Gov. Brown signs climate change bill to spur renewable energy, efficiency standards - LA Times

 

Jerry Brown on Wednesday signed a pared-down climate change measure that will increase renewable energy generation and make buildings more energy efficient.

The legislation, SB 350 by Senate leader Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), was amended to remove a third component that would have required reduced gasoline use on California roads. The battle over the controversial proposal dominated the closing weeks of the legislative session last month.

Despite ceding some ground in a tug-of-war with oil companies, Brown and De León have touted the remaining parts of the legislation as significant steps in California’s fight against climate change.

Brown said the law would help the state lead a worldwide effort and improve the health of Californians.

"This is big," he said. "It’s big because it’s global in scope. It’s also big because it’s local in application."

A quick guide to California's climate change battle

Chris Megerianneed to invest in storage technology and other initiatives

California's battle against climate change involves an alphabet soup of agencies responsible for different programs and several key laws that guide state actions. Here's a glossary:

SB 350: This bill is now law, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in Los Angeles on Wednesday. It sets two targets for 2030...

California's battle against climate change involves an alphabet soup of agencies responsible for different programs and several key laws that guide state actions. Here's a glossary:

SB 350: This bill is now law, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in Los Angeles on Wednesday. It sets two targets for 2030...

(Chris Megerian)

The bill will require California to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind by 2030, up from the current target of 33% by 2020.

“We’re mainstreaming clean power," De León said. No matter where Californians live, “you will have the same access to clean electricity and clean air.”

The state’s target is expected to stimulate the development of more solar and wind power plants, but it will also raise new challenges. Renewable energy can be unreliable because it's impossible to predict when the sun shines or the wind blows, and experts say California will to ensure the right amount of electricity is available when it's needed.

The state will also need to become twice as energy efficient by 2030 under the new law. For existing buildings, that could include installing newer appliances or improving heating and air conditioning systems.

“What we’re trying to do is facilitate, where necessary, the marketplace for energy efficiency, for building upgrades, for remodels," said Andrew McAllister, a commissioner at the California Energy Commission.

Above is from:  Gov. Brown signs climate change bill to spur renewable energy, efficiency standards - LA Times

California receives U.S. funding for earthquake early-warning system - LA Times

 

California has received congressional funding to begin rolling out an earthquake early-warning system next year, capping nearly a decade of planning, setbacks and technological breakthroughs, officials said Sunday.

Scientists have long planned to make such a system available to some schools, fire stations, and more private businesses in 2015, but their effort hinged on Congress providing $5 million. The system would give as much as a minute's warning before shaking is felt in metropolitan areas, a margin that experts say would increase survival.

California earthquake safetyRead more stories

The U.S. Senate approved the allocation this weekend as part of the $1.1-trillion spending package, passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday, that will fund most of the U.S. government through the rest of the fiscal year. Officials plan to announce the funding at a news conference at Caltech on Monday.

The early-warning system is considered a major advance in seismic safety because it can give the public crucial seconds to prepare for the effects of shaking. Scientists eventually want to make alerts available to a wider public via phones, computers and special devices, such as modified weather radios, once the network is refined.

To the consternation of some, California is well behind Japan as well as Mexico, Taiwan, Turkey and other countries in using early-warning technology…..

Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey say they need $16.1 million a year to build and maintain such a network for California, Oregon and Washington state.

Large earthquakes in the Los Angeles areaRead the story

They said they need to more than double the existing network of 400 sensor stations, mostly by adding equipment in areas outside of Southern California. An additional 275 stations are needed in Oregon and Washington, said Doug Given, earthquake early-warning coordinator for the USGS.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called the $5 million in funding "a down payment," but said "more funding is necessary to complete the system."

California receives U.S. funding for earthquake early-warning system - LA Times

L.A. City Council votes minimum wage hike to $15.37 for biggest hotels

 

Los Angeles Times | September 24, 2014 | 12:31 PM

The Los Angeles City Council voted 12-3 today to require the city's biggest hotels to boost pay for their workers to at least $15.37 an hour – one of the highest minimum wage requirements in the U.S.

Mayor Eric Garcetti has said he would sign the plan, which would hand a major victory to organized labor and a defeat to hotel and business leaders who contend it would cut profits and trigger layoffs.

Because the vote was not unanimous, the ordinance will require a second vote next week.

Above is from:  https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/148a927ebf3905d3

LAX dry ice bombs: 4 devices left in restricted areas, police say - latimes.com

No connection to terrorism?

Officials said an airport employee heard an explosion in a men's room and went to investigate. He discovered a 20-ounce plastic bottle that had contained the dry ice. The blast did no damage, and no injuries were reported.

That area is also off limits to the public, police officials said.

On Monday night, detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's Criminal Conspiracy Section were investigating how the bombs were placed in security areas.

"Apparently there is no nexus to terrorism right now," LAPD Det. Gus Villanueva told The Times.

The FBI was assisting the LAPD in the investigation.

Read the entire story:  LAX dry ice bombs: 4 devices left in restricted areas, police say - latimes.com

Potential pitfalls as California hails new licenses for immigrants - latimes.com

 

The new law – heralded by hundreds of proponents, including Gov. Jerry Brown and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti outside City Hall on Thursday -- will set off a scramble at the Department of Motor Vehicles, which may open up to six temporary offices to handle the estimated 1.4 million immigrants who are expected to apply in the next three years.

The licenses will bear distinguishing marks: The legislation recommends DP for driving privilege, rather than DL for driver's license.

Proponents say that with more licensed drivers, hit-and-run accidents will decrease and the percentage of drivers who are insured will increase.

Ten other states have passed similar laws, but in three of those states, the effect is being debated.

Republican New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has advocated the repeal of the driver's license provision, arguing that out-of-state immigrants are flocking there and fraudulently obtaining licenses. Washington state has also seen multiple attempts to repeal its immigrant driver's licenses.

California is home to nearly one in four immigrants who live in the U.S. without legal status. The state can learn a lot about potential problems from New Mexico, which has issued more than 90,000 driver's licenses to foreign nationals since 2003, said Demesia Padilla, that state's secretary for taxation and revenue.

Click on the following for more details:: Potential pitfalls as California hails new licenses for immigrants - latimes.com

Hunger Strike by California Inmates, Already Large, Is Expected to Be Long - NYTimes.com

Estimates that 30,000 inmates, 2/3 of CA prisons involved in strike.  Read the entire article for all the issues involved.

 

By JENNIFER MEDINA

Published: July 10, 2013

The protest is centered on the state’s aggressive solitary confinement practices, but it appeared to have attracted support from many prisoners with their own demands for changes in prison conditions.

California is facing the threat of being charged with contempt of court after a Supreme Court order in May 2011 to reduce its prison population by 10,000 inmates this year. The court said crowding and terrible conditions inside the prison system constituted inhumane treatment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. On Wednesday, the state filed for a stay of the court’s order to release prisoners.

 

Click on the following for the entire article:  Hunger Strike by California Inmates, Already Large, Is Expected to Be Long - NYTimes.com

Belvidere residents could see substantial electric bill reductions | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Residents will realize almost a 50 percent savings over what they are currently being supplied by ComEd,” Brereton continued about the bid information which was for a two year agreement.

Finance Director Chamberlin said moving forward, the city’s residents will get two letters, from one the supplier and one from ComEd which will explain how they can opt out of the aggregate program. Brereton said he couldn’t imagine who wouldn’t want to switch sand save nearly half on the energy portion of the bill, but the program requires an “opt out” feature for those who want to do so.

Chamberlin explained those who participate in the new program should start seeing the reductions in bills beginning in August. Alderman Michael Chamberlain added that the average resident would save about $300, considering average kilowatt usage.

Brereton reminded the council that the percentage reduction applies only to the energy portion of the bill and not maintenance and other costs.

Click on the following to read the rest of the story:  Belvidere residents could see substantial electric bill reductions | Belvidere Daily Republican

America's Most Miserable Cities, 2012 - Yahoo! Real Estate

Scoreboard:  3 Michigan cities; 3 Florida cities; 2 Illinois cities; 1 each for California and Ohio

We looked at 10 factors for the 200 largest metro areas and divisions in the U.S. Some are serious, like violent crime, unemployment rates, foreclosures, taxes (income and property), home prices and political corruption. Other factors we included are less weighty, like commute times, weather and how the area’s pro sports teams did

10. Warren, MI The housing market collapsed in the Warren metro area, which includes Troy and Farmington Hills. The median home price is down 50% over the past three years, the second biggest drop in the U.S. after Detroit.

#9. Rockford, IL  Property tax rates were fifth highest in the country in 2010. The median tax bill was $3,234 on home values of $136,000 for a rate of 2.4%.

8. Toledo, OH The city is ensnared in a scandal within its Department of Neighborhoods that involves alleged bid rigging and stolen funds. The FBI and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are investigating the crimes. Toledo scores poorly when it comes to income and property tax rates.

7. Fort Lauderdale, FL The spring break mecca has been hit hard by the housing downturn. Median home prices in the metro division that includes Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach are down 50% since 2006 to a recent $183,000.

6. Chicago, IL The Windy City is a cultural and financial center, but its residents must endure gridlock traffic, high property taxes and brutal winters. Commute times to work average 31 minutes, eighth worst in the U.S.

5. Sacramento, CA Sacramento’s lone pro sports team is flirting with a move to Anaheim unless the city delivers financing for a new arena. Sac-Town might not miss them. The team has lost 73% of its games since the start of the 2008-09 season. Foreclosures in California's capital were among the 10 highest last year.

4. West Palm Beach, FL South Florida has long been stained by corruption. One of the latest examples: Jose Rodriguez, the mayor of Boynton Beach (part of the West Palm metropolitan division) was suspended from his office last month by Gov. Rick Scott after he was arrested for allegedly using his position to obstruct a child abuse probe involving his wife's estranged daughter. Home prices in the West Palm area are off 50% since 2006.

3. Flint, MI Flint razed 775 abandoned homes in the year ending October 2011, to try and change the city landscape. The state of Michigan appointed an emergency manager last year to take over Flint's budget and operations. Crime remains a severe problem with the violent crime rate the third worst in the U.S.

2. Detroit, MI Detroit has closed schools and laid off police in an effort to avoid a bankruptcy filing this year. Home prices are down 54% the past three years, worst in the U.S. The median price was $38,000 last year in the Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn metro division.

1. Miami, FL  The housing crisis has devastated Miami with 47% of homeowners sitting on underwater mortgages. Foreclosures have been rampant with 364,000 properties in the Miami area entering the foreclosure process since 2008 according to RealtyTrac.

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Click on following for the details:   America's Most Miserable Cities, 2012 - Yahoo! Real Estate

John Doe #172 sues Archbishop of Philadelphia

Former and current archbishop among the defendants  in another case of sexual abuse involving parish priest, Fr. Robert Brennan, and the failure of the archdiocese to act appropriately.

The case was filed today in Philadelphia.  The court papers are available at:  http://andersonadvocates.com/Files/412/Complaint-John-Doe-172-V-Archdiocese-of-Philadelphiapdf

Jeb Bush, Newt Gingrich: Allow states to declare bankruptcy - latimes.com

Better off bankrupt

States should have the option of bankruptcy protection to deal with their budget crises.

First, as with municipal bankruptcy, it would have to be completely voluntary. This means that neither the federal government nor state creditors could push an unwilling state into bankruptcy

Second, as with municipal bankruptcy, a new bankruptcy law would allow states in default or in danger of default to reorganize their finances free from their union contractual obligations…The new law could also allow states an opportunity to reform their bloated, broken and underfunded pension systems for current and future workers.

Third, the new law should allow for the restructuring of a state's debt and other contractual obligations.

Fourth, the federal judge reviewing the state's reorganization plan would have the power only to accept the plan as permissible under the federal bankruptcy law, or reject it as inconsistent with that law.

Fifth, the new law should provide for triggering mechanisms to initiate the bankruptcy process that respect the sovereignty of the people of a state.

Click on the following for more details:  Jeb Bush, Newt Gingrich: Allow states to declare bankruptcy - latimes.com

Gov. Jerry Brown Stops California Agencies From Buying New Cars - NYTimes.com

There is a lot of wasteful spending on cars that aren’t even driven,” Mr. Brown said. “And we can’t afford to spend taxpayer money on new cars while California faces such a massive deficit.”

turn in some 48,000 cellphones paid for by the government, saying it would save the state at least $20 million.

Brown said he also wanted to sell off about 5,500 state-owned passenger cars and trucks that are not used for public health or safety.

Click on the following for more details:  Gov. Jerry Brown Stops California Agencies From Buying New Cars - NYTimes.com

Cal Voters firmly oppose measure to legalize marijuana, 51%-39%

Los Angeles Times | Oct. 22, 2010 | 5 a.m.

A Times/USC poll finds Democrats and independents favor Prop. 19, but Republicans are overwhelmingly against it. Men are split, and women are leaning against

Likely voters younger than 40 are in favor of it by 48% to 37%, but older voters, who say they are more enthusiastic about voting in this election, are not.

The poll found Proposition 19 leading only in the Central Coast counties and running far behind in the largely conservative Central Valley and in Southern California.

For more details:  http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-mew-prop19-poll-20101023,0,2940971.story

Illegal immigration declines sharply in California, across the country, report says

 

Click on the following to read the story:  Illegal immigration declines sharply in California, across the country, report says | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times