Latest News

Check back often for the latest news.
  • Why they walk away
    Mar 17, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    Just how many are walking away isn't clear. Still, some experts are dubious that millions of underwater homeowners will pull the plug as Bloch did. When home values fell, they too found themselves underwater.
  • Court orders Pleasanton to drop its housing cap, temporarily stop issuing non-residential building permits
    Mar 16, 2010 — Contra Costa Times
    ...ordered Pleasanton to drop its voter-approved housing cap because it violates state law and prevents the city from meeting its share of regional housing needs. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch ruled Friday that Pleasanton's 1998 voter-approved housing cap of 29,000 units is void. He ordered the city to plan for the construction of 3,277 housing units, including 2,524 affordable homes, for the current planning period that ends in 2014. Roesch also ordered the city...
  • $10 vehicle fee in the mix as fix for roads and transit
    Mar 13, 2010 — Contra Costa Times
    ...transportation projects, and stepping up to pay for them." In Santa Clara County, a committee of the Transportation Authority recommended Wednesday that the full authority consider a November ballot measure. A poll of 900 Marin County voters found 65 percent in support of a $10 per auto fee, according to the Marin County Transportation Authority, which is investigating a ballot measure. The Solano County Transportation Authority is looking at a November ballot measure...
  • Counties eye ballot measures to raise auto registration fee for transportation funding
    Mar 12, 2010 — Contra Costa Times
    ... In Santa Clara County, a committee of the Transportation Authority recommended Wednesday that the full authority consider a November ballot measure. A poll of 900 Marin County voters found 65 percent in support of a $10 per auto fee, according to the Marin County Transportation Authority, which is investigating a ballot measure. The Solano County Transportation Authority is looking at a November ballot measure because it would provide local "self help" funds to offset the...
  • Concord sets priorities for social services, affordable housing
    Mar 11, 2010 — Contra Costa Times
    The remaining $12 million would come from the redevelopment agency. About half that housing money would go to help low-income residents who own homes make necessary repairs. But other council members said the money would be better used to support existing services. Contact Paul Thissen at 925-943-8163.
  • L.A. parking enforcement officers wrongly issue tickets at broken meters
    Mar 11, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    Maeve Reston Mar. 11, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- It's a situation that thousands of Angelenos have faced. There's just one spot left, but as you pull in the meter flashes that irritating message: Fail, Fail, Fail. And not only did some of LaBonge's constituents complain about tickets they said resulted from parking at failed meters -- it happened to two of his own aides.
  • Australia provides lessons on water
    Mar 10, 2010 — San Bernardino County Sun
    ...water policies for the future, state water managers are turning for help to Australia and, ironically, to an area with close ties to the history of the Inland Empire. Tim Brick, chairman of the Metropolitan Water District board of directors, and a delegation of California water leaders recently visited Australia to learn about water management in the face of drought and climate change. And they went to an area in which an Inland Empire pioneer -- George Chaffey -- helped develop...
  • Finally, a rail line? Transportation leaders will vote May 6 whether to buy 32 miles of track
    Mar 10, 2010 — Santa Cruz Sentinel
    While she declined to predict her vote, Pirie said, "I've been supportive of the effort.
  • San Jose council agrees to levy fee on affordable housing developers
    Mar 10, 2010 — San Jose Mercury News
    Oliverio pulled out a whole baguette, which he likened to the 100 percent fee, then pulled out a second baguette that he cut in half. He said the 50 percent fee "will do very little to bring a park" to residents of affordable housing who have lacked the amenity. But Leslye Krutko, the city's housing director, explained that the 50 percent fee came after her department and the city's parks department agreed both are priorities for San Jose. San Jose created its Housing Department...
  • Foreclosure forum a discussion of trying times
    Mar 8, 2010 — Merced Sun-Star
    Deidre Kelsey; Mayor Bill Spriggs; Alex Abarca, a behavioral health consultant with Golden Valley Health Centers; LaMonte Allen, a financial specialist with ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions; Realtor Andy Krotik and Sun-Star reporter Danielle Gaines. Gaines was the Sun-Star's reporter (along with photographer Bea Ahbeck) in the company's January series, "Houses of Blues: The Extreme Stress of Merced's Foreclosure Epidemic." The series was reported and written with an editor and...
  • Redlands cuts high school busing
    Mar 8, 2010 — San Bernardino County Sun
    Nobody gets into bus driving for the money or the respect. It's going to affect a lot of bus drivers' benefits. Some of the drivers just made 6 1/4 hours before all this happened." About 90 percent of RUSD bus drivers are already part time, Johnson said.
  • Elections officials question credentials of supervisor candidate Deitch
    Mar 6, 2010 — Santa Cruz Sentinel
    The 61-year-old, who has worked in real estate and runs a water conservation nonprofit, identifies a sound, regional water policy as the county's top need.
  • Pair of desert projects get $15 million in funding
    Mar 6, 2010 — San Bernardino County Sun
    ...million in funding from the San Bernardino Associated Governments (Sanbag), the county's transportation planning agency. On Wednesday, the Sanbag board earmarked $7.5 million in surface transportation funds for the La Mesa/Nisqualli interchange on the 15 Freeway in Victorville and another $7.5 million for the Yucca Loma bridge project in Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Valley. The $63 million interchange project in Victorville will create an additional east/west transportation corridor that...
  • Assemblyman Curt Hagman introduces bill to eliminate La Habra Heights' requirement for low-income housing
    Mar 5, 2010 — The Whittier Daily News
    In addition, it still must go to the City Council, he added. "This is a proposal," Vipperman said. "It's not a done deal.
  • EDITORIAL
    Mar 4, 2010 — The Sacramento Bee
    The full council could vote on an ordinance as soon as May. The fees are not in the upcoming budget, so the earliest they would take effect would be in mid-2011.
  • Plans submitted for Feather River Mills site
    Mar 4, 2010 — Appeal-Democrat
    A thin magazine also tells developers about "Destination Yuba City." This type of marketing approach, with the brochure and request for qualifications, is a first for Yuba City.
  • Plans submitted for Y.C.'s Feather River Mills site
    Mar 4, 2010 — Appeal-Democrat
    A thin magazine also tells developers about "Destination Yuba City." This type of marketing approach, with the brochure and request for qualifications, is a first for Yuba City.
  • Solano seeks transit funding
    Mar 4, 2010 — The Reporter (Vacaville, Calif.)
    Solano County mayors showed up in Washington, D.C., this week to advocate for federal funding for the county's priority transportation projects. The contingent also included Mike Ammann, president of the Solano Economic Development Corporation; Anthony Intintoli, vice chairman of the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority; and members of the Solano Transportation Authority. "I believe we have a leg up because we're so united in our approach," Vacaville...
  • Trying to find solutions to flooded roads
    Mar 3, 2010 — Colusa County Sun-Herald
    ...tight. Sadie Smith, a Caltrans transportation planner for District 3, said the state may have a funding program to help with maintenance on designated routes, such as Husted Road, but no help is likely for Abel Road. Still, the Colusa County Transportation Commission asked Azevedo to pull together all stakeholders with an interest in county roadways, including Caltrans and Colusa Casino, to find a viable transportation route during flood events. Contact Susan Meeker at...
  • Housing limited for county poor
    Mar 2, 2010 — Monterey County Herald
    The loan is forgivable after 5 to 15 years if the home isn't sold. Once the home is sold, the proceeds go back into the program. No Marina or Seaside homes have yet been identified, but Barr said she expects there will be some in those communities.
  • The city has a California problem
    Mar 1, 2010 — The San Diego Union-Tribune
    As a result, they tend to have faster rent and price increases and faster price declines. The better solution is to allow more density in development. Let's give credit to San Diego for allowing the renaissance of the Gaslamp area and Horton Plaza and the whole bayfront.
  • Local transit in middle of fuel tax swap proposal
    Feb 27, 2010 — Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
    These funds are currently only allowed to fund public transportation. Gov.
  • Success on wheels
    Feb 27, 2010 — San Gabriel Valley Tribune
    WHITTIER -- Since Alan Blomker founded Secure Transportation back in 1980, the firm has traveled a lot of miles on its route to success. What Blomker began with a hearse and a stretch car to transport people to and from funerals, has turned into four offices, where 200 employees make sure a fleet of 135 vehicles -- from limousines to coach buses -- gets people to where they need to go. Back in the beginning, it was just a living. Blomker, who was inspired to start the business...
  • Senate jobs bill meets reluctance over distribution of highway funds
    Feb 26, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    Barbara Boxer, chairwoman of the Senate committee that oversees public works, would receive $278 million, more than any other state. The dispute threatens to delay action on an election-year jobs bill that Democrats are eager to pass. The Senate bill would distribute $932 million based on how much states received in the last big transportation bill for "projects of national and regional significance" and projects that promote economic growth and trade.
  • Fremont's spurt of affordable housing projects nearly over
    Feb 25, 2010 — The Argus
    Abode will provide on-site counseling for residents. The $42 million project on Peralta, being developed by nonprofit Eden Housing, will house 98 low-income and extremely low-income seniors.
  • Housing agency finds a tenant
    Feb 24, 2010 — The San Diego Union-Tribune
    But as we learned, real estate can have a downside as well.
  • Revised Berkeley downtown plan to go before City Council
    Feb 23, 2010 — The Oakland Tribune
    But council members Jesse Arreguin, with the help of Councilman Kriss Worthington, gathered enough signatures to put it on a citywide ballot. The council will then vote on moving forward with Bates' new plan, which would get a public hearing in May.
  • A confluence of factors means many homeless families in the county have limited options
    Feb 21, 2010 — Ventura County Star
    Bill Finley, who oversees the program, said Housing First models require available subsidized housing. Families stay for 30 to 60 days in an emergency shelter, where they get intensive services. They are then moved into permanent housing where the services follow them.
  • Feinstein proposal to help farmers could harm cities, Delta fish
    Feb 21, 2010 — Contra Costa Times
    Feinstein, D-Calif., to ease endangered species protections in the Delta would do the same thing. Urban customers of the larger, state-owned pumps say they do not expect additional water under Feinstein's plan. What's more, there is a possibility that the extra water sent to farms could come at the expense of cities. Feinstein's proposal to guarantee farm districts like the politically powerful Westlands Water District -- the nation's largest irrigation district -- a...
  • Feinstein water transfer bill would hurt salmon, destroy wetlands, critics say
    Feb 21, 2010 — The Sacramento Bee
    One way it would do so is by waiving individual environmental reviews to protect the Sacramento Valley's threatened giant garter snake.
  • Wagon Wheel site developers hoping to qualify for state tax credits move forward on affordable housing
    Feb 21, 2010 — Ventura County Star
    Daly said it will learn if it qualifies sometime in July and could start construction on almost 100 affordable housing units by the end of the year.
  • Going back to their roots at Nikkei Senior Gardens
    Feb 20, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    Senior homes such as Nikkei often receive donations from outsiders. In addition, the complex includes a mini fruit orchard and an artfully designed Japanese garden. The garden plot caught Doi's eye when he and his wife, Sachie, thought about moving in.
  • Mercury News interview
    Feb 20, 2010 — San Jose Mercury News
    Imagine in 2000, putting broadband into public housing. We should never put another dime into affordable housing without ensuring broadband is in it. I'm interested in interconnecting different sectors and TechNet being right at the center of that.
  • More than 100 show up for City Council candidate forum
    Feb 20, 2010 — Press-Telegram
    District candidate Jana Shields, 3 rd District candidate Tom Marchese and 9 th District candidate Steve Neal were there, the rivalry between what may be the two lead candidates in the 7 th District race, incumbent Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga and Assistant City Auditor James Johnson, quickly surfaced. When asked whether they would support an ordinance to require that workers at Long Beach hotels be paid a living wage, Uranga voiced strong support. "We should not continue to...
Take Action The Orange County Chamber of Commerce urges its members to express their concerns on Paid Leave.
Take Action Now!
Voter Resources