Blog

What matters to me today is CEQA and the bee. An alarming number of clients raise concerns about the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (“Department”) now requesting “supplemental CEQA review” for permits under negotiation for months.  While not a new issue, the coincidental timing and Department verbiage signal...

What matters to me today is the benefit of “clarity” rather than “certainty” in the entitlement context. A former NASA manager recently said our efforts to secure “certainty” were misguided, and we should strive instead for “clarity.” Most of my career was securing complex entitlements and...

What matters to me today is disclosure risk. 119 days.  California’s first climate-related disclosures are due in 119 days.  As I’ve noted, if you haven’t started preparing the disclosures, you’re already late. But CARB is signaling a light touch on this initial round of disclosures —...

What matters to me today is service or, more appropriately, being of service. I have the privilege of serving at a nonprofit, faith-based educational institution. At an event on my first day, one gentleman in particular welcomed me. While others sported professional, pre-printed nametags, his donned -- in hand-scrawled...

What matters to me today is reliability – when you flip the switch, is there juice to light the dark? Make no mistake, in the raging energy debate – fossil fuels v. renewables, emissions, datacenters, and tax credits – the great equalizer is and will remain RELIABILITY.  Grid operators...

What matters to me today is local land use from both sides of the podium.  While I’ve been practicing land use law for 30 years, I’ve only recently begun serving as a Planning Commissioner for my city.  With only three meetings under my belt, it can be a very...

What matters to me today are change, A.I., and self-preservation.   I’m flying solo after 30 years.  Impressive enough C.V. -- partner at a distinguished national law firm, Senior Vice President and Counsel with a nationally renowned real estate developer, Master of Laws degree with distinction, and professor, among...

What matters to me today is “recovery.”  Comments on the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s (CDFW) proposed Guidelines for Recovery Planning for protected species are due tomorrow.  In fact, many perplexing personal, domestic, and international dynamics would benefit from consideration through a lens of recovery. CDFW’s proposal is...

What matters to me today is climate policy’s impact on businesses’ bottom lines.  The feds have no climate laws; California does.  So where does that leave you? Let me clarify as to “the feds have no climate laws.”  Congress never passed legislation aimed at climate.  Instead, EPA and others...

What matters to me today are looming deadlines for California’s climate disclosure mandates (SB 253 and SB 261) and grave uncertainty as to what must be disclosed, by whom, and exactly when. California led the world in 2023 enacting two unprecedented laws requiring comprehensive climate emissions (SB 253) and...

What matters to me today is all about VMT or “vehicle miles traveled.”   Buried in the reams of the Governor’s AB 130 is a new statewide VMT mitigation fee “option” administered by HCD.  The consequence of any “option” depends on who may exercise that option, or not.

What matters to me today is CEQA Reform (at long last!) and whether it will help YOU! Late Sunday night, California leadership delivered, for some, on long-promised reform to the state’s environmental juggernaut – CEQA.  But will it help you?  AB 130 provides a full CEQA exemption for “urban...