Brian Lee-Mounger Hendershot is the managing editor for Western City magazine; he can be reached at bhendershot@calcities.org.

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Come January, California will have a new governor: Xavier Becerra or Steve Hilton. But it won’t be an easy job. Recent polling by the Public Policy Institute of California found that Californians of all political stripes are deeply pessimistic about the direction of the state, the nation, and their own economic future. But those same polls also reveal some opportunities.

Despite a majority approval for Gov. Gavin Newsom, over half of Californians want the next Governor to “mostly change policy positions.” Few believe that the state or federal government is run for the benefit of all people. And most want to have a say in the policymaking process. In short, California is ripe for change. And Californians want to be a part of that change.

While Western City doesn’t have an army of pollsters at its disposal, we do have easy access to city officials, the level of government that people trust the most to solve their problems. We asked the leaders of Cal Cities’ policy committees what they thought the next Governor should prioritize.

Reliable funding is key to ending the state’s homelessness crisis

“Our next Governor should strengthen partnerships between state and local governments to prioritize California’s most vulnerable residents, including seniors, children, and people experiencing homelessness. Every Californian deserves a safe community, a stable home, and access to the services needed to thrive.

Cities like Burbank are investing significant local resources in outreach, affordable housing, and regional partnerships that connect people experiencing homelessness with services. However, cities cannot solve this crisis alone, and short-term or uncertain funding makes it difficult to build and maintain effective programs.

California cities need predictable, flexible, and ongoing state funding that recognizes that communities have different needs and allows local leaders to invest in solutions that work for their most at-risk residents. This year’s federal homelessness count shows that progress is possible, underscoring the importance of sustained funding and strong partnerships at every level of government.”

- Mayor Tamala Takahashi, Burbank. Takahashi served as chair of the Cal Cities Community Services Policy Committee in 2026. 

View cities as partners, not obstacles, when it comes  housing

“Many cities throughout California are implementing innovative, locally responsive strategies to address California’s housing needs. If the Governor is committed to getting more homes built, he should engage cities more deeply as statewide policies are developed — not only after legislation is enacted. I am hopeful that California’s next Governor will look to cities like Eureka as collaborative partners in addressing the state’s housing crisis.

I also hope the next administration recognizes the growing financial burden cities face as they work to provide essential services and support new housing. Cities need meaningful tools and resources — including renewed redevelopment authority and sustained infrastructure funding — to help build housing while caring for the communities we serve.”

 - Council Member Leslie Castellano, Eureka. Castellano served as chair of the Cal Cities Housing, Community, and Economic Development Policy Committee in 2026. 

The state needs to make serious climate investments

“We call on the next Governor to support our efforts to mitigate environmental harm and prepare for and adapt to a changing climate. California cities are experiencing disasters — like wildfires, droughts, and extreme heat events — at an increased pace and scale due to climate change.  

Cities like Mill Valley have invested in our own wildfire and sea level rise preparedness efforts to ensure our community is safe from this growing threat. If we are serious about fighting climate change, the state must prioritize and invest in efforts to achieve local, sustainable solutions across our infrastructure, renewable energy, water, waste and recycling systems — including and beyond the Prop. 4 climate bond.”

- Mayor Max Perrey, Mill Valley. Perrey served as chair of the Cal Cities Environmental Quality Policy Committee in 2026. 

We need a different way of funding road repairs

“Cities can be the state’s strongest partner in solving California’s biggest challenges. This includes not just longstanding issues, like embracing new technologies for public transportation or enhancing emergency response infrastructure, but new problems, like securing a sustainable revenue source for road maintenance.

Danville has responsibly invested state transportation dollars — including gas tax revenues — to maintain and improve our local streets, intersections, and critical infrastructure. As more vehicles transition to electric power, we need a fair, sustainable funding model, so that all drivers contribute equitably to the maintenance of the roads they use.

My advice is simple: California succeeds when local communities have the flexibility to make local decisions. Trust cities to know what works on the ground. Make long-term investments instead of creating new unfunded mandates. Restore local decision-making instead of preempting cities. Let local leaders lead.”

- Mayor Newell Arnerich, Danville. Arnerich served as chair of the Cal Cities Transportation, Communications, and Public Works Policy Committee in 2026. 

Fund Proposition 36

“Our residents are concerned about a range of public safety issues, including challenges stemming from the impacts of homelessness, escalating insurance costs, and the newly drawn fire hazard zone maps. But most of all, they are concerned about whether we can keep their communities safe. That is part of the reason why voters in every county overwhelmingly approved Proposition 36 in 2024.

Two years later, Prop. 36 is still not yet fully funded. Securing this funding is key to keeping our communities safe and helping people with substance use and mental health challenges. Cities, counties, and communities have taken on a lot of responsibility for public safety over the last few years. We will be looking to the Legislature and Governor for further support so that the will of the voters is fully implemented.”

- Mayor Scott Nassif, Apple Valley. Nassif served as chair of the Cal Cities Public Safety Policy Committee in 2026. 

AI can enhance government, but it cannot replace people

“Artificial intelligence affects not just how people view transparency and governance in local government, but the work of people in those agencies. Our next Governor must recognize and balance the challenges and benefits of AI, while working with cities to develop policies that support local security and operational flexibility.

The city of Westminster is currently developing its own AI policy. We hope that the next Governor takes a page out of our policy discussions: We can use AI to enhance the public service experience, but AI cannot replace the people who provide empathetic customer service, make value-based decisions, and process complex conflicts outside an algorithm.”

- City Manager Christine Cordon, Westminster. Cordon served as chair of the Cal Cities Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations Policy Committee in 2026. 

When cities rise, we all rise

“No matter the city, the fundamental foundation of every community in California is strong fiscal health. Year over year, a city needs to have consistent, stable sources of revenue and manageable, predictable expenses to address important local issues, deliver basic services, and enhance quality of life. But to sustain local services and achieve our goals, we need the state to be our partner.

As the new Governor takes office, I urge him to recognize the unique character and issues of our cities and ensure that we have the fiscal resources necessary to meet our local needs — whether that’s ensuring safe neighborhoods, strengthening local economies, reducing homelessness and improving housing affordability, maintaining infrastructure, providing clean water, or preparing for and managing disasters. When cities rise, we all rise.”

- Council Member Cindy Silva, Walnut Creek. Silva served as chair of the Cal Cities Revenue and Taxation Policy Committee in 2026.