Region Business

07/09/2020

https://cbsloc.al/2BSMNWM

The mayor is holding discussions with labor groups this week to mount a 'strong mayor' campaign that could go before voters on the November ballot.

03/19/2020

Mayor Steinberg and Region Restaurants working together to save local restaurants.

01/12/2020

CalMatters writes that California's high cost of living and poor business environment is causing middle and low-income residents to flee the state.

Many who have left the state say they simply couldn’t afford to stay. One report found that the majority of people leaving earned less than $100,000, while the state has seen an influx of those making $100,000 or more.

01/02/2020

Good question!

For California tenants, life is hard in 2020, and activists want to vote on “Real Rent Control” in November’s election. The ballot measure was supposed to be pulled in a Sacramento City Council compromise.

12/30/2019

How do you feel about living in California?

Fire, garbage and homelessness increasingly plague the Golden State.

12/28/2019

"A California law that makes it harder for companies to treat workers as independent contractors takes effect next week, forcing small businesses in and outside the state to rethink their staffing," reports the AP.

NEW YORK (AP) — A California law that makes it harder for companies to treat workers as independent contractors takes effect next week, forcing small businesses in and outside the state to rethink...

12/26/2019

"U.S. stocks have rallied in recent weeks amid confidence in the U.S. economy and optimism that Washington and China will soon sign a “phase one” trade deal.

Holiday sales have also been strong, highlighting the resilience of consumer spending, which has kept the U.S. economy growing this year despite trade tensions and intermittent fears that a recession could be around the corner.

Total U.S. retail sales for Nov. 1 through Christmas Eve rose 3.4% from a year earlier, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks both online and in-store spending," reports the Wall Street Journal.

The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq pushed toward new records as markets reopened after the Christmas holiday.

12/02/2019

"City and county leaders in Sacramento are in the midst of debating a sales tax measure for the November 2020 ballot that would fund a long list of projects transportation projects, from freeway interchanges and bridges to sidewalks near schools.

Measure A could raise more than $8 billion through a half-cent sales tax over the next 40 years," writes the Bee.

Read the article to see what infrastructure the measure would fund.

Voters in Sacramento County CA will decide in the November 2020 election whether to approve a half-cent sales tax for transportation, with money going to roads, transit, freeways, traffic, light rail and bike projects.

11/29/2019

"Sacramento County voters may get a chance next year to improve their commute and combat climate change on a local level. But it will cost them.

A group of city and county leaders is assembling a November 2020 ballot measure that would hike the local sales tax a half cent to improve transportation – with an emphasis on offering alternatives to more roads for more cars. The proposal, called Measure A, could raise more than $8 billion locally over the next 40 years for new bridges, light rail lines, bike paths, freeway interchanges and sidewalks to schools," writes the Sacramento Bee.

Measure A, a half-cent transportation sales tax measure, would provide funds for transit and road improvements. The tax proposal, which would need a two-thirds vote, is contemplated for the November 2020 ballot.

11/22/2019

California’s rate of approving new housing permits jumped in September after slumping for much of this year, the state Department of Finance announced Thursday.

The number of permits increased 21.9 percent from August to September, according to the Department of Finance. That reflects a 47-percent increase in multi-family building permits like apartment complexes and a 2.3-percent decrease in single-family units.

The state is now on track to approve permits for 111,000 housing units this year, according to the department. That’s still fewer than last year, when the state approved permits for 117,000 residential units, said Irena Asmundson, chief economist at the Department of Finance

California cities and counties approved more home building permits in September 2019, ending a construction slump. Governor Gavin Newsom wants to address the state’s housing crisis with more new houses.

11/18/2019

When the state and local government is spending billions of dollars to stimulate new housing construction, why are new housing permits declining? Perhaps, excessive regulations? Rent control?

Many housing advocates have praised Gavin Newsom’s new housing funding and rent cap law, but some say his cabinet lacks homebuilding expertise and needs a top adviser who can lead the governor’s housing agenda.

11/13/2019

California's economy is booming and unemployment is the lowest in years, so why are so many cities and schools in financial "distress?" Some are here in the Sacramento region.

Two reports from state Auditor Elaine Howle frame the fiscal distress being felt by many school districts and cities.