco, just received negative polling results on a potential $3 auto access fee.

Plans for an 'Urban Town' in the Silicon Valley
The Nuevo development will bring close to 900 homes and apartments along with commercial and outdoor space to a location near a Caltrain station.

L.A. Collects Green Bonafides By Canceling Plans for Natural Gas Power
The bell tolls for the Scattergood, Harbor, and Haynes power plants, after Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti promises a transition to renewable energy. The city was going to spend $5 billion to transition to natural gas.

California Governor Envisions Revitalized Cities Along Curtailed Rail Route
California Governor Gavin Newsom dropped a bombshell earlier this week by announcing that California's ambitious high-speed rail project would be pared down. He envisions the Central Valley segment as the spine of a resurgent urban region.
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