SB 974 ("Port Investment/container fee") by Sen. Alan Lowenthal Passes Assembly, Heads To Senate For Concurrence, Then To Governor

Perspective: "Never Mind"

LBReport.com Learns Calling Special Nov. 08 Citywide Election For Parcel Property Tax Would Cost Over $400,000...And Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Ass'n Says Proposed Measure Is Unconstitutional & Will Sue If It's Enacted

LB Chamber Urges Defeat of Sen. Lowenthal "Port Investment"/Container Fee Bill (SB 974) And Assemblywoman Ma Employee Sick Leave Bill (AB 2716); Two LB City Agencies (Harbor & Water Depts) Continue Spending Public Money To Support Privately-Run Chamber

Video: See/Hear Fueled-Up Fired-Up Flame-Throwing Dragsters At 2008 Bixby Knolls Dragster Expo

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Subsequent development above Sen. Alan Lowenthal Has Added Dozens Of Amendments To Proposed "Port Investment/container fee" Bill (SB 974), Some Substantive...And Assembly Vote On Measure Could Come As Early As Today

New / Guest Opinion by Kathy Ryan, Co-Founder LB Taxpayers Ass'n: Financial Responsibility First, Not New Taxes

Further On Downtown Residential Burglary Suspect Who Died In Police Custody

Monday July 14: Line at failed now fed-run IndyMac Bank, 6620 E. PCH. FDIC insurance covers deposits up to $100k but photog Daniel DeBoom's image speaks volumes. Reuters coverage, click here.

Photo credit: Daniel DeBoom, www.stealmysoul.com

Welcome! LBReport.com Welcomes Contributing Editor Miriam Yarden...Who'll Write On Pets and Their People, Click For Info.

Former LB Harbor Comm'nr/Former Dem Nat'l Committee Vice Chair Carmen Perez: "I'm Not Going To Be Satisifed Until I Call [Sen. Jenny Oropeza] Congresswoman"; Coverage of July 12 Re-election Fundraiser

Sewage Spill Near Mothers Beach Closes Alamitos Bay Area Waters To Swimmers From Colorado Lagoon To Peninsula

Subsequent development above Demonstrators Protest CSULB Plan To Oust Feral Cats For Coyote-Abatement; Say Trap Coyotes, Don't Kill Cats

Coverage coming: LBReport.com asks incoming Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D., Sacramento) whether current budget discussions should "put on the table" eliminating tax break letting ships using high polluting ship bunker fuel without paying state sales/use tax on their entire purchase in CA (partial exemption enacted at industry urging in 2003) and he tells us...(details coming, exclusively on LBReport.com)

Extended Photo Coverage: Big Crowds In Bixby Knolls: 3rd Annual BK Dragster Expo & Car Show Breaks Attendance & Exhibitor Records

Significant Update: Proposed LB Parcel Property Tax "May Be Used For Any General Fund Purpose," Not Necessarily Infrastructure Items; Infrastructure Debt Bond Items Not Legally Tied To Tax, They Are Mayor's Proposed Uses; Read Proposed Ordinance

Subsequent information above With Audio: Mayor Foster Proposes Ballot Measure Levying Parcel Property Tax To Pay Debt Bond For Infrastructure; Mayor Lists General Categories Of Projects He Says It Will Deliver But Doesn't Present Measure Text Or Tax Implementing Legal Details

Mayor Says Residential Property Owners Will Pay About $120/Year; Prop 218 Requires Unanimous Council Vote (Declaring "Emergency") To Have Measure On Ballot

Editorial Follow-Up: Ann Cantrell Says She Doesn't Want Parks & Rec Comm'n Appointment

State Bd of Education Votes To Require That All 8th Graders Study & Be Tested On Algebra I Effective in Three Years; Responses Sharply Polarized

Candidate With "Decline to State" Party Affiliation Surfaces As Potential Challenger To Congresswoman Laura Richardson, Is Collecting Signatures (7,700+ Req'd By Early August) To Have His Name Printed On November Ballot

Congresswoman Richardson Issues Release Listing Items She's Included In House Appropriations Bill For 37th Congressional District

ExpressJet Airlines, a commuter brand airline that began operations from LB in October 2007, has announced that it will cease operations at LB Airport at day's end Sept. 1...and everywhere else under the ExpressJet brand on Sept. 8. ExpressJet flew from LB to Reno-Tahoe, Fresno & Monterey. Company release cites high fuel costs. Action frees up six of the airport's commuter flight slots.

LB Hotel Workers/Supporters To Hold Downtown March Today (July 10) In Campaign For Higher Wages/Better Benefits; Hotel Alliance Spokesman Comments

Editorial: Cricket & Cantrell: Kudos On Considering Former, Opportunity To Appoint Latter

LBReport.com Learns LB's West Nile Mosquitoes Were From Areas Near Hamilton Bowl And Part of ELB Not Far From 2004 Human Death...Plus Dead Crows Have Begun Appearing (Again) North/Eastward Of LB

Image source: LB Health Dept. website

Coverage coming: The City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday (Absent: DeLong, O'Donnell, Reyes Uranga, Gabelich) to approve amendments to City Hall's salary resolution consistent with recent Council agreed negotiated contracts for LB Firefighters & non-public-safety employees. As part of that action, Councilmembers again approved (as they did in December 2007) authorizizing city management to award raises of up to 7% per year to city management employees (a reduction from up to 12% per year allowed prior to Dec. 07). In January 2008, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske tried to reduce management's salary increase authority from 7% to the Consumer Price Index (a lesser sum) but was stymied. Further on this to follow...on LBReport.com

[Subsequent development: Item withdrawn by city staff, will now be reviewed by Planning Officer to determine if proposed use calls for some level of CEQA environmental review] Editorial: Parkland & Taxpayer Protector

Perspective: Among Names For Possible Mayoral Nomination To LB's Harbor Comm'n Are...

[Link corrected] West Nile Virus Found In LB Mosquitoes; LB Health Dept. Urges Residents To Take Precuations

LB Health Dept. image

[Subsequent development: July 8 Council action postponed to July 15 due to absence of two proponent Councilmembers] Councilmembers Reyes Uranga & Gabelich Say City Mgm't Allocation of Prop 1B Infrastructure Money Isn't Equal Across City...And Seek "More Equitable Distribution"

Appreciation / Perspective: Neighbors May Have Averted Possible Catastrophe In Latest Galaxy Towers Fire

Fire in Galaxy Towers 11th Floor Apt. Unit; Neighbors Hear Fire Alarm, Help Get Resident Safely Out & Phone 911; Major LBFD Response, Fire Knocked-Down Quickly