AMTV/SACRAMENTO – Today the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced the cities of Citrus Heights, Fontana, Oakland, Roseville, San Diego, and West Sacramento have earned the state’s Prohousing Designation. These cities join the city of Sacramento in being recognized for committing to policies and practices that will help them remove barriers to housing production. HCD also announced the launch of the new Prohousing Incentive Pilot (PIP) Program to reward Prohousing cities working to address California’s housing crisis.
“These communities have stepped up to implement policies that aggressively eliminate bureaucratic obstacles and drive the growth of housing throughout the state,” said Governor Newsom. “This is one of many innovative approaches the state is taking to create greater accountability and reward municipalities willing to do their part to help collectively tackle the need for more housing. This is the right approach and I look forward to seeing more communities join in this effort.”
Governor Gavin Newsom’s fiscal year 2019-2020 budget established the Prohousing Designation Program as part of a spectrum of support, incentives, and accountability measures to help meet California’s housing goals. Increasing the availability of housing statewide is critical to bettering the quality of life of all Californians and to ending homelessness. The Prohousing designation provides incentives to cities and counties in the form of additional points and/or other preference in the scoring of competitive housing, community development, and infrastructure funding programs administered by HCD.
Cities with a Prohousing Designation are now also eligible for community development resources through the new PIP Program. The competitive program offers $25.7 million in additional funding to Prohousing cities to help accelerate housing production and preservation.
“Creating a healthy housing market that offers stability and opportunity is possible with engagement across all levels of government,” said Housing Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez with Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. “California is proud to partner with San Diego, Oakland, Citrus Heights, Fontana, Roseville, West Sacramento and Sacramento to create the right mix of housing near jobs and transit, health care, and key amenities. Incentivizing housing and making it a priority will lead to reduction in poverty, income inequality, and enable teachers, mechanics, home health aides, grocers, nurses, and food prep workers to find a place to live within a reasonable commuting distance and improve their quality of life.”
Cities and counties that receive the designation must demonstrate they are promoting climate-smart housing in a variety of ways, including but not limited to: streamlining multifamily housing development, up-zoning in places near jobs and transit to reduce emissions, and creating more affordable homes in places that historically or currently exclude households earning lower incomes and households of color.
“Prohousing cities demonstrate they are ready and willing to be part of the statewide housing solution to getting at least 2.5 million new homes by 2030, by eliminating many of the barriers to building affordable housing near daily destinations,” HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez said. “As promised, the state is ready and willing to award grants to Prohousing cities with the new Prohousing Incentive Pilot Program, to help get smart planning over the finish line.”
The Prohousing Designation is awarded when a jurisdiction submits an application with local policies that reduce barriers to housing production. Jurisdictions must receive a minimum score of 30 on the application. Highlights of the actions taken by these cities to attain the Prohousing Designation include but are not limited to the following:
· Citrus Heights: Pre-approved/pre-permitted Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program; promoting active modes of transportation in high traffic corridors; objective design standards and program-level Environmental Impact Report for redevelopment of the 100-acre Sunrise Mall with capacity for more than 1,000 new housing units.
· Fontana: Published project map showing all proposed and approved entitlements from the last three years with in-depth detail; provided specific plans with environmental documents that allow for streamlined California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review; significantly reduced impact fees for infill development.
· Oakland: Neighborhood-level specific plans to streamline environmental review; a “one-stop shop” permitting approach to streamline across various city departments; investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure; pre-approved ADU program.
· Roseville: Streamlined cross-departmental project approval/cost meetings; successful permanent supportive housing partnership between city and county; Housing Rehabilitation Program that provides 0% interest loans of up to $100,000 to low-income households for repairs needed for health and safety.
· San Diego: Updated community plans to provide zoned capacity in the city for more than 98,000 additional housing units, created Affordable ADU Bonus Program; waives density limitations and allows for a floor area ratio-based density bonus for development that provides affordable housing and infrastructure amenities. The City of San Diego has sufficient sites to accommodate 161% of their current 6th Cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) total.
· West Sacramento: Incentives such as impact fee reductions, standards that allow for greater development intensity, and reduction of constraints such as parking.
The PIP Program is the first of many benefits designed to encourage local policy changes necessary to developing housing for all Californians. Applications for the PIP Program are due by March 15, 2023. Jurisdictions that have not received a designation but are interested in becoming Prohousing and applying for PIP can submit both applications.
What the Mayors are saying:
“Fontana is focused on creating a future that is more equitable, sustainable, and more resilient than ever. Real solutions require a higher level of collaboration and support than ever. This designation represents another critical tool in our arsenal to tackle the far-reaching issue of affordable housing,” said Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren.
“For more than two decades, Roseville has effectively set the stage for the development of a wide range of housing choices. Workforce housing provides more opportunities for people who work in the community to live in the community. There’s real value in that,” said Roseville Mayor Krista Bernasconi.
“I’m proud to see Sacramento recognized for being a state leader when it comes to eliminating the barriers to building the affordable, transit-friendly housing we so desperately need in our city and all over the state,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg after receiving the designation in February. “This designation signals to the development community that we stand ready to work with you and find creative ways to house more people.”
“West Sacramento is proud to be recognized by HCD as a Prohousing City,” said City of West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero. “We will continue to push the envelope with forward-thinking policies to help bring affordable, transit-served housing options to those in our community who most desperately need it.”
“Housing is the solution to homelessness, a key strategy for climate action and a path to economic opportunity for all – and we’re doing everything we can at the City of San Diego to build more homes at prices our residents can afford. I want to thank the State of California for validating the hard work we’ve done in San Diego to be a state leader in expanding housing opportunities near transit and high opportunity areas like job centers and college campuses. By passing prohousing policies at the local level and leveraging new tools and funding provided by the Governor and the Legislature, we will continue to build more homes, so everyone has a stable place to live.” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.
“As a redevelopment and infill opportunity city, Citrus Heights works diligently to clear obstacles and find creative solutions so we can continue growing,” said Citrus Heights Mayor Tim Schaefer. “We have recently approved new single-family home neighborhoods, permanent supportive housing, and affordable senior projects that will collectively result in over 400 new homes between 2021 and 2023. Our recently approved Specific Plan to redevelop the 100-acre Sunrise Mall includes entitlements for up to 2,200 multifamily residential units. The City of Citrus Heights is excited to be recognized as a Prohousing community by HCD and continue our commitment to proactively stewarding our future with policies that build community.”
By Wen Liu | AMTV, 12/15/2022
6月10日纽约讯，据美国哥伦比亚广播公司（CBS）报道，在美国经济形势的严峻情况下，许多教师被迫从事第二份工作。 报道称，一位现年54岁，从小就立志成为一名教师，来自新泽西州普莱恩菲尔德的克里斯汀·里格尔（Christine Regal）说：“我就是喜欢和孩子们在一起，我爱这些孩子。我教书已经26年了，至今仍与许多学生保持着联系。” 据报道，在巴洛小学（Barlow Elementary School）任教二年级的里格尔称，为了维持生计，她这份对教育事业的热爱，需要她从事多份兼职工作来补贴家用。里格尔在学校负责监管学生的早餐和午餐时段，放学后还要为学生提供辅导，同时还在“芝士蛋糕工厂”（Cheesecake Factory）餐厅兼职工作。 里格尔在谈及经济困境时说：“我感觉各方面的开销都在重创我的钱包，就在上周末，给车加油就花了我70美元。昨晚我去买菜，只买了两袋东西就花了160美元。这些就是让我感到吃力的地方。” 里格尔表示，暑假期间她将继续做服务员以赚取额外收入。此外，她还得为教学用品预留预算；为了补充班级所需的物资，她每年通常会自掏腰包花费高达1500美元。 目前单身的里格尔表示：“幸运的是，我有一位搭档老师，我们分担所有工作；但我知道她也感受到了压力，我们已经沟通过了——我们可能得放慢节奏，尤其是考虑到她的情况，因为她刚生了宝宝。” 里格尔在谈到她“大概”会在60岁时退休时说：“我会继续努力工作、不断存钱，然后祈祷等我到了60岁时，情况会有很大的改观。” 据报道，沃尔顿家族基金会（Walton Family Foundation）与盖洛普（Gallup）于3月联合发布的年度《面向未来的教学》（Teaching for…
6月11日巴哈马拿骚讯，巴哈马当局表示，已逮捕5名来自美国的游轮乘客，他们被指控在该加勒比群岛袭击警务人员并拒捕。 巴哈马警方6月9日发表声明称，这3名女性和2名男性美国游轮乘客在巴哈马首都拿骚（Nassau）的港口卷入了一场涉及多名游轮乘客的打斗事件。该事件发生在6月8日晚间。 巴哈马警方官员们表示，当警员准备搜查这5名被捕嫌疑人时，在警察局内发生了“激烈的肢体冲突”。据警方声明，其中一名女子被指控投掷椅子砸碎了玻璃门；随后，一名男子被指控踢破剩余的玻璃并试图逃跑。 巴哈马当局表示，有4名警员受伤，其中1人左肩重伤，已被送往医院。 巴哈马“目击者新闻”（Eyewitness News Bahamas）播出的一段视频显示，当警员上前实施逮捕时，一名男子正从破损的门洞中爬出。巴哈马“我们的新闻”（Our News Bahamas）获得的另一段视频则显示有人被推倒在地。 巴哈马当局指控这5名嫌疑人袭击警务人员、在公共场所斗殴、拒捕、蓄意破坏以及在警局内行为不检。这5名美国游客目前仍被拘留，当地警方表示调查工作正在进行中。
6月11日华盛顿讯，美国五角大楼今天在因“空气质量问题”而发布“就地避险”指令数小时后，恢复了“正常运作”。今天上午，危险品处置小组和弗吉尼亚州应急响应团队已部署至五角大楼。 五角大楼首席发言人肖恩·帕内尔（Sean Parnell）在一份声明中表示：“今天早些时候，五角大楼内的人员获悉可能存在空气质量问题，随即采取了预防性安全措施并进行了评估。随后的检测证实不存在安全隐患，目前已恢复正常运作。” 帕内尔说道：“我们衷心感谢应急响应人员迅速采取行动，确保了所有人员的安全。” 帕内尔在初步声明中表示：“国防部正在执行标准防护规程，包括针对受影响区域发布‘就地避险’指令。应急响应团队已到位，随时准备为大楼内人员提供协助。” 五角大楼员工收到一条紧急通知，称“后续检测可能需要一到两个小时。应急响应团队已到位，随时准备在必要时为大楼内人员提供协助。” 在初步应对行动期间，五角大楼所在地美国弗吉尼亚州东北部的阿灵顿县消防局（ACFD）今天在社交媒体平台X上发文称，包括其危险品处置小组在内的应急力量正在五角大楼开展行动，协助五角大楼部队保护局（PFPA）的危险品处置小组处理一起涉及危险物质的事件。
6月11日华盛顿讯，美国劳工部（DOL）今天公布的数据显示，衡量通胀传导至消费者之前阶段的生产者价格指数（PPI）在5月份同比飙升6.5%。从环比来看，美国生产者价格指数较4月份上涨1.1%，涨幅超过了金融数据公司FactSet调查的经济学家此前预测的0.6%。 受伊朗战争引发的能源价格上涨影响，美国企业面临的通胀压力在5月份激增，达到自2022年11月以来的最高水平。 在美国劳工部发布高于预期的通胀数据的前一天，所公布的消费者价格指数（CPI）显示，美国5月份通胀年率飙升至4.2%，创下三年多来的最高水平。尽管生产者价格指数并不直接反映消费者价格的变化，但如果美国企业将成本转嫁给客户，它可能会推高整体通胀水平。 5月份的数据凸显了今年美国通胀前景的剧烈变化，其中汽油价格持续高位运行。通胀卷土重来也可能促使美联储按兵不动，一些华尔街经济学家推测，决策者加息的可能性要大于降息。 市场普遍预计，在美联储定于6月16日至17日举行的下次会议上将维持利率不变，同时密切关注最新的通胀数据。 生产者价格指数数据显示，从今年4月到5月，美国批发汽油价格飙升了超过23%，与去年同期相比涨幅近70%。虽然6月份汽油价格略有回落，但最新的生产者价格指数报告并未反映这一变化，因为该报告统计的是上个月的数据。 在剔除波动较大的食品和能源价格后，所谓的“核心批发价格”在5月份环比上涨0.4%，同比上涨4.9%。批发价格数据可以预示消费者通胀的未来走势。经济学家之所以关注这一指标，还因为其中的部分构成要素，特别是医疗保健和金融服务，会传导至美联储首选的通胀衡量指标，即个人消费支出（PCE）指数。 分析师认为，综合5月份的消费者价格指数（CPI）和生产者价格指数数据来看，个人消费支出指数实时追踪模型显示，美国5月份整体价格将上涨0.5%，核心价格将上涨0.3%。这将推动整体个人消费支出指数升至4.2%，创下自2023年4月以来的最高水平。”
6月11日伦敦讯，德国时尚公司雨果博斯 （Hugo Boss ）今天股价飙升约 8%，此前其最大股东英国零售商弗雷泽斯集团（Frasers Group ）宣布了对该公司的收购要约，总价值达 20 亿欧元。 持有雨果博斯公司26% 股份的英国弗雷泽斯集团6月10日晚间表示，将以每股 38 欧元的现金价格收购雨果博斯公司其余股份，总交易对价为 19.78 亿欧元（约合…
6月10日华盛顿讯，美国总统特朗普今天签署了由共和党参议员乔什·霍利（Josh Hawley）提出的《保障美国法案》(Secure America Act)，该法案将为增聘200名儿童剥削案件调查员提供资金。这是迄今为止规模最大的此类打击行动。这项涉及1.085亿美元资金的条款，属于总额700亿美元的预算和解法案的一部分；该法案代表了联邦政府在打击儿童贩运方面最大规模的投入。 此前，美国国土安全部（DHS）在全国范围内仅有7名专门负责此类案件的法医分析员，此次举措标志着联邦资源的大幅扩充。 霍利在一份声明中表示：“我与蒂姆·蒂博（Tim Tebow）联手推动的、旨在从网络儿童剥削中解救数千名儿童的法案，刚刚由特朗普总统签署成为法律。我要感谢总统在这一至关重要的问题上发挥领导作用。这是联邦政府有史以来针对儿童贩运采取的最大规模行动。时间紧迫，让我们携手解救这些孩子。” 这项措施包含在总额700亿美元的预算协调法案中，该法案于6月8日已在美国众议院获得通过，其中包括向美国移民与海关执法局（ICE）拨款380亿美元、向边境巡逻队拨款260亿美元，并将投入1.085亿美元用于打击儿童贩运和剥削的执法工作。 霍利参议员办公室表示，这将是联邦政府为打击儿童贩运而进行的最大规模投资。 据霍利参议员办公室透露，这项条款的推动在一定程度上归功于美国职业橄榄球大联盟（NFL）前四分卫蒂姆·蒂博（Tim Tebow)。蒂博曾于今年3月3日在霍利主持的参议院司法委员会下属“犯罪与反恐小组委员会”的听证会上作证，揭露了猖獗的儿童贩卖活动。 蒂博在证词中指出，在短短几个月内，美国就有33.8万个独立IP地址下载、分享或传播了涉及儿童强奸内容的图像，但其中只有极少数受到了调查。 该措施源自霍利提出的《重燃希望法案》（Renewed Hope Act），旨在为美国国土安全调查局（HSI）提供资金，以便在该局“儿童剥削调查部门”下属的“受害者识别实验室”增聘40名法医分析师，并增聘30名专门负责儿童剥削案件的调查员。…