San Francisco won the 2025 Climate Protection Award for its leading efforts in climate action, spotlighting its CleanPowerSF program which has significantly reduced emissions and provided sustainable energy.

California Senators introduced the No Secret Police Act, aiming to prohibit law enforcement from covering their faces for transparency and accountability, allowing exceptions for specific situations.

San Francisco joined a lawsuit with other cities against the Trump administration's freeze of counterterrorism funds, impacting their readiness for terrorist and nuclear threats.

San Francisco leads an amicus brief challenging the federalization of the National Guard, advocating for local control and against federal military intervention in protests.

Santa Clara County approved a $13.7 billion budget focused on protecting essential safety-net services despite potential federal and state funding cuts.

California thought it had won its constitutional showdown with Trump over National Guard control—but that victory lasted about two hours. The 9th Circuit's emergency intervention has thrown 4,000 troops back into legal limbo and escalated what's now among the most significant federal-state military disputes since the civil rights era.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie signed legislation to convert unused office spaces into homes, aiming to revitalize downtown with hoped-for economic and community benefits.

The Oakland City Council passed a $4.2 billion budget for 2025-2027, addressing a $265 million deficit and increasing police numbers while funding public safety and economic initiatives.

Governor Newsom suggests California could withhold federal tax contributions in response to Trump's threats to cut funding, but experts and legal constraints make such action unlikely.

Barbara Lee inaugurated as Oakland Mayor, promising transparency and unity, while acknowledging challenges like the city's budget deficit and public safety concerns. She calls for community involvement in shaping Oakland's future.

A former UCSF professor, Dr. Rupa Marya, is suing the university for allegedly firing her over comments criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza and Zionism's impact on healthcare.

Ex-San Jose councilman Omar Torres was convicted of child molestation from incidents beginning when the victim was four. Simultaneously, San Jose officials face allegations of using racial slurs in texts.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan's Pay for Performance proposal, linking city official pay to city goals, faces criticism and concerns for pressuring unanimity among council members.