Long-time city attorney Michael Colantuono reflects on California’s enduring state–local fiscal dysfunction and legislature usurpation of local control. From a recent “bullet dodged” by local government to the legacy of Prop 13, Colantuono traces decades of underfunding by the State of local government, legislative overreach, and judicial decisions that have hamstrung localities' ambitions.

As Los Angeles prepares to host global mobility leaders for CoMotion Los Angeles, VX News caught up with Nick Perloff-Giles, Program Coordinator at the Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) and co-host of CoMotion’s Fast Forward podcast, to preview the themes shaping this year’s conference.

Departing his role as General Manager of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, where he has served since 2019, to lead the Metropolitan Water District in the same capacity, Shivaji Deshmukh reflects with VX News on advancing local water reliability through innovation and collaboration.

In conversation with VX News, established climate journalist Sammy Roth, formerly of the LA Times and now writing independently on Climate-Colored Goggles, explores how culture, communication, and accountability shape climate progress.

Former California Senate Majority Leader and Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg is championing the proposed Middle-Class Homeownership and Family Home Construction Act, a 2026 ballot initiative aimed at expanding housing opportunities for middle-income Californians.

As he steps down after eight years as CEO, Mario Cordero reflects on transforming the Port of Long Beach into a global model for sustainable growth and environmental stewardship. In conversation with VX News, Cordero recounts launching the Green Port Policy, co-developing the Clean Air Action Plan, and championing Green Shipping Corridors with Shanghai and Singapore—initiatives that redefined the port’s mission beyond cargo throughput.

Alycia Gilde, newly appointed to lead Los Angeles County’s Internal Services Department (ISD) climate initiatives, shares her vision for advancing clean energy deployment at the local level. Drawing on her federal experience shaping zero-emission vehicle strategy at the White House, leadership at CALSTART, and decades of collaboration from New York City to Los Angeles, including her Peace Corps experience in Ghana, West Africa, Gilde brings both national and international expertise to the role.