Take Action
Cal Cities’ advocacy efforts are strongest when joined by the
voices of city leaders. Below are letters to lawmakers on current legislative
proposals, budget requests, and other top priorities for cities. Some of these
letters are accompanied by a sample support or opposition letter and that’s
where we need local officials to act and send a letter, as well, to support our
cities top legislative priorities. Take a look and TAKE ACTION!
Action Items
AB 2237 (Friedman) Transportation planning: regional transportation improvement plan: sustainable communities strategies: climate goals
AB 2237 takes an overly prescriptive approach that impacts regional and local flexibility to meet the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets expected under SB 375 (Steinberg, 2008).
Cal Cities Position: OPPOSE
AB 1944 modernizes the Brown Act to protect local elected officials’ location when participating from a non-public, remote location while also giving the public remote participation access.
Cal Cities Position: SUPPORT
SB 1186 (Wiener) Medicinal Cannabis Patients’ Right of Access Act
Senate Bill 1186 would severely undermine local decision-making under the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA).
Cal Cities Position: OPPOSE
SB 932 (Portantino): General plans: circulation element: bicycle and pedestrian plans and traffic calming plans
SB 932 would make significant, unprecedented, and overly prescriptive changes to the requirements of the circulation element of local general plans; impose costly, unfunded mandates for physical changes to local transportation infrastructure; and expose local governments to significant legal liability.
Cal Cities Position: OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED
Cal Cities Priorities State Budget Ask
Cal Cities calls on lawmakers to use the state’s historic surplus to allocate $1.6 billion for programs that achieve shared city and state goals for housing and climate resiliency, as well as reimburse cities for unfunded, state-mandated programs.
AB 2011 (Wicks) Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022
This measure would require nearly all cities to ministerially approve, without condition or discretion, certain affordable and mixed-use housing developments in areas of a city where office, retail, or parking are principally allowed regardless of any inconsistency with a local government’s general plan, specific plan, zoning ordinance, or regulation.
Cal Cities Position: OPPOSE
New Housing and Economic Development Program State Budget Ask
Cal Cities is calling on lawmakers to allocate $500 million in the 2022-23 State Budget for a new housing and economic development program. This program would encourage partnerships between state and local agencies by providing matching funds to cities that adopt local tax increment financing tools to support affordable housing, upgrade essential infrastructure, and spur economic development.
Housing and Economic Development Program Letter to the Governor
Unfunded State Mandates State Budget Ask
Cal Cities, counties, and special districts are calling on the state to include in the 2022-23 State Budget reimbursements for $933.5 million owed to local governments for state-mandated program costs.
Organic Waste Recycling State Budget Ask
Cal Cities is spearheading a coalition budget ask for $180 million in the 2022-23 State Budget to help cities and counties implement the state’s organic waste diversion regulations. This funding will help cities implement an important greenhouse gas emission reduction law without a significant cost increase for taxpayers.
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.
How to Submit a Position Letter
- Visit the California Legislature Position Letter Portal to create an account and upload this letter. If you are having difficulty accessing the portal, please contact Meg Desmond.
- In addition to submitting the letter through the portal, please send a physical copy to your Legislator(s), and email a copy to Cal Cities, as well as your Regional Public Affairs Manager.