Exceptions Fill Mayoral Candidates’ War Chests
The two candidates for mayor are the beneficiaries of hundreds of thousands of dollars in “independent expenditures,” exceptions to those limits that are legally permissible as long as the candidate is not involved in spending the money, Copley News Service reported. Mayor James Hahn has received $864,000 in independent expenditures so far in the May 17 runoff election, the bulk of it from city employee unions. Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, has benefited from $500,000 in independent expenditures so far. Leading that charge is another set of employee unions, as well as Richard Meruelo, a developer based in Florida and L.A. Some say the IEs could eradicate the level playing field sought by city officials when they approved the limits a decade ago.
Colleagues Take Helms of SAG, AFTRA
A new era in executive leadership began Monday for sister unions Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Greg Hessinger officially assumed the job of SAG’s chief executive officer, succeeding the controversial Bob Pisano, while Kim Roberts Hedgpeth was named to Hessinger’s old post of national executive director of AFTRA over the weekend. Notorious divisions in SAG in recent years have resulted in bitter referendum campaigns over such issues as a proposed SAG/AFTRA merger, a dues increase and a talent-agency agreement, the Daily News of Los Angeles reported.
Legislation Aimed at Rail Safety Fears
Spurred by the deadly Metrolink commuter train crash in Glendale, two state lawmakers introduced bills Monday to improve rail safety in California., the Associated Press reported. The legislation would create a task force for improving freight train safety, increase penalties for drivers who violate rail crossing rules and allocate $25 million more in funding for rail safety programs statewide. Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) introduced the bills along with Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez (D-Norwalk) and is also set to lead a new committee on passenger rail safety.
Occidental Wins Rights for Oil Field
Occidental Petroleum Corp. said Monday that it won government rights to develop one of Oman’s largest oil fields, a project that could substantially boost Occidental’s overall production, the Los Angeles Times reported. Occidental said it was teaming with a group led by Liwa Energy Ltd., which is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, to further develop the massive Mukhaizna field in Oman. The Mukhaizna field became available because of a dispute between the Omani government and the field’s former manager, Petroleum Development Oman, over how to develop the site.
First Banks to Buy L.A. Business Bank
St. Louis-based First Banks Inc. said Monday that it had agreed to buy International Bank of California, a small-business lender with six branches in Los Angeles County and one in San Francisco. Terms of the deal weren’t announced. Family-owned First Banks has acquired 20 California banks since 1995. The purchase will fill a gap for First Banks in the San Gabriel Valley, where International has branches in Alhambra, Arcadia and Rowland Heights, the Los Angeles Times reported.
LAX Renovations for A380 Approved
Two LAX passenger gates will be renovated at a cost of up to $7.7 million to accommodate the 555-passenger Airbus A380 that is scheduled to enter commercial service next year. The Board of Airport Commissioners approved the work Monday, the Daily Breeze reported. The project at the Tom Bradley International Terminal will include enlarging one of the gates, relocating fuel pits and completing parking improvements for the A380, which is longer and wider than the biggest commercial jet in service today, the Boeing 747. The work will be supervised by a nonprofit corporation of 43 airlines that use the Bradley Terminal, rather than by airport managers.
City Poised to Hit 4 Million
L.A.’s population grew by more than 44,000 people last year, putting the city on track to top 4 million by the end of 2005, statistics released Monday show. The city’s population was 3,957,875 as of Jan. 1, according to the state Department of Finance, a 1.1 percent increase from the previous year, but less than the average California city’s growth of 1.7 percent. Los Angeles County continued to be the nation’s largest, growing by 1.2 percent to reach 10,226,506 people, the Daily News of Los Angeles reported. But the city’s overall growth rate has been slowing in recent years, dropping from 1.5 percent between 2000 and 2001 to 1.1 percent between 2004 and 2005.
Linkin Park Seeks Release From Its Warner Contract
After releasing five albums, multiplatinum rap-metal band Linkin Park is demanding to be released from its contract with Warner Music Group, which is preparing to go public, the Los Angeles Times reported. The group’s management company, The Firm, said the band had become concerned that Warner Music’s “diminished resources will leave it unable to compete in today’s global music marketplace.” Warner Music said Linkin Park’s complaint was nothing more than an attempt to wrest more money out of the company as it readies to file for an initial public offering.
