CA Assembly Bill Would Create Alert System For Hit-and-Run Crashes
It is too common a story. A family is crossing the street or some friends are bicycling along when a negligent car driver changes their lives forever. While the victims lie wounded in the street, the driver flees and is never heard from again. Advocates for safe streets, victims of hit-and-run crashes, and their friends and family say that there are not enough resources or legal protections for victims.
June 13, 2014
A Rising Tide for Walking and Biking in California Cities
This week, the League for American Bicyclists released its nationwide "benchmarking" report on the state of active transportation throughout the country. The report contained good news for those working to make California a more safe and attractive place to bicycle. California rose ten spots to #9 in the state to state comparisons, scoring nearly 54 points out of a possible 100.
May 5, 2014
Meet Our New Sacramento Teammate: Melanie Curry
Streetsblog SF and Los Angeles have a new hire starting on February 1 that will dramatically expand our coverage. I am pleased to announce that Melanie Curry will be as full-time writer covering news out of the California capitol and across the state.
January 24, 2014
State Bill Would Require License Suspension for All Hit and Run Drivers
CA Assemblyman Mike Gatto introduced legislation Tuesday mandating that any driver who commits a hit and run offense, even if the victim is not seriously injured, forfeit their driver's license for six months. Gatto's legislation is his second effort to criminalize hit and run crashes following last year's Assembly Bill 184 which extended the statute of limitations for hit and run drivers.
January 23, 2014
Is California Ready to Raise Its Vehicle License Fee?
Every state has its "third rail" that politicians are afraid to touch. When I began my advocacy career in New Jersey in 2004, politicians were deathly afraid of raising any tax after Democratic Governor Jim Florio was ousted in the solidly blue state because of tax increases he pushed through. Florio had been defeated over a decade earlier in 1993.
January 8, 2014
Legislative Wrap: How Livable Streets Bills Fared in Sacramento
Last week was a busy one in Sacramento as lawmakers scrambled to compromise and pass important pieces of legislation while others will have to “wait ’til next year.” Streetsblog offers the following scorecard for some of the most important pieces of legislation that will impact the drive to create livable streets.
September 16, 2013
New “Kings Arena” CEQA Bill Would Still Nix LOS in “Transit Priority Areas”
Steinberg's hasty press conference held after the passage of SB 743
September 13, 2013
CEQA Reform Update: Is This the End for LOS?
Finally, some sanity may be coming to California's most important environmental protection law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Under current law, all projects, be they rail lines, bike plans, or new buildings would have to prove that it would not impact local driving times or it would have to complete a costly mitigation plan.
September 11, 2013
In Battle Over Pensions, Feds Let Unions Hold Transit Hostage
Labor unions weren't happy when Governor Jerry Brown signed the Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2012. The law, which applies to government workers across the state, allows government agencies more flexibility in extending the retirement age, increase employee contribution, and halt the practice of "pension spiking" for new employees. A full summary of the legislation is at the bottom of Brown's press release from last September.
August 15, 2013
Gov. Brown Could Sign Bill to Help Finance Sustainable Development in CA
Governor Jerry Brown is poised to sign a bill that would enable cities and counties in California to finance regional smart growth plans and sustainable transportation improvements through the creation of Sustainable Communities Investment Authorities.
August 9, 2013