Would use Prop 63 tax revenues to pay back homeless housing bonds Proposition 2, on the November ballot as a legislatively referred tax statute, proposes to ratify already-approved issuance of $2 billion in revenue bonds for homelessness prevention housing for persons in need of mental health services. Because the bonds are to be paid back…
If the federal government permits it California’s Proposition 7, on the November ballot, proposes to “support” the Legislature in passing a law to make Daylight Saving Time year-round in California. At this time, there are no states with year-round daylight savings, although the state of Florida made a formal request to the federal government in March…
Dinners from home now legal Several bills Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed last week will affect food and restaurant businesses. Plastic straws On Thursday, Brown, signed Assembly Bill 1884, which “Prohibits dine-in restaurants from automatically providing plastic straws.” The diner must request the straw and more than two violations of the law can result…
In what some contend was an effort to curb “fake news,” President Donald Trump’s Department of Commerce imposed higher tariffs on newsprint imported from Canada. This would raise the cost of paper, thus having a negative effect on the national newspaper industry. The initial proposal was to raise tariffs on this product 22 percent, but…
Among the hundreds of bills the state Legislature did not pass was Senate Bill 845. This proposal would allow water customers throughout the state to voluntarily give or “tax” themselves to provide a source of funds for assisting disadvantaged communities to install projects to ensure safe drinking water for their customers. The amount would have…
The horrendous wildfires that have ravaged Northern and Southern California, especially in the past two years, have gotten the Legislature’s attention. In June, at the request of Gov. Jerry Brown, legislative leaders established the Wildfire Preparedness and Response Conference Committee, to study and consider legislation “to strengthen disaster preparedness and … appropriate policies to respond…
On Monday, Sept. 10, Southern California Edison unveiled its plan to improve the safety of its equipment, especially within fire-prone areas, and reduce the threat of exacerbating wildfires. The entire initiative, which will cost about $580 million, has been submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission for approval. SCE has designed a multi-phase program, with…
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department wants to alert all residents of the Lake Hemet and Apple Canyon areas that it will be conducting a multi-agency search-and-rescue training operation from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, near Lake Hemet. An increased presence of law enforcement and first responders in the area is no cause…
By Colleen Tressler Consumer Education Specialist Federal Trade Commission Extreme weather and natural disasters can occur with little warning. This year’s floods and wildfires are proof of that. Are you ready to leave your home at a moment’s notice? You can reduce your anxiety about these scary events by making sure you are prepared if…
Closure of San Onofre plant returns past costs Southern California Edison customers will see lower bills beginning in September. Late last month, the California Public Utilities Commission approved the final settlement regarding what SCE customers are owed as a result of the closure of the San Onofre nuclear plant, on the beach near Pendleton in…
