Cal Cities Advocate Archive

Published every Wednesday, Cal Cities Advocate provides relevant, concise information about legislative issues, educational and financial opportunities for cities, general Cal Cities news, and innovative, locally-driven solutions to common problems. Subscribe and get the latest issue of Cal Cities Advocate delivered straight to your inbox!

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April 18, 2024 - Cal Cities Advocate Special Edition: Homelessness response survey results + Ballot measure opposition rally + Reducing retail theft
April 11, 2024 - “Builder’s remedy” bills + City Leaders Summit prep + Retail theft update + Closing April 24: Cal Cities Board applications
April 3, 2024 - Top retail theft bills + 'Granny flat' bill + Helen Putnam award applications
March 27, 2024 - Recovery home reform + Top climate bills + Statewide homelessness survey + Annual conference proposals
March 20, 2024 - New draft water rules for cities + SCOTUS opines on blocking voters on social media + City Leaders Summit details and waitlist removal
March 14, 2024 - Draft single-use plastics rule + Cal Cities Board applications + Local Streets and Roads winners
March 6, 2024 - Ballot measure opposition grows + Budget ask + Anti-camping SCOTUS case + Advocacy 101 roundtable
February 28, 2024 - Cal Cities Board meeting + East Palo Alto’s zero homicide rate + New bills briefing
February 21, 2024 - Cal Cities sponsors a dozen bills + California Retail Theft Reduction Act + Tijuana River Crisis
February 14, 2024 - CBRT Ballot Update + Duarte youth program reduces arrests + Organic Waste Roundtable
February 7, 2024 - Cal Cities' meeting with Gov. Gavin Newsom + New legislation briefing + Housing-focused law symposium
January 31, 2024 - Ballot initiative litigation + Lobby lawmakers at the Capitol + Retail theft coalition formed
January 24, 2024 - Remote meetings bill + Updated Brown Act guide + Driverless vehicle safeguards
January 17, 2024 - Retail theft proposal + SCOTUS takes up anti-camping case + CARE Court three months in
January 10, 2024 - State budget deep dive + Draft single-use plastics rule + Local streets and roads awards
January 3, 2024 - Reports underscore the need for ongoing funding + Speaker Series: Daniel Parra + A “pivotal California tax case”
December 6, 2023 - 2024 Advocacy Priorities + Cal Cities backs ballot box measures + Legislative year in review
November 29, 2023 - Advance Clean Fleet primer + California officials take the helm at NLC + Fire insurance webinar
November 15, 2023 - Hate speech and public meetings webinar + Homelessness and housing in Chico + U.S. Supreme Court cases to watch
November 8, 2023 - San Diego opposes ‘taxpayer protection’ ballot measure + Planning Commissioners Academy + New laws webinar
November 1, 2023 - Public meeting disruption discussion + Rivas wants urgent action on retail theft + Advanced Clean Fleets roundtable
October 25, 2023 - Drive Cal Cities’ advocacy priorities + Roseville's housing transformation + Cal Cities reaffirms support for DACA
October 18, 2023 - Historic homes and CEQA exemptions + Final bill actions + EV charger funding
October 11, 2023 - Sign/veto wins + Help drive Cal Cities’ 2024 advocacy + New laws webinar
October 4, 2023 - Take action! Protect public services + Coastal Cities Group applications + The measures left to sign/veto
September 27, 2023 - 'Taxpayer protection' ballot measure lawsuit + Possible permanent water restrictions + Policy committee applications
September 15, 2023 - Four key measures advance to the 2024 ballot boxes
September 13, 2023 - ACA 13 moves to Senate floor + Annual conference tips + Whittier's homelessness programs
September 6, 2023 - ACA 13 passes out of the Assembly + Annual conference keynotes reveal + Suspense file results
August 30, 2023 - Cycling bill endangers pedestrians + Sign/Veto Webinar + Connect with diversity caucuses
August 23, 2023 - Big business could get a taste of its own medicine + Possible behavioral health care improvements + New ARPA guidance
August 16, 2023 - Lawmakers return to the Capitol + Legal update: Private clean-needle program + NLC leadership opportunities

An existential threat to city revenues + Help lead a policy committee + Ways to welcome disagreement

August 2, 2023 - Clarity for new campaign finance law + Top bills for cities (Part II) + Op-Ed: Homelessness is the Achilles’ heel of California
July 26, 2023 - Take action! Local housing plans + Policy committee chair and vice chair applications + Top bills for cities (Part I)
July 19, 2023 - Cal Cities Board meeting actions + Another unfunded mandate + Annual Conference and Expo sessions
July 12, 2023 - City council pay cap bill signed into law + Priority bills briefing + Lessons from Santa Rosa’s clean energy transition
June 28, 2023 - Disappointing budget deal + Take action! Sympathy striking threatens city service delivery + Cal Cities defends local revenues
June 21, 2023 - Take action! Statewide TOT tax + Accountability bill lacks needed funding + Appoint your Cal Cities voting delegate
June 14, 2023 - A flawed short-term rental tax + Cal Cities policy resolutions + Budget buzz and priority bills
June 7, 2023 - Six housing bills to know + Annual conference registration + State Bills in Brief
May 31, 2023 - Take action! Affordable housing funding + New local streets and roads allocations + Priority bills briefing
May 25, 2023 - Take action! Housing and homelessness + Suspense file outcomes + Priority bills briefing
May 17, 2023 - Key bills on the appropriations chopping block + Proposed police canine restrictions + City officials want more action on fentanyl
May 12, 2023 - Special Edition: Budget revise includes wins for cities but lacks adequate funding for homelessness and affordable housing
May 10, 2023 - Cal Cities weighs in on SB 9 lawsuit + Infrastructure grant palooza + Urge lawmakers to act on fentanyl bills
May 3, 2023 - Fentanyl bills pass out of committee + Cal Cities Speaker Series: Former Chief Justice + Final Advance Clean Fleet rule
April 26, 2023 - Take action! Fentanyl crisis legislation + Ukiah’s bold housing policy + Medicinal cannabis delivery resources
April 19, 2023 - New Cal Cities governance changes + Top bills for cities + Local officials join forces to address homelessness crisis
April 12, 2023 - New survey results show cities are making progress reducing homelessness, but the demand for housing and services is outpacing efforts
April 5, 2023 - Take action! SB 35 expansion + Speaker Series: NLC Executive Director + What you need to know about the City Leaders Summit
March 29, 2023 - Organic waste funding clawback + Sweeping new sewer system changes + Cal Cities goes to Capitol Hill
March 22, 2023 - Take action! Prop 47 reform + Cal Cities Advocacy Priorities webinar + Anti-local control housing bill
March 15, 2023 - Top bills for cities + Become a Cal Cities board member + Take action! SB 35 expansion
March 8, 2023 - Eight Cal Cities-sponsored bills + Take action! State budget ask + Last chance to register for Cal Cities’ new bills briefing
March 1, 2023 - Register for Cal Cities legislative briefing + Cal Cities Board meeting recap + Regional housing needs allocation webinar
February 22, 2023 - FPPC regulation clarification + ARPA help center reopens soon + A tidal wave of bills sweeps the Capitol
February 15, 2023 - Register now for Cal Cities' biggest advocacy event + New SB 1383 grant funding for cities
February 8, 2023 - Take action against anti-local control ballot measure + New bill would help lessen barriers to elected office + Redlands Homekey project
February 1, 2023 - CEQA lawsuit opinion published + Clean fleet federal funding available + 2023 Helen Putnam Awards
January 25, 2023 - State capitol advocacy meetings + Speaker Series: Paul Mitchell + New energy block grant
January 18, 2023 - Short wildfire map review time + ARPA flexibility + Emergency funding for cities
January 11, 2023 - Budget blueprint analysis + Local streets and roads awards + Cal Cities Annual Report
January 4, 2023 - Local Gann limit requirement + Cal Cities Speaker Series: Ali Sajjad Taj + New EV charging investments
December 14, 2022 - 2023 State Budget ask + CARE Court resources + CEQA lawsuit challenges affordable housing
December 7, 2022 - Cal Cities Board adopts 2023 Advocacy Priorities + Retired annuitant regulations + 2023 legislative preview
November 30, 2022 - FPPC clarifies financial interest law + Federal grant bootcamps + Hazard mitigation resources
November 16, 2022 - 2022 Legislative Report + CalPERS retired annuitant regulations + New recovery resources
November 9, 2022 - Our homelessness crisis requires real solutions + Register now for New Mayors and Council Members Academy + Broadband grants webinar
November 2, 2022 - Clean fleet flexibility + Clarity on financial interest law requested + New laws webinar
October 26, 2022 - Keys to success at the ballot box + Legislative priorities survey closes Oct. 31 + New laws webinar
October 19, 2022 - Anti-local control ballot measure likely to qualify + ARPA support center shutting down + Tell us your legislative priorities!
October 12, 2022 - Clean energy project permitting changes + Legislative priorities survey closes soon + Coachella Valley's multimodal oasis
October 5, 2022 - Legislative priorities survey + New policy committee chairs/vice chairs + Final legislative outcomes
September 28, 2022 - Catalytic converter crime crackdown + Policy committee applications due Sept. 30 + Proposed Rule 20 changes
September 21, 2022 - New organic waste regulation flexibility + Policy committee applications due soon + Recovery resources and guidance
September 14, 2022 - Cal Cities Advocate: Bills awaiting action + Annual conference highlights + CARE Court signed into law
August 31, 2022 - CARE Court bill passes + Sign/veto webinar tomorrow + Policy committee applications open
August 24, 2022 - Franchise fee ruling + Norco reduces homelessness + CalPERS reports negative investment return
August 17, 2022 - Priority bills clear major hurdle + Second annual conference keynote speaker announced + Infrastructure funding help for small cities
August 10, 2022 - Annual conference keynote speaker announced! + Proposed bylaws amendments + Last chance for policy committee leadership applications
August 3, 2022 - Sign/veto webinar + Corona reduces homelessness by 33% + Upcoming legislative meetings
July 27, 2022 - Transportation bill action alert! + More priority bills to watch + Early bird annual conference rate ends tonight, July 27
July 20, 2022 - Priority bills and budget items to watch + Trash talk creates recycling reform + July Board meeting report
July 13, 2022 - Policy committee leadership opportunities + Michael Tubbs Speaker Series next week + Lathrop shatters construction records
July 6, 2022 - State budget agreement reached + Speaker Series: Michael Tubbs + Infrastructure law resource portal
June 29, 2022 - Priority bills briefing + City voices protect local transportation projects + Brown Act modernization stymied
June 22, 2022 - Behavioral health care bills take center stage + Priority bills briefing + Annual conference educational sessions revealed
June 15, 2022 - What's in the state budget for cities + Federal recovery funds update + Drought briefing with Secretary Wade Crowfoot
June 8, 2022 - New drought rules enacted + Cybersecurity webinar + Upcoming legislative committee meetings to watch
June 1, 2022 - Annual conference registration opens + Catalytic converter theft bills + Help shape Cal Cities policy
May 25, 2022 - New Action Alerts + The Culling: Which bills move off of Suspense + Local streets and roads revenue estimates
May 18, 2022 - Cal Cities Advocate: Housing bill Action Alert! + May Revision deep dive + Cal Cities Board actions
May 11, 2022 - City leaders rally for state funding for new housing program, organic waste recycling, and unfunded mandates
May 4, 2022 - City Leaders Summit: What to expect + Cal Cities News Conference at the Capitol + your city’s organic waste data are needed now!
April 27, 2022 - Cities’ priorities for state budget surplus + Brown Act modernization bills + City Leaders Summit pre-registration ends April 29
April 20, 2022 - Advancing Equity Community launched + Tiny homes make big impact + New recovery resources for cities
April 13, 2022 - Ranked-choice prohibition bill stopped + Chief Hahn Speaker Series next week + Help boost organic waste recycling advocacy
April 6, 2022 - Proposed federal bill adds ARPA spending flexibility + New fiscal recovery resources available + Helen Putnam Award deadline looms
March 30, 2022 - CBRT opposition grows + Top bills for cities + New water conservation executive order
March 23, 2022 - Top bills briefing tomorrow + New date for March Speaker Series + Pismo Beach takes top Local Streets and Roads prize
March 16, 2022 - City officials advocate in D.C. + Bills that could impact cities briefing + Cal Cities takes gold for “Best Rebrand”
March 9, 2022 - City Leaders Summit Registration open! + The American Rescue Plan one year later + Update to health and safety protocols for events
March 2, 2022 - Speaker Series to feature California Secretary of State + new ARPA reporting guidance + latest opposition efforts against CBRT measure
February 23, 2022 - As California's drought worsens, state grants for drought projects are a relief
February 16, 2022 - "Infrastructure School" offers cities crash courses on accessing funds for critical projects
February 9, 2022 - Cities urged to oppose ballot measure seeking to restrict voter input and local taxing authority
February 2, 2022 - Cal Cities heads coalition against proposed ballot initiative that benefits big business and threatens local services
January 26, 2022 - Appellate court reaffirms cities’ discretion to interpret their land use plans
January 19, 2022 - Cal Cities releases 2021 Annual Report
January 12, 2022- Temporary drought rules go into effect Jan. 14; cities may use their own discretion during enforcement process
January 10, 2022 - Top priorities for cities get new investments in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed state budget
January 5, 2022 - Legislature reconvenes with unfinished business and new opportunities for 2022
December 15, 2021 - FPPC makes changes to fundraising-related payment reporting
December 8, 2021 - Cal Cities Board of Directors adopts 2022 Action Agenda; considers positions on potential ballot initiatives
December 1, 2021 - The 2021 Legislative Report is now available. Learn about the most significant new legislation impacting cities
November 17, 2021 - A collective sigh of relief after CalPERS board votes to keep discount rate at 6.8% following compelling testimony by city officials
November 10, 2021 - Congress passes $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill: Here’s what California cities can expect
November 3, 2021 - Joining forces, not “strike forces,” needed to house Californians - Cal Cities responds to State Attorney General's announcement
October 27, 2021 - November's Speaker Series features infectious disease experts on how COVID-19 will evolve and how cities can help in the response
October 20, 2021 - President Silva appoints 2022 policy committee chairs and vice chairs
October 13, 2021 - October treats for cities as Governor takes final action on 2021 bills
October 6, 2021 - Help drive Cal Cities’ 2022 legislative agenda by taking a brief, online survey!
September 29, 2021 - Annual Conference and Expo featured diverse speakers and solutions to major challenges; cities and state lawmakers honored with top awards.
September 15, 2021 - Dozens of bills impacting cities advance to Governor’s desk. Attend the Cal Cities Legislative Call to Action Webinar tomorrow!
September 8, 2021 - There's still time to make your voice heard on SB 9 (Atkins), AB 361 (Rivas), and other important measures!
September 1, 2021 - Annual Conference and Expo keynote speakers revealed!
August 26, 2021 - City leaders discuss priority housing bills and immediate action steps during virtual call to action
August 18, 2021 - President Cheryl Viegas Walker to lead priority briefing on SB 9 and other housing bills!
August 11, 2021 - Six Cal Cities priority bills to be heard in Senate Appropriations Committee on August 16!
August 4, 2021 - Support needed for broadband bills AB 14 (Aguiar-Curry) and SB 4 (Gonzalez)!
July 28, 2021 - Nearly 40 breakouts sessions announced for this year’s Annual Conference and Expo!
July 21, 2021 - Cities gain increased access to transportation and broadband infrastructure funding thanks to SB 640 and SB 156
July 15, 2021 - State Budget bolsters city priorities but calls for direct state relief are left unanswered