by Abrahm Lustgarten : propublica – excerpt PG&E’s rolling blackouts probably don’t eliminate fire risk, and they actually could make responding to fires harder. What they largely do is shift responsibility away from the company… ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for ProPublica’s Big Story newsletter to receive stories … More A Taste of the Climate Apocalypse to Come
from nine-county-coalition – excerpt The Bay Area’s MTC (Metropolitan Transportation Commission) looks really good on paper. It has an attractive website rich with information, it has the support of potent organizations such as SPUR and the Bay Area Council, and since its hostile takeover of ABAG (Association of Bay Area Governments) MTC holds the transportation … More Let’s Declare January MTC Awareness Month!
By Polly Baker : nine-county-coalition – excerpt What if your government set up and operated a regional system of agencies with the goal of eliminating your legal political power and jurisdictions while it took control of your life? If this sounds crazy, I assure you it is not. Check it out for yourself: https://barc.ca.gov/ The … More BARC-ing Up The Wrong Tree
By Ida Mojadad : sfweekly – excerpt State regulators are weighing a dramatic shake-up of PG&E. Could San Francisco join dozens of other jurisdictions in establishing a public utility? What would California’s increasingly devastating wildfires look like if PG&E were beholden to the people instead of to its shareholders? That’s the crux of a proposal … More Smart Ideas From Other Cities: Utilities Powered by the People
By Patrick Sisson : curbed – excerpt From homelessness and housing to big tech and budgets, the forces shaping urbanism in the coming year. Here are 10 big issues expected to play oversized roles in shaping the story of cities in 2019. The elimination of single-family zoning and parking minimums How far will the scooter invasion … More 10 challenges that will define cities in 2019
By J.D. Morris : sfchronicle – excerpt California regulators are considering whether Pacific Gas and Electric Co. should shake up its leadership, split its core operations into separate companies or be transformed into a publicly-owned utility. In an announcement late Friday afternoon, the California Public Utilities Commission stressed it had not drawn conclusions but listed … More Regulators mull massive changes to PG&E management, structure
By Liam Dillon : latimes – excerpt A California state senator has revived a major effort to boost homebuilding near transit, a proposal he says is necessary to address the state’s housing affordability and climate change challenges that have only deepened since his initial bill failed earlier this year. Under the new proposal from Sen. … More California legislator revives bill to boost apartment complexes near transit
By Tim Redmond : 48hills – excerpt The passage of Prop. A means SF now can start building its own electric distribution system – and the folks at PG&E are giving the supes every reason to do so. Toward the end of a hearing last week on how PG&E is delaying public projects, including affordable … More PG&E picked a dumb fight with SF; will the city now pursue public power?
by jonathanturley Germany has pledged to cut carbon emissions by up to 95 percent by 2050 by virtually ending the use of coal for energy. However, that will not come in time to save the spectacular Hambach Forest, an ancient woodlands in Germany that lies between the cities of Cologne and Aachen. The forest is … More German Coal Company Allowed To Clear Cut 12,000 Year Old Forest
