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Is Caltrans too car-centric?
Gov. Gavin Newsom may have to step in to resolve a dispute between a state agency and a high-profile lawmaker over “Complete Streets” – a core concept of modern “smart growth” planners that holds streets should provide safe access and
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CHP scandal may not be limited to L.A. area
The California Highway Patrol’s overtime scandal – in which more than 100 officers from its East Los Angeles branch may have inflated their overtime while helping Caltrans workers stay safe while doing freeway maintenance work – could explode into a
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Tech lobby can’t win changes in CA online privacy law
With the California Legislature in the final three weeks of its session, big tech companies and business lobbies have so far had little success in getting changes to the California Consumer Privacy Act. The landmark online privacy law – enacted
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Critics of vaccine bill cite privacy risks
With crucial votes due soon on a bill to make it more difficult for parents to get vaccine exemptions for their children, opponents are emphasizing a different criticism of the measure. Instead of continuing to focus on vaccine safety, they
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Recycling fading even as concerns about plastic surge
California’s already-troubled recycling system took another blow this month with the closure of Ontario-based rePlanet, which operated 284 recycling centers, the most of any recycling company in the state. But despite complaints from environmentalists about 2 million recyclable containers a
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Impact of scooters on environment still in question
The dockless electric scooters that started popping up in California cities three years ago are facing a two-front backlash. The first front involves complaints over heavy use hurting quality of life in tourist areas and posing safety risks to both
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San Bruno pressured by state to approve housing project
The May decision of state Senate Appropriations Chairman Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, to kill a sweeping bill making it far easier for developers to build four- or five-story condominium and rental projects near mass transit led many disappointed pundits
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Some worry California Citizens Redistricting Commission lacks diversity in applicant pool
Despite requests from more than 20 civic groups that she keep recruiting applicants for the California Citizens Redistricting Commission past the present Aug. 9 deadline, state Auditor Elaine Howle doesn’t appear to believe it is necessary. Last week, California Common
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Feds unexpectedly clear way for bullet train planning to advance
Three months after canceling a $929 million federal grant to the troubled California bullet train project, the Trump administration has unexpectedly given its go-ahead to the state to approve environmental documents that are needed to complete planning for the long-delayed
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