Posts Tagged: lawsuit

Podcast

A chat with BART’s Homelessness Czar

Daniel Cooperman, BART's Senior Manager of Social Services Partnership (Photo/BART)

CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (which everyone calls BART) is a the lifeline of the Bay Area. Connecting the suburbs to urban cities through 131 miles of track, BART serves a wildly diverse customer base. One of the groups most dependent on BART is the region’s homeless population – and that dependence that became even more pronounced during the COVID pandemic. We speak with BART’s first Homeless Czar, Daniel Cooperman.

Recent News

CEQA at heart of Supreme Court decision on UC Berkeley

Students pass through Sather Gate, which leads from Sproul Plaza to the center of the UC Berkeley. (Photo: David A Litman, via Shutterstock)

California’s premier environmental protection law was at the core of a fierce dispute between UC Berkeley and its surrounding neighborhoods — and the neighborhoods won. On Thursday, the state Supreme Court decided in their favor, saying that the university’s plan to build more student housing ran afoul of the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, which requires projects to undergo extensive environmental and legal review before proceeding.

Opinion

In California, lawsuit abuse fuels rising prices

An illustration of a California court, with the closeup of a gavel as the centerpiece. (Photo: sirtravelalot, via Shutterstock)

OPINION: There seems to be no end in sight for the nationwide supply chain crunch that is crippling our nation’s economy. For small business owners in California who barely survived the destruction caused by the pandemic, this could not come at worse time.

News

UC, amid lawsuits, eyes value of SAT, ACT tests

The top of Sather Tower at UC Berkeley. (Photo: Guangli, via Shutterstock)

The University of California is facing court challenges over its use of the SAT and ACT tests to decide student admissions.This comes as a special UC faculty group, the Standardized Testing Task Force,  prepares to release its own report on the tests in early 2020.

News

The $21 billion plan to cover wildfire damages

The hulks of destroyed automobiles burned in the 2018 Thomas Fire in Ventura County. ((Photo: Joseph Sohm, via Shutterstock)

On the final day of the legislative session, Gov. Newsom signed a complex, $21 billion bill that will dramatically change how California pays for future wildfire damages, with the customers and shareholders of California’s largest utilities covering the tab. The unprecedented measure seeks to stabilize the utility market and limit rate hikes, while establishing a blanket of financial security and compensation to victims of the devastating 2017-2018 fires.

News

Protesters greet Sessions, federal lawsuit

State Sen. Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, addresses demonstrators protesting a federal lawsuit targeting California's "sanctuary state" status. (Photo: Geoff Howard, Capitol Weekly)

Scores of protesters gathered Wednesday in downtown Sacramento to denounce U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who has sued California for passing laws that he said were unconstitutional and hamper the ability of the federal government to enforce immigration laws. Sessions, who announced the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit the night before, was in Sacramento Wednesday to speak before an annual gathering of the California Peace Officers Association.

News

Net neutrality repeal a political battleground

Ethernet cables tangled over a digital device. (Photo illustration: Ivan Marc)

The latest skirmish in California-vs.-the-Trump-Administration is developing around the repeal of “net neutrality,” in which purveyors of internet access treat all data equally. The Federal Communications Commission, chaired by former Verizon executive Ajit Pai, repealed net neutrality in a Dec. 14 ruling on a party-line 3-2 vote, with the Republican commissioners in the majority.

Opinion

Brain injuries in sports getting attention — finally

Young California football players practice for the big game. (Photo: bikeriderlondon, via Shutterstock)

Over the years, traumatic brain injuries in sports were never really discussed and stories of career-ending accidents were often glossed over. However, the winds are changing. Individuals suffering from serious head injuries are gaining a voice and have begun raising awareness through both the media and legislative efforts. As more and more stories of career-ending injuries pepper the news, the topic is finally getting the attention it deserves.

News

Water and eminent domain: a volatile mix

A town hall meeting in Claremont that focused on water issues. (Photo: City of Claremont.)

A Southern California city has launched eminent domain proceedings to take over the private water agency that has served the community for more than 80 years – an unusual move, even in California, where fights over water are common.

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