Californians know firsthand how devastating oil spills can
become. And while they can’t force the federal government to
withdraw its offshore drilling proposal, cities can make it
extremely challenging for companies to build the facilities they
need to restart oil production.
“That the Sierra Club and Cal Cities were founded around the same
time highlights a fundamental tension that has existed since the
Gold Rush,” writes Cal Cities President Gabe Quinto. “How do we
develop cities that are thriving economic hubs while also
protecting the natural splendor that drew so many of us here?”
“It falls very much in the spirit of what most of our city tends
towards — a combination of deep humanitarianism, ecology, and
culture,” said Ojai Mayor Andy Gilman. “This whole space is
becoming alive with purpose, and I feel really lucky to be a part
of it.”
Extreme heat doesn’t just stress the human body. It puts a
greater demand on the electrical grid, causing more frequent
blackouts, buckles asphalt roads, and evaporates water supplies.
But many of its most harmful impacts are cumulative and delayed.
Cities near the Mojave Desert face a familiar challenge: They
need to build more housing while also protecting the iconic
landscapes that draw so many people to California. Some city
officials and developers worry a new law is unintentionally
slowing or even scuttling badly needed projects.
Pacifica’s new coastal land use plan recognizes the need for
area‑specific approaches to long‑term coastal management and
outlines a phased framework for implementation.
For years, First Beach served as a makeshift gathering place for
Needles residents. But with no shade, restrooms, or trash bins —
and plenty of litter — it was often more of a hazard than a
haven. The newly revamped riverfront has changed how both the
town and residents see themselves.
“We all recognize that water has no bounds,” said Summer Bundy,
the director of project management at OneShoreline. “Our job is
to figure out how to piece together an adaptation plan that
brings a regional approach to addressing flooding and sea level
rise, instead of on a per-project basis.”
While competing priorities may make it tempting to delay
modernization projects, taking a proactive approach to
infrastructure improvements can create immediate and long-term
benefits.
The city of Paso Robles dramatically reduced the number of fires
in the Salinas riverbed. The secret? Hundreds of goats and sheep
happily munching their way through dense undergrowth.
In recent years, cities across California have faced
unprecedented challenges — wildfires, flooding, mass shootings,
hazardous spills, and more. But the benefits of a good crisis
communication plan go beyond emergencies.
Across the U.S., departments are struggling with a dire shortage
of fire engines and trucks. “It’s just a matter of time before
lives are lost as emergency response times lengthen and fire
danger rises with climate change,” writes Chris Nigg, a 24-year
fire service veteran.
Early this summer, Southern California Edison wildfire science
expert Tom Rolinski was in the foothills of Mount Baldy. He could
sense summer setting in and with it, an early fire season.
The Eel River trail is one of three new projects in Rio Dell that
have already made an impact on health and community-building.
Officials in this Humboldt County town hope it will eventually
serve another purpose: tourism.
Many cities have the vision, the space, and the will to turn
suburban landscapes into walkable, transit-rich neighborhoods.
What they need now are the tools: local control and
sustained infrastructure funding. That’s where the greatest
challenge lies, argues Cal Cities Cities President Lynne B.
Kennedy.
La Mesa has made climate action attractive for residents and
developers alike. “La Mesa is a small city and not a wealthy
city,” says one local climate activist. “Yet the city has gotten
so much done, from adapting clean energy, reducing solid organic
waste, and passing transportation measures to cut our carbon
emissions.”
City officials in Davis and Emeryville found a way to make their
communities happier, safer, and cleaner while also reducing
carbon emissions: They made it easier to bike. “The point is to
provide options,” said Jennifer Donofrio, Davis’ senior
transportation planner. “People can choose to get around however
they prefer.”
Unpredictable inflationary pressures, federal policies, and
state-mandated programs are making it hard to decide which
infrastructure renewal projects to prioritize. Here are four tips
to help city managers navigate these challenges
effectively.
Like many freshwater lakes in the U.S., Lake Elsinore’s water
quality has long been an issue. And it only got worse as
temperatures and flooding increased. But in 2022, the namesake
city found a way to restore this crown jewel that once attracted
Hollywood celebrities like Steve McQueen.
California is in the middle of an ambitious effort to overhaul
its waste systems — chief among them organic waste. But reducing
the million tons of organic waste thrown away each year has
proven challenging. Here’s how three cities are successfully
meeting the mandate.
