Etopia News

05/27/2025

“ODI Champions Innovation and Equity Across California Government”
4:09 pm PDT, Tuesday, May 27, 2025

By Etopia News Staff Writer

Sacramento, CA — In a rapidly evolving digital era, the California Office of Data and Innovation (ODI) is leading the charge to modernize government service delivery with a mission rooted in equity, innovation, and human-centered design. With a full-time staff of 65 and a $35 million budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, ODI is working to ensure that every Californian benefits from streamlined, accessible, and effective public services.

“At the Office of Data and Innovation, our mission is to drive innovation across California state government, using data, technology, and human-centered design to achieve exceptional, equitable outcomes for all Californians,” said Barb Cosio Moreno, Communications Director at ODI.

ODI collaborates with various state departments to improve services through high-impact projects. Among its flagship efforts is Engaged California, a comprehensive initiative designed to reimagine civic engagement through more intuitive and responsive digital experiences.

In parallel, ODI is deploying its data science expertise on a suite of projects that leverage emerging technologies and machine learning. These efforts focus on building better data pipelines and deploying predictive models to enable partner agencies to deliver more timely, targeted, and effective services.

Beyond technology, ODI invests in the people behind public service transformation. Through its CalAcademy training series, the office equips state employees with cutting-edge innovation skills, including how to adopt a product mindset and apply California’s plain language standards—guidelines ODI itself developed to make government communication more accessible and clear.

With a robust, interdisciplinary portfolio and a strong commitment to public value, ODI exemplifies how government can innovate from within. As Moreno notes, “We work with other state departments to help provide better services,” underscoring the collaborative ethos at the heart of the office’s work.

For more information on ODI’s initiatives and how it is transforming the future of public service in California, visit innovation.ca.gov.

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Etopia News is committed to covering the people, policies, and technologies shaping tomorrow’s government today.

The Office of Data and Innovation is building a state government that is modern, effective, and provides exceptional service to all Californians.

05/20/2025

Etopia News
May 20, 2025
12:29 pm PDT, Tuesday, May 20, 2025

California Launches AI-Powered Public Engagement Platform to Guide Wildfire Recovery

Los Angeles, CA — In an unprecedented move to put community voices at the center of wildfire recovery efforts, Governor Gavin Newsom has launched Engaged California, a first-in-the-nation deliberative democracy initiative powered by generative AI and digital engagement tools.

Managed by the state’s Office of Data and Innovation (ODI) in partnership with the Government Operations Agency (GovOps), the platform supports survivors of the 2024-25 LA firestorms in shaping policies around rebuilding and recovery. The state is using Ethelo, a deliberation platform procured for $115,000, and Claude 3.5 Sonnet, a generative AI model, to analyze and surface themes in participant feedback. Moderation of the public comments is carried out by human reviewers, with all tools operated in alignment with California’s Generative AI procurement standards.

Funded through ODI’s existing $500,000 budget for this pilot, the initiative has attracted 7,596 program subscribers, with 2,788 invited to join the wildfire engagement phase. Of those, nearly 800 residents participated actively, submitting 1,289 comments during the recently concluded agenda-setting phase. The average participant contributed 4.5 comments. Findings from this first phase will be published shortly on engaged.ca.gov and shared with both subscribers and elected officials to inform next steps.

The platform’s second phase—focused on public deliberation of unresolved or contentious topics—is scheduled to begin in late June. According to ODI, the ultimate goal is to provide actionable, community-informed insights to guide state and local decision-makers as they continue the long process of rebuilding after one of California’s most devastating wildfire seasons.

— Etopia News Staff Report

Engaged California is an online platform that makes it easier for Californians to have a voice in government.

05/15/2025

Archistar’s AI Platform to Expedite Rebuilding in Los Angeles After Devastating Wildfires
12:53 am PDT, Thursday, May 15, 2025

By Etopia News Staff

LOS ANGELES — In an unprecedented move to accelerate recovery from the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton wildfires, Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a powerful public-private partnership bringing together the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and AI permitting leader Archistar. At the heart of this initiative is eCheck, Archistar’s AI-driven platform designed to dramatically speed up the permitting process—cutting through red tape and getting families back into their homes faster.

This collaboration marks the first statewide deployment of AI permitting at scale in California history, positioning Los Angeles as a model for how technology can be harnessed to rebuild faster, safer, and smarter after a disaster.

A Technological Leap Forward

The eCheck platform uses generative AI, computer vision, and machine learning to review building designs for code compliance before submission. This allows homeowners, builders, and architects to pre-validate their plans, significantly reducing costly errors and permitting delays.

“This AI-powered tool is a game-changer,” said Governor Newsom. “By streamlining the plan-checking process, we’re providing local governments with a powerful tool to meet the magnitude of this rebuilding challenge.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed the urgency:
“We’re infusing new technologies into City Hall to ensure nothing stands in the way of families getting home. This partnership is key to making this the fastest recovery in modern California history.”

Free Access, Real Impact

Thanks to philanthropic support from Steadfast LA, LA Rises, Autodesk, and Amazon, the eCheck software is being made available free of charge to LA City and County governments as well as users.

Rick Caruso, Chairman of Steadfast LA, noted, “We identified Archistar as the right partner to deliver a solution that brings permitting from weeks or months down to hours or days. This is about rebuilding not just homes, but lives.”

The platform will be a cornerstone of LA County’s One-Stop Recovery Centers, where residents can get real-time feedback on their building plans and submit pre-validated, code-compliant designs with confidence.

A Model for the Future

With more than 25 municipalities worldwide—including Vancouver, Austin, Houston, and New York—already using Archistar’s AI permitting solutions, Los Angeles is joining a global shift toward smarter, more resilient urban development.

“This is not just a recovery tool,” said Archistar CEO Dr. Benjamin Coorey. “It’s a blueprint for how cities can operate faster, more efficiently, and more transparently in the face of both crisis and everyday development.”

Redefining Government Responsiveness

Governor Newsom has made digital transformation a cornerstone of his administration, establishing the Office of Data Innovation and ordering agencies to adopt generative AI. His Executive Orders tied to the wildfire recovery have temporarily suspended CEQA and Coastal Act restrictions and removed permitting bottlenecks to accelerate progress.

Meanwhile, platforms like Engaged California are being deployed to gather public feedback and ensure that the rebuilding process reflects community priorities.

Resilience Through Innovation

From the hills of Palisades to the neighborhoods of Altadena, Archistar’s eCheck is poised to revolutionize how California rebuilds after disaster. And with the backing of LA’s civic leaders, philanthropic champions, and some of the world’s most advanced tech companies, this effort is setting a new global standard for urban resilience.

“We’re not just recovering,” said LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. “We’re building a smarter, faster future—together.”

For ongoing updates and air quality reports, visit CA.gov/LAfires
To learn more about eCheck, visit Archistar.ai

— Etopia News: Covering the Cities of the Future

Help and info for people affected by the 2025 Los Angeles County fires.

05/14/2025

“Etopia News Front Page” by Image Generation
7:14 pm PDT, Tuesday, May 13, 2025

05/13/2025

Power Outages Disrupt Valley Village Due to Electrical Grounding Issue, LADWP Working to Resolve

By Etopia News Staff
Valley Village, Los Angeles – May 13, 2025

Residents of Valley Village experienced widespread power disruptions beginning at approximately 11:00 a.m. today, as a “grounding issue” within the local electrical grid triggered intermittent outages throughout the neighborhood, according to a source in the Emergency Department of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).

The underlying problem, the LADWP worker explained, stems from a failure within one of the 132 individual service units on the local distribution grid. A shortage in this unidentified unit caused a cascading failure, bringing down the entire 132-unit segment and resulting in flickering and unstable power across multiple homes and businesses.

Due to the nature of the grounding fault, the grid’s failure did not immediately reveal the source. “We have to test each unit one at a time,” the LADWP representative said. “The unit that caused the problem won’t fire up during testing, and that’s how we’ll isolate it.”

This methodical, sequential testing process is both time-consuming and necessary, he emphasized, to ensure that crews can restore power safely and without introducing further risk to the infrastructure or to LADWP workers.

Although this kind of failure scenario is relatively uncommon and technically challenging, LADWP field crews have been mobilized since the onset of the outage and are working steadily to identify and repair the affected unit. The Emergency Department source projected that the team will likely complete the full testing cycle and restore stable service by approximately 4:45 p.m.

Etopia News will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Contact:
Etopia Newsroom
[email protected]

01/29/2025

“Annotated List of Organizations and Individuals Supporting Senator Wiener’s SB 222” by Perplexity
2:07 pm PST, Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Organizations

1. California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters)
• A sponsor of SB 222, advocating for holding fossil fuel companies accountable for climate damages and stabilizing insurance costs for Californians.

2. Center for Climate Integrity
• Co-sponsor of SB 222, focused on ensuring polluters pay for the damage caused by climate change.

3. Extreme Weather Survivors
• Co-sponsor of SB 222, representing communities affected by climate disasters to push for justice and accountability.

Legislators

1. Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)
• Author of SB 222, championing the bill to address rising insurance costs and hold fossil fuel companies accountable for climate-related damages.

2. Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance)
• Primary co-author, supporting efforts to shift financial responsibility to polluters.

3. Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena)
• Co-author, emphasizing justice for communities devastated by climate disasters like wildfires.

4. Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach)
• Co-author, advocating for climate accountability measures.

5. Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley)
• Co-author, highlighting the financial burden on taxpayers and property owners from climate change impacts.

6. Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles)
• Co-author, focusing on making polluters pay their fair share for wildfire damages.

7. Senator Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton)
• Co-author, supporting measures to recover costs from fossil fuel companies.

8. Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay)
• Co-author, advocating for accountability and relief for communities impacted by climate disasters.

01/29/2025

“WSPA Denounces SB 222 as Political Theater, Defends Fossil Fuel Industry’s Role in California Economy” by ChatGPT 4o
1:39 pm PST, Wednesday, January 29, 2025

By Marc Strassman
Etopia News

The Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) has fired back at California State Senators Scott Wiener and Sasha Renée Pérez over their newly introduced legislation, SB 222, the Affordable Insurance and Climate Recovery Act. The bill seeks to hold fossil fuel companies financially accountable for climate-related disasters, including the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.

In a statement released on January 27, WSPA President & CEO Catherine Reheis-Boyd accused the senators of exploiting the wildfire crisis for political gain rather than pursuing meaningful solutions to help victims.

“It is a shame that Sen. Scott Wiener and Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez see the Los Angeles fires as nothing more than a political opportunity,” Reheis-Boyd said. “We need real solutions to help victims in the wake of this tragedy, not theatrics. Voters are tired of this approach.”

The proposed legislation would allow wildfire victims and insurance companies to sue oil and gas companies for damages linked to climate change, arguing that these companies misled the public for decades about the environmental risks of fossil fuel consumption. Supporters of the bill see it as a necessary step toward corporate accountability, while opponents, including WSPA, argue that the measure unfairly targets an industry essential to California’s economy.

“Every day, consumers, including Sen. Wiener, rely on and choose to use gasoline-powered cars and purchase products made from fossil fuels,” Reheis-Boyd continued. “Our economy depends on oil and gas even as California looks to reduce its carbon footprint.”

WSPA maintains that demonizing the sector will not resolve California’s broader climate and energy challenges. “The vulnerabilities in the existing oil and gas infrastructure must be addressed. Otherwise, technical realities will get in the way of aspirational goals if left ignored,” the statement read.

The industry group framed SB 222 as part of an ongoing effort to “scapegoat” fossil fuel companies while leaving complex energy and insurance problems unaddressed. “The announcement of today’s proposal is the latest installment of an ongoing effort to scapegoat our industry — and the thousands of hardworking women and men who keep California running — for political gain, while complex problems continue to go unsolved,” Reheis-Boyd concluded.

As SB 222 moves through the legislative process, the debate is expected to intensify, with environmental advocates and the fossil fuel industry clashing over who should bear the financial burden of climate disasters. Etopia News will continue to follow developments on this contentious issue.

01/29/2025

“Chevron Defers Comment on SB 222, Refers Etopia News to Western States Petroleum Association” by ChatGPT 4o
12:27 pm PST, Wednesday, January 29, 2025

By Marc Strassman
Etopia News

In response to an inquiry from Etopia News regarding Senate Bill 222, the Affordable Insurance and Climate Recovery Act, Chevron’s Media Relations team has directed further questions to the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA). The bill, introduced by California State Senator Scott Wiener, seeks to allow wildfire victims and insurance companies to sue oil and gas companies for damages linked to climate change, citing decades of alleged industry misinformation about fossil fuels’ role in global warming.

Chevron declined to provide a direct statement on the legislation, instead referring Etopia News to WSPA, a trade organization representing major oil and gas companies in the western United States. The bill, if passed, could set a precedent for holding fossil fuel companies financially accountable for climate-related disasters, particularly as California grapples with intensifying wildfires and a growing insurance crisis.

Supporters of SB 222 argue that fossil fuel companies knowingly misled the public about the dangers of climate change, and that legal accountability is a necessary step toward justice for affected communities. Opponents, including representatives from the petroleum industry, are expected to push back against the bill, warning of potential economic repercussions and legal challenges.

Etopia News has reached out to WSPA for a response and will provide updates as they become available.

01/28/2025

“California Senator Scott Wiener Introduces SB 222 to Hold Fossil Fuel Companies Accountable for Climate-Related Disasters” summarized by ChatGPT 4o from a Wiener press release
11:42 am PST, Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Senator Scott Wiener introduced SB 222, the Affordable Insurance and Climate Recovery Act, to address rising insurance costs in California by holding fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate-driven disasters. The bill allows homeowners, businesses, and insurers to sue oil and gas companies for damages caused by climate-related events such as wildfires, floods, and mudslides, shifting financial responsibility from California residents to the corporations responsible. Sponsored by environmental groups and supported by several legislators, SB 222 aims to stabilize the insurance market, provide relief to victims, and ensure accountability from the fossil fuel industry for decades of deception about their products’ environmental impact.