News
California weighs first step in 'managed retreat' from rising Pacific
Reuters – July 20
From building sea walls to nurturing “living” seashores, an array of potential solutions to rising sea levels have been discussed by local authorities up and down the coast, but all are expensive and none had come up with a way of addressing the cost - until now. Under a proposed state bill, a “revolving” fund would be set up to provide soft loans for cities to buy vulnerable seaside properties from willing sellers, and then rent them back to the owners or tenants for as long as they remained habitable. The proposal has been billed as the first strategic attempt to address the task of moving coastal cities back from rising seas, and it could also help local government leaders maintain the stream of revenue with rental income.
San Diego County tackles housing shortage with general plan changes
The San Diego Union-Tribune – July 15
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors took steps to resolve regional housing shortages last Wednesday by approving amendments to the housing and safety elements of the county’s general plan and by adding a new environmental justice element to it. The amendments are designed to accelerate housing construction in areas with access to transportation and utilities. The amendments also update plans for wildfires and other hazards, and improve environmental safety in unincorporated communities.
Nurses call out California hospitals on earthquake retrofits
Construction Dive – July 15
California nurses are crying foul over a proposal circulating in Sacramento that would give hospitals seven more years to comply with a seismic retrofit law that requires them to be able to stay operational after an earthquake. The California Nurses Association issued a statement opposing efforts by the California Hospital Association, with the support of Governor Gavin Newsom, to extend until 2037 a 2030 deadline that mandates hospitals make upgrades to ensure they can serve patients, even after a major seismic event.
San Joaquin County Fairgrounds targeted for affordable housing development
ABC10 – July 20
Since 1860, the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and South Airport Way has been home to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. Now, it's being targeted for affordable housing. The project falls under Governor Gavin Newsom's Excess Land for Affordable Housing Executive Order, which plans to set aside 110 of the 250 acres of fairground land and turn it into affordable and mixed use housing. Stockton is short 24,000 affordable and available rental homes, according to Gustavo Velasquez, director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
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