Inland Growth Fastest in State
Soaring housing prices have driven Californians farther inland, with four interior metropolitan areas among the 10 fastest growing in the nation. The shift propelled the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area into the nation’s second-fastest growing spot, with an increase of 15.7 percent from 2000 to last year, according to a study by the Brookings Institution. The Las Vegas-Paradise metro area led the nation with an 18.5 percent increase in population. The L.A. region ranked 44 among the 88 metro areas, growing by just 4.2 percent. The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area had more people move into it mainly from L.A. than any other metro area in the country, gaining 325,842 new arrivals between 2000 and 2004. During the same period, 471,118 people moved out of L.A., the Daily News of Los Angeles reported.
Marvel to Make Movies Based on Comic Books
Marvel Enterprises Inc. announced today that it has changed its name to Marvel Entertainment Inc. to reflect its expansion into film production with the closing of a $525-million loan deal with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. Marvel said it would use the money to make 10 films with budgets of as much as $165 million each. Paramount Pictures will serve as Marvel’s exclusive marketing and distribution partner for the films. Plans call for two PG-13-rated releases a year starting in summer 2008, the Los Angeles Times reported. Sony Pictures Entertainment has created a blockbuster franchise with Marvel’s Spider-Man.
Burbank City Council Preparing to Fill Vacancy
As the Burbank City Council gears up to declare vacant the seat left open by the resignation of former Councilwoman Stacey Murphy, it raises the question of who might take her place. Under the City Charter, Murphy’s resignation could lead to a special election as early as January. But before that can occur, the City Council must officially declare her seat vacant and pass an ordinance to call for an election, decisions likely to come this month. The election’s cost is estimated at $150,000. The nomination period could open as early as October, the Daily News of Los Angeles reported. Murphy resigned last Tuesday as she faces felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor child endangerment charges in a case connected to the Vineland Boys street gang.
Labor Day Event Rallies Thousands for Warning Call
Thousands of longshoremen, teachers, firefighters, nurses and other union members paraded through Wilmington Monday, celebrating the Labor Day holiday and attempting to rally and unite for a statewide political fight looming on the horizon, the Daily Breeze reported. The 25th annual event drew local, state and national union leaders to an area they see as a key battlefield against initiatives on the Nov. 8 ballot that would change rules on teacher tenure and union fund raising for political campaigns. The ballot measures, which are backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, have the potential to erode the strength of workers groups nationwide, union officials said.
