[Source: Curbed / American real estate blog] California, many say, is the future. A center for creative industries and new technology—look at its impressive rollout of electric vehicles and autonomous cars—it’s also a diverse state, pushing progressive policies that could be models for the rest of the country. And people are leaving in droves for Read More…
Month: February 2018
California losing residents via domestic migration
[Source: Brian Uhler/Justin Garosi, Legislative Analyst’s Office] For many years, more people have been leaving California for other states than have been moving here. According to data from the American Community Survey, from 2007 to 2016, about 5 million people moved to California from other states, while about 6 million left California. On net, the Read More…
The SCAQMD wants to raise your taxes
[Source: OC Register] In what appears to be the very definition of an out-of-control government agency, the staff of the South Coast Air Quality Management District has decided to pursue its own plan for raising the sales tax in four counties by a quarter-percent. The SCAQMD doesn’t have the authority to put tax-increase proposals on Read More…
Mad about L.A.’s air quality? Blame common products like hairspray and paint, not just cars
[Source: Los Angeles Times] When it comes to air quality, the products you use to smell nice or keep your kitchen clean could do just as much damage as the car you drive. A new study of the air around Los Angeles finds that consumer and industrial products now rival tailpipe emissions as a source Read More…
Californians voted to spend billions on more water storage, but state government keeps sitting on the cash
[Source: Los Angeles Times] We could be headed into another drought. There’s little Sierra snow and valleys are dry. Is California ready this time? Not really. Good signs: There’s still a lot of water stashed in reservoirs from last year’s abnormally wet winter. And we’ve become better at using less water in our homes and Read More…
Is Trump’s EPA chief bluffing? Or will he gut California’s tough emissions standards?
[Source: Sacramento Bee] California officials and clean air advocates are increasingly concerned the Trump administration may attempt to unravel a key program to drive down greenhouse gas emissions from automobile fleets while also jeopardizing the ability of California and other states to set pollution standards stronger than federal rules. Backed by automakers, Trump officials are Read More…
Kimberly-Clark to close its paper-products plant in Fullerton, which employs 330 people
[Source: Orange County Register] Kimberly-Clark intends to shutter its plant here as part of a restructuring it announced last month, the paper products giant has confirmed. The plant, which opened in 1956, employs 330 people. “Kimberly-Clark has informed employees at the Fullerton manufacturing facility of its proposed plan to close this facility,” company spokesperson Terry Read More…
Many big cities don’t have enough money to pay their bill
[Source: The Press Enterprise] An analysis of the fiscal health of the 75 most populated cities in the country found that the vast majority don’t have enough money to pay for their bills, including many in California. A new report by transparency group Truth in Accounting found that 64 of the 75 cities owed more Read More…