Rancho Palos Verdes Landslide Costs Approach $65 Million as City Eyes Federal Relief
The ongoing Portuguese Bend landslide crisis is pushing the small city of Rancho Palos Verdes toward its financial limits, with costs mounting and federal relief still uncertain.
The city’s landslide response is expected to reach $64.4 million by the end of June 2026 since the crisis began in October 2022. At its most recent council meeting, the council authorized an additional $2.1 million toward a required match for a $48.7 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program application for the Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project.
Roughly three years after above-average rainfall fueled the devastating slide, the landscape has become almost unrecognizable. Homes ripped apart by land movement have been wiped away, creating swaths of unusable open space, and the city’s beloved network of seaside trails continues to be pulled apart, according to LAist. Land movement has slowed to approximately 1.6 inches per week thanks in part to dewatering wells installed by the city, but structural damage to trails, roads, and homes remains severe.
The council also extended by 60 days the local emergency declaration in the landslide area and a temporary prohibition on bicycles, motorcycles, and similar wheeled vehicles along an approximately two-mile stretch of Palos Verdes Drive South.
Additionally, the city has submitted three additional FEMA grant applications under the Voluntary Property Buyout Program for homeowners whose properties have been damaged or threatened.
With a population of roughly 42,000 and a general fund not built for a multi-year natural disaster response of this scale, Rancho Palos Verdes is a case study in what happens when a small municipality faces a crisis that requires resources far beyond its means. Federal aid has been applied for but not yet awarded.
The next landslide update is scheduled for the May 5 City Council meeting.
LA County Warns State Formula Change Could Cut Senior Services by 17 Percent
Los Angeles County‘s Aging and Disabilities Department is sounding the alarm over proposed changes to the state’s senior services funding formula that could significantly reduce support for older adults and people with disabilities across the region.
Based on initial estimates, the county could see up to a 17% reduction in funding under the proposed Intrastate Funding Formula administered by the California Department of Aging.
The proposed updates are part of broader statewide efforts under SB 1249 and California’s “CA 2030” initiative to better align funding with need by incorporating factors such as age, income, disability, and geography. Department leaders note that how those factors are weighted can significantly affect outcomes in large and densely populated counties like Los Angeles.
Funding distributed through the formula supports essential services including home-delivered and congregate meals, caregiver support, ombudsman services, and legal services. The County reported a 17% reduction would land on a system already under pressure — senior meal programs across the county have been operating on diminished capacity since pandemic-era federal funding expired, with some San Fernando Valley programs cutting daily meal service by nearly a third.
“This is not about opposing change. It’s about making sure the formula reflects real-world service delivery and does not unintentionally reduce support in high-need communities,” said Victoria Jump, Acting Chief Deputy of the Aging and Disabilities Department.
The department has launched a public campaign urging residents to contact their state representatives before the changes take effect. Information is available at ad.lacounty.gov.
Covina Voters to Decide on Quarter-Cent Sales Tax June 2
City of Covina residents will vote June 2 on Measure CC, a quarter-cent sales tax that would generate approximately $3 million annually for local services. If approved, funds would be directed toward police, fire, emergency medical response, street repairs, parks and facilities, homelessness response, and youth and senior programs.
The measure exempts essential household costs, including groceries, prescription medications, medical supplies, rent, and utilities — meaning the tax would apply only to general retail purchases. On a $100 purchase, the additional cost would be 25 cents. On a $500 purchase, $1.25.
City officials frame the measure as both a revenue solution and a defensive move. Under state law, sales tax rates are capped at 10.75 percent countywide. Officials warn that if another agency — most likely Los Angeles County — acts first to claim the remaining sales tax capacity, revenue generated within Covina’s borders could flow to county coffers under broader distribution formulas rather than staying local. Measure CC would lock in local control before that window closes.
The City of Covina is facing increasing costs while revenues have remained relatively flat. Without additional funding, officials say service levels may be reduced over time. If approved by a simple majority, funds would remain locally controlled with residents directing how the money is spent.
The June 2 election is an all-mail ballot.
Burbank Debuts Region’s Largest Airport Solar-Battery System
Burbank Water and Power will mark a milestone in municipal clean energy on Friday with a ribbon-cutting for the city’s largest solar and battery storage installation, located on the rooftop of a parking structure at the Hollywood-Burbank Airport’s Regional Intermodal Transportation Center.
The 2 MW solar system is large enough to power more than 585 Burbank homes annually. Paired with battery storage, the project addresses two core challenges of renewable energy — intermittency when the sun isn’t shining, and the scarcity of available land in a dense urban environment. The airport rooftop provided a practical solution to both.
The project represents Burbank Water and Power’s largest utility-scale solar deployment to date and is designed to help the city meet state goals for a zero-carbon energy future. California has set aggressive renewable energy mandates for municipalities, and rooftop solar-plus-battery installations at public facilities have emerged as a key strategy for cities with limited land for ground-mounted arrays.
Friday’s ribbon-cutting is set for 10 a.m. at 2501 N. Hollywood Way in Burbank.
State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, Burbank Mayor Tamala Takahashi, Vice Mayor Zizette Mullins, Councilmember Konstantine Anthony, and Airport Authority President Jess Talamantes are expected. Representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman, Assemblymember Nick Schultz, and Supervisor Kathryn Barger will also attend.
SGVCOG Launches $950K E-Cargo Bike Voucher Program
The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) is opening spring 2026 pre-applications for its GoSGV E-Cargo Bike Voucher Program, offering 475 residents $2,000 point-of-sale vouchers toward the purchase of electric cargo bikes.
The program has already awarded 116 vouchers, with the new cycle totaling $950,000 in funding aimed at reducing car dependency and improving air quality across the region.
The program is backed by a consortium of public agencies, including the California Transportation Commission, SCAG, LA Metro, Metro ExpressLanes, and the California Strategic Growth Council, with additional grant support from the State Department of Housing and Community Development.
Vouchers are redeemable at approved private retailers. E Bike Cyclery in San Dimas, identified by SGVCOG as one of the program’s top-performing vendors, will host today’s launch press conference, with founder and CEO Hector Tamayo appearing alongside elected officials.
SGVCOG President and Claremont Vice Mayor Ed Reece and San Dimas Councilmember Eric Nakano will attend the event at E Bike Cyclery, 490 W. Arrow Highway, Suite H, San Dimas.
The voucher launch comes as California tightens its regulatory framework around e-bikes. New laws that took effect January 1 require all e-bikes to carry rear lighting at all times, meet certified battery safety standards, and comply with strict motor power limits.
Devices modified beyond those limits may be reclassified as motor vehicles, subjecting riders to licensing and registration requirements.
Law enforcement agencies statewide have flagged enforcement of the new rules as a growing challenge.
Residents receiving vouchers should confirm that any purchased e-bike meets current California compliance standards before riding. Pre-applications are available at sgvcog.org.
