Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 – 09:45 a.m.
More independent money is continuing to flow into the race to represent the 8th Congressional District this week.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 – 09:30 a.m.
It sure looks as if San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Tribal Member and San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors candidate James Ramos’ campaign is pulling out all the stops in the final days running up to the June 5 primary.
Ramos is seeking to unseat Supervisor Neil Derry in the three-way contest.
BY BEN GOAD
WASHINGTON BUREAU
bgoad@pe.com
Published: 22 May 2012 06:56 PM
A high-stakes showdown with national implications is brewing in the San Bernardino Valley, where six candidates are vying to represent California’s newly drawn 31st Congressional District.
No House race in the country on the regular 2012 election schedule has attracted more outside spending than the 31st, which stretches from Redlands to Rancho Cucamonga and includes San Bernardino, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace, Colton and parts of Fontana and Rialto. Special interests have pumped more than $900,000 into the race.
Joe Nelson, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/22/2012 04:00:23 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO – High unemployment and a staggering number of people underwater on their mortgages continues to vex San Bernardino County, with no relief expected until late 2015, according to a budget report approved by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
The county added 15,600 jobs in the first three months of 2012, but its unemployment rate, as of March, was still hovering at 12.7 percent, higher than the national unemployment rate of 8.4 percent and California’s unemployment rate of 11.5 percent.
BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com
Published: 22 May 2012 05:09 PM
Riverside officials say they expect to recover only a portion of the $49.44 million that the former redevelopment agency spent to buy 80 pieces of land that are now up for sale.
Point of View
Supervisor Neil Derry
Posted: 05/22/2012 02:44:33 PM PDT
The people of San Bernardino County are tired of being unemployed or underemployed. They are tired of feeling like they just can’t get ahead. And they are tired of feeling like nothing is ever going to change.
There is a limit to what a county government can do to improve an economy that is subject to state, national and global pressures. But that doesn’t absolve us from working hard to make a positive impact in areas where we can make a difference.
Kristina Hernandez, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/22/2012 08:55:18 PM PDT
MENTONE – The economy and possible tax increases under Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration were two hot topics Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro addressed Tuesday night at the Mill Creek Cattle Co.
The talk was part of the party’s bus stop tour to address voters in other counties throughout the state and answer their questions and concerns about government on a state and local level.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/22/2012 12:15:41 PM PDT
UPLAND – Planning commissioner and real estate broker Bill Velto has announced his intention to run for City Council in November.
Velto, vice president and managing broker for Tarbell Realtors, is seeking to fill a council seat that will be left vacant when Councilman Ken Willis retires at the end of his term.
By PE Politics
May 22, 2012 12:15 PM
Calling for an “honest conversation” about spending cuts, Assemblyman Brian Nestande and others Tuesday proposed a constitutional amendment to prohibit lawmakers from deferring scheduled payments to schools from one fiscal year to another.
The state has built up more than $10 billion in school-funding deferrals as lawmakers try to avoid permanent general-fund cuts.
Wyatt Buchanan
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Sacramento — California’s public schools could see as much as a month of classroom time slashed from the calendar if voters reject a plan to raise taxes in November.
Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed giving school districts the option of cutting up to 15 days from the school year if voters reject his proposed income and sales tax initiative. The significantly shortened year would help offset a multibillion-dollar automatic midyear cut that would be implemented upon rejection of the taxes.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Wednesday, May. 23, 2012 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
As the state budget’s deficit widens, Gov. Jerry Brown is being thrust into a three-front political battle.
He must not only persuade voters to pass his sales and income tax package, but, implicitly, persuade them to reject a rival tax measure just for schools.