Melanie Curry
Recent Posts
Appeals Court Rules That Cap-and-Trade Is Not a Tax
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The court ruled that California's cap-and-trade system involves voluntary participation and the purchase of a commodity with value—neither of which are “the hallmarks of a tax.”
What’s in the Gas-Tax-Raising Transportation Funding Bill?
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There are a lot of good things in S.B. 1, including raising gas taxes to better reflect how much wear and tear vehicles actually impose on California roads. But then there's that dirty truck amendment.
After Years of Inaction, a Rush to Approve CA Transportation Funding Bill
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A fix to a late amendment wasn't enough for environmental justice advocates, and the Republicans--well, their support is irrelevant. But the rush to pass S.B. 1 is hampering what could be a very good transportation funding bill.
Transportation Funding Bill Poisoned by Truck Amendment
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A last-minute amendment exempting trucks from air quality rules threatens to poison an otherwise strong[er] transportation funding bill. The political calculus to get 2/3 vote makes this kind of amendment a risk.
Air Resources Board Releases White Paper on Health Benefits of Activity
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It's not exactly news, but yes: physical activity and exercise is necessary for good health. And the way communities are built can help increase or decrease how much physical activity people get.
Air Resources Board: CA Needs to Align Transportation Funding With Climate Goals
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“We have an ongoing discussion in this state that needs to be resolved,” said ARB chair Mary Nichols. “Whenever you add capacity to existing roads, it does create induced demand, and it fills up immediately.”
Silicon Valley Bike Vision Plan Is a Great Tool for Advocates Everywhere
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The Silicon Valley Bike Vision report shows what peninsula cities are doing right, as well as what they could do better to improve conditions for bicyclists and encourage more people to ride. It serves as a vision of what bicycling could be like, and provides a general roadmap on how to get there.
Air Resources Board to Discuss Greenhouse Emission Targets Today
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More ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets are needed, but regional governments say they can't meet them without more aggressive changes--which they say they don't have the power to impose.
CTC Approves Regional Active Transportation Projects
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Yesterday the California Transportation Commission approved 62 projects for a total of $103.3 million from the Active Transportation Program. The projects were submitted by the Bay Area, Fresno, Sacramento, San Diego, Southern California, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Kern regional governments.
California Sues to Defend Auto Emission Rules
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Governor Brown didn't mince words. The decision to "weaken emission standards in cars is an unconscionable gift to polluters," he wrote. "Once again, you’ve put the interests of big oil ahead of clean air and politics ahead of science."
Report: What California Is Getting From Cap-and-Trade Investments
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This report on cap-and-trade investments should satisfy legislative demands to know where all that money is going and what benefits California is getting from climate investments. It describes the programs being funded, how much those programs are reducing greenhouse gases, and what other benefits the state is getting from its investments.
Draft Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Guidelines Released
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The AHSC connects planning for housing and transportation, and supports building affordable housing that makes it easy for people not to drive. It's a small program with a big mandate, and one of the few sources of state money for affordable housing. Here's a look at new draft guidelines for applicants.