November 28, 2017

Orange County

LA Times: Orange County homeless population grew by 5% over the past two years

The biennial tally of homeless people during three days in January found that homeless families decreased by 14% while adults without shelter jumped by 13% as rising rents pushed more people into the streets, officials said Friday.

 

OC Register: Orange County property taxes to rise 2 percent this year

Orange County property owners will get a 2 percent increase in their tax bills this year, the biggest hike in four years thanks to higher inflation rates. And rising real estate values also will boost revenue for such entities as schools and local governments this year.

OC Register: 5 iconic Southern California piers getting makeovers worth millions

Some piers, like the former Aliso Beach Pier that was deemed irreparable in the late 1990s, couldn’t stand the test of time. Others, like the piers in Malibu and San Clemente, have taken such a thrashing from the waves and salt air that they need extra maintenance to stave off total deterioration.

 

OC Register: How services and funding for Social Security Disability Insurance are changing

The average processing time for a Social Security Disability Insurance hearing rose to 633 days in September 2017 from 543 days in October 2016.

 

Daily Pilot: Costa Mesa council extends city marijuana rules for a year

Barry Curtis, Costa Mesa’s economic and development services director, said the ordinance allows the city to continue prohibiting marijuana-related activities to the extent possible under state law.

 

Voice of OC: Learn to Read a Government Budget on Dec. 7.

The Orange County Auditor-Controller’s office hosts free Taxpayer Watchdog events quarterly, to help educate the public on topics ranging from accounting, government transparency to how to read a budget and mello roos.

 

Labor

OC Register: United Farm Workers union wins battle to ensure contracts

The California Supreme Court decision maintains the power of farmworker unions by ensuring contracts that guarantee pay, hours and other terms that could otherwise be decided by employers. Labor activists say the 2002 law is key to helping farmworkers improve working conditions by preventing employers from stalling contract talks to avoid a deal.

 

California

San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego's hepatitis A update: death total holds at 20, case count continues to climb

Though they continue to see fewer cases, and no new deaths have been reported since Oct. 31, San Diego County supervisors chose Monday to continue the local health emergency status for the region’s ongoing hepatitis A outbreak.

 

Publication Date: November 28, 2017