California

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. February 25, 2020 – A new fact sheet from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice finds that state spending on California’s dangerous and prison-like youth correctional system, the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), is expected to soar amid plans to transfer it into the Health and Human Services Agency in July 2020. For the […]

Feb. 25, 2020 – California State Auditor’s Public Letter to Governor and Legislative Leaders: February 25, 2020The Governor of CaliforniaPresident pro Tempore of the SenateSpeaker of the AssemblyState CapitolSacramento, California 95814 Dear Governor and Legislative Leaders: As directed by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, my office conducted an audit of the California State Lottery (Lottery). […]

SACRAMENTO, CA. Feb. 25, 2020 – To help ensure voters can get to the polls on Election Day, March 3, 2020 California law allows workers to take up to two hours off work to vote if they are unable to vote during non-work hours. “Californians should make a plan now for how they will cast […]

DAVIS, Calif., February 24, 2020 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is providing technical and financial assistance to help farmers and ranchers in California make improvements in their operations that can lead to improved air quality. Assistance is being made available through NRCS’ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), National Air Quality Initiative (NAQI). The […]

Feb. 20, 2020 – The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), California’s governmental ethics and campaign disclosure agency, is expanding transparency by providing the public with a new way to find and view the status of any complaint or case in the FPPC’s new Case and Complaint Information portal. You’ll be able to search for the […]

Feb. 21, 2020 – In this report, we assess the (1) state’s overall approach to addressing wildfire risks and (2) Governor’s wildfire-related budget proposals.  State Should Develop Strategic Wildfire Plan to Address Risks. In assessing the state’s overall approach to addressing wildfire risks, we find that several factors contribute to increasing risks, including increased development […]

SACRAMENTO, Feb. 21, 2020 – A day after meeting with officials from cities across California on the front lines of the homelessness crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom today highlighted the 286 state-owned properties available to local governments to use for homelessness solutions. The Governor called on local leaders to review the sites available in their regions and invited officials […]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Feb. 21, 2020 – On Tuesday the California Senate introduced two bills to address the growing contamination crisis of toxic fluorinated chemicals known as PFAS. One bill would ban the chemicals in firefighting foam – one of the largest sources of PFAS contamination – and the other would expand the state’s program to […]

SACRAMENTO February 19, 2020 – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today regarding the death of Porterville Fire Department Captain Raymond Figueroa and Firefighter Patrick Jones, who remains missing after responding to a fire at a library in the City of Porterville yesterday: “On behalf of all Californians, Jennifer and I extend our sincere condolences […]

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 19, 2020 — A federal district court today ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to either approve or force improvements to California’s plans to reduce soot in Plumas County, north of Lake Tahoe and smog in Ventura County. The court also ordered the EPA to act on Arizona’s plan to curb dangerous smog in Phoenix. […]

SACRAMENTO, CA, Feb. 19, 2020 – The County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California (CBHDA) released this statement from Executive Director Michelle Doty Cabrera following the Governor’s “State of the State” address today. Cabrera is also a member of the Governor’s Council of Regional Homelessness Advisors (“task force”).  In focusing this year’s State of the […]

SACRAMENTO February 19, 2020 – Governor Gavin Newsom delivered his State of the State address on homelessness before a joint convention of the California Legislature today. Below is the text as prepared for delivery: State of the State Address California Governor Gavin Newsom February 19, 2020  Thank you, Madame Lieutenant Governor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for […]

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Feb. 19, 2020 – Statements from Noah Oppenheim, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, and Morning Star Gali, member of the Pit River Tribe and Tribal Water Organizer for Save California Salmon. “The Federal Government has a tribal trust responsibility to protect salmon, but instead of honoring Tribes, […]

SACRAMENTO – Californians who missed the February 18 deadline to register to vote — or update their voter registration — for the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election can take advantage of ‘Same Day’ voter registration and cast a ballot by visiting their county elections office or any vote center or polling place in their county of residence. “If you missed the traditional voter registration […]

SAN FRANCISCO, February 18, 2020 – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today issued the following statement from CPUC President Marybel Batjer regarding proposals issued for comment in the CPUC’s proceeding to consider the ratemaking and other implications of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) proposed bankruptcy plan:  “Today, as the assigned Commissioner in the […]

Oakland, CA, Feb. 18, 2020 – Today, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, California State Senators Glazer (D-Orinda) and Hill (D-San Mateo), were all on hand to announce the introduction of The Utility Accountability and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2020, AB 2356. AB 2356 will expand enforcement authority to the Attorney General […]

February 18, 2020 – Trump and his Interior Secretary are in California this week to push another shady deal. This one seizes more northern California water, which will decimate the environment and the state’s valuable salmon runs, to give to his supporters in the desert-like western San Joaquin valley.  Trump’s Interior Secretary Bernhardt worked for […]

Here’s a fact: California WILL experience longer, more severe droughts due to climate change. This will cause drinking water supplies for vulnerable communities to run dry or become contaminated — and as a result will directly threaten California’s ability to secure access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. That’s why the Community Water Center […]