A proposal that would change the way California approaches affordable housing is receiving broad support from Democratic lawmakers and is now closer to reaching the governor’s desk after passing the Senate. Introduced by Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), Senate Bill 555, also known as the Stable Affordable Housing Act of 2023, proposes a 10-year goal of…

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent attempt to bypass environmental rules to speed up construction for certain projects was denied by the Senate Budget Committee 3–0 on May 25. “The only way to achieve California’s world-leading climate goals is to build, build, build—faster,” Newsom said in a press release on May 19 announcing his plan. “This…

The Center for Biological Diversity sued California oil regulators for approving about two dozen new oil and gas wells in Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo counties close to homes, beaches, and important habitats, arguing Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration did not properly consider how the drilling would affect the environment. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday and…

Commentary I was recently introduced to California 100 by Sal Rodriguez, the opinion editor for the Southern California News Group, which includes the Orange County Register. It’s a think tank of sorts and provides the following to describe itself: “California 100 is a transformative statewide initiative focused on inspiring a vision and strategy for California’s next…