Latest News
The Almost Daily Briefing, June 11, 2026
The Almost Daily Briefing
Published news articles from local, regional, and national media on topics of interest to the #LoveLafayette Community separately
Lafayette Settles Housing Lawsuit For $128K, Will Consider Higher-Density Building - Lafayette officials will consider higher-density housing across roughly 130 acres of land after reaching a settlement with the Housing Action Coalition, ending a lawsuit that challenged the city's state-mandated housing plan and reshaping the future of residential development along the Mt. Diablo Boulevard corridor. (Patch)
- Lafayette settles housing lawsuit and could upzone 130 acres (San Franciso Business Journal)
- Lafayette Settles Housing Element Lawsuit, Agrees to Consider Upzoning 130 Acres (Davis Vanguard)
- Lafayette to consider upzoning to meet state housing requirements after lawsuit (TheRealDeal.com)
- Lafayette and Housing Action Coalition Settle Lawsuit over Housing Element Laws (Contra Costa News)
City Seeking 3 Residents For Downtown Urban Design Advisory Committee - The city of Lafayette is seeking three residents to join the new Multi-Modal Mobility Advisory Committee to provide input on Lafayette’s downtown urban design, transportation accessibility and BART. (SF Gate) Related:
Want To Make Lafayette Downtown More Walkable? Here's A Committee For You (Patch)
Few roads out, higher wildfire risk: New study maps Bay Area evacuation danger - Researchers from UC Santa Barbara analyzed wildfire deaths across the U.S. from 2008 to 2024 in relation to road networks and concluded that communities with few ways out saw the vast majority of fatalities. (East Bay Times)
When evacuation fails, should wildfire communities have a backup refuge? As wildfire researchers warn that some communities do not have enough roads to evacuate safely, they are also raising a fraught question: Should fire-risk neighborhoods have designated refuge areas for people who cannot get out? (East Bay Times)
FBI Raids Home, Offices Of Contra Costa County Assessor Gus Kramer - A third warrant was served at Assistant County Assessor Vince Robb's home (Patch)
Contra Costa County Voters Say No New Taxes - Unless you live in Lafayette or Moraga, voters in Contra Costa County sent a message to elected officials no more new taxes or bonds. (Contra Costa News)
From Lamorinda Weekly
- Lafayette's Capital Improvement Program presented to City Council
- Lamorinda Spirit Van Celebrates 20 Years of Service to the Community
- Lafayette celebrates America’s 250th anniversary
- Free fun for all ages in Lafayette
- Rock the Plaza concerts kick off summer fun
- Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda high schools get new principals
- Board of Supervisors appoints Aaron McAlister to lead Con Fire
- MOFD reveals which areas will be inspected for compliance
- MOFD Demonstration Garden work begins
- Street Rehabilitation Construction Project to affect several of Moraga’s main roads
- Mysterious monument stands guard in front of History Center
- Acalanes DAR marks America 250 with Lafayette Commemoration and Living History Program
- Siesta Valley Bowl now live in Orinda
- Residents provide valuable feedback during Livable Moraga Walking Tour
- Grocery Outlet opening falls behind schedule
- Director of Public Works position filled internally
- Town establishes Ceremonial Flag Display Policy
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
“Rock the Plaza” summer concert
Planning Commission - cancelled
Transportation & Circulation Commission - cancelled
Public Art Committee - Special Meeting
Juneteenth Day Holiday – City Administrative Offices will be closed
Lafayette Planning Applications Received
Major Development Projects Map
Lafayette Community Information & Emergency Radio AM 1670
Shop, Dine & Gather in Lafayette
HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION AND CITY PLANNING
Bay Area downtowns aren’t dying – they’re changing - The COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of remote work presents the latest challenge, but for many experts on urban design, it’s not so much a crisis as an opportunity to redefine the future of downtown in the Bay Area and beyond. (Mercury News)
Santa Clara’s special event zone helps businesses, not vendors - Santa Clara has created a “special event zone” to temporarily restrict sidewalk vending, outdoor merchandise sales, food sales, mobile advertising, product giveaways and temporary structures within a designated area around the stadium during World Cup events. Officials said these restrictions are necessary for crowd control, emergency access, public safety and counterfeit enforcement. (San Jose Spotlight)
Local nonprofit tackles Bay Area artist housing crisis - Artist Space Trust, a Bay Area nonprofit, is working to build a portfolio of permanently affordable homes and live-work spaces for local artists and culture bearers. (KTVU)
Santa Rosa eyes new policies allowing ADU sales, upzoning to increase housing supply - Such units historically could only be rented, but a 2024 state law opened the door to selling them separately as condominiums. Sebastopol in January became the first municipality in Sonoma County to adopt regulations allowing the sale of so-called accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Proponents of the measure say it could reduce barriers to homeownership by providing a lower-cost entry into the market for first-time homeowners. (Santa Rosa Press Democrat)
California's most ambitious housing law is taking full effect on July 1 - Starting July 1, Senate Bill 79 (SB 79) will officially take full effect, requiring cities in eligible regions to allow denser residential development near major transit stops. The law is expected to unlock zoning capacity for over a million potential homes […] The law applies to several of California’s largest urban counties, including L.A., Orange, San Diego, San Francisco, Alameda, Sacramento, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. By overriding certain local zoning restrictions, SB 79 is designed to encourage higher-density housing near public transportation. (Secret LA) Related: This new law could create a million new apartments and condominiums in California (LA Times)
These US Cities Are Succeeding in Building Housing Near Transit (Bloomberg)
MIXTAPE
Triple-Digit Heat, Fire And Flooding Threats Slam Bay Area All At Once
Take a Trinket, leave a trinket: 'Trinket Trading' boxes have sprung up around the Bay Area
Car Fire In Orinda Scorches 1/2 Acre
Bay Area housing market now seeing more investors buying homes
Bay Area transit leaders have a message: Don’t drive to the World Cup games at Levi’s Stadium
San Francisco launches nature adventure map to encourage outdoor exploration
How California’s economy survives: Its workers are No. 3 for productivity
US Inflation Picks Up to Three-Year High, Eroding Paychecks
From unfilled gas tanks to fewer frills, retailers see US consumers rethink their spending
MEANWHILE IN ANOTHER LAFAYETTE
Community celebrates history, art 'On the Banks of the Wabash' - Citizens of Lafayette will be able to walk under more than just starlight following the unveiling of the city’s newest art installation Tuesday night. Funded privately from almost one million dollars, “On the Banks of the Wabash” is a stainless steel sculpture that arches over the sidewalk on the corner of South and Ninth streets. Its ability to light up sets it apart from many of the other sculptures in Greater Lafayette.
AND FINALLY…
Mercury, Venus, Jupiter to form 5-night planet parade - visible to the naked eye in the western evening sky across the United States from June 11 to June 15, 2026.
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The Almost Daily Briefing (ADB) is an aggregation of links to news articles from local and regional newspapers, magazines, websites, and other news sources. Its purpose is to alert readers to current issues and affairs that may impact Lafayette. The ADB does not promote, favor, disfavor, support, reject, or endorse any position, candidate, campaign, or proposition, and nothing about the ADB, including the selection, presentation, arrangement, or content of the links presented should be construed as an advocacy position.
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