California
California REITS Have Much at Stake on Election Day
One of the most controversial measures on the November 6 ballot in California is Prop. 10: the repeal of the landmark Costa-Hawkins Act that places limits on rent control. Real estate investment trusts are donating big time to defeat it.

Five Key Energy Bills the California Legislature May Decide this Week
Energy stakeholders in California are watching five important bills to see which go forward with three weeks remaining in the legislative season. One would require the state to generate all electricity from renewable sources by 2045.

New Linkage Fee Approved in South San Francisco
The city of South San Francisco recently approved a linkage fee for commercial developments, following the lead of a few other cities that have decided on linkage fees as a similar mechanism to fund affordable housing.

Federal Appeals Court Orders EPA to Ban Harmful Pesticide
The ruling puts another stain on former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's legacy as it rebukes his denial of a petition to ban a pesticide that causes neurodevelopmental damage in children. Pruitt had rejected his own scientists' recommendation.

San Francisco's Transbay Transit Center Open, When Will Trains Arrive?
To great fanfare, the Salesforce Transit Center opened on Saturday to thousands of visitors anxious to see the huge facility. Sunday was quieter, with the first AC Transit buses arriving on the third-floor bus deck. Train arrivals: TBD.

Paying for Climate Change Mitigation at the Pump in California
Two market-based programs add about a quarter to every gallon of fuel purchased in the Golden State, but don't expect to see the prices listed anywhere. Furthermore, costs to comply with the Low Carbon Fuel Standard are expected to increase.

Ride-Hailing Companies Agree to Tax in San Francisco
Essentially, Uber and Lyft chose a tax on rides instead of a gross-receipts tax.

'Valley Link' Planned to Relieve Bay Area Super Commuters
Planners are working quickly to refine a proposal for a $1.8 billion project connecting the 680 corridor in the East Bay Area to bedroom communities in the Central Valley.
Commercial Corridor Going Car Free in L.A.'s Playa Vista
A proposal to block cars from the Runway in Playa Vista reflects a new approach to user experience in retail environments.
SoCal Gas to Pay $119.5 Million for Aliso Canyon Gas Leak
The settlement closes another chapter in the saga of the methane leak that caused an evacuation of a corner of Los Angeles from October 2015 to February 2016.

California Protects its 15th Wild and Scenic River
Conservationists got a little help from some perhaps surprising sources in winning a designation for the Mokelumne River as the latest Wild and Scenic River in California.

Mapping All of San Francisco's Transit-Related Projects
A new interactive map keeps residents up to date on where the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is working on new projects.

Looking for Scooter Shame, a Local Paper Found Scooter Support
The Willamette Week put out a call for tips about electric scooter users acting badly. They got an earful of the unexpected.

What Comes Next if California Repeals Its Gas Tax Increase?
Repeal proponents have already planned a sequel for Proposition 6, regardless of whether the measure passes, resulting in the loss of over $5 billion annually from new transportation user fees, including a 12-cents per gallon gas tax increase.

San Francisco's Transbay Transit Center Opens This Weekend
The $2.16 billion Transbay Transit Center opens to the public on August 11, with bus service launching on August 12.

The Ford GoBike Resistance
Politicians and residents are uniting to delay Ford GoBike's expansion around San Francisco.

A Plan to Transform the Hoover Dam into Energy Storage
A proposal by the nation's largest utility could be a model to deal with the most formidable problem presented by intermittent renewable electricity sources.

Antioch, California BART Extension So Popular There's No Place to Park
The new Antioch station is seeing ridership well over predictions, and some think there would be even more riders if there were more parking.
Vacant Land Languishes in the High-Priced Market of Oakland, California
Oakland property prices have gone way up, but vacant land can be found all over the city. Hayley Raetz argues getting development on this land should be a policy priority.

Designing Houses to Survive Wildfires
Houses that aren't vulnerable to embers blowing in the wind, could save the government and homeowners millions.
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