Governor Gavin Newsom’s SAFE Task Force, in partnership with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles County, dismantled a large encampment along the 110 Freeway and connected residents with shelter and supportive services, marking the task force’s first effort in Southern California.
The Department of Homeland Security has refused to comply with California’s new law banning law enforcement from covering their faces during operations, calling it unconstitutional and a political stunt.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the award of over $414 million to support the development of 2,099 homes, with 2,068 reserved for low- to extremely low-income Californians, as part of his strategy to boost affordability and tackle homelessness.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill banning masked law enforcement, in contrast to the federal government’s use of masked agents to disperse protests in Chicago, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in policing.
Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed 15 new Superior Court judges across California, reflecting his administration’s commitment to ensuring the state’s judiciary is highly qualified and representative of the people it serves.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has urged Governor Gavin Newsom to veto Senate Bill 79, which seeks to accelerate housing development statewide, arguing that it poses significant risks to Los Angeles communities and undermines local control, while housing advocates argue that the bill is necessary to address California’s housing and climate crises.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has called on Governor Gavin Newsom to veto the No Secret Police Act, SB 627, which bans federal and local law enforcement, including ICE, from wearing ski masks and other forms of extreme masking, while Senator Scott Wiener has issued a strong statement in support of the bill.
Houston has been successful in reducing homelessness through a housing-first strategy, but the latest data shows that even the most celebrated local strategies are fragile without sustained federal funding and affordable housing.
Senate Bill 79, authored by Senator Scott Wiener, has passed the California Legislature and is now headed to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, and aims to expand access to affordable housing by legalizing midrise, multifamily housing near major transit stops while protecting rent-stabilized apartments.
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.
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.
California lawmakers have passed Assembly Bill 715, which aims to combat antisemitism in K-12 schools by establishing an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator and strengthening protections for Jewish students, but it has also generated opposition from some interfaith groups and civil liberties advocates who warn that it risks conflating political criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
SB 485, authored by Assemblymember Eloise Reyes, has passed the Legislature and now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom, establishing new protections to ensure that Chief Public Defenders cannot be removed from their posts without cause.
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.
Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking, urged California Governor Gavin Newsom to commute all 565 death sentences in the state, citing racial injustice and the potential for rehabilitation of those on death row.
Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a Utah Valley University event, prompting leaders across the political spectrum to condemn the act and urge for a commitment to peaceful discourse and rejection of political violence.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Governor Gavin Newsom, and California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Director Gustavo Velasquez announced a settlement with the City of Norwalk to repeal its ban on new housing for vulnerable residents, create a local housing trust fund, and implement overdue housing element programs.
California’s Senate Bill 79, which would allow for more apartment buildings near public transit stops, is one step closer to becoming law after the author struck a deal with the State Building and Construction Trades Council, who agreed to drop their opposition in exchange for an amendment that would require some projects to hire union workers.