News
Governor Newsom signs Bruce’s Beach bill to return parcels of land back to descendants of original Black owners
The Mercury News – October 1
Governor Gavin Newsom last Thursday signed into law Senate Bill 796, paving the way for Los Angeles County to return two parcels of oceanfront land in Manhattan Beach to the descendants of the original Black owners. Bruce’s Beach Lodge was once an early 20th century seaside resort for African Americans at a time when Black people had limited access to the coast before eminent domain proceedings stripped it from the original owners. Officials spearheading the bill said that the joint state-and-county effort to return the land is the first of its kind in the nation and could set the stage for discussions about national reparations.
UC could add 20,000 seats for students by 2030 to meet surging enrollment demand
KTLA – October 1
The University of California is seeking to add 20,000 seats for students by 2030, the equivalent of a new campus, to help meet surging demand for a UC education and college graduates to fill the state’s growing need for highly skilled employees. But boosting enrollment is a complicated task for campuses with limited space, resources, and conflicting political pressures. For instance, some campuses, such as UC Santa Barbara and UC Merced, are so short of housing they are temporarily putting up students in hotels this fall.
San Francisco Board of Supervisors boosts water reuse requirements for new buildings
San Francisco Examiner – September 22
New buildings will need to collect and reuse much more water than what is required for existing buildings, after the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved new regulations in late September. The ordinance more than doubles the amount of water that new large buildings will be required to collect and reuse on site, said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman.
Coastal erosion in San Clemente threatens railroad tracks and homes
Bakersfield Californian – October 2
Each day after the tide rolls out, workers pile enormous rocks onto the sandy beach. They rush to dump at least 11,000 tons to keep the ocean at bay and reopen a picturesque stretch of railroad track in San Clemente. Climate change has led to rising sea levels, which translates to more intense battering of beachside communities. In San Clemente, long-term solutions could involve relocating the railroad tracks or restoring sediment that would help create natural barriers. For now, the tracks, which carry Metrolink commuters and Amtrak travelers up and down the coast, are scheduled to reopen with the rocks as protection.
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