December 18, 2017

Orange County

OC Register: Middle-class Californians on losing end of tax reform – Jennifer Beuthin

The proposed plan would cut taxes for millionaires, billionaires and corporations, increasing the deficit by about $1.5 trillion over the next decade. Under current Congressional rules, the same amount will be immediately and automatically cut from government spending, including $25 billion from Medicare, according to an analysis by Rob Creamer in the Huffington Post.

 

OC Register: Tax plan to impact 11% of Southern California home buyers

Nationwide, the real estate data firm found 3.9 percent of future home buyers, or almost 99,000, face decreases in their mortgage interest deduction. More than 4 million of U.S. property owners, or 4.4 percent, pay more than $10,000 in property taxes.

 

OC Register: What $359,818 gets a new-home buyer in Orange County

Of course, at this pricing, I hope buyers realize they will be making concessions — from the size of the housing to the level of appliances, trim, etc.

 

Voice of OC: United Nations Homeless monitor hears from OC advocates

United Nations monitor Philip Alston, who heard from Orange County homeless advocates and civil rights lawyers among others during a nationwide tour, said many American communities are criminalizing homelessness, making it more difficult for people to find jobs and housing.

 

OC Register: 8 reasons why tourism matters in Orange County

Being seen as a “tourist trap” isn’t the most endearing reputation for any town anywhere. And in Orange County, tourism’s obvious leader has a love-hate relationship with the public: Disneyland.

 

California

LA Times: With more than 8,500 firefighters doing battle, this is California’s largest wildfire response

It is the largest mobilization of fire crews to fight any wildfire in California history. The firefight has cost $130 million.

Publication Date: December 18, 2017