Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) announced that two bills, SB 580 and SB 635, which provide protections for immigrants and street vendors, have passed the California Legislature and are now on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.
The Torrance City Council is considering an ordinance that would make it illegal for homeless people to refuse shelter, while also considering the creation of military-style camps with tents to expand temporary housing.
By Vanguard Staff SACRAMENTO – Senator Eloise Gomez Reyes’ bill to expand affordable housing financing has cleared…
California lawmakers passed two landmark housing bills, SB 79 and CEQA reform, to address the state’s housing crisis, but their impact remains to be seen due to structural realities and local political resistance.
Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have won a court ruling against Huntington Beach, requiring the city to adopt a compliant housing plan within 120 days and restricting its ability to approve development until it does so.
Assemblymember Chris Ward’s bill, AB 253, has passed the Legislature and is now on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, allowing applicants to hire licensed private professionals to conduct plan checks for certain residential permits when local building departments cannot complete reviews within 30 business days, in order to address long delays in residential building permits.
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to comply with his earlier ruling restoring Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans and Haitians, after the government failed to update its systems and blocked TPS holders from re-registering.
The California State Senate passed the Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, which will allow more homes to be built near major public transportation stops and on land owned by transit agencies, in an effort to address the state’s affordability crisis.
The California Assembly passed SB 79, a bill that would allow more housing near public transportation, reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions, increase transit ridership and affordability, and streamline approval processes for transit-oriented development.
The CA Coalition to Defend Public Education is urging state senators to reject AB 715, a bill that would give the state too much control over what is taught in classrooms and could potentially harm free speech and academic freedom.
The California Legislature has passed the No Secret Police Act (SB 627), which prohibits law enforcement from concealing their faces with extreme masking, and is now awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Senate Bill 634, authored by state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, has passed, prohibiting local jurisdictions from penalizing individuals or organizations for offering assistance to those living without stable housing, and marking a crucial step in protecting essential services to unhoused Californians.
John Burton, a California political leader, passed away at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy of legislative achievement and personal advocacy, as documented in his autobiography written with veteran journalist Andy Furillo.
California’s Democratic leadership has been criticized for passing measures that roll back environmental protections, with high-profile bills like SB 131 and SB 237 being negotiated behind closed doors and with little public input or hearings.
California’s housing crisis is exacerbated by Nimbyism, which prioritizes the preferences of existing homeowners over the needs of those struggling to find housing, resulting in increased costs and displacement for renters, commuters, and the unhoused.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County, the Sheriff’s Department, and Correctional Health Services, alleging ongoing unconstitutional and inhumane conditions in the county’s jails, citing overcrowding, understaffing, and lack of medical care.
The City of Artesia has agreed to a settlement requiring it to bring its housing element into compliance with state housing law, resulting in the creation of 1,069 new homes, including 608 affordable units, and facing potential fines if deadlines are missed.
The Town of Los Gatos is attempting to block two housing projects by using a legal technicality, but housing advocates argue that the state’s housing laws are working as intended to force housing forward and that the town’s actions are a desperate attempt to delay the projects.
The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to resume immigration raids in Los Angeles based on race, language, job, or location, sparking outrage from politicians, advocates, and plaintiffs.
The U.S. Supreme Court reversed two lower court rulings in Vazquez Perdomo v. Noem, allowing federal immigration agencies to continue using enforcement practices that critics call unconstitutional and racially discriminatory.