December 14, 2017

Orange County

Voice of OC: OCTA leaders call for halt to North County toll road ramp

“The principal issue causing the congestion is insufficient capacity on the SR-91 and the Project does little to address the core problem,” said OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson in a letter to the Transportation Corridor Agencies.

 

OC Register: Recall effort against Newport Beach Councilman Scott Peotter fails

A recall effort against Newport Beach Councilman Scott Peotter failed Tuesday, Dec. 12 after recall proponents fell short of the number of valid signatures needed to force a special election.

 

OC Register: Newport Beach concrete company agrees to $300,000 settlement over water pollution claims in Orange County, Los Angeles

Two concrete mixing companies will pay $300,000 to clean-water advocacy groups in Orange and Los Angeles counties as part of a court settlement last month following allegations that polluted storm water originating from their facilities made its way to local bodies of water.

 

OC Register: Fountain Valley homebuying: Why sellers got more than they asked for

Fountain Valley homebuying in October saw local buyers pay the most above list price in Orange County. That’s from highlights of ReportsOnHousing house-hunting data for resales of existing detached and attached residences in the community.

 

OC Register: House, Senate leaders reach deal on sweeping tax package

Details still need to be drafted and assessed by congressional scorekeepers, but the final House-Senate compromise is on track to be unveiled this week, the aides said.

 

Labor

Labor 411: Amazon using contractors to avoid fair wages and benefits for Holiday workers

Last fall, Amazon announced a nationwide hiring spree of warehouse workers, promising decent wages and health benefits. The company fills many of its warehouse positions through temp and staffing agencies. That way, they don’t have to offer the same pay and benefits they offer to Amazon employees.

 

Cal Labor Fed: Cafeteria Workers at Yahoo Unionize, Join Workers’ Movement for Equality in the Tech Industry

Enrique Fernandez, business manager of UNITE HERE Local 19, says “We are very happy that Yahoo cafeteria workers will be joining our union. We look forward to sitting down to negotiate a contract that will help better the lives of these workers and improve standards in the industry.”

 

California

LA Times: As California burns, Congress plans to slash tax write-offs for fires and other disasters

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Bakersfield) staff said the federal disaster version of the deduction is likely to be included in the final tax but acknowledged there isn’t a long-term plan to allow people to deduct the uninsured costs of rebuilding from smaller disasters.

 

Publication Date: December 14, 2017