Month: March 2020

How California’s AB 2895 Would Increase Climate Resilience for Some of Its Most Vulnerable Residents

How California’s AB 2895 Would Increase Climate Resilience for Some of Its Most Vulnerable Residents

03/31/20

“How would AB 2895 by California Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva build climate resilience for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents?”

The housing crisis is forcing a wave of Californians out of their homes and into mobile trailers. Things are now getting so bad that mobile park owners are increasing rent and threatening to force people out, leaving them more exposed when disaster strikes. However, AB 2895 by California Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva may have a fix to this. If implemented, AB 2895 would stabilize rent increases on mobile home parks that are at least 15 years old, enabling greater inertia and stability. This would help keep people in homes and less exposed to the elements. This is How California’s AB 2895 Would Increase Climate Resilience for Some of Its Most Vulnerable Residents.

Image credit http://www.wamc.org

Why California’s SB 902 Would Build Climate Resilience

Why California’s SB 902 Would Build Climate Resilience

03/30/20

“Why would California’s SB 902 by State Senator Scott Wiener build climate resilience capacity?”

California’s housing crisis is quickly merging with its climate crisis. To get this under control, more living spaces will need to be built in dense urban areas. California State Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco may have an answer in the form of SB 902. SB 902 is a bill that (if passed) would loosen zoning laws such that multiplexes can be developed in non-wildfire prone areas and make it easier for cities to rezone areas closer to transit to higher density. This would allow for more housing capacity near public transportation and away from the wildland-urban interface, allowing for more people to move into newer housing in less disaster-prone areas. This is Why California’s SB 902 Would Build Climate Resilience.

Why Climate Change May Permanently Alter Fashion Trends

Why Climate Change May Permanently Alter Fashion Trends

03/29/20

“Why may climate change permanently alter fashion trends?”

Seasonal fashion trends often adjust outfits to accommodate for different temperature ranges. This range is going to be pushed warmer with the advent of climate change, and fashion trends will have to adapt. This is Why Climate Change May Permanently Alter Fashion Trends.

Why Wildfires Can Increase Social Vulnerability

Why Wildfires Can Increase Social Vulnerability

03/28/20

“How is it that wildfires can increase social vulnerability?”

Social vulnerability can be a factor of many things, such as employment opportunities, education level, and monetary income. However, disasters can also be a larger factor. In dry and forested areas such as Northern California, wildfires can wreak havoc on communities, adding to this problem. This is Why Wildfires Can Increase Social Vulnerability.

Geoprocessing

Geoprocessing

03/27/20

“How can we computationally process geographic data?”

Geographic data is one of the underpinnings of modern computational technology. From visualizing the effects of climate change to voter forecasting, everything seems to stem from these computational techniques. Well, these stem from an organized framework and set of tools that process geographic and related data known as Geoprocessing. Geoprocessing allows researchers to take in data and manipulate it to create new information, such as making a buffer zone around a river.

Image credit i.ytimg.com

Why California’s AB 3173 Would Increase Housing Resilience

Why California’s AB 3173 Would Increase Housing Resilience

03/26/20

“Why would California’s AB 3173 by California Assemblymember Buffy Wicks increase housing resilience?”

California’s cities have a great need to densify to stave off the worst of the housing and climate crisis. California Assemblymember Buffy Wicks’ bill AB 3173 would allow for the development of microunits (studios that share kitchens) in cities with greater than 400,000 people. This would allow for more density and affordable housing, increasing the safety of populations in the wake of natural disasters. This is Why California’s AB 3173 Would Increase Housing Resilience.

How California’s AB 3107 Would Build Resilience Capacity

How California’s AB 3107 Would Build Resilience Capacity

03/25/20

“How would AB 3107 from California Assemblymember Wicks build resilience capacity?”

As of now, California state law prohibits housing units from being developed in commercial districts. However, this could all change with one bill. AB 3107 by California Assemblymember Buffy Wicks would allow for housing development to take place in commercial districts as long as 20% of the units are relegated to be affordable housing. This would increase the number of lower-income people in housed situations near job centers, severing them from the need for private transportation and therefore increase opportunities in the case of a disaster. This is How California’s AB 3107 Would Build Resilience Capacity.

Urban Planning and Climate Resilience

Urban Planning and Climate Resilience

03/24/20

“How does urban planning interact with climate resilience?”

Planning and designing cities are the beating heart of urban planning. And with the advent of climate change, cities will have to reinvent themselves to withstand the new conditions. This is where Urban Planning and Climate Resilience will interact and is already taking shape in cities all over the world, from sea-level rise in New York to heat islands in New Delhi.

How California’s AB 3146 Will Allow for More Data and Transparency in Housing Production

How California’s AB 3146 Will Allow for More Data and Transparency in Housing Production

03/23/20

“How will AB 3146 by Assemblymember Rob Bonta make housing in California more transparent?”

Many of California’s municipalities are not transparent about their housing data. This can be fixed through state-level mandates. California bill AB 3146 by Assemblymember Rob Bonta promises to provide key data on housing such as whether or not a state incentive has been used, and the number of new housing units that have been issued a completed entitlement, a building permit, or a certificate of occupancy in a town. This is How California’s AB 3146 Will Allow for More Data and Transparency in Housing Production.