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California is in the grips of an unacceptable, unsustainable, unjust housing crisis. No one city, state department, organization, or individual can fix this problem overnight, but we all have a responsibility to do our part to address it.
For cities like Elk Grove, following California’s housing laws is not only expected, but it is the bare minimum they can do.
Which is why my team sued the City of Elk Grove when it illegally denied a supportive housing proposal that would have created 66 studio apartments for lower-income folks at risk of homelessness. As a result of legal action taken by my office and the developer, Elk Grove will soon get 80 new one-bedroom apartments for lower-income folks — significantly more than the original proposal. On top of that, the city must identify an additional site for even more affordable housing, they must comply with our housing laws, and they will be subject to regular monitoring and reporting.
Let this be a lesson to local governments across the state: if you flout our housing laws and avoid doing your part to create the housing our communities need, California DOJ will take you to court. California DOJ is here to enforce our housing laws and deliver housing justice. You can count on it.
In solidarity,
Rob
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Tackling the Homelessness Crisis
 While I am pleased that the Elk Grove matter is now behind us, and that Elk Grove ultimately approved even more homes for those most in need, the city’s refusal to do the right thing over and over again cannot be swept under the rug. At our press conference alongside California Governor Gavin Newsom and California Department of Housing and Community Development Director Gustavo Velasquez, I stressed that these are not ordinary times. Millions of Californians are struggling to keep a roof over their heads or lack housing altogether.
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Supporting Commonsense Gun Safety Measures
 This week, I also filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in support of Cook County, Illinois’ assault weapons ban. States and local governments play an essential role in promoting public safety, and that role must include combating threats of mass shootings and senseless gun violence. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to defend these life-saving public safety measures.
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Accountability for Cryptocurrency Company Robinhood
 While cryptocurrency is fairly new, California has strong and enduring consumer protection laws that protect Californians against misrepresentation, including by cryptocurrency companies. This week, I announced a $3.9 million settlement with cryptocurrency trading platform Robinhood for failing to allow customers to withdraw their cryptocurrency from their Robinhood accounts from 2018 to 2022, and for failing to fully disclose aspects of its trading and order handling arrangements.
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Addressing Ongoing Youth Vaping Epidemic
 Addressing the ongoing youth vaping epidemic is a critical public health priority. In partnership with a coalition of 20 attorneys general, I filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to deny marketing authorization for certain candy- and fruit-flavored vape products. Youth use of e-cigarettes remains stubbornly high, and e-cigarette use is linked to harmful health consequences, including lung inflammation, impaired lung function, DNA damage, and cardiovascular disease.
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Protecting Pregnant Workers
 The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is the first federal law that requires employers to offer accommodations to employees for pregnancy-related medical conditions during the entire period from pregnancy to postpartum recovery. It is implemented by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and this week before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, I joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general in fighting to protect its implementation.
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Make a Difference at California DOJ
 Apply today to help DOJ protect the health, well-being, and public safety of Californians. Check out our featured jobs below and visit oag.ca.gov/careers for a full listing of available positions:
Deputy Attorney General III, Correctional Law
Deputy Attorney General, Tort & Condemnation
Deputy Attorney General Supervisor, Healthcare Rights and Access Section
Deputy Attorney General IV, DMFEA Facilities Enforcement Team
Deputy Attorney General IV, Health Quality Enforcement
Bureau Director, Justice Data and Investigative Services Division
Legal Secretary, Legal Support Operations
Staff Services Management Auditor, Office of Program Oversight and Accountability
Investigative Auditor III, DMFEA Investigations Section
Senior Legal Analyst, Employment Law
Attorney General’s Honors Program
Deputy Attorney General
Graduate Legal Assistant
Geoffrey Wright Solicitor General DAG or GLA
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Video of the Week
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 Our message to cities who refuse to follow California’s housing laws is simple: we will sue you.
And we will win.
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Resource Corner
 Price gouging during a state of emergency is illegal. This week, I issued a consumer alert following Governor Gavin Newsom’s declaration of a state of emergency in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes amid ongoing landslides that have resulted in disrupted utility services and evacuation warnings for impacted residents.
Californians who believe they have been the victim of price gouging should report it to their local authorities or to my office at oag.ca.gov/report. California law generally prohibits charging a price that exceeds, by more than 10%, the price of an item before a state or local declaration of emergency.
The consumer alert is available here.
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