The City of Torrance is ending its 101-year membership with the League of California Cities, saying the organization has failed in its mission to advocate for local control of land-use and zoning issues.
Last week’s vote was 7-0. Effective January 1, Torrance will no longer be a member of Cal Cities.
“After nearly 2 years of expressing our concerns to Cal Cities about their dismal record on protecting local control, land-use and zoning, they’ve yet to show any significant effort to uphold their own mission statement. We cannot continue to be a member of an organization that does not advocate or protect cities like ours. We needed to take a stand and send a message,” said Councilmember Mike Griffiths, who introduced the motion.
In recent years, Sacramento has succeeded in wrestling control from cities, particularly on land-use and zoning. Torrance’s frustration has been building for some time, but the catalyst was 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. Over 100 California cities signed the petition. Cal Cities' General Resolutions Committee voted against debating the initiative 167 to 98. Cal Cities Regional Public Affairs Manager Jeff Kiernan cited “flaws in the wording of the language.”
That was the last straw for Torrance.
“While discontinuation of membership will create a savings of nearly $34,000 in annual membership fees, it was not our motivation,” Mayor George Chen stated. “We hope to work together with the League in the future if changes are made by the League to refocus on advocacy of local control.”