May 31, 2019
Orange County
OC Register: 136 dogs seized at house in Orange; residents cited for alleged animal-cruelty
Police said the two residents of the home were given misdemeanor citations for animal cruelty, but the case was ongoing and further charges were possible.
OC Register: Bill to expand eviction protections in California sputters on Assembly floor
No vote was called on Assembly Bill 1481 before the Assembly adjourned for the week, so while it didn’t technically fail, it is likely dead for the year. This setback for pro-tenant advocates came on the heels of a victory: the passage of a statewide rent cap — the second in the nation after Oregon — the night before.
OC Register: Average apartment rents hit $2,004 a month in Orange County, $1,907 in L.A. County, CoStar reports
Riverside County’s average asking rent – or the amount landlords seek for vacant units before concessions — was $1,429 a month as of the first quarter, up 4.9%. San Bernardino County’s rent increased 4.5% to $1,450 a month.
OC Register: Uninsured small businesses hope for affordable health care under Gov. Newsom
Of the 2.84 million Californians who remained uninsured in 2017, 444,000, or 16%, were self-employed, according to the California Health Insurance Survey conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
OC Register: Orange court facility re-dedicated to trailblazing judge, as officials focus on expanding court access across the county
Unveiled during the ceremony was a painting of the late Judge Betty Lou Lamoreaux, the county’s first Superior Court judge, created by Louisa Chen, an Orange County School of the Arts student, which will adorn a prominent spot in the building.
Voice of OC: Costa Mesa visual arts scene starting to make waves
Costa Mesa’s official slogan is “The City of the Arts.” It added it to its official city seal in 1999. However, the visual arts have generally been overshadowed by the performing arts, as well as shopping centers and global action sports companies.
Labor
NY Times: Southwest Airlines mechanics approve contract, ending long impasse
The union representing about 2,500 Southwest Airlines mechanics voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract proposal, ending a labor impasse that lasted nearly seven years and wound up in court twice.
Publication Date: May 31, 2019