Good morning and welcome to Essential California Newsletter. this is Tuesday, February 1st.

This morning I decided to walk in for coffee and a light breakfast before work. I usually make this trip of less than half a mile to him once or twice a week, but most of the time in the car.

This is fairly common for US mobility standards. According to the study, in 2021, more than half of his daily vehicle trips (including car, rail, transit and air travel) in the United States will be less than 3 miles. Transport Statistics BureauAn estimated 28% of car trips were less than 1 mile.

We know that by driving less, we can reduce toxic vehicle emissions and our impact on air pollution and the climate crisis.it’s easier said than done in the state we are in Over the past few years, the number of people driving cars has increased. (Aside from the early pandemic chaos).

There is one alternative that more Americans are eyeing. It’s an electric bicycle.

E-bike sales soar in the past few years. For many, they are a greener alternative to driving, offering equal travel time and less hassle (like finding parking).

And while the cost of buying and maintaining an e-bike is much lower than the cost of owning a car, not everyone can afford it. A basic e-bike usually sells between $1,000 and he $2,000. It’s even higher if you’re looking to carry a child or other valuable cargo without breaking a sweat.

In response to growing interest in e-bikes, the California Air Resources Board (carbohydrates) is preparing to launch an e-bike incentive program.

Lisa Macumber, who leads CARB’s Equitable Mobility Incentives branch, said: “This is real progress towards our air quality and climate change goals. [and] Find ways to keep the roads free of cars by finding ways to help individuals get to and from grocery stores and local places.

CARB’s current offer is to offer a POS incentive (different from a rebate) for $1,000 off a standard e-bike and an additional $750 off a larger cargo, adaptive, or recumbent bike.

Equity-based programs are limited to state residents with a household income of 300% or less of the federal poverty line. For a family of four, that works out to about $83,000.

There are some additional eligibility requirements and priority criteria, and applications are “accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.” Recent presentations from CARB.

The state has allocated $13 million as a one-time expenditure for this program. Further funding to continue or expand the program is up to the state’s budget, he said, Macumber.

CARB has hosted seven working groups to date to explain the plan to Californians and hear their thoughts. For Aria Berliner, the agency’s air pollution expert, the level of public participation was outstanding.

“I have been with CARB for almost four years and have never seen one. [as] As I saw on this show, a lot of comments from the public and residents of California.

Attendees expressed interest in the increased mobility that e-bikes can provide, especially for those who don’t own a car, Macumber said.

“Consumers who normally rely on things like public transportation or car-sharing programs also have an opportunity,” she says. “This will give them another level of independence.”

The project was originally scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2023, but CARB officials told me this week that it has been pushed back to the second quarter.

One of the challenges facing CARB, along with future recipients, is security.When Traffic violations that have been increasing rapidly in recent yearsespecially among non-motorists, sharing the road with motorists can be daunting.

Many of the low-income communities that benefit from this program are also the most dangerous for people to walk or bike. This is coupled with cities not investing much in safety infrastructure (such as protected bike lanes), and while many residents rely on walking or transport, Construction of major highways through those communities.

For example, Los Angeles has ambitious plans to build its scattered bike lanes into a well-connected network. Seven years into his 20-year plan, city leaders admitted that only about 3% of the road miles identified as needing improvement had been upgraded. Safety Advocates Take Actionto gather enough petition signatures to add local measures to next year’s ballot to add bike lanes and other safety improvements outlined in the plan when the city resurfaces roads. legally enforce.

CARB has not decided how much, or how equitably, California cities will invest in safety improvements to keep cyclists safe, but Macumber said each He said he cannot wait for the city to be strengthened.

“We really need to get the dollars out there,” she said.

and now, Here’s what’s happening across California.

Note: Some of the sites we link to limit the number of articles you can access without subscribing.

politics and government

State and county officials say thieves are exfiltrating cash and food benefits from electronic benefit cards for thousands of low-income households. Replacing stolen funds with CalFresh and CalWORKs recipients costs states tens of millions of dollars each year. One problem: EBT cards lack the security features common to most credit and debit cards. Karmataz

Advertising is nothing new to LA County’s local transit agency, The company’s latest effort to install dozens of large digital billboards across the streets of LA has drawn criticism. LA Metro officials said the ad revenue will be used to fund bus, rail and other transportation programs. Critics say the signs distract drivers and create more obstacles. los angeles times

public safety, courts, police

California has issued new voluntary safety guidelines for those who employ domestic workers — Janitors, nannies, home care assistants, day labourers, etc. Advocates say this is an important first step toward protecting the millions of workers who do not have legal authorization to work from home. KQED

A memorial service was held Monday night at a Sacramento skate park in memory of Tyre Nichols.29 year old black man violently beaten by five police officers He died of his injuries in Memphis, Tennessee last month. Nichols grew up in Sacramento and was an avid skateboarder. “This was his favorite place to skate,” Nichols’ sister, Keyana Dixon, told a crowd of more than 100. Sacramento Bee

Alec Baldwin and movie set armorer officially Charged with involuntary manslaughter After the cinematographer’s death in 2021 Halina Hutchins, He was shot dead on the set of a western movie. As Pat Morrison writes, This is the latest in a long history of gun-related injuries and deaths in filmmaking. los angeles times

health and environment

California stands alone in ongoing negotiations on how western states will cut their water bills. The Colorado River is shrinking. Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming submitted joint plans to federal officials, but did not include the Golden State, which uses the largest share of the river. los angeles times

After being battered by swells from winter storms, Santa Cruz’s beloved boardwalk isn’t doing well. City leaders are now debating how, or whether, the damaged cliff path should be repaired in the face of continued erosion. San Francisco Chronicle

Which LA County residents are most likely to die from COVID-19? Those who have not been vaccinated, according to the county’s public health officials.Analysis of most data Coronavirus surge after Thanksgiving Indicated Unvaccinated Angelenos were more than seven times more likely to die of COVID-19 than those who received renewed bivalent boosters. los angeles times

california culture

20 years after his death, stars line up for Warren ZevonThe singer-songwriter has many famous fans, many of whom are currently lobbying for him to be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Among them is Billy Joel, who Zevon said “embodies the soul of Los Angeles, if there is one.” los angeles times

And finally

Today’s love of landmarks came from Mario Ovejas of Torrance: famous hollywood signor more specifically, the view from Mount Li behind it.

A view from behind the Hollywood sign on Mount Lee taken on May 4, 2022.

(Courtesy Mario Ovejas)

Mario wrote:

What are some important landmarks in California? Fill out this form to send us a photo of your special spot in California — natural or man-made. Why is it interesting and why has it become a symbol of life in the Golden State? Please only include photos that have been taken directly by you. Your post may be featured in future editions of our newsletter.

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