[Source: Bloomberg Markets] Small businesses seem to like a unified Republican government. President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. elections is a giant leap for small businesses, according to a survey of their owners. The November reading of the National Federation of Independent Businesses’ small business optimism index jumped to 98.4 from 94.9 — its Read More…
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Donald Trump forces a California water deal without lifting a finger
[Source: The Sacramento Bee] California’s politicians and pundits – including this one – have been busily speculating on what effect a Donald Trump presidency could have on a state that rejected him overwhelmingly. Well, we saw the first major impact last week, without Trump even lifting a finger. A compromise bill that, in effect, reallocates Read More…
California’s climate fight could be painful – especially on job and income growth
[Source: Los Angeles Times] Californians are likely to pay more for gasoline, electricity, food and new homes — and to feel their lives jolted in myriad other ways — because their state broadly expanded its war on climate change this summer. The ambitious new goals will require complex regulations on an unprecedented scale, but were approved in Sacramento Read More…
Donald Trump picks Scott Pruitt, ally of fossil fuel industry, to lead EPA
[Source: New York Times] President-elect Donald J. Trump has selected Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma attorney general and a close ally of the fossil fuel industry, to run the Environmental Protection Agency, a transition official said, signaling Mr. Trump’s determination to dismantle President Obama’s efforts to counter climate changes. Mr. Pruitt, a Republican, has been a Read More…
L.A. Supervisor Kuehl appointed to air quality board, ending GOP control of smog rules
[Source: Los Angeles Times] The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors appointed liberal Democrat Sheila Kuehl to replace conservative Republican Michael D. Antonovich on Southern California’s air quality board Tuesday, ending GOP control over the panel and potentially shifting it back toward stricter regulation of polluters. Kuehl’s appointment comes 10 months after Republicans gained a seven-member majority on Read More…
Southern California air board appoints executive, declines to reconsider beach bonfire rules
[Source: Los Angeles Times] Southern California’s air quality board formally appointed former industry consultant Wayne Nastri as executive officer Friday in a vote of confidence in the powerful agency’s new leadership. Nastri was hired as interim head of the South Coast Air Quality Management District eight months ago after Republicans seeking a more business-friendly approach Read More…
Air quality agency aims to stop metal plants accused of polluting Paramount
[Source: The San Diego Union] Air quality officials are taking enforcement action against two metal-processing plants they believe are contributing to alarming levels of cancer-causing hexavalent chromium discovered recently in Paramount. The South Coast Air Quality Management District filed for an administrative order Tuesday against Aerocraft Heat Treating Co. and Anaplex Corp. to force them Read More…
Voters narrowly reject Proposition 53 and future votes on big infrastructure projects
[Source: The Log Angeles Times] Proposition 53, an effort that sought to force statewide votes to fund a major water project and the future of high-speed rail, failed in a late count of ballots Tuesday. An Associated Press tally of votes found the ballot measure, which had been trailing since election night, narrowly lost. Proposition 53 would Read More…
Doing business in L.A. grew tougher this year
[Source: The Los Angeles Business Journal] It might not be what local business owners want to hear, but the cost of doing business in Los Angeles has gone up yet again and will likely jump even more next year, according to a survey to be released this week. The annual Kosmont-Rose Institute Cost of Doing Read More…