Transit and infrastructure:
Senator Perata Applauds Funding for MacArthur Transit Village and Other Oakland Housing Projects -- Legislation pushed by Senate President pro Tempore Don Perata (D-Oakland) will provide $71.5 million in Proposition 1C funding for Oakland affordable housing projects this year and will help stimulate the beleaguered local economy by generating decent-paying construction jobs. Senator Perata joined housing and transportation advocates and local officials at the Bay Area Rapid Transit´s MacArthur Station today to discuss the importance of the projects for Oakland residents.
*Local transportation projects get funding -- Several Solano and Napa area transportation projects are among dozens getting funding from Proposition 1B this fiscal year, the governor's office announced Monday. Allocations of Prop 1B funds surged to near $4 billion this week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office announced. Prop 1B is the 2006 voter-approved bond to improve California's transportation infrastructure. Vallejo Times Herald 7/1/08
Californians use less gas in March -- Californians used less gasoline in March, continuing a downward trend in consumption that state officials linked to high gasoline prices. Figures released Monday by the state Board of Equalization said state motorists used 3.2 percent less gasoline in March than they did in the same month a year ago. The BOE said statewide consumption in March was 1.234 billion gallons, 43.5 million fewer gallons than for March 2007. Sacramento Bee 7/1/08
*June 2008 CHSRA Meeting Report -- Dennis Lytton attended the CHSRA board meeting in Los Angeles on June 11, and wrote up this report of the meeting. The next meeting is July 8 in San Francisco. California High-Speed Rail Blog 6/29/08
Governor entices Tesla to build cars in Bay Area -- In a surprise move, Tesla Motors will build its electric-car factory in the Bay Area, not New Mexico as previously announced, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Monday. Schwarzenegger, along with State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, said California was able to provide San Carlos-based Tesla with incentives, including the waiving of state sales tax on $100 million worth of manu facturing equipment, to entice the company to build its assembly plant here. Matt Nauman in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/1/08
Air travel:
Turbulence to worsen – fewer flights, more fees -- As the price of jet fuel continues to climb, Continental, ExpressJet, United and the other domestic airlines are announcing they'll cut the number of flights and retire planes through the end of 2009. Overall, analysts estimate that domestic carriers will reduce flights 10 percent by the end of the year. Sacramento Bee 7/1/08
Penal system:
*Panel condemns state's death penalty system -- California's death penalty system is on the verge of collapse, with the nation's longest delays, uncontrolled costs, an overly broad law and an illusory promise of justice to victims' families, a state commission said Monday. The 22-member commission, appointed by state lawmakers, included prosecutors and police as well as defense lawyers and death penalty opponents. But its recommendations for fixing a system that costs taxpayers $137 million a year face an uphill climb, especially because not all the law enforcement representatives endorsed them. SF Chronicle 7/1/08
Ports and shipping:
Port berth operation request attracts interest -- A request put out by the Port of Oakland for companies interested in operating and improving five of its berths elicited responses from nine interested parties, according to port officials. They came from a group of ocean carriers, financial institutions and terminal operators. The concession agreement encompasses the operation and improvement of berths 20 through 24 -- which include 4,500 feet of berths and 150 acres of storage area -- that would commence Jan. 1, 2010. BizJournals 7/1/08
*Port of Sacramento rebuilds bulk rice shipping business -- Profitability is likely several years away for the Port of Sacramento, but it appears poised to rebuild a business in bulk rice shipping. Monday, workers finished pouring 25,000 tons of loose rice into the belly of a ship bound for Puerto Rico, the first such shipment from the port since December 2005. Bulk rice was once one of the port's financial mainstays, with more than 235,000 tons shipped in 1998. The trade declined as the rice industry shifted more of its shipping to the Port of Oakland and a key buyer, Turkey, blocked U.S. shipments. Sacramento Bee 7/1/08
Dockworker negotiations continuing -- A contract is not likely to be signed today between West Coast shippers and the union representing some 26,000 dockworkers, but negotiations are expected to continue running smoothly. Both sides acknowledged that talks will likely continue past today's deadline as they try to hammer out a three-year labor pact covering longshore workers, marine clerks and foremen working at 29 ports in California, Oregon and Washington. Daily Breeze 7/1/08
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