Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
Saturday, July 7, 2012 – 11:30 a.m.
Broke California is now the new laughingstock of the nation, in addition to being the butt of many cocktail party jokes.
The state that can’t balance it’s own budget is now getting a bullet train.
Friday, July 6, 2012 – 09:00 p.m.
The national debt has ballooned another $5 trillion under President Barack Obama’s watch.
What did we get for all that money spent?
Not much!
Friday, July 6, 2012 – 04:30 p.m.
It’s official!
The California High-Speed Rail Project is a go, thanks to State Senator Gloria Negrete-McLeod (D-Chino).
Yes, the termed-out senator cast the deciding 21st vote needed to green light the bill to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk late Friday afternoon.
BY ALICIA ROBINSON
STAFF WRITER
arobinson@pe.com
Published: 06 July 2012 12:09 PM
Riverside’s red light camera program, which appears to have lost about $1.72 million over the past six years, could be scrapped on Tuesday, July 10.
The city first signed a contract with Redflex Traffic Systems in 2006, and officials agreed to a five-year extension in November 2011. There are now 30 cameras at 21 intersections around the city.
Toni Momberger, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/06/2012 03:30:07 PM PDT
REDLANDS – Councilman Jerry Bean said Friday he will not run for re-election in November.
He has served one term. He won election to a four-year City Council term in 2007. His term was extended by one year when the council moved the November city elections from odd-numbered to even-numbered years.
Staff Reports
Posted: 07/06/2012 04:54:42 PM PDT
A bill inspired by the need to dilute the influence of big money in San Bernardino County politics passed the state Legislature Friday, on its way to the governor’s desk for a signature.
Staff and Wire Reports
Posted: 07/06/2012 06:31:47 PM PDT
The Redlands Tea Party Patriots moved quickly in opposing the state Legislature’s support of a bullet train in California.
Thursday afternoon, the Assembly approved S.B. 1029, authorizing the state to begin selling about $4.5billion in state bonds for the nation’s first high-speed rail system, taking an initial step toward the ambitious $68billion project that Gov. Jerry Brown hopes will be a part of his legacy.
Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/06/2012 09:12:01 PM PDT
UPLAND – The City Council on Monday will consider adopting a budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year after a failed attempt to reach agreements on concessions with employee groups.
The council in May reached out to the city’s seven employee groups for concessions in order to avoid cuts to city services and layoffs in the Police Department.
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/06/2012 06:15:26 PM PDT
FONTANA – A fresh source of money totalling close to $14 million means construction of a long-stalled freeway interchange project may begin before year’s end.
That, in turn, could facilitate the construction of thousands of homes as well as new office and retail space.
Wyatt Buchanan and Marisa Lagos
Updated 09:36 p.m., Friday, July 6, 2012
While lawmakers this week acted on two major issues – passing protections for homeowners and authorizing the issuance of the high-speed rail bonds – they were unable to tackle what many observers see as an issue that could roil the November elections: the growing cost of public employee pensions.
Legislators and Gov. Jerry Brown want to do something significant on the issue, especially before the November election, when they will be pushing hard for voters to support Brown’s tax-raising initiative. But before that happens, Democrats and the governor will have to come to an agreement.
That certainly didn’t pan out this week.