Governor’s Remap Bid Ruled Invalid
Delivering a blow to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s agenda, a judge Thursday struck from the special election ballot an initiative that would have wrested away the Legislature’s power to draw political districts, the Los Angeles Times reported. Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Gail Ohanesian ruled that the initiative should not have been placed on the Nov. 8 ballot because the wording circulated on voter petitions had not been approved according to law. The ruling, which Proposition 77 proponents vowed to appeal, seriously weakens the ambitious plan that Schwarzenegger spelled out in his January State of the State speech.
Gilbert Won’t Seek Third Term at SAG
Casting has begun for one of the most thankless roles in Hollywood: president of the Screen Actors Guild. Tired of what she called an “untenable” situation, actress Melissa Gilbert said Thursday that she wouldn’t seek a third term as SAG president. Her departure sets the stage for another contentious battle for control of Hollywood’s biggest union. Three actors have declared their intention to run for Gilbert’s post: Morgan Fairchild, Alan Rosenberg and Robert Conrad. On Thursday, two of those candidates vowed not to sink to the depths of earlier campaigns, which were marked by name-calling, accusations of corruption and, in 2002, allegations of voting irregularities that led to a new election. Voting will begin next month.
Rocky Roads, Caltrans Survey Says
Californians gave Caltrans high marks for keeping freeways clean, but less-than-stellar ratings for maintenance and congestion relief, its first Internet survey showed. The 12,000 Californians who responded on Caltrans’ Web site answered nearly 30 questions gauging its performance overseeing the state’s highways and bridges. Scores for keeping freeways clean and passable were higher than those relating to road conditions and traffic flow, the Daily News of Los Angeles reported. Improved traffic flow emerged as the top choice among 56 percent of drivers statewide when asked to set priorities for the department. In the L.A. area, it topped the list for 63 percent of respondents.
Office Space Harder to Find
Office and industrial space in the San Fernando Valley became harder to find and pricier to rent in the second quarter, according to two reports released Thursday. The survey, compiled by real estate company CBRE, found that the Valley area had one of the county’s lowest office vacancy rates, falling more than 20 percent in the last year to 7.7 percent. Rents averaged $2.18 per square foot, up from $2.13 in the same period a year ago. Overall, the greater Los Angeles area showed a vacancy rate of 11.3 percent, with an average asking lease rate of $2.17 per square foot, the Daily News of Los Angeles reported. For industrial property, the Valley’s vacancy rate of 1.9 percent mirrored the county’s rate and stood slightly below the greater Los Angeles rate of 2.2 percent.
Regents Increase Some Fees for UC
University of California regents on Thursday voted to raise fees by as much as 7 percent a year for some categories of professional school students, the Los Angeles Times reported. The hike, which would take effect in January, applies to students in graduate schools of law, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and other professions. It follows a 3 percent rise in fees already approved for this fall. UC President Robert C. Dynes and several campus leaders said the increases, which amount to as much as a 10 percent hike for some students by the 2006 academic year, were necessary to offset state budget reductions. Some regents and students said the increase would affect the ability of some to remain in school.
Construction Approved for Agoura Design Center
Construction has been approved for the Agoura Design Center, a 7-acre complex along Highway 101 in Agoura Hills that will house seven furniture retailers under one roof, the Los Angeles Times reported. Developer Adler Realty Investments Inc. is building the $27-million, 118,000-square-foot project between Kanan and Chesebro roads. Tenants will include Ethan Allen, Drexel Heritage, Creative Leather, Broyhill, Hendradon, Stickley and Treasures. The stores are slated to open in fall 2006.
