August 5, 2020
Take Action
 
Now is the time to get engaged! This week is a critical week for negotiations around the next COVID-19 relief package. The current U.S. Senate proposal does not include aid to local governments this is unacceptable and it is time to fight to secure $500 billion in direct and flexible federal assistance to local governments. Please send a letter and call your congress member. Take action today! (Sample letter .docx)
 
Cities are encouraged to oppose SB 1383, which requires any employer, public or private, with five or more employees to provide 12 weeks of protected leave each year and threatens them with litigation for any unintentional mistake. SB 1383 is not limited in scope to only address COVID-19 and will place a significant burden on employers at a time when they can least afford it. Cities can help by calling and writing their Assembly Member and Senator. Take action today! (Sample letter .docx)
League News

The Senate and Assembly are holding a multitude of committee hearings in the coming days to consider a number of legislative bills before the end of the legislative session on Aug. 31. The League is actively engaging on many of these bills, as they have a significant impact to cities. Read more

For the past 26 years, the City of Madera has enjoyed multiple cultural exchanges and explored business, trade, and educational opportunities with its sister city Yilan in Taiwan. But a recent donation of much-needed personal protective equipment demonstrated the strength of the cities’ bond. Read more

Last week, the California Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion upholding provisions of the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act that were intended to curb pension-spiking. While the League reacted positively to the decision, it is important to understand the context for the Court’s ruling, and reasoning in the case. Read more
 
On July 31, the League sent a letter to the California Congressional delegation seeking support for $500 billion in direct and flexible funding to local governments. As noted last week, U.S. Senate Republicans released an initial proposal for the next round of federal coronavirus relief, which included zero funding for cities. The League has issued an action alert, and is asking all League and Support Local Recovery Coalition members to contact their federal legislators and urge them to fight for direct and flexible funding for cities. Read more
Education and Conferences
 
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 10-11 a.m. Preventing the spread of the coronavirus will affect how emergency shelters are managed for both citizens and animals. Discover how to work with Red Cross officials and establish requirements for running and identifying additional shelters in the event of a wildfire. Presenters: Malibu Public Safety Manager Susan Duenas, American Red Cross Los Angeles Region Disaster Program Manager Alyssa Christenson, and Central CA Animal Disaster Team CEO Naomi E. Tobias. Register now
Opportunities for Cities

The California Department of Housing and Community Development announced the availability of approximately $18.7 million in new federal funds for the Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response Round 1 funding for local assistance. Funding for this Notice of Funding Availability is made available pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act signed into law March 27, 2020. The deadline to submit an application is August 31 at 5:00 p.m. Read more
More News and Events
 
Sen. Lena A. Gonzalez hosted a meeting Aug. 5 with representatives from nine cities, Los Angeles County Supervisor’s office, public health departments, social services, Office of Immigrant Affairs, Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, and education agencies and organizations, to explore how to better serve the hardest hit communities during the pandemic. Read more

Monday, Aug. 17, 1-2:30 p.m. – Natural disasters continue to pose a threat to our communities despite COVID-19. Learn about tools for assessing, mitigating, and preparing for the disruption of a major disaster, and specific solutions related to building resilience around energy infrastructure in this free Institute for Local Government webinar. Presenters: World-renowned Natural Disaster Expert Dr. Lucy Jones and Malibu City Manager Reva Feldman. Register now  

Read the newest issue of Western City magazine! It covers important topics to cities such as developing creative ways to reopen businesses safely, what cities have learned from COVID-19, how older insurance policies are becoming relevant again, and how cities can save money on their supplemental defined benefits plan. Read more
League in the News
Census Count Will End Earlier Than Expected, August 4, KCBS Radio (also appeared in WWL Radio)
"Census data and getting an accurate count informs so many of the different ways the federal funding comes back into our communities, and these are programs that are bread and butter for our communities," said Carolyn Coleman, executive director of the League of California Cities. "For every person, every person left uncounted in California, we could lose $1,000 in federal funding every day each year for the next 10 years."

A League of California Cities report earlier this year predicted that without assistance from the federal government, nine out of 10 California cities would have to lay off or furlough employees, decreases services, or both. Cities may ultimately see a nearly $7 billion general revenue shortfall over the next two fiscal years, according to the analysis.

League Executive Director Carolyn Coleman made the following statement about today’s opinion: “The League is pleased by the California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold sections of PEPRA that were designed to close loopholes and prevent abuse of the pension system. The Court clearly agreed with the League’s position in the case, which was that this type of abuse must be stopped in order to ensure a long-term, sustainable system that all public employees can depend on…”

According to the League of California Cities, California’s 482 cities will collectively lose an estimated $6.7 billion in revenue over the next two years because of the coronavirus pandemic.

California court: public employees can't 'spike' pensions, July 30, The Associated Press (also appeared in CBS Sacramento, KCRA.com, The Fresno Bee, CBS San Francisco, Santa Maria Times, KTLA 5, US News & World and 112 more)
“I think this is a big win for Jerry Brown and a big win for governments’ ability to manage pension liabilities reasonably,” said attorney Michael Colantuono, who filed a friend of the court brief in the case on behalf of the League of California Cities. "Government can change the rules, provided that it acts reasonably and for an important public purpose.”
July 8-Aug. 26

Aug. 19 SAVE THE DATE
Coastal Cities Group Sea Level Rise Discussion
Oct. 7-9 SAVE THE DATE