There are more extreme weather conditions coming. Stay hydrated and know that wildfires can crop up. Good news is our electric grid held up during high temps. That and more on this week’s Bear Essentials. But first…

WHAT AN OBSCURE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW HAS TO DO WITH SUPPRESSED LATINO HOMEOWNERSHIP

We’re featuring a shocking headline: “California’s environmental law takes a steep toll on Latinos” where Jennifer Hernandez and Soledad Ursúa outline how legal regulation, specifically CEQA - the California Environmental Quality Act, has crushed home building in the state and made it harder to Latino families to buy a home.

Why are we singling out Latinos as a demographic that’s been uniquely harmed by this overburdensome regulation? Two reasons: Latinos are the fastest growing group in California yet their generational wealth and homeownership lag behind white and Asian families. The second is because other states, like Florida and Texas, have a higher rate of Latino homeownership.

And this doesn’t just affect Latino families right now, it will impact their children since skyhigh California home prices are keeping middle and lower income Latinos from purchasing. For decades, California communities have blocked building new units with the help of CEQA and a draconian set of rules, court appeals, and ways to drag out the building process all of which drive up costs for builders, and ultimately home buyers.

If we revise some of these regulations, we can unleash a deluge of home building and help Latino families enter the housing market and build generational wealth.

That’s the plan, are you in? Read the full piece from Jennifer Hernandez and Soledad Ursúa here.

🤫 Everything you should know

- Exciting news: Remember Prop 1 which is slated to transform our mental health care system and build housing for those most in need? The NCC fought hard to pass this ballot initiative and now we’re seeing the fruit of our labor as Governor Gavin Newsom announced “$3.3 billion in competitive grant funding from Proposition 1 to expand the behavioral health continuum and provide appropriate care to individuals experiencing mental health conditions and substance use disorders — with a particular focus on people who are most seriously ill, vulnerable, or homeless.” Prop 1 had a very specific and strategic allocation of funds, and follow-up audit process to ensure Californians are seeing results. If you want to learn more about the $3.3 billion in grant funding that was just released, check out the details from Governor Gavin Newsom.

- California did… well? Our state’s electric grid held up during the recent heat wave and everyone is impressed! There were only a few brief power outages, and large-scale brownouts or blackouts were avoided. This is due to long-term investments in renewable energy production and battery storage. These batteries can store excess solar energy during the day and release it at night, significantly enhancing grid stability. Companies also took proactive measures, such as using helicopters to monitor transmission lines and pre-positioning crews in vulnerable areas. NBC Bay Area

- The mecca of highly paid tech workers got together and agreed to do something about housing affordability. Apple has announced a $50 million commitment to accelerate the construction of affordable housing projects and support the development of housing for low to moderate-income families in the Bay Area. This is part of a broader $2.5 billion effort to address California's housing crisis. The housing crisis underpins many of California’s economic woes and seeing business at the forefront taking action to build homes is encouraging news.  However, this is not a problem that will be solved by the generosity of a handful of companies or individuals. We need structural reform that will allow California to build more houses. SF Chronicle

NCC Celebrates SoCal Infrastructure Investments with US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg

🐳 Whales in the Bay

More and more whales are showing up in the San Francisco Bay. While observers are rejoicing, whale advocates and those who sail or work in the port view it as dangerous for people and whales. Historically, gray whales are rarely seen in the Bay, but this year, there have been 16 sightings. Some suggest this could be a sign of disruption in their habitats due to climate change, but there is no consensus as to why this is happening. Their presence in the busy shipping lanes of San Francisco Bay increases the risk of ship strikes. Los Angeles Times

🚅 Photographic Proof of California High-Speed Rail

After recent positive news about the development of the California High Speed Rail we recently received new pictures of the project. Developers are showcasing two new overcrossings in the Central Valley, located at Mountain View Avenue and Floral Avenue in Fresno County. Newsweek