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The League of California Cities delivers for cities year after year. We defend local control through advocacy efforts in the Legislature, at the ballot box, in the courts, and through strategic storytelling that informs and educates the public, policymakers, and opinion leaders. Cal Cities also offers education and training programs designed to teach city officials about new developments in their field and exchange solutions to common challenges facing their cities.

 

Cal Cities Delivered April-June 2024


Cal Cities Delivers

Here are some ways that Cal Cities delivered April-June 2024.

 

8 legal wins

For cities related to the Taxpayer Deception Act, SB 9, & more

11 action alerts

On funding for homelessness, retail theft, the Brown Act, & more

19  events

Roundtable Discussions & Webinars with 1,600+ attendees

14  meetings

Regional Division events with speakers including the CA Attorney General

Cal Cities Delivers news

 

Cal Cities-sponsored bill puts local officials in the driver’s seat

Jan 24, 2024, 15:42 PM by Brian Hendershot
A bill backed by Cal Cities, labor advocates, and local government groups would allow cities and counties to pass rules for driverless vehicles — just like they can for taxicabs.

SB 915 would allow local governments to regulate driverless vehicles like taxis  


A bill backed by Cal Cities, labor advocates, and local government groups would allow cities and counties to pass rules for driverless vehicles — just like they can for taxicabs. Local officials in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and elsewhere have expressed opposition to the state’s haphazard approval of “self-driving" robotaxis. 

Over the last year, driverless vehicles have delayed or blocked emergency vehicles, interfered with active firefighting and crime scenes, and halted traffic. In one high-profile incident, a pedestrian was run over and dragged by a Cruise robotaxi after she was hit by another car. The state suspended Cruise’s permit only after it became clear it had misled regulators about the severity of the event.  

SB 915 (Cortese) would allow local governments to consider adequate safeguards that promote community safety, such as reasonable vehicle caps, data transparency rules, and interactions with emergency responders, as well as regulate maximum fare rates, ensure ADA accessibility, and perform annual inspections for health and safety. The measure is modeled after the existing statute that allows local governments to pass ordinances regulating taxicabs. 

The robotaxi rollout process is currently dictated entirely by state agencies — without any input from impacted community members and regardless of local taxi rules. Local officials cannot even determine their impact on local traffic conditions. In San Francisco, driverless vehicles interfered with emergency responders over 70 times in 2023.  

There’s currently little that law enforcement and first responders can do when driverless cars block or interfere with emergency vehicles. Lawmakers are considering additional bills focused on enforcement actions. 

SB 915 faces a steep, but climbable path forward. Last year, the Legislature voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill that would limit self-driving trucks — despite threats and intense lobbying from major technology companies. The measure was ultimately vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who argued that the state was already doing enough. 

For more information, email Damon Conklin. 

 

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