Ben Allen – California Globe

California’s Third World Elections: Slow Count Looms as Officials Blame ‘So Many Candidates’ for Delayed Results

June 2, 2026 2:01 pmJune 2, 2026 4:40 pm

Election Day is something of a misnomer in California. By state law, the process of voting and tabulating ballots stretches far beyond the traditional single day of in-person polling. With universal mail-in ballots sent out to every registered voter up...

Gov. Newsom Signs Bill Placing Speed Cameras On The PCH In Malibu

September 28, 2024 2:45 amSeptember 29, 2024 2:59 pm

Governor Gavin Newsom was in Malibu on Friday, signing a bill that would place speed cameras across the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Malibu through at least 2032. Senate Bill 1297, authored by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), will set...

732,000 Letters Favoring Ballot Initiative to Increase Rent Control

October 25, 2023 2:30 amOctober 25, 2023 2:31 am

A group of California housing advocates, renters, lawmakers, and social justice organizations announced on Tuesday that they will be sending more than 732,000 letters to Governor Gavin Newsom to help convince him to support the upcoming 2024 statewide rent control...

Lt. Gov Kounalakis Signs Eviction Moratorium Extension Bill into Law

April 1, 2022 2:17 amApril 1, 2022 2:37 pm

First passed in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, statewide eviction moratoriums have been extended numerous times in 2020, in 2021, and, due to the rise of different variants, through 2002 until March 31st...

Lawmakers Kill $3.5 Billion Wildfire And Climate Change Bill

August 31, 2020 5:52 pm

On Sunday, a bill that would have raised $3.5 billion in wildfire and climate change projects by extending utility fees, as well as establish funds to pay for expenditure plans, was halted by Lawmakers only 5 days after being introduced...

Two Senate Bills Target Chemicals Found in Firefighting Foam

February 20, 2020 3:48 pm

Two bills that call for the partial banning and water testing of chemicals called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were introduced to the Senate on Tuesday. Two bills against PFAS Senate Bill 1044, authored by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica)...

$4.2 Billion Climate Bond Bill Receives a Renewed Push After Stalling Last Year

January 6, 2020 1:23 pmJanuary 6, 2020 1:23 pm

A renewed effort to pass a bill to put a $4.2 billion bond on the November ballot to help combat various climate and environmental dangers in California is currently underway by several Senators and Assemblymembers in Sacramento. A $4.2 billion...