By Allison Sampite-Montecalvo in The San Diego Union-Tribune
April 21, 2016
CHULA VISTA — San Diego Port commissioners have invoked eminent domain on four acres of prime property on Chula Vista’s Bayfront that had been tangled up in prior agreements.
Commissioners decided April 14 to move on UTC Aerospace Systems’ property at a cost of $1.6 million. The parcel is owned by Rohr, Inc., currently operating as UTC.
Read more in The San Diego Union-Tribune
By Susan Shelley at Fox & Hounds
April 22, 2016
Something strange is going on with crime in Los Angeles.
The Public Policy Institute of California says property crimes were up sharply in L.A. County last year, but arrests and bookings for property crimes fell 31 percent.
Read more at Fox & Hounds
By Marilyn Kalfus in The Orange County Register
April 18, 2016
A big reason U.S. homeownership is dropping: Tax savings no longer provide an incentive to buy a house, according to an Irvine-based real estate analyst.
“Every April 15, the most financially qualified renters in the country used to feel the pain of not owning by writing a check to the IRS,” said John Burns of John Burns Real Estate Consulting. “For most, that is no longer the case.”
Read more at The Orange County Register
By Ralph Vartabedian in Los Angeles Times
April 12, 2016
Another chapter in the war over the California bullet train erupted Tuesday at a board meeting of the state’s high-speed rail authority as San Fernando Valley residents said the proposed routes would devastate their communities, jeopardize endangered species and cause visual blight.
Residents said routes under consideration between Burbank and Palmdale would ruin the rural character of their neighborhoods, including many equestrian areas.
Read more in Los Angeles Times
By Taryn Luna in The Sacramento Bee
April 1, 2016
With the 2016 tax deadline on the horizon, it’s the time of year Californians grumble about Uncle Sam slashing their income.
In fact, a new poll found that 54 percent of Golden State voters think they pay too much income tax. The latest Field Poll also shows that 40 percent of Californians actually believe they’re taxed just enough. Only 2 percent said taxes are too low.
By Joel Fox at Fox & Hounds
April 15, 2016
With expected November ballot measures falling away because of political pressure and legislative deal-making, the concern of an extremely long ballot has diminished somewhat but a long ballot still could confront voters. The length of the ballot could play a role in determining outcomes of some of the measures, especially appearing at the end of the ballot.
Because of the minimum wage bill signed by the governor, two minimum wage initiatives thought to be headed for the ballot likely will not go forward. Likewise, an expected property tax initiative that was moving ahead on signature gathering with enough resources in the bank to get the qualifying job done was suddenly pulled. A measure pursued to send high-speed rail money to water storage projects was dropped. Others may follow.
Read more at Fox & Hounds
By Chris Haire in The Orange County Register
April 12, 2016
ANAHEIM – Two streets would dead-end at rail crossings here, and some businesses and houses could face eminent domain if the state’s proposed bullet train makes its way to Anaheim’s new transportation hub, according to an analysis by the California High Speed Rail Authority.
The authority, which held its twice-monthly meeting in Anaheim on Tuesday, has whittled to one the number of feasible routes the bullet train could take from Los Angeles Union Station to the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, or ARTIC.
Read more at The Orange County Register
By CBS LA at CBS Los Angeles
April 11, 2016
STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — New findings are raising additional concerns over Proposition 47, a law designed to cut prison sentences for many nonviolent offenses.
“He got out early and he was able to do more crime and we were the victim of that,” said Allesha Jeffries of the man who’s accused of stealing her son’s specially-made bike.
Read more at CBS Los Angeles
By George Runner in Ventura County Star
April 9, 2016
Californians should be aware of a legislative attack on Proposition 13 known as “split roll.”
Prop. 13, of course, is the landmark law that protects home and business owners from out-of-control property taxes. It has worked well since voters approved it in 1978, but that hasn’t stopped some interest groups and politicians from trying to unravel it.
Read more at Ventura County Star
By Bradley J. Fikes in The San Diego Union-Tribune
April 10, 2016
This is the time of year when water utilities set their rates, which almost inevitably go up. But this year, the rate hikes are likely to be higher than usual, as water utilities cope with the unexpected impact of mandatory conservation on their budgets.
On April 12, Metropolitan’s board of directors is scheduled to vote on its prices for 2017 and 2018. These prices will be passed down to customers like the San Diego County Water Authority. In turn, the Water Authority sells to retail agencies that sell to the ultimate residential, business and agricultural customers.
Read more at The San Diego Union-Tribune