Renne Public Law Group

Concluding RPLG's 2021 Public Law Fellowship, Carol Isen and Masa Shiohira presented on labor and employment law last Friday in a session moderated by Founding Partner Art Hartinger. Stay tuned to read about research projects completed by our 2021 Fellows, and visit https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/fellowship-program-2021 for more on the program.

Our Thursday Public Law Fellowship curriculum was delivered by Nora Frimann and Harvey Levine, moderated by RPLG Founding Partner Art Hartinger. Fellow presentations followed the session. Stay tuned for more on final projects by the Fellows! Read more about RPLG's Public Law Fellowship: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/fellowship-program-2021

Yesterday's Public Law Fellowship programming featured Natasha Minkser, Michael Redding and Jamal Anderson in a discussion on policing and public safety reform. The fellows also heard from Public Law Fellowship Alum Michael Cohen on redistricting in California. Learn more about RPLG's Public Law Fellowship: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/fellowship-program-2021

On Tuesday, our 2021 Public Law Fellows heard from Andrew Schwartz, Bevan Dufty and Renne Public Policy Group's Dan Carrigg on Housing, Transportation, Land Use and Sustainability. The afternoon curriculum featured Fire Chief Dave Winnacker with a session on Wildland Fire Risk Mitigation and the Law(s) of Unintended Consequences. Thank you to all of these distinguished speakers! Learn more about RPLG's Public Law Fellowship: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/fellowship-program-2021

Thank you to yesterday's public law fellowship speakers, Michael Colantuono, Corrie Manning and Patricia Martel, for engaging the fellows in a discussion about the relationship between state, regional and local government! Monday afternoon, our fellows heard from RPLG Senior Associate Steve Cikes about the current challenges public employers are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about RPLG's Public Law Fellowship: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/fellowship-program-2021

Land use expert Ann Danforth joined RPLG as Of Counsel last spring, bringing decades of public agency experience to the firm’s government law practice. Learn more about Ann: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/meet-rplg-of-counsel-and-la

The Fifth District Court of Appeal delivered a good result for cities in City of Fresno v. Fresno Building Healthy Communities. The Court agreed with the First District Court of Appeal’s decision in City and County of San Francisco v. All Persons Interested in the Matter of Proposition C, which held that Prop 13 and Prop 18’s requirement that local tax measures be approved by a 2/3 vote of the electorate does not apply to voter initiatives that impose special taxes. Approval of citizen initiatives by a majority vote will help cities raise badly needed revenue. Learn more: https://www.law360.com//calif-panel-reverses-supermajority

Amy Ackerman, a former senior deputy city attorney with the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, joined RPLG as Of Counsel in the spring of 2020. Learn more about Amy: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/meet-rplg-of-counsel-amy-a/

Watch now: RPLG Partner Jon Holtzman and Of Counsel Dennis Aftergut, the former Chief Assistant City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, discuss attorneys’ role in policy development that can bend the curve towards justice. This session was recorded as part of RPLG's 2020 Public Law Fellowship. https://www.youtube.com/watch

Ethan Pawson joined RPLG as an associate in October, bringing public agency experience as well as strong knowledge in planning, development and land use to our growing team. Learn more about Ethan: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/ethan-pawson-joins-rplg-as/

RPLG Partner Jon Holtzman will join Russ Branson and Michael Coleman in a discussion about the financial outlook for negotiators and human resources professionals at the CALPELRA Annual Training Conference this November. Their session will run from 2 - 3:30 PM on Thursday 11/19. Learn more about RPLG's presentations at CALPELRA: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/rplg-to-present-on-six-pan/

RPPG Senior Policy Advisor Dan Carrigg provides background on issues affecting housing production in California and insights about state housing legislation that local governments should expect in 2021. Learn more: https://publicpolicygroup.com/time-for-local-governments-t/

Renne Public Policy Group Managing Director of Government Affairs Dane Hutchings and Director of Government Affairs Sharon Gonsalves provide an update on the 2020 General Election results, including the status of statewide ballot measures and state legislative races. Learn more: https://rennepublicpolicygroup.com/2020-general-election-s/

Congratulations to RPLG Partner Ruth Bond! Ruth was named a Top Woman Lawyer of 2020 by the Daily Journal, which honors the top 100 women lawyers practicing in California each year. Ruth’s strong litigation skills and commitment to San Francisco’s community made her a cornerstone of our office, said San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera. Her practice advances the public interest and makes an impact in our community. I’m pleased to see Ruth's hard work recognized with this award." Learn more: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/ruth-bond-named-top-woman-/

RPLG Partners Jon Holtzman and Linda Ross will present on pensions at the virtual CALPELRA 45th Annual Training Conference this November. Their session, which runs from 11:15 AM - 12 PM on Wednesday 11/18, will discuss how the recent Cal Fire decision and future California Supreme Court decision will affect various pension and retiree health benefits after COVID-19 left underfunded pension funds in a dire condition. Learn more about RPLG's presentations at CALPELRA: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/rplg-to-present-on-six-pan/

Founding Partner Art Hartinger and Associate Anastasia Bondarchuk presented an update on the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) on Thursday, October 22 at PELRAC's 11th Annual Training Conference. Learn more and access slides: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/rplg-presents-update-on-pe/

RPLG Senior Associate Spencer Wilson will present at CALPELRA's virtual 45th Annual Training Conference in November. Spencer's presentation, "WaitI Was Supposed to Do What? Navigating the Complexities and Aftermath Of Emergency Personnel Decisions During A Pandemic," runs from 11:15 AM - 12 PM on Monday, Nov. 16. Learn more about RPLG's presentations at CALPELRA: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/rplg-to-present-on-six-pan/

RPLG Partner Ruth Bond and Senior Associate Ian Long will kick off the firm's presentations at the virtual CALPELRA 45th Annual Training Conference on Monday, Nov. 16 from 10:15 - 11 AM. Their session, "Union Activity and Whistleblowing," will analyze the increase of whistleblower complaints, especially in the public agency bargaining context, and how to spot these cases before going to court. Learn more about RPLG's presentations at CALPELRA: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/rplg-to-present-on-six-pan/

Anastasia Bondarchuk joined RPLG as an associate this August, bringing a blend of private- and public-sector experience to the firm’s Government and Litigation practice groups. Learn more about Anastasia: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/anastasia-bondarchuk-joins/

Watch now: RPLG Partner Jon Holtzman discusses government finance, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting recession, with Russell Branson of Russ Branson Consulting. This session was recorded as part of RPLG's 2020 Public Law Fellowship. https://youtu.be/w0bcOzyv1SY

Partner Teresa Stricker and Of Counsel Amy Ackerman will be presenting at the League of California Cities 2020 City Attorneys’ Department Virtual Conference on Friday (10/23). Their session, "But They’re Legislators, Not Judges: City Council Fair Process Requirements" will run from 9:45 - 10:15 AM on October 23. Learn more and access presentation materials: https://www.cacities.org/CLE

Anujan Jeevaprakesh recently joined RPLG as an associate, bringing a multi-faceted legal background, exemplary oral advocacy skills and a commitment to public service to the firm’s growing team. Learn more about Anujan: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/anujan-jeevaprakesh-joins-/

RPLG enthusiastically announces that Jamal H. Anderson, a former deputy district attorney for San Mateo County, has joined the firm as a Senior Associate. Jamal brings years of courtroom and policy experience to the firm. He will be working with the litigation, investigations and police reform teams. Learn more about Jamal: https://rennepubliclawgroup.com/jamal-anderson-brings-key-/