Governance, Legislation, and Law

Overview

Governance, Legislation & Law

Article Local Works By Gabe Quinto and Karen Pinkos

Good relationships make for good governance

What defines success may be different for every agency, but one thing is clear: City councils and city managers who work as a team can achieve great things. But these relationships don’t happen overnight. They require intentional, long-term commitment from everyone.  

Article Special to Cal Cities By Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson and Matt Huffaker

Opinion: We fought Big Soda and won. Here’s how

In May, Santa Cruz became the first California city to implement a sugar-sweetened beverage tax since the state preempted new local grocery taxes in 2018. Those funds will go back to local public health programs and city services.

Article Legal Notes By Greg Murphy, Elena Gerli, Chad Herrington, Justin Tamayo, and Alexandra Mulhall

Six local government transparency changes city officials need to know

The state Legislature has changed several key ethics and transparency rules for local government officials and staff. These range from some good news-bad news tweaks to recusals to changes that impact new housing developments. 

Article Special to Cal Cities By Adam Gufarotti

Opinion: We need to return to in-person meetings. Here’s why

“Even though offices are full again, most of our meetings still happen on Zoom or Teams,” writes a department leader from Lake Elsinore. “Don’t get me wrong: Some things needed to change. … [But] We’ve lost something. The way we connect, make decisions, and communicate has shifted, and not always for the better.” 

Article President’s Message By League of California Cities President Lynne B. Kennedy, Ph.D.

We need to talk about federal funding cuts

“Every decision-maker — regardless of political party — needs to hear the stories of city officials and how federal decisions will impact our cities and residents,” writes Cal Cities President Lynne B. Kennedy. “Our job is to put the face behind the number and humanize funding decisions and priorities.”

Article Special to Cal Cities by Ben Goldblatt

Opinion: When choosing your next job, don’t overlook state and local government oversight

“In an age when cynicism runs amok, fairly holding government accountable is more important than ever before,” says oversight expert Ben Goldblatt. ”Plus, doing so can result in a rewarding career close to home that directly impacts your community.”

Article Features By Betsy Montiel

Should your city embrace GenAI? It’s complicated

Many cities have long used artificial intelligence for routine tasks. Some are seizing on advances in AI to further automate everyday tasks. But as with any new tool or policy, there are benefits and costs to using AI. Experts say it’s crucial for cities to have guardrails over anything AI produces.

Article Special to Cal Cities By Matt Lehrman

Opinion: Local leaders have a responsibility to defend civic trust

“Trust in government isn’t built through authority alone,” writes civic facilitator Matt Lehrman. “Too often, local leaders focus on explaining decisions rather than engaging the public in shaping them. Governance works best when people see themselves as active participants, not outsiders to the process.”

Article Executive Director's Message By League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman

This year could bring changes to the state and federal budgets — but Cal Cities is steadfast in its goal to protect cities

“Cities solve problems and get things done, but we can’t do that effectively alone,” writes Cal Cities CEO Carolyn Coleman. “Cities need the resources to deliver. So, as we ring in the New Year, let’s remain united and speak with one voice in Washington and Sacramento about what cities need.” 

Article Features By Jackie Krentzman

What happens when reporters leave your town

California has lost one-third of its newspapers since 2005. One county has no local news outlets, while 18 have just one. City officials say the decline in reliable, local news coverage has hampered their mission, damaged community trust, and fueled misinformation.

Article Features By Sasha D’Amico

How city officials can prevent and respond to workplace violence

More city officials — particularly women — are facing threats and harassment. Although every city has unique and varied safety concerns, there are some common practices your city can adopt to safeguard elected officials and staff before misfortune strikes. 

Article Executive Director's Message By League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman

California’s newest city reminds us of the power of collective action

“Those who called Mountain House home wanted more than their unincorporated status provided,” writes Cal Cities CEO Carolyn Coleman. “They wanted local control. So local leaders came together and united as a city to change their circumstances.”

Article Features Doug Levy, with David Oro, Brian Baker, and Alexa Davis

Harnessing AI’s power for cities while combating misinformation

Generative artificial intelligence can both enhance city services and cause great harm. This is where policies matter. You need to know exactly what data your AI tool uses and carefully review AI-generated content before publishing it.

Article Legal Notes By James E. Oldendorph and Phil Bui

Cannabis laws spark new challenges for California fire departments

Mirroring public attitudes, California lawmakers have instituted sweeping changes to the state’s cannabis laws. This has created challenges for fire departments, which must balance their mission of safety with the rights of their employees. 

Article Executive Director's Message By League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman

After the election comes the hard part

“At the local level, candidates regularly find themselves running against another community member,” writes Cal Cities CEO Carolyn Coleman. “This familiarity may make it even more challenging to put aside the campaign mindset after the election is over and focus on uniting as a community.”

Article Features By Brian Lee-Mounger Hendershot

Welcome to the first AI election. Here’s what local officials need to know and can do to prepare

Experts are warning that artificial intelligence (AI) could undermine this year’s elections. But just what does that mean? Here’s what AI can do, the threats it poses to election security, and how local officials can help their communities prepare.

Article Executive Director's Message By League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman

If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu

“The legislative process produces better outcomes for cities when lawmakers are informed and educated by the united voices of city officials,” writes Cal Cities CEO Carolyn Coleman. “If we don’t show up — early and often­ — bills we oppose that hurt cities could become law, and bills we support could die.”

Article Features By Brian Lee-Mounger Hendershot

Hate campaigns are creating a ‘real legitimacy crisis’ says former Berkeley Council Member Rigel Robinson

At 27, Rigel Robinson’s political future was bright. His election to the Berkeley city council had broken barriers and his campaign for mayor won the endorsement of California Attorney General Rob Bonta. But earlier this year, he resigned, citing burnout and a long-running harassment campaign.

Article Solutions for Cities By Tim Seufert

The municipal CEO was a significant evolution for California cities

Local agencies are where most Americans interact with their government and these interactions generally leave people with a positive impression of government. Yet it wasn’t always that way.

Aerial view of Sacramento and the state Capitol.
Article Features By Melanie Perron

2021 Legislative Year in Review

For many, the beginning of 2021 felt like a continuation of 2020. COVID-19 continued to significantly impact the globe and cities throughout the state were still reeling from the economic impacts of the pandemic. Any guarantee of state or federal relief for cash-strapped cities was tepid at best. One silver lining was that the League of California Cities was able to build upon key relationships in the Legislature to advance top priorities for cities in 2021.