“We can’t keep passing hundreds of new housing bills and expecting a different outcome,” Jason Rhine, Cal Cities senior director of legislative affairs, told the Little Hoover Commission at a recent hearing. bit.ly/3UWHXjM

"It is in our power to put people, our residents, and communities first. Let’s bring human dignity to the top of the list of what matters." Read more from Cal Cities President and Carlsbad Council Member Teresa Acosta's first Western City address. www.westerncity.com/article/lets...

Let’s come to the table with solutions and compassion - Western City Magazine

"There is so much pain these days, so much division, and very real fears of not being able to cover our basic needs," writes ...

westerncity.com

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on several major cases this term, including issues related to land use and religion, damage-seeking lawsuits directed at oil companies, and more. Join NLC on 11/9 to learn more. www.nlc.org/events/supre...

Supreme Court Preview for Local Governments: 2026-2027 Term

Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the new Supreme Court term and what decisions local governments should watch. The Supreme Court will rule on…

nlc.org

Voters have passed Proposition 1. Supported by Cal Cities, Prop. 1 will provide an infusion of funding for innovative local programs like regional housing trusts and help cities meet their state housing goals. ➡️ bit.ly/prop1-passes

Voters approve housing bond, will likely reject Prop. 43 + other #CalCitiesAdvocate highlights: 🔸 2026 Legislative Year in Review 🔸 Coastal and inland cities alike are gearing up for a historic El Niño Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/3X6lyBa

Check out the latest published stories on Western City magazine! Learn how cities are preparing for El Niño and addressing water scarcity, what to do after a contentious election, and more. www.westerncity.com

Statement from League of California Cities Executive Director and CEO Carolyn Coleman on Xavier Becerra being elected California’s next governor:

Statement from League of California Cities President Teresa Acosta on Xavier Becerra being elected California’s next governor:

Farmworker housing is few and far between and much-needed in the Central Valley. The city of Visalia used all its available levers to greenlight and fund Rancho Colegio, an 80-unit affordable housing complex with 20 units set aside for farmworkers. www.westerncity.com/article/visa...

More than 100 city leaders are opposing Prop. 43, a statewide ballot measure that requires all local special taxes to receive two-thirds voter approval. “Voting no on Prop 43 means keeping the power to shape our city’s future within our community, where it belongs," said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee.

Serving California's boo-tiful cities is such a treat 🍬 The Cal Cities team wishes everyone a safe and spooktacular Halloween! 🎃👻

We're excited to welcome Alexi Espinosa, our new policy and legislative affairs analyst, to the Cal Cities Team! We’re thrilled to have Alexi on board, contributing to our important policy and legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of California cities.

KQED's Guy Marzorati shared his analysis of the November ballot with the Cal Cities East Bay Division last week in Alameda. The Division also honored Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich for his chairmanship of the transportation policy committee. Thank you for joining us!

Over 100 local elected officials announce opposition to Prop. 43 + other #CalCitiesAdvocate highlights: 🔸 'There isn’t one silver bullet.' State and local experts highlight California’s housing shortage causes 🔸 NLC Webinar: Supreme Court Preview for Local Governments Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/3Wx1wj1

Cal Cities joins Californians and communities across the nation in mourning the passing of Dolores Huerta. We’re grateful for her partnership with city leaders and her dedication to building stronger communities. May we remember her lifelong commitment to justice, dignity, and compassion.

An El Niño event is expected to hit California this winter. How can your city prepare? Join Cal Cities on Nov. 4 for a discussion on city readiness, emergency communications, and how to use weather forecasts to inform planning efforts. ➡️ bit.ly/el-nino-roundtable

Wearable technology, including smart glasses, watches and rings, can record audio or video without co-workers’ knowledge. 🕶⌚️ But as these devices become more common, banning them in the workplace may not be practical, according to legal experts. www.westerncity.com/article/your...

Is your agency ready for wearable smart devices? - Western City Magazine

Some glasses, watches, and rings allow users to record audio or video without the knowledge of co-workers or supervisors. ...

westerncity.com

Redwood City is celebrating United Against Hate Week with a series of community events, including an Empathy Wall for teens, Skate Against Hate, creative activities at the Downtown Library, including a special story time promoting belonging and understanding. 👏 #UAHWeek

“For a community of 20,000 to produce so many units of affordable housing over the course of five years is unprecedented in CA, much less the nation." Learn how Oroville is delivering housing for its community and displaced Camp Fire residents. 🏘️ www.westerncity.com/article/what...

‘What they did was extraordinary.’ How this rural, low-income city sped up housing construction - Western City Magazine

“For a community of 20,000 to produce so many units of affordable housing over the course of five years is unprecedented in ...

westerncity.com

Join the Cal Cities Roundtable to prepare your community for El Niño + other #CalCitiesAdvocate highlights: 🔸 Visalia is a leader in building new homes for farmworkers 🔸 Cities mark United Against Hate Week with cultural festivals, trainings, and more Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/el-nino-roundtable

Cal Cities’ Advancing Equity Advisory Committee is surveying city officials to learn what’s working, what challenges cities face, and where additional resources and support could help. Take the survey today! ➡️ bit.ly/equity-survey

Prop 43 puts critical local services at risk. From police and fire departments to roads, schools, and healthcare, our communities deserve the ability to fund the services we rely on. Vote NO on Prop 43. #NoOn43CA

Pasadena kicked off #UAHWeek with a Neighborfest celebrating community, connection, and inclusion! 🎉 Pasadena’s Human Relations Commission partnered with community groups to bring neighbors together for speakers, food, music, and resources, all while spreading love & standing against hate.

After 30 years of planning, West Sacramento is transforming a rundown stretch of West Capitol Avenue into a vibrant destination with hundreds of new homes, expanded transit, and retail. Learn more about the city’s future Grand Gateway project. 🏘🚌🛍️️ www.westerncity.com/article/west...

West Sacramento’s decades-long revitalization vision begins to take shape at Grand Gateway - Western City Magazine

“I like to call it the story of West Sacramento taking little pieces of what the city had inherited and having to kind of ...

westerncity.com

How are cities building a community where everyone feels welcome? Santa Clara City Library is inviting residents this United Against Hate Week to share their thoughts and messages on belonging, community, and actions the city can take to stand against hate. 📚💭 #UAHWeek

🚲 @thecityofpetaluma is on a mission to completely eliminate severe or fatal traffic collisions. The city's investments in bike and pedestrian infrastructure are giving residents more ways to get around while improving traffic safety. ➡️bit.ly/Petaluma-road-safety

Can we eliminate traffic deaths? Petaluma is trying - Western City Magazine

“We need to make our roads more conducive for safe driving, and that requires engineering,” said Christina Panza, who ...

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Over the summer, the U.S. Supreme Court put an end to a decade-long legal saga involving development impact fees — for now. Going forward, cities can expect to see more federal constitutional challenges to fee programs that seek to mitigate the impacts of new development. bit.ly/3U0IMYh

How to create impact fees for classes of development - Western City Magazine

Over the summer, the U.S. Supreme Court put an end to a decade-long legal saga involving development impact fees — for ...

westerncity.com

Is your city exploring ways to thoughtfully implement AI tools? The National League of Cities released an AI policy fact sheet, which includes resources from the GovAI Coalition, led by San José. www.nlc.org/resource/cre...

Creating AI Policy or Guidelines in Your City

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more accessible, local governments are exploring how it can support service delivery, improve operations and enhance resident engagement.

nlc.org

“Wildfire resilience depends on neighbors working together to protect each other," writes Nevada City Council Member Gary Petersen and Dr. Elissa Lee. Learn how the city is taking a collaborative approach to wildfire prevention. 🔥🌲 #LocalWorks www.westerncity.com/article/prev...

To prevent the worst of wildfires, government needs to take a collaborative approach - Western City Magazine

"As wildfires grow more frequent and destructive, the most effective defense may begin not with technology or top-down ...

westerncity.com

Do you work with an outstanding city management professional? The Cal Cities City Managers Department is accepting nominations for three awards that will be presented at the 2027 City Managers Conference in San Diego this February. 🏆 Nominations are due Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. bit.ly/4ymRL4a