Author: Kenneth Schrupp | The Center Square

(The Center Square) — Six months after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled $101 million in funding Tuesday for “multifamily low-income housing development” that will “contribute to a more equitable and resilient Los Angeles.” The priority is for “geographic proximity to the fire perimeters of the Eaton, Hughes, and Palisades fires.” …

(The Center Square) — State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego, has requested a state audit into the California Air Resources Board regarding its decision to overhaul its Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, which is expected by some to raise gasoline prices up to 65 cents per gallon when it takes effect July 1.  A separate…

(The Center Square) – Los Angeles’ $19.7 million response to the June protests and riots was almost entirely spent on police, highlighting the growing cost of police overtime amid an enduring officer shortage.  According to a new report from government transparency group Open The Books, the city of Los Angeles spent $1.1 billion on overtime…

(The Center Square) – San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan proposed making it a crime to refuse shelter three times within 18 months, with the goal of using the court system to push service-resistant homeless individuals into care. “Homelessness can’t be a choice, especially when over 200 people die on the streets each year,” said Mahan…

(The Center Square) – The state-funded Legislative Analyst’s Office says corporate and sales tax revenue estimates are down, suggesting poor overall economic health. The LAO reported these losses are more than made up for by stock market growth, but warned “several hallmarks of prior unsustainable stock market booms appear present today” and that lawmakers should…

(The Center Square) – California gas prices have risen “an average of $0.38 per gallon since the event and may increase further” since a Feb. 1 fire shut down the Martinez refinery that produces 10% of the state’s gasoline capacity, according to a new letter from the state’s Division of Petroleum Market Oversight.  The letter…

(The Center Square) – California’s state-supervised fire insurance provider of last resort received approval to levy a $1 billion assessment on private insurers to ensure it can continue paying claims from the devastating January 2025 wildfires. The assessment, which must be paid by all admitted insurers writing property insurance in California, comes as the California FAIR Plan…

(The Center Square) – The Los Angeles City Council is voting for a one-year eviction moratorium on Friday for anyone “economically impacted” by the wildfires, which the regional apartment association said could lead to a citywide “rent holiday,” as happened after COVID-19. After the pandemic, some eviction protections lasted until the end of May 2024.  The full…

(The Center Square) – Last year, when State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, R-Jackson, a Latina woman, switched from the Democratic Party, she was booted from the state’s Latino Caucus for being a Republican. Now Hispanic Republicans have launched a Hispanic Caucus of their own, with one notable holdout: State Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa-Bogh, R-Yucaipa, who cited a rejection of…

(The Center Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom is visiting President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. to seek wildfire relief funding just after the state legislature passed bills to fund lawsuits against the Trump administration and deportation defense of illegal immigrants in a Newsom-called “Trump-proofing” special session.  Trump has said he supports placing conditions on…