Another South Bay city has decided to part ways with the League of California Cities over its alleged failure to support local control.
The Redondo Beach City Council voted 3-2 to end its membership on March 21. Redondo has been with Cal Cities for more than 80 years.
At issue is Cal Cities' dismissal of a petition to support the Our Neighborhoods Voices Initiative at the annual conference on September 9. The proposed 2024 ballot measure would essentially overturn SB 9 and SB 10 and return land use decisions to localities. The conference’s general assembly refused to even discuss endorsing the amendment.
Councilmember Todd Loewenstein called the organization's inaction “intentional.”
“My theory is, I think they’re siding with a lot of what Sacramento is doing these days.”
Cal Cities says it remains steadfast in its mission to support local governments. Redondo Beach City Manager Mike Webb pointed out that the organization is supporting Redondo Beach in a lawsuit against SB 9. With the city’s withdrawal, “that will no longer exist,” he warned.
“We are disappointed in the Council’s vote to not belong to Cal Cities in 2023,” Cal Cities spokesperson Rachel Vincent said in a statement. “Cal Cities is the largest and the only statewide organization protecting local control for cities in the legislature and Congress, at the ballot box, and in the courts. Redondo Beach has been a member advocating with us against SB 9 and so many other anti-local control state bills. Together, our collective efforts enable us to stop dozens of bills each year that would undermine local authority.”
Redondo Beach is the second South Bay city to leave the organization over SB 9 and land use issues. In October, citing similar concerns, Torrance city leaders voted to cut ties by a 7-0 vote.
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