Advocacy Priorities
In setting the League of California Cities annual advocacy priorities, cities remain committed to resiliency, response, and recovery to strengthen our cities and move our communities forward. We stand ready to work collaboratively with the state governments and other stakeholders to accomplish our advocacy priorities in 2023.
2023 Advocacy Priorities
Protect and expand investments to prevent and reduce homelessness.1. Protect and expand investments to prevent and reduce homelessness. Secure sustainable state funding that bolsters cities’ efforts to support individuals experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. While protecting existing resources, strengthen state and local partnerships to connect individuals with the care they need through coordinated care systems that provide access to wraparound services, including mental health and substance use treatment.
Increase the supply and affordability of housing while retaining local decision-making.2. Increase the supply and affordability of housing while retaining local decision-making. Secure long-term, sustainable funding tools for cities to jumpstart the construction of housing at all income levels and ensure cities retain flexibility to achieve local and state housing goals.
Improve public safety in California communities.
Safeguard essential local revenues and support fiscal sustainability.
Cal Cities also advocates for cities’ interests at the federal level. Those priorities will be considered by the board at a future meeting.
Cal Cities Delivers
Together, with our members, Cal Cities delivers major victories for cities year after year – protecting local control, securing billions of dollars in new funding, and preserving existing city resources.
100 +
bills/ballot measures passed or defeated to retain local control
$13 Billion
in new funding for cities in the past five years
$8+ Billion
in federal recovery funding in 2021
Curious why Cal Cities supports or opposes certain bills or measures? Advocacy efforts are determined by Annual Conference Resolutions or the Existing Policy and Guiding Principles.
Cal Cities' weekly hearings update — distributed via Cal Cities Advocate — highlights upcoming legislative hearings on the bills that matter most to cities. Read the report each Wednesday.
Laws affecting cities are made in the courts, as well as in the Legislature. Consequently, Cal Cities advocacy efforts extend to the appellate courts. The organization weighs in on legal issues where its participation is likely to help advance the legal interests of all California cities. Learn more about our Legal Advocacy efforts.