The Canalis Report http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/ John Canalis' blog en-us Copyright 2009 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:15:06 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification City plans H1N1 clinic at LBCC
The city is staging an H1N1 vaccine clinic for high-risk groups in the Long Beach City College Gymnasium, 4901 E. Carson St., from 9 am to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 

Parking is available at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Conant Street and Clark Avenue.

Due to ongoing national vaccine shortage, the H1N1 flu vaccine will continue to be provided to:

  • Anyone age 6 months and 24 years
  • Caretakers of infants under 6 months
  • Health care workers who come in direct contact with patients
  • Pregnant women
  • Adults from 25 to 64 year of age with a high risk medical condition, such as asthma.
]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/city-plans-h1n1-clinic-at-lbcc.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/city-plans-h1n1-clinic-at-lbcc.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:15:06 -0800 Downey OKs incentives meant to lure Tesla DOWNEY -- Financial incentives aimed at jolting an electric carmaker into locating a production line on public and private land steeped in Space Age history won swift City Council approval Wednesday.

Officials agreed to offer free rent, building improvements and other inducements that a real estate investment group can use to lure Tesla Motors to 57 acres of the old NASA site now used for film and TV production by Downey Studios.

A deal with Tesla, which is looking for a location to build its battery-powered S sedan, could return automobile manufacturing to Southern California for the first time since General Motors pulled the plug on its Van Nuys plant in 1992.

"I am physically exhausted, I am emotionally drained, and it absolutely feels fantastic," said Mayor Mario Guerra, who has participated in six months of negotiations with Tesla and Downey Studios' parent, International Realty Group, or IRG, and its financial backer, Pacific Coast Collateral Partners.

The council's 4-0 vote -- Councilwoman Anne Bayer was absent -- does not mean Tesla will locate in Downey, but it does move the deal closer, Guerra said.

Tesla, whose spokesman said there would be no comment before the meeting, is also in negotiations with the Boeing Co. that could bring the car production line to the former 717 factory in Long Beach.

In addition, Tesla deals have already fallen through in San Jose and Albuquerque, N.M.

"There still remains work to be done, but every major obstacle seems to be done," Guerra said.

The memorandum of understanding OK'd by the council allows Downey to offer $8.7 million (unadjusted for inflation) in economic development incentives over a 15-year period at the site used by NASA and defense contractors off of Lakewood Boulevard and Columbia Way.

That package includes $6.9<TH><TH>million in waived rent on 20 acres owned by 
the city, $1.8<TH>million in federal grant money for roof repairs to buildings at the site and $250,000 to shelter a full-scale space shuttle mockup that city officials consider an important artifact from its space race history. Sections of space shuttles and Apollo program capsules were made in Downey.

The city would also waive a requirement that IRG build a learning center stipulated in an earlier agreement with the city.

"There is only upside to this deal," Councilman Roger C. Brossmer said.

Tesla would employ an estimated 1,200 workers, but City Manager Gerald Caton estimates as many as 4,400 additional jobs would be generated from related economic activity.

"We think it will have a significant impact," he said, adding that his staff is using conservative forecasts.

In return for its investment, Downey expects direct revenues of $11.76 million from taxes on business licenses, utilities, sales and property.

As far as sales taxes, those figures depend on whether Tesla builds a dealership in Downey or makes Downey the point of sale for online transactions, Guerra said.

The S sedan would retail for about $50,000 after expected tax incentives and $57,000 without them.

If approved, the plant would use fewer than 1 million square feet in and around Downey Studios, where films from the "Spiderman" and "Iron Man" franchises, as well as many others, have been made, officials said. The fate of Downey Studios, and whether it would run a scaled-down operation, remains unclear.

Councilman Luis Marquez said the project is significant because it will mean not only high-tech jobs but "green jobs."

Guerra added that the building would be among the cleanest manufacturing plants in the nation.

IRG and Pacific plan to bring Downey's offer into negotiations with Tesla.

The memorandum of understanding approved by Downey council should speed up negotiations, said Tom Messmer, senior vice president for IRG.

"This clears the way for those short strokes close to the hole," Messmer said.

He declined to provide an estimate for when the deal would be completed.
Tesla is expected to keep its headquarters in San Carlos, in the San Francisco Bay area.

Though some have said Long Beach is out of the race, City Manager Pat West said Tesla representatives toured the 717 site last week, which means there may still be hope to get the automobile plant.

"The decision hasn't totally been made yet," West said.

While Long Beach can offer an enterprise zone -- which gives state tax breaks to businesses -- at the site, it doesn't own any land and cannot offer free rent as Downey can..

"For us, I just wish we were in a situation where we had the land to negotiate with Tesla, instead of sitting on the sidelines," West said.

Downey is able to offer nearly $500,000 a year in free rent, Guerra said.

The 717 site, which is also being eyed for a possible movie studio, sits entirely on Boeing property.

A Boeing spokesman declined to comment on negotiations Wednesday night.

Though it has only sold about 1,000 cars, Tesla plans to expand by raising cash in two ways. It is expected to receive a $365 million loan from the U.S. Department of 
Energy and is considering going public.

[TAG1]Staff Writer Paul Eakins contributed to this report.
[TAG1]john.canalis@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1273
]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/downey-oks-incentives-meant-to-lure-tesla-1.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/downey-oks-incentives-meant-to-lure-tesla-1.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:15:56 -0800 Downey OKs incentives meant to lure Tesla DOWNEY -- Financial incentives aimed at jolting an electric carmaker into locating a production line on public and private land steeped in Space Age history won swift City Council approval Wednesday.

Officials agreed to offer free rent, building improvements and other inducements that a real estate investment group can use to lure Tesla Motors to 57 acres of the old NASA site now used for film and TV production by Downey Studios.

A deal with Tesla, which is looking for a location to build its battery-powered S sedan, could return automobile manufacturing to Southern California for the first time since General Motors pulled the plug on its Van Nuys plant in 1992.

"I am physically exhausted, I am emotionally drained, and it absolutely feels fantastic," said Mayor Mario Guerra, who has participated in six months of negotiations with Tesla and Downey Studios' parent, International Realty Group, or IRG, and its financial backer, Pacific Coast Collateral Partners.

The council's 4-0 vote -- Councilwoman Anne Bayer was absent -- does not mean Tesla will locate in Downey, but it does move the deal closer, Guerra said.

Tesla, whose spokesman said there would be no comment before the meeting, is also in negotiations with the Boeing Co. that could bring the car production line to the former 717 factory in Long Beach.

In addition, Tesla deals have already fallen through in San Jose and Albuquerque, N.M.

"There still remains work to be done, but every major obstacle seems to be done," Guerra said.

The memorandum of understanding OK'd by the council allows Downey to offer $8.7 million (unadjusted for inflation) in economic development incentives over a 15-year period at the site used by NASA and defense contractors off of Lakewood Boulevard and Columbia Way.

That package includes $6.9<TH><TH>million in waived rent on 20 acres owned by 
the city, $1.8<TH>million in federal grant money for roof repairs to buildings at the site and $250,000 to shelter a full-scale space shuttle mockup that city officials consider an important artifact from its space race history. Sections of space shuttles and Apollo program capsules were made in Downey.

The city would also waive a requirement that IRG build a learning center stipulated in an earlier agreement with the city.

"There is only upside to this deal," Councilman Roger C. Brossmer said.

Tesla would employ an estimated 1,200 workers, but City Manager Gerald Caton estimates as many as 4,400 additional jobs would be generated from related economic activity.

"We think it will have a significant impact," he said, adding that his staff is using conservative forecasts.

In return for its investment, Downey expects direct revenues of $11.76 million from taxes on business licenses, utilities, sales and property.

As far as sales taxes, those figures depend on whether Tesla builds a dealership in Downey or makes Downey the point of sale for online transactions, Guerra said.

The S sedan would retail for about $50,000 after expected tax incentives and $57,000 without them.

If approved, the plant would use fewer than 1 million square feet in and around Downey Studios, where films from the "Spiderman" and "Iron Man" franchises, as well as many others, have been made, officials said. The fate of Downey Studios, and whether it would run a scaled-down operation, remains unclear.

Councilman Luis Marquez said the project is significant because it will mean not only high-tech jobs but "green jobs."

Guerra added that the building would be among the cleanest manufacturing plants in the nation.

IRG and Pacific plan to bring Downey's offer into negotiations with Tesla.

The memorandum of understanding approved by Downey council should speed up negotiations, said Tom Messmer, senior vice president for IRG.

"This clears the way for those short strokes close to the hole," Messmer said.

He declined to provide an estimate for when the deal would be completed.
Tesla is expected to keep its headquarters in San Carlos, in the San Francisco Bay area.

Though some have said Long Beach is out of the race, City Manager Pat West said Tesla representatives toured the 717 site last week, which means there may still be hope to get the automobile plant.

"The decision hasn't totally been made yet," West said.

While Long Beach can offer an enterprise zone -- which gives state tax breaks to businesses -- at the site, it doesn't own any land and cannot offer free rent as Downey can..

"For us, I just wish we were in a situation where we had the land to negotiate with Tesla, instead of sitting on the sidelines," West said.

Downey is able to offer nearly $500,000 a year in free rent, Guerra said.

The 717 site, which is also being eyed for a possible movie studio, sits entirely on Boeing property.

A Boeing spokesman declined to comment on negotiations Wednesday night.

Though it has only sold about 1,000 cars, Tesla plans to expand by raising cash in two ways. It is expected to receive a $365 million loan from the U.S. Department of 
Energy and is considering going public.

[TAG1]Staff Writer Paul Eakins contributed to this report.
[TAG1]john.canalis@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1273
]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/downey-oks-incentives-meant-to-lure-tesla.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/downey-oks-incentives-meant-to-lure-tesla.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:15:56 -0800 Downey council OKs incentives to offer Tesla Motors
The Press-Telegram is planning a story for later this afternoon.
]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/downey-council-oks-incentives-to-offer-tesla-motors.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/downey-council-oks-incentives-to-offer-tesla-motors.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:21:37 -0800 Schipske responds to Tesla development in Downey In response to Downey Mayor Mario Guerra stating that Tesla Motors is close to a deal that may locate an electric car plant in his city, Long Beach City Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske issued a statement.

The Boeing 717's site is also under consideration as a site for Tesla and Schipske, who represents the Eastside's 5th District, has lobbied to bring the carmaker to Long Beach. In her statement she raises questions about why Downey is close to a deal and Long Beach is not. 

Schipske's statement appears in full below:

Gerrie Schipske, councilwoman for Long Beach's fifth district, has been outspoken in her desire to keep alive the possibility of Tesla Motors locating its plant in Long Beach.

She personally contacted Elon Musk, President of Tesla to ask him what the City of Long Beach was doing to encourage his company to locate there. She also mounted a letter writing campaign called "Long Beach -- We Can Do Better Than Downey."

She used her blog to prod Long Beach officials to actively market the City to get Tesla here. So today upon learning that Tesla has signed a letter of intent with Downey to locate a plant which will manufacture 20,000 electric vehicles and produce 1,000 jobs she issued the following statement:

"The taxpayers of Long Beach deserve a full explanation about who or what killed the deal to bring Tesla to Long Beach. How did we lose this revenue producing opportunity to Downey? Long Beach has so much more to offer to a business than most southern California locations -- we have manufacturing space at the Boeing site, nearness to freeways, an airport, a port, railroad, convention center, training programs at our local community college and most importantly a workforce ready and willing to work. We also have an enterprise zone that provides tax credits for employers. And just recently the City announced it won the 'Most Business Friendly City Award' in Los Angeles County. 

So what went wrong?

Anyone who has worked in corporate America knows how important it is to develop positive relationships in order to do business, which is exactly what the City of Downey did and the City of Long Beach did not do.

Unlike the City of Downey, which marshaled its Mayor and Council to actively court Tesla through calls, letters, ads and personal outreach, Long Beach apparently treated Tesla as a 'second-class citizen' according to comments made to me and to the press by Tesla President, Elon Musk. (It would be interesting to examine how much time and effort was really expended by Long Beach officials and staff in recruiting Tesla.) 



I read the memo Long Beach produced as 'evidence' that it had been on top of courting TESLA --so did the President of Tesla, Elon Musk. He was 'insulted' to use his words. The memo contained disparaging remarks about him -- comparing him to the failed car designer Delorean and pointing out that there was a pending lawsuit against Tesla (as if the City of Long Beach doesn't have numerous suits against it) which was shortly after dismissed. Additionally, the memo had an attachment -- the one and only letter sent to Tesla from the City of Long Beach -- and it was to invite Tesla to exhibit their car at a proposed electric vehicle mall in Long Beach. As Mr. Musk said to me over the phone regarding that letter: 'there wasn't an invitation to build cars there.'

Not one to cry over split milk, I would like to congratulate the City of Downey for getting Tesla, and thank them for helping to keep these important types of jobs in the region."

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/schipske-responds-to-tesla-development-in-downey.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/schipske-responds-to-tesla-development-in-downey.html Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:52:30 -0800 Downey mayor says Tesla deal is close but not done Tesla Motors is close to a deal that would bring an electric car assembly line to Downey's former NASA site, Mayor Mario Guerra said Monday.

Guerra's statement cast doubt that Tesla would build its S sedan at another site under consideration, the old Boeing 717 plant in Long Beach, but those close to negotiations said Long Beach remained in the running as late as last week and they have not heard otherwise.

The Downey City Council expects to schedule an emergency session Tuesday or Wednesday to approve a memorandum of understanding with private owners of the former NASA site, International Realty Group, or IRG, and the company that backs it financially, Guerra said.

Some of the 80 acres under consideration belong to the city of Downey, and a package of incentives are being developed to close out a possible deal.

If approved by the Downey City Council, the memorandum could facilitate a lease that involves the property owners and Tesla, Guerra said.

"We are looking at what we'll be able to give to make the deal happen," he said.

The terms of that memorandum were not disclosed.

A Tesla spokesman did not return two calls seeking comment.

In another development, the District Weekly, reported at about 5 p.m. on its web site that Tesla had chosen Downey over Long Beach. The Downey Patriot, also a weekly publication, reported online that a deal was "99.9 percent" certain.

Contacted for a followup interview Monday night, Guerra said the city and private parties involved are indeed close on terms but it would be premature for him to call anything a done deal.

The carmaker would use the old NASA site off Lakewood Boulevard and Columbia Way -- formerly Clark Avenue -- that is now occupied by Downey Studios.

If negotiations go well from here on out, a deal could be secured in 10 days, meaning early December, Guerra said.

Downey and Long Beach are trying to attract the six-year-old company's planned production line -- and an estimated 1,200 jobs -- to industrial properties with aerospace histories. The target date to start building cars is 2011.

The Boeing Co. has been in talks with Tesla about its former 717 site off Lakewood Boulevard. A film studio is also eyeing that location.

Boeing spokeswoman Kathy Spicer said it is Boeing Co. policy not to comment on "potential customers."

Craig Beck, Long Beach's director for development services and redevelopment, said Tesla had discussed the 717 site with Boeing as recently as last week.

He too had heard rumors about Downey being close to a deal but has not been given official word that Long Beach is out of the running.

"We've been working with them since Day One," Beck said. "Long Beach is still committed to Tesla."

In an unrelated report, Tesla Motors plans to go public, according to recent news reports.
Tesla is reportedly considering an initial public offering -- the first for an American carmaker since Ford in 1956 -- to raise cash for its ambitious expansion plans, according to the Reuters news agency.

The IPO would complement $465 million in loans from the U.S. Department of Energy aimed at juicing investment in cleaner automotive technologies.

Though securities markets remain volatile and credit tight, a Tesla IPO would not be unexpected.

In 2008, Tesla founder Elon Musk said that he was considering a public offering in 2009 or 2010.

Tesla produces the low-volume, all-electric Roadster, which retails for $109,000.
The planned Model S, the model that could be built in Downey or Long Beach, would sell in the $50,000 range -- after tax incentives.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/downey-mayor-says-tesla-deal-is-close-but-not-done.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/downey-mayor-says-tesla-deal-is-close-but-not-done.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:37:53 -0800 Tesla plans IPO; Downey mayor says deal with carmaker is close Tesla Motors, which is considering building a battery-powered sedan in either Downey or Long Beach, plans to go public, according to news reports.

Meanwhile the city of Downey is close to working out a deal to bring a production line to its old NASA site but has not finalized it, city officials said.

Tesla is reportedly considering an initial public offering -- the first for an American carmaker since Ford in 1956 -- to raise cash for its ambitious expansion plans, according to the Reuters news agency.

The IPO would complement $465 million in loans from the U.S. Department of Energy aimed at juicing investment in cleaner automotive technologies.

Though securities markets remain volatile and credit tight, a Tesla IPO would not be unexpected. In 2008, Tesla founder Elon Musk said that he was considering a public offering in 2009 or 2010.

Tesla spokesman Ricardo Reyes declined to comment on what he called "rumor or speculation," according to Reuters. Reyes did not return a Press-Telegram call seeking independent comment about the IPO or whether the company prefers either Downey or Long Beach.

Both cities are trying to attract the six-year-old company's planned production line -- and an estimated 1,200 jobs -- to industrial properties with aerospace pasts.

The Boeing Co. has been in talks with Tesla about its former 717 site off Lakewood Boulevard. A film studio is also eyeing that location.

Boeing spokeswoman Kathy Spicer said it is Boeing Co. policy not to comment on "potential customers."

Downey would like to bring Tesla to a mix of private and public land -- mostly the former -- where workers once assembled sections of space shuttles and lunar capsules but is now used by Downey Studios for television and film production.

The Downey City Council expects to schedule an emergency session as early as tonight<NO1>11/23<NO> or Wednesday to approve a memorandum of understanding with owners of the property, International Realty Group and their financial backing company, that could facilitate  signing a lease with Tesla, said Mayor Mario Guerra.

The carmaker would use the old NASA site off Lakewood Boulevard and Columbia Way that is now occupied by the studios.

"We are looking at what we'll be able to give to make the deal happen," Guerra said.
An official announcement about Tesla locating in Downey could come as early as the first week of December, Guerra said.

The types of incentives Downey could offer to make the deal happen were not disclosed.
Tesla produces the low-volume, all-electric Roadster, which retails for $109,000.

The planned Model S, the model that could be built in Downey or Long Beach, would sell in the $50,000 range -- after tax incentives.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/tesla-plans-ipo-downey-mayor-says-deal-with-carmaker-is-close.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/tesla-plans-ipo-downey-mayor-says-deal-with-carmaker-is-close.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:27:54 -0800 Assemblyman Mendoza to host open house, toy drive Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, D-Norwalk, will host an open house and toy drive from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at his district office, 12501 E. Imperial Highway, Suite 210, Norwalk.

Residents from throughout the 56th Assembly District, California Latino Legislative Caucus, serves the communities of Norwalk, Buena Park, Cerritos, Santa Fe Springs, Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens and portions of Whittier and Lakewood, can visit with the assemblyman, his staff and members of the community.

Attendees are also encouraged to bring an unwrapped, new and safe toy for children up to age 16.

Toys that are donated will be given to children from the Assembly district Dec. 22 at Los Nietos Community Center in Whittier.

For details on the open house or toy drive, or to RSVP, call 562-864-5600.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/assemblyman-mendoza-to-host-open-house-toy-drive.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/assemblyman-mendoza-to-host-open-house-toy-drive.html Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:06:55 -0800 L.B. phone bank volunteers call for health-care reform As the Senate takes up healthcare reform, phones will be ringing in Long Beach.

Volunteers for Organizing for America plan to call active Democrats -- the kind who write letters, make phone calls to members of Congress and stump for and donate to candidates -- and ask them to show their support for a debate on the Senate floor.

Senators are to vote today on whether to formally debate health-care reform. Democrats expect to get the 60 necessary votes to overcome a Republican block.

Callers, who are working Long Beach's 37th and 46th Congressional districts, are asking supporters to contact state Sen. Diane Feinstein and show their support.

"We're asking true believers to call and make a case," said Chris Robson, 64, a Rose Park resident who is leading the cell bank effort in the 37th Congressional District. "We're trying to maintain a presence in all kinds of actions and activities.

"Now that things are focused on the Senate, (that is where) we have focused a lot of our efforts."

Robson said the phone effort has been moving along since House approval of the reforms but will intensify after Thanksgiving and into the home stretch, possibly at the end of the year.

"We have these teams set up to respond when we know when a vote is coming up," said Emily Dulcan, spokeswoman at Organizing for America's Los Angeles-area headquarters in Culver City.

Organizing for America started as Obama for America, which campaigned for Barack Obama and switched gears to support his agenda after he became president.

On the national level, the group has some detractors. A Fox News blogger called Organizing for America videos "propaganda." And the group's efforts to raise money in response to Sarah Palin's book tour and label her as "dangerous" was called opportunistic by the right since she is no longer in office.

In Long Beach, however, efforts are focused on the phone banks. Members make calls on Sundays and Wednesdays. Volunteers also work the farmers markets along the Alamitos Bay Marina and in the East Village Arts District.

When healthcare reform was in the House of Representatives, members called Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Long Beach, who represents the 37th District.

"Even though Richardson is already on board, our calls amplified and thanked her for taking the position that she took," Robson said.

The 46th Congressional District is represented by a Republican, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach. Targeting only Democrats, the group did not call his office.

Outside of town, Long Beach volunteers have met with Feinstein's staff in West L.A. to urge her support for the package, as well as provisions dear to Democrats.

And members from Long Beach have also gone to demonstrations to counter conservative protests.

"We've got people on the ground doing the work," Robson said.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/lb-phone-bank-volunteers-call-for-health-care-reform.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/lb-phone-bank-volunteers-call-for-health-care-reform.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:40:22 -0800 Garcia, S. Lowenthal to lead downtown tree-planting effort From downtown to uptown to Belmont Shore, there are several small-scale efforts under way this weekend to improve the environment in Long Beach.

Starting things off at 9 a.m., Council members Robert Garcia and Suja Lowenthal plan to participate in an effort to plant trees in and around downtown. Garcia's 1st District and Lowenthal's 2nd both encompass the city core.

"We're doing over 100 trees in downtown Long Beach, which is pretty significant all in one day, including areas that have never had trees before," Garcia said.

The goal is to plant in every open tree well.

Though Garcia and Lowenthal plan to get their hands dirty by planting an aristocrat pear tree on The Promenade and Third Street, the success of the event also relies on volunteers.
 
Support is also coming from Downtown Long Beach Associates and the city's Redevelopment Agency.

Volunteers will plant until noon.

Over in the Shore, community organizer Justin Rudd is hosting his regular 30-Minute Beach Cleanup -- the 125th consecutive one over more than 10 years -- at 10 a.m. Volunteers can park for free in the beach lots at 1 Granada Ave.

And, finally, those interested in organic produce may head uptown to the new farmers market is opening in California Heights, which is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays on the Longfellow Elementary School, 3800 Olive Ave. 

For information, visit LongBeachSundayMarket.com or call 562-528-6259.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/garcia-s-lowenthal-to-lead-downtown-tree-planting-effort.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/garcia-s-lowenthal-to-lead-downtown-tree-planting-effort.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:43:09 -0800 Legislature faces pay cut; Bonnie Lowenthal says it's OK California legislators, the governor and other elected officials are facing an 18 percent pay cut in December as the face grapples with yet another crippling deficit.

State Attorney Gen. Jerry Brown ruled that the state's compensation commission can legally cut the pay of lawmakers midterm. 

Base pay would drop from $116,000 to $95,000 on Dec. 7. Legislators also receive per diems for the days they work, car allowances and other forms of compensation.

At least one local legislator signaled that she is OK with the pending pay cut.

"I'm not in this for the money - I never have been," said Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach. "I won't spend a lot of time thinking about this. I'm just going to stay focused on the hard work that needs to get done."

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/legislature-faces-pay-cut-bonnie-lowenthal-says-its-ok.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/legislature-faces-pay-cut-bonnie-lowenthal-says-its-ok.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:29:59 -0800 Alan Lowenthal leans against run for lt. governor State Sen. Alan Lowenthal said he is leaning against a run for statewide office and will likely complete the remaining two years of his term.

The Long Beach Democrat began exploring a bid for lieutenant governor in January and formed a committee to raise money but said in an interview this week that he is more inclined to finish out his Senate term in 2012.

"I'd rather be in the Senate for the next couple of years," Lowenthal said, "if I was going to have to decide right now."

Work with legislators to solve California's budget crisis -- the state is $20.7 billion in the hole and public colleges are poised for fee hikes -- is his pressing concern.

"I just think I can do more in the Senate," he said. "I am so worried about where we are now."

Lowenthal said he is in a better position to protect "my city," Long Beach, and the others in his district from his position in the upper house.

The lieutenant governor has limited powers. The state's No. 2 serves as president of the Senate and can cast a vote to break a tie. The lieutenant governor also runs the state while the governor is traveling or ill and sits on the state Lands Commission, which has jurisdiction over port-area Tidelands property in Long Beach, and the boards of the California State University and University of California systems.

Though he was close to making a decision, Lowenthal said he was not ready to rule out a run.

The former state assemblyman and Long Beach councilman has never lost a local election, but his popularity has not been tested statewide.

Two Democrats, Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who lives in San Pedro, and Dean Florez of the Fresno area, have announced bids for lieutenant governor in 2010.

The position is currently vacant. Former Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, a Democrat, was elected to a Bay area Congressional seat this month.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not yet appointed Garamendi's replacement but he has said he intends to and the short list of candidates reportedly includes Sens. Dave Cogdill, R-Fresno, and Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, and Assemblymen Mike Villines, R-Clovis and Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego.

State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, is running the state this week as Schwarzenegger travels.

Some have asked if ailing California even needs a No. 2 position that pays $160,000 a year for a limited range of duties.

The office only takes about 50 calls a day -- mostly from people who cannot reach the state unemployment office, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday.
]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/alan-lowenthal-is-leaning-against-run-for-lt-governor.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/alan-lowenthal-is-leaning-against-run-for-lt-governor.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:55:53 -0800 Cal Heights/Bixby Knolls welcomes new farmers market A new farmers market is opening in California Heights. The market will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays on the Longfellow Elementary School playground, 3800 Olive Ave. For information, visit LongBeachSundayMarket.com or call 562-528-6259

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/cal-heightsbixby-knolls-welcomes-new-farmers-market.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/cal-heightsbixby-knolls-welcomes-new-farmers-market.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:25:38 -0800 Bonnie Lowenthal arranges for gift checks to go the needy Working with the California Water Service Co.'s "Operation Gobble," Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, has arranged for distribution of 100 gift checks to charities that serve needy families in Long Beach and San Pedro.

The Thanksgiving gift checks are good for the purchase of a turkey and will go to five area charities: Harbor Interfaith Services, YWCA, and Justice for Murdered Children in San Pedro, Centro Shalom in Long Beach and Soledad Enrichment Action. All serve families in Lowenthal's 54th Assembly District, which includes Long Beach, San Pedro, Signal Hill, Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates and Catalina.

Gift checks provide flexibility for the families receiving them, so that if they choose to use them on something other than a turkey, they can do so.

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/b-lowenthal-arranges-for-gift-checks-to-go-the-needy.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/b-lowenthal-arranges-for-gift-checks-to-go-the-needy.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:23:16 -0800 Farmers market opening in Cal Heights A new farmers market is opening in California Heights. The market will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays on the Longfellow Elementary School playground, 3800 Olive Ave. For information, visit LongBeachSundayMarket.com or call 562-528-6259

]]> http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/farmers-market-opening-in-cal-heights.html http://www.insidesocal.com/canalisreport/2009/11/farmers-market-opening-in-cal-heights.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:43:03 -0800