City officials in Davis and Emeryville found a way to make their
communities happier, safer, and cleaner while also reducing
carbon emissions: They made it easier to bike. “The point is to
provide options,” said Jennifer Donofrio, Davis’ senior
transportation planner. “People can choose to get around however
they prefer.”
La Mesa has made climate action attractive for residents and
developers alike. “La Mesa is a small city and not a wealthy
city,” says one local climate activist. “Yet the city has gotten
so much done, from adapting clean energy, reducing solid organic
waste, and passing transportation measures to cut our carbon
emissions.”
In the city of Benicia, a budget crisis almost unraveled
community life. What sets this story apart isn’t just the
challenge Benicia faced, but how city leadership turned a
financial crisis into an opportunity for unprecedented community
engagement and transparency.
You may think of libraries as places to borrow books and access
the internet. But think again — especially if you live near the
Santa Fe Springs Library. Bit by bit, it has become the
city’s go-to institution for culture and entertainment.
Many cities have the vision, the space, and the will to turn
suburban landscapes into walkable, transit-rich neighborhoods.
What they need now are the tools: local control and
sustained infrastructure funding. That’s where the greatest
challenge lies, argues Cal Cities Cities President Lynne B.
Kennedy.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court resolved Eighth Amendment
lawsuits against public camping ordinances. But the ruling did
not close the door to other challenges — including state
legislation attempting to preempt local control.
Unpredictable inflationary pressures, federal policies, and
state-mandated programs are making it hard to decide which
infrastructure renewal projects to prioritize. Here are four tips
to help city managers navigate these challenges
effectively.