Public access to the beach is so deeply tied to who we are as Californians that it’s hard to imagine a time when it wasn’t guaranteed. Newly appointed Coastal Commissioner Ray Jackson (also the SBCCOG's 2nd Vice Chair and a Hermosa Council member), explores what he has learned about the work it takes to defend these protections "every single day."
In October, the SBCCOG hosted an energy efficiency technology showcase at its office in Torrance to advance those connections. It offered an opportunity for SoCalREN-approved businesses to present services and energy technology options to cities and agencies. Representatives from eight cities and one special district across the South Bay attended. Eight businesses, ranging from building resource companies to energy contractors, showcased their offerings.
Measure R, passed by voters in 2008, is a half-cent sales tax used to finance new transportation projects and programs, and accelerate those already in the pipeline. The SBCCOG manages nearly $831 million in Measure R funds through the South Bay Highway Program. The SBCCOG also prioritizes and manages the spending and disbursement of Measure M funds to member jurisdictions for local projects, many of which are smaller in cost and scale and take less time to implement than Measure R projects, which can take decades to plan and complete. Learn about the impact these measures have had on South Bay transportation.
A Hero's Welcome - Newly formed organization partners with the SBCCOG in its mission to help the South Bay's unhoused through a care-first, person-centered approach.
The City of Rolling Hills recently collaborated with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) to host a workshop where residents experienced hands-on training from a Certified Master Composter. The residents learned about composting basics and its environmental benefits, as well as locally specific topics, such as whether composting horse manure or tainted hay is possible. Eager participants filled City Hall chambers for the event.
Artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes make it harder than ever to tell what’s real. What does it mean to lead with trust in a world where authenticity can be faked? In our South Bay Watch Perspective piece, Maricopa, Arizona's Deputy City Manager and Public Safety Officer Micah Gaudet explores what it means to be an authentic leader in the age of AI.
In June, the new LAX/Metro Transit Center (MTC) opened to connect Metro’s C and K lines directly to LAX via a free airport shuttle, creating a faster and more convenient way to get to and from the airport when arriving by transit. The 500,000-square-foot LAX/MTC is Metro’s first Measure M project to open since voters approved the initiative in 2016. In late July, the SBCCOG’s staff, board members and partners took a field trip to see the $898.6 million project and experience the rail route to the LAX/MTC from a commuter’s point of view.
To better meet the needs of its member cities and partner agencies, the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) has relocated to a new office near Old Torrance. The SBCCOG kicks off an ambitious work program that includes identifying sites for South Bay mobility hubs and resiliency centers; expanding the Functional Zero Street Homelessness program; and finding six-figure energy savings for businesses and residents.
West Basin Municipal Water Rain Barrel Giveaway Program is back. This is your chance to practice water conservation, improve water efficiency and prepare to take advantage of the upcoming rainy season. SBCCOG partner West Basin will host six giveaway events throughout the district’s service area.
Over the last four years, the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) has helped families of South Bay elementary school students in historically underserved communities save an estimated 70,000 total kilowatt hours of energy in their homes. This school year 56 additional classrooms will benefit from Southern California Regional Energy Networks’ (SoCalREN) Kits for Kids program due to increased demand--a 300% expansion.
