JANUARY 13, 2025

Yesterday, Governor Newsom asked legislative leaders to approve at least $2.5 billion in response to the wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles County. “California is organizing a Marshall Plan to help Los Angeles rebuild faster and stronger — including billions in new and accelerated state funding so we can move faster to deliver for the thousands who’ve lost their homes and livelihoods in these firestorms,” Newsom said in a statement.

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JANUARY 13, 2025

The National Weather Service has warned of “particularly dangerous” weather approaching Southern California this week—especially today, when wind gusts could reach 65 mph. LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone says they’re better prepared this week, but warned that the strong winds could once again prevent airplanes from fighting blazes from above.

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JANUARY 13, 2025

The IRS has announced tax relief for individuals and businesses in Southern California affected by the wildfires. The IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in the disaster area.

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JANUARY 12, 2025

On Sunday, Governor Newsom signed an executive order to suspend some environmental permitting and review requirements for Los Angeles residents planning to rebuild in the wake of recent fires. By the time all the damage is assessed, the fires are expected to constitute one of the costliest wildfire disasters in U.S. history.

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JANUARY 10, 2025

Last week, Governor Newsom’s office laid out its vision for the FY 2025-26 state budget. With the devastating fires continuing to burn in Los Angeles and President-elect Donald Trump preparing to take office this month, the budget could require significant changes before it’s finalized in late June.

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JANUARY 9, 2025

The destructive fires in Los Angeles will further strain the insurance market and worsen the financial position of California’s insurer of last resort—the FAIR Plan. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said that “of course this is going to complicate an already complicated market.”

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JANUARY 6, 2025

Last year, San Francisco's visitor industry hit its lowest point since the pandemic, but insiders say that 2025 will be the start of a comeback. Plus, a string of high-profile sporting events is on the horizon this year, including the NBA All-Star Game in February, NCAA March Madness men's basketball games in March, and the Laver Cup tennis tournament in September—all of which will put San Francisco in the spotlight and help reshape perceptions

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JANUARY 2, 2025

Airbnb has reshaped global travel, providing more than just a place to stay; it’s become a key player in cultural and live event-driven experiences. Airbnb leverages cultural relevance through influencer partnerships, working with big names like Doja Cat, Kevin Hart, and Barbie.

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DECEMBER 16, 2024

The 2025 Wave Season is expected to be exceptionally strong for the cruise line industry, with a record-breaking number of global passenger numbers expected. Some forecasts indicate a 20% increase in cruise line passengers in the year ahead—exceeding 30 million for the first time ever. Wave season in the cruise line industry typically begins in January and continues through the end of March, but cruise lines began launching deals even earlier last year, with some beginning promotions as early as November during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

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DECEMBER 6, 2024

Last week, fear, anxiety, and confusion swept across the West Coast when a rare tsunami warning was issued for parts of Northern California following a 7.0 earthquake off the shore of Eureka. While tsunamis are rare for the West Coast, they do happen.

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DECEMBER 4, 2024

The skyrocketing cost of living is a core concern of many Californians. By expanding housing supply in transit-rich job centers like Berkeley, the initiative's authors believe they can enable more people to live close to work, reduce emissions, and advance our climate goals.

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DECEMBER 4, 2024

Last month’s U.S. jobs report shows the restaurant and hotel sectors experienced a sharp increase in available positions. The total number of U.S. job openings rose to 7.7 million in October—up 5% from 7.4 million in September—signaling that businesses are still seeking workers even though hiring has cooled.

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DECEMBER 3, 2024

According to research, Americans with disabilities spent nearly $50 billion on travel this year. Accessibility is one of their biggest barriers: 81% face challenges on airlines, 84% at airports, and 74% at hotels.

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DECEMBER 2, 2024

At the kickoff of the new session, the California Legislature adopted rules that will reduce the number of bills that members of the state Assembly and Senate could introduce during each two-year session—from 50 to 35 in the Assembly and from 40 to 35 in the Senate. Legislators have mixed reactions about the idea of limiting the number of bills they can introduce.

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NOVEMBER 26, 2024

Mayor London Breed, outgoing mayor of San Francisco, made waves recently with a major policy shift: Before providing a shelter bed or any other services, city workers must first offer every homeless person they encounter a bus or train ticket to somewhere else. However, some activists worry they can be used coercively to move unhoused people out of sight instead of helping them.

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NOVEMBER 19, 2024

Big Tech and Big Oil drove a record-setting lobbying blitz this summer, spending nearly $168 million to influence state policymakers in just the third quarter of this year—up from the record-setting $131 million spent this spring.

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NOVEMBER 12, 2024

A new survey, conducted by Morning Consult, asked over 2,200 Americans about their winter travel preferences and plans. While these numbers are similar to last year, travelers are more wary of inflation this year.

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NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Street vendors have been part of the San Francisco’s gray market for decades, but changes in state law in 2018 and 2022 removing illegal vending from the police code and streamlining health permits have led to a boom in their numbers. The boom in street vendors has led to frustration across the city.

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NOVEMBER 8, 2024

The California Air Resources Board has voted to approve major changes to its Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a program aimed at encouraging use of cleaner transportation fuels with financial incentives as the state moves toward phasing out gasoline and diesel. During last week’s meeting, the board also passed a resolution requiring an annual review of the rule’s impact on gas prices.

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NOVEMBER 7, 2024

Last week, Gov. Newsom issued a proclamation convening a special session of the California Legislature to safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration. The special session will begin December 2, when the Legislature convenes.

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