Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
Friday, October 31, 2014 – 09:35 a.m.
New data indicates turnout in the Inland Empire is dismal this year.
Friday, October 31, 2014 – 09:00 a.m.
Here’s the latest update from the average of polls, produced by RealClearPolitics.com, as of Friday morning.
Published: Oct. 30, 2014 Updated: 10:30 p.m.
An Islamic State militant points a knife at the head of a doomed British aid worker. Workers in biohazard gear carry what appears to be a coffin. Protesters hold signs, one of which reads, “Behead those who insult Islam.”
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Grace Wong, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 10/30/14, 8:11 PM PDT |
ONTARIO >> Despite dramatic campaigning that has forced family members to come out and speak at council meetings, the issue of the Ontario Airport returning to local control is still the hot topic of the City Council election on Tuesday.
By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com
10/30/2014 9:20 PM
Government pensions in California remain untouchable, at least for now, after a bankruptcy judge approved Stockton’s plan to repay its creditors Thursday without reducing the city’s pension obligations.
By Don Lee
October 30, 2014
The U.S. economy is showing steady, solid growth despite the shaky global environment, but its resilience will be tested in the coming months.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
10/30/2014 7:53 PM
ONTARIO – Ontario International Airport opened two large, modernistic terminals in the late 1990s to improve service in California’s fast-growing “Inland Empire” of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, replacing shabby facilities that would have embarrassed a Third World country.
By Tim Reid
LOS ANGELES
Thu Oct 30, 2014 – 1:04pm EDT
(Reuters) – Voters in bankrupt San Bernardino, California, will decide next week whether to scrap a budget rule that sets pay for police and firefighters based on salary levels in wealthier cities.
By Charles Krauthammer, Opinion writer
October 30 at 7:29 PM
Is this election really about nothing? Democrats might like to think so, but it’s not.
First, like all U.S. elections, it’s about the economy. The effect of the weakest recovery in two generations is reflected in President Obama’s 13-point underwater ratings for his handling of the economy.
Published: Oct. 29, 2014 Updated: 7:36 p.m.
A campaign mailer funded by developer Iddo Benzeevi attempts to link Moreno Valley City Council candidate Gwendolyn Cross with two recently convicted Moreno Valley politicians.
To read story by Imran Ghori in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Beau Yarbrough, The Sun
Posted: 10/29/14, 4:16 PM PDT |
Like the immortal words of Han Solo, never tell Bob Conaway the odds.
The 8th Congressional District, which represents the eastern desert border of California, including portions of San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono Counties, leans to the right — as of Sept. 5, almost 40 percent of the 299,581 registered voters are registered Republicans, more than 7 percent more than registered as Democrats.
By Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 10/29/14, 5:01 PM PDT | Updated: 4 mins ago
ONTARIO >> While the Inland Empire economy continues on the upswing, the growth of high-paying jobs and quality firms continues to be hindered by educational attainment levels.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 10/29/14, 2:28 PM PDT | Updated: 6 hrs ago
RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> In Tuesday’s election, residents will decide whether to re-elect longtime politicians or bring in some new faces to the dais.
By Bob Egelko
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
At the request of San Francisco’s district attorney and police, the state Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to decide whether prosecutors must examine officers’ confidential personnel files for evidence of misconduct that could help the defense in a criminal trial.
By Jim Miller
jmiller@sacbee.com
10/29/2014 2:15 PM
More than one-half of California’s 17.6 million registered voters have requested vote-by-mail ballots for Tuesday’s election. The question now is: Will they use them?
By Garrett Therol
October 29, 2014
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich has tapped his chief of staff, Kathryn Barger-Leibrich, as his preferred successor when he retires from public office in 2016 after 36 years in the job.
By Jean Merl
October 30, 2014
Former President Bill Clinton stumped for Democrats on Wednesday in some of California’s most hotly contested House races.
By Marc Lifsher and Melody Petersen
October 29, 2014
In a closely watched case, a federal judge on Thursday is expected to decide whether the bankrupt city of Stockton can continue to pay employees generous pensions that soon could consume one-fifth of municipal revenues.
By Jim Puzzanghera
October 29, 2014
Federal Reserve policymakers voted Wednesday to end the central bank’s controversial bond-buying stimulus program, determining the economy is strong enough to remove the unprecedented support.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014 – 09:30 a.m.
The big question this week is will voter turnout affect results in close California contests?
The answer is probably yes.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014 – 08:30 a.m.
Here’s the latest update from the average of polls, produced by RealClearPolitics.com, as of Wednesday morning.
We’re back to ten states in-play.
New polling isn’t giving Democrats much solace, with just five days remaining before Election Day. Read the rest of this entry »
By Toni Momberger, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 10/28/14, 7:47 PM PDT |
REDLANDS >> The third City Council candidate forum of the season will be tonight at the University of Redlands.
The event will be free and open to the public.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 10/28/14, 4:57 PM PDT | Updated: 38 secs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> An organizer opposed to the proposed charter reform Measure Q plans to report Councilwoman Virginia Marquez for allegedly using a city-sponsored park clean-up to campaign for the charter change.
By STAFF REPORTS
Posted Oct. 28, 2014 @ 7:08 pm
Updated Oct 28, 2014 at 7:11 PM
The Fair Political Practices Commission acknowledged receiving a complaint against the Hesperia Unified School District in an Oct. 20 letter to a Hesperia resident, but advised him to contact the Attorney General over allegations that the district has misused public funds in support of a bond measure.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
10/28/2014 6:44 PM
While Republicans may make some legislative and congressional gains this year and have an outside chance at a statewide office, Democrats will continue their dominance of what has become a solidly blue state.
By Jean Merl
October 28, 2014
Former President Bill Clinton will headline two get-out-the-vote rallies Wednesday for some Democratic House candidates in spirited California races.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014 – 09:30 a.m.
Here’s the latest update from the average of polls, produced by RealClearPolitics.com, as of Tuesday morning.
Nine states now remain in-play.
By Monica Rodriguez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 10/27/14, 9:46 PM PDT | Updated: 52 secs ago
Jobs and economic opportunities are among the issues on the minds of attorney Christina Gagnier and state Sen. Norma Torres, two Democrats seeking to represent the residents of the 35th Congressional district.
By Carla Marinucci
Monday, October 27, 2014
Emphasizing what he called the Democratic Party’s commitment to frugal governing, Gov. Jerry Brown downplayed the chances Monday of returning to the voters to renew sales and income tax increases when they expire starting at the end of 2016.
Hank Plante, Special to The Desert
October 25, 2014
Election Day has already come and gone for you if you’re one of the half-million Riverside County voters who requested an absentee ballot. In fact, we don’t have “Election Day” anymore, we have “Election Month” because of all the voting by mail.
By JOHN HOWARD
Posted 10.27.2014
Californians’ reliance on TV for their political news is declining, while an increasing number of people are using the Internet for political coverage, according to a report from the Public Policy Institute of California.
By RON NIXON
OCT. 27, 2014
WASHINGTON — In a rare public accounting of its mass surveillance program, the United States Postal Service reported that it approved nearly 50,000 requests last year from law enforcement agencies and its own internal inspection unit to secretly monitor the mail of Americans for use in criminal and national security investigations.
Monday, October 27, 2104 – 02:00 p.m.
Guess who’s coming to lunch?
Monday, October 27, 2014 – 09:30 a.m.
A former area politico, who was wrongfully charged by the San Bernardino County District Attorney for alleged political payback, has filed a federal lawsuit against San Bernardino County.
Monday, October 27, 2014 – 08:30 a.m.
Here’s the latest update from the average of polls, produced by RealClearPolitics.com, as of Monday morning.
By Leslie Parrilla, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 10/26/14, 8:20 PM PDT | Updated: 49 secs ago
FONTANA >> At first blush, it may appear that political veterans such as former Rep. Joe Baca have a slam dunk chance at winning local races like the mayoral seat he is vying for, having served at the federal level.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
10/26/2014 5:00 PM
With Election Day just a week away and mailed ballots already pouring into election offices, California’s biggest political unknown is the balance of power in the Legislature.
By Jean Merl
October 26, 2014
In many close election contests, candidates run to the middle. Not Paul Chabot.
The Republican military veteran vying for a congressional seat in an increasingly Democratic Inland Empire district is trumpeting his conservative views. He is embracing endorsements from gun-rights advocates and anti-abortion groups.
By Ed Mendel
Monday, October 27, 2014
The CalSTRS board was told this month that financial experts are forecasting investment earnings of 7 percent a year or less during the next decade, below the 7.5 percent assumed by the pension fund.
By EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE | 10/27/14 5:02 AM EDT
Nervous that Democrats could lose control of the Senate, the White House is already discussing how to cut deals with a Republican majority.
By JAKE SHERMAN | 10/26/14 8:22 PM EDT
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. — House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy landed here from Los Angeles with a bang: he bluntly warned that Republicans will blow the presidency in 2016 if they don’t make some radical changes – and quick.
By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 10/25/14, 6:41 PM PDT | Updated: 21 secs ago
The 31st Congressional District candidates are donning comfortable walking shoes and hitting the pavement over the next week to gain any last-minute votes leading up to the Nov. 4 election.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 10/25/14, 2:49 PM PDT | Updated: 1 min ago
As candidates for the 40th Assembly District make their final campaign stops, speak to voters and gain endorsements, one local expert said the Nov. 4 turnout will be a factor in how competitive the race will be.
By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 10/25/14, 6:31 PM PDT | Updated: 41 secs ago
REDLANDS >> The amount of money flowing into the City Council race at this point has nearly reached $180,000, of which $18,528 was raised this month, according to campaign finance reports.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
10/24/2014 5:00 PM
Crime – or the fear of crime – dominated California’s politics for a quarter-century. Proposition 47, which would reduce punishment for some crimes, tests whether that era has passed.
By Kyle Smith
October 25, 2014 | 5:12pm
Sharyl Attkisson is an unreasonable woman. Important people have told her so.
When the longtime CBS reporter asked for details about reinforcements sent to the Benghazi compound during the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attack, White House national security spokesman Tommy Vietor replied, “I give up, Sharyl . . . I’ll work with more reasonable folks that follow up, I guess.”
Saturday, October 25, 2014 – 11:00 a.m.
Here’s the latest update from the average of polls, produced by RealClearPolitics.com, as of Saturday morning.
If the election were held today, Republicans would control the U.S. Senate by a margin of 52-48. Read the rest of this entry »
October 25, 2014
Who knew that the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians had significant interest in the quiet little town of Redlands? The tribe, which has a large casino on reservation land North of San Bernardino is taking great interest in the Redlands City Council election, and spending big money too.
By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 10/24/14, 5:04 PM PDT | Updated: 1 min ago
REDLANDS >> Former county Supervisor Neil Derry has been endorsed by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association for the City Council.
BY MARTIN WISCKOL / STAFF WRITER
Published: Oct. 24, 2014 Updated: 6:43 p.m.
When you get past the nasty ads, a key issue in the state Senate race between Janet Nguyen and Jose Solorio is whether the district would be better represented by a member of the Legislature’s Democrat majority or by a Republican who would give the minority party a stronger position.
By Ed Silverman
Associated Press
October 20, 2014
Last month, CVS Health {CVS +0.83%} purged its 7,700 pharmacies of tobacco products in a gambit to embrace a commitment to improving public health and generate goodwill. But the move comes with a price – an estimated $2 billion in annual sales will be sacrificed.
Friday, October 24, 2014 – 08:00 p.m.
We’ve been saying it for a year that the President’s healthcare law would impact this years electoral contests..
Friday, October 24, 2014 – 06:00 p.m.
It’s been interesting to watch the Redlands City Council campaigns finally play out.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 10/23/14, 8:24 PM PDT |
SAN BERNARDINO >> The cost of police salary increases required by the city Charter Section 186 will surpass $1.3 million for the 2014-15 year, according to City Manager Allen Parker.
BY SARAH BURGE AND TOM SHERIDAN / STAFF WRITERS
Published: Oct. 23, 2014 Updated: 7:23 p.m.
Menifee Councilman Thomas Fuhrman was arrested on suspicion of corruption charges Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
To read story by Sarah Burge and Tom Sheridan in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 10/23/14, 9:17 PM PDT |
RIVERSIDE >> Optimism about the regional and national economy was abundant at the 2014 Riverside/San Bernardino Economic Forecast Conference hosted Thursday by Los Angeles-based Beacon Economics and the UC Riverside School of Business Administration.
By THY VO
Posted: Thursday, October 23, 2014 3:00 pm | Updated: 8:55 pm, Thu Oct 23, 2014.
Six donors to County Supervisor Janet Nguyen admitted to illegally receiving reimbursements for campaign contributions, according to court documents filed by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission.
By Melody Petersen and Marc Lifsher
October 23, 2014
Directing traffic is part of a police officer’s job, and in the city of Fountain Valley, keeping cars moving comes with a $145 monthly bonus — and a bigger pension.
October 23, 2014
The board of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System voted to add to a recent pension reform law 99 bonuses that can boost workers’ current paychecks and also their future pensions. Here are some of these retirement-enhancing bonuses:
By E. Scott Reckard
October 23, 2014
The lowest mortgage rates of the year sank a bit lower this week, with Freddie Mac reporting that lenders were offering 30-year fixed loans at an average of 3.92%, down from 3.97% a week ago.
By Chris Kirkham
October 23, 2014
It was among the nation’s hardest-hit local economies during the Great Recession, beset by staggering numbers of foreclosures and one of the highest jobless rates in California.
Thursday, October 23, 2014 – 08:30 a.m.
Here’s the latest update from the average of polls, produced by RealClearPolitics.com, as of Thursday morning.
Published: Oct. 22, 2014 Updated: 5:11 p.m.
For years, Riverside’s League of Women Voters has partnered with other community groups to host election forums on issues and candidates, but they won’t be part of Thursday’s event featuring 41st Congressional District candidates Mark Takano and Steve Adams.
To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
Published: Oct. 22, 2014 – Updated: 3:36 p.m.
Cars have become an advertising theme in the race for California’s 36th Congressional District.
The pro-Democrat House Majority PAC is paying for a 30-second TV spot that portrays Republican and state Assemblyman Brian Nestande of Palm Desert as a career politician who mooches off taxpayers for expenses as well as gas and maintenance for his family car and enjoys trips paid for by special interests.
To read post by Jeff Horseman in The PE Political Empire Blog, click here.
By Greg Cappis, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 10/22/14, 8:46 PM PDT |
RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> Four sheriff’s deputies who work at West Valley Detention Center have been placed on paid leave as part of an internal investigation into potential mistreatment of inmates at the county jail, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
By Ryan Hagen, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 10/22/14, 10:36 AM PDT | Updated: 9 hrs ago
LOS ANGELES >> The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department doesn’t allow gay, bisexual and transgender inmates at West Valley Detention Center the same access to rehabilitation opportunities, religious services, time outside their cells and other services that other inmates receive, alleges a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the ACLU of Southern California.
Published: Oct. 21, 2014 Updated: 9:38 p.m.
The Riverside City Council will ask the Riverside County District Attorney to investigate allegations that Councilman Paul Davis interfered with the city manager’s job performance, violating the city charter, which would be a misdemeanor.
To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Ryan Hagen, The Sun
Posted: 10/21/14, 7:29 PM PDT | Updated: 56 secs ago
SAN BERNARDINO >> A decades-old provision in a city charter rarely attracts this kind of passion, but then rarely is there a history like the one surrounding Measure Q’s attempt to reform Charter Section 186.
Published: Oct. 20, 2014 Updated: 5:03 p.m.
Some are defending their seats for the first time. Others have been in Congress for years.
Regardless, incumbents in the 2014 Inland congressional races are favored to win re-election to two-year terms. They’ve raised more money than their challengers and, with one exception, represent districts friendly to their parties.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Sandra Emerson, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 10/20/14, 9:10 PM PDT | Updated: 48 secs ago
Congressional candidates Pete Aguilar and Paul Chabot debated the issues of the state’s 31st District in front of a lively crowd Monday at the University of Redlands.
By Matt Stevens
October 20, 2014
The mayor of Murrieta resigned Monday after being arrested Thursday on suspicion of seriously injuring four high school students while driving drunk.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
10/20/2014 6:54 PM
It’s virtually certain that California voters will be asked in 2016 to extend – perhaps permanently – the temporary increases in sales and income taxes that they approved in 2012.
By TERI SFORZA
STAFF COLUMNIST
tsforza@ocregister.com
Published: Oct. 19, 2014 Updated: Oct. 20, 2014 10:37 a.m.
image0-Watchdog: Thousands join the ‘$100K club’ for pensions
Back in 2005, some 1,841 retirees pulled down more than $100,000 a year in pension checks from the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.
By 2009, this so-called “$100K club” had more than tripled, to 6,133 members.
By Jim Puzzanghera
October 20, 2014
Business economists reported solid but slowing growth at their companies over the summer as gauges of sales, hiring and profit margins fell slightly from the second quarter, according to survey results released Monday.
Published: Oct. 19, 2014 – Updated: 11:45 p.m.
The race for California’s 31st Congressional District is not just about who represents part of San Bernardino County on Capitol Hill.
From a national perspective, the seat is a strategic chess piece in a larger battle for control of the House of Representatives. It’s been described as the most Democratic-friendly district in the nation to have a Republican congressman.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Joe Nelson, The Sun
Posted: 10/19/14, 11:50 PM PDT | Updated: 16 secs ago
Two experienced Inland Empire politicians are vying for San Bernardino County’s 4th District supervisor’s seat in the Nov. 4 general election. The seat is open because Supervisor Gary Ovitt is not seeking another term.
Published: Oct. 19, 2014 Updated: 10:13 p.m.
Two political actions committees have been established and have raised thousands in an effort to keep Neil Derry off the Redlands City Council.
To read story by Erin Waldner in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
Observations on California and its politics
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
10/20/2014 12:00 AM
More than 24 million of California’s 38 million residents are legally eligible to vote this year – that is, they are 18 years or older and U.S. citizens.
By Ed Mendel
October 20, 2014
A new comparison with four other large public pension funds found that CalPERS, while scoring average on service, had high pension administration costs — $213 per member a year, nearly twice the average of $108 per member.
By CHRISTINE HAUGHNEY
OCT. 19, 2014
Ever since the entrepreneur Aaron Kushner bought into the newspaper business two years ago, he has generated a steady stream of headlines — about himself.
By Kristina Hernandez, Redlands Daily Facts
Posted: 10/18/14, 7:21 PM PDT |
REDLANDS >> Thanks to the largest gift in the school’s history, the University of Redlands has established a scholarship program to benefit future students.
By Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 10/18/14, 9:02 PM PDT | Updated: 25 secs ago
RIVERSIDE >> Ontario has raised new allegations that purport to show a Los Angeles agency abandoned efforts to market L.A./Ontario International Airport in favor of multi-billion dollar projects at Los Angeles International Airport.
The allegations are raised in a court document filed by Ontario on Friday afternoon in Riverside Superior Court.
By Thomas Peele and Josh Richman, Staff writers
Posted: 10/19/2014 06:37:18 AM PDT
Updated: 10/19/2014 08:00:08 AM PDT
Throughout his political career, Jerry Brown has cultivated an almost monastic image, famously sleeping on a mattress on the floor during his first go-round as governor and flying for peanuts on Southwest during his current term.
By Dan Balz
October 19, 2014 at 12:01 AM
When Mitt Romney managed to get about 25 percent support in the early polls against his 2012 Republican rivals, everyone asked, “What’s wrong with Mitt?” He was, after all, the presumed front-runner. Today, with a new Washington Post-ABC News poll showing something similar about 2016, the question could be, “What’s wrong with all the others?”
Published: Oct. 17, 2014 – Updated: 4:27 p.m.
Republican Paul Chabot is trying to use his rival’s words against him.
In a news release issued Friday, Chabot, who is running for a San Bernardino County congressional seat, called on his opponent, Democrat and Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar, to honor a City Council resolution Chabot said Aguilar offered in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
To read post by Jeff Horseman in The PE Political Empire Blog, click here.