All articles tagged with #local politics
San Francisco's Board of Supervisors advanced plans to permit Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes, allowing lounges to sell cannabis-infused food and nonalcoholic drinks with live entertainment, aligning with AB 1775; supporters say it could boost business and tourism, while critics raise concerns about indoor air quality and public health, with a final vote expected next Tuesday.
Bay Area transit agencies warn they could face drastic service cuts without a November sales-tax measure (up to 1%) to fund BART, Muni, Caltrain, AC Transit and the Bay Ferry. Supporters say the measure is needed for stable funding and to accommodate large events, while the campaign highlights transit’s role in the region’s economy and daily mobility. The piece appears in a live‑updates format and sits alongside other World Cup–related political and local-interest items.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Council reached a late‑hour $125.8 billion budget deal that waters down a promised expansion of rental assistance (CityFHEPS) in favor of a smaller, capped voucher program with narrowed eligibility, far short of the 2023 legislation. The agreement also reverses a planned NYPD headcount increase, expands the Fair Fares transit discount, and funds libraries, all amid looming out‑year deficits that complicate delivering on major promises.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson used a pointed newsletter to defend a $600 million Moda Center renovation while labeling a data-analyst critic as an opportunist, as critics push for more transparency and a stronger funding plan; the city weighs about $120 million in public costs against ownership contributions, with terms due by mid-August and a long-term lease by year’s end.
Voters in New York head to the polls for Primary Day 2026, with high-profile races at the State Senate and Assembly and the 25th congressional district. The article highlights what races are on the ballot and directs readers to check their local election authorities for voting details and deadlines.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has begun fundraising for a 2029 reelection, a rarity for a first-term mayor, sending supporters a text urging donations to counter well-funded opponents. A new opposition group, NYC Common Sense, has formed and raised about $1 million to push back on his agenda, signaling a potential centrist challenge even though no major candidates have filed yet. Political strategists say the early fundraising is a smart defensive move, though it’s unusual; past mayors like Eric Adams also started fund-raising soon after taking office, with Adams’ 2025 bid ending amid a federal corruption indictment."
Portland is negotiating a long-term funding package for the Moda Center as the Blazers’ new owners seek major renovations. The package includes state bonds of about $365 million, roughly $88 million from Multnomah County plus other sources, and substantial city contributions over the next 20 years, with debates over how to cover remaining costs. A term sheet is due by Aug. 12 and a final lease vote by Dec. 17, with public hearings and possible voter input on a tax-backed referendum. If a deal is reached on time, construction could begin next summer and target completion in time for the 2030 NCAA Women’s Final Four; if not, the state bond plan could be reintroduced in January.
Nithya Raman entered LA’s mayoral race with just 115 days to go and surged into a runoff against Karen Bass as Spencer Pratt faded in the counting, thanks to a broad ground campaign, a strong fundraising push that unlocked the maximum $1.25 million in matching funds, and a strategy that framed Pratt as extreme while presenting Raman as the practical, well-run choice; a left-wing challenger faltered, leaving Raman to face Bass in November.
Nithya Raman surged past Spencer Pratt in the Los Angeles mayoral primary, pulling to within roughly 3,100 votes as Raman stood at 27.1% to Pratt’s 26.7% in the latest tally, while Mayor Karen Bass held 34.7% and is headed to a runoff. About 368,000 ballots remain to be processed, with mail-in votes postmarked by June 2 still being counted. A head-to-head poll had Raman leading Bass 32% to 28% if they face off in November, suggesting Raman could be a strong challenger in a Bass-Raman runoff.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava rejected a $400 million plan to buy the privately owned fuel yard that serves PortMiami, saying the price was too high even though the deal could pay for itself over 20 years from fuel sales and port fees. The Fisher Island land is slated for luxury condos by Related Group and Russell Galbut, prompting the county to pursue eminent domain or a nearby replacement site to safeguard port operations amid criticism and the firing of two deputies who negotiated the deal.
Residents of Monterey Park, California voted to permanently ban data centers via a ballot measure, winning by a landslide as early results showed about 86% in favor; the measure, building on an earlier moratorium, is designed to protect air quality, water resources, and public health, and will stay in place until voters decide otherwise.
Live SF election coverage shows SF congressional candidates Chan and Chakrabarti contending for the No. 2 slot, Stephen Sherrill declaring victory in District 2, and Alan Wong holding Sunset’s seat; turnout sits at about 23.4%. Analysts describe a landslide in favor of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s allies, signaling a political shift in the city. Results come from the Department of Elections and Secretary of State, with more results expected on June 4 at 4 p.m.
Incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass leads the 2026 mayoral primary with 36.6% of votes; Spencer Pratt is second at 29.5% and Nithya Raman third at 20.8%. About 48.4% of expected votes have been counted, with roughly 406,000 remaining. Under the top-two rule, Bass is advancing to the general election, likely facing Pratt, while Raman trails.
Box Elder County Attorney Stephen Hadfield ruled that two land-use resolutions approving a hyperscale data center are administrative actions, not new laws, and therefore not legally referable to voters. BEAR says it will appeal to state courts, while opponents push for local input amid ongoing debate over the project backed by Kevin O’Leary.
A Honolulu Police Commission candidate, San Francisco’s David Lazar, says HPD will not cooperate with ICE, a stance tied to San Francisco’s past sanctuary-city debates and the Kate Steinle case. The column connects Lazar’s position to a broader national immigration-policy divide and notes the commission’s upcoming decision among Lazar, Mike Lambert, and Scott Ebner.