“I’ve been trying for four years, since I’ve gotten to Sacramento, to convince our lawmakers here that it is extremely important to give tax incentives to Hollywood.”
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, who is termed out of office next week, along with other LA based politicians claim that they’ve pushed for tax credits since 1998, only to always be shot down by the state senate. He blames the current logjam on the Governor:
“If the governor would propose ways to increase revenue to offset the credit, this would be a blockbuster hit in the Legislature,” Nunez spokesman Steven Maviglio said. “Unfortunately, the governor has never included funding in any of his budgets for the bill and has undermined the bipartisan support the credit has enjoyed by proposing a cuts-only budget.”
As if the Writers Guild strike and potential Screen Actors Guild strike weren’t damaging film and television production in Los Angeles enough, the State of New York is aggressively wooing productions to shoot there instead of California.
Already, new tax breaks by Gov. David Paterson have convinced ABC to move production of “Ugly Betty” to New York after shooting its first two seasons in Los Angeles.
Under the expansion, the percentage of qualified film production costs eligible for a tax credit tripled, from 10% to 30%. The program was also extended, from its original 2011 expiration to 2013. New York City chips in an additional 5% tax break. [Variety]
While I’ve been unable to find any record of if producers sought out a competing deal with California or Los Angeles, Nikke Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily lays the blame on blockbuster star/governor Schwarzenegger:
It’s always been repugnant to me that, despite his years in Hollywood, Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger has done less than zero to stop runaway production or enact incentives to lure TV shows and films back to California and even Los Angeles. (Then again, very little that this piss poor political parvenu has done in the job deserves praise, period.)
Annika at LA Metblogs writes that an estimated 300 Los Angeles residents will lose their jobs as a result, accounting for crew and vendors.
Surprisingly, in all the talk about budget deficits on both the state and city level, little discussion has centered on how to retain the entertainment industry. Are we taking it for granted?
Offended by Schwarzenegger’s statements earlier in the week that city officials in small towns could benefit from travelling to see how the world works, Sen. Dean Florez has proposed SR 28 - a resolution calling on the Governor to take the high school exit exam. From Capitol Alert (registration required):
“And after he takes the exam, maybe he’ll think twice about the massive cuts to education funding he’s proposing — he just may have to return to school to brush up for the test.”
But what if Arnold fails?
…we certainly have a capable Lt. Governor who can assume his duties until the Governor successfully passes the exam.
Alright! I think we have the plot for Arnold’s next movie!
Edward Headington at Mayor Sam’s Sister City tosses out the possibility that Governor Arnold may be targeting a mayorship, or senate seat, after his second term in Sacramento ends. Heck, I’m still holding out for Arnold to play King Conan.
Headington points to what Schwarzenegger said on Leno a few nights ago:
I see myself as a public servant, not as a politician. I want to finish my term, and I’m absolutely convinced that if I do a good job, and a great job … we always will get a job after that.
Days after the LA Times reported that Maria Shriver was among the celebrity health files that starstruck UCLA staffers peeked at, the Governor has announced he’s looking into the privacy breaches.
Hospitals need to develop procedures to protect patient information “if they’re celebrities, if they’re business executives, or just ordinary citizens,” Schwarzenegger said. “Everyone’s file ought to be protected, and everyone’s medical history ought to be protected. That is the responsibility of the hospital, and so we’re going to go work with them to find a way so that we can help them protect everyone’s files.” [from Capitol Alert]
While the concern is understandable, I’m trying to find any indication of where Schwarzenegger has stood on privacy issues before now, such as his view of the Patriot Act. If anyone knows of a source, please let me know… On the Issues seemed like a good start, but offered no insight.
Gov. Schwarzenegger denied fellow Hollywood action star Clint Eastwood and brother in law Bobby Shriver from third terms as members of the State Park and Recreation Commission. [LA Times]
State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is forcing Allstate Insurance to give California customers an 18% rate cut because he believes their rates are too high. [KNBC]
Pregnant women in their third trimester and two months following birth could be entitled to handicapped parking spaces if Assemblyman Chuck Devore’s (R-Irvine) proposed bill is passed. [Sacramento Bee]
The progressive group Courage Campaign is asking why state Republicans are trying to push additional tax breaks for yacht owners while California is facing a signifigant budget crunch. [Blogging on Meds]
LOS ANGELES
The Glendale News-Press takes a glance at Assembyman Paul Krekorian’s (D-Burbank) legislative goals, including bills that would increase penalties for street racing and speeding, improve drinking water safety, and making it illegal to sell beef from sick or diseased cows.
LA City Council may soon pass an ordinance that would fine hospitals $25,000 for “dumping” homeless patients. [KNBC]
SAN FRANCISCO AND BAY AREA
The mayor and police of Oakland express frustration over loopholes in state law allowing for the proliferation of assault weapons. A California Dept. of Justice agent says, “You’re more likely to be hit by a stray round nowadays than an intended round.” [CBS5]
San Francisco is inching towards requiring large buildings to have “solar power, nontoxic paints and plumbing fixtures that decrease water usage.” [San Francisco Chronicle]
A year after banning city government from buying bottle of water, San Francisco Mayor Newsom is urging restaurants to stop selling bottles and - gasp - give away glasses of tap water for free. [San Francisco Chronicle]
Barack Obama said he believed it was “pretty clear that O.J. was guilty” in an interview with ABC’s Nightline in an effort to seperate his views as being unique from that of many black Americans. [Top of the Ticket]
Plans to build a private, self contained, newly annexed suburb of the City of L.A. called Las Lomas were voted down by City Council on Wednesday. The city could be hit back with an expensive lawsuit. [KNBC]
US Attorney’s reps attempt to defend the decision to disband a corruption wing as former employees claim they’re being threatened if they go forward with the real reason. [LA Times]
The Long Beach school board has asked the state for a waiver on restrictions on how certain education funds could be spent. In the same meeting, the board ended an experiment with single-gender classes. [Long Beach Press Telegram]
OC Republicans are suing a Congressional candidate for putting the title “Mayor of Huntington Beach” on her resume - they argue that since the post isn’t voted on (it rotates to different council members annually) it isn’t legally allowed. [OC Register]
SAN DIEGO
San Diego’s growing number of properties being declared historical, allowing for dramatic tax deductions, the city is being deprived of signifigant revenue, a county grand jury determined. [San Diego Union-Tribune]
SAN FRANCISCO AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
A Sonoma County community is getting all NIMBY about a proposed Vet rehab center, apparently fearing PTSD crazies will go all Rambo in wine country. [Daily News]
Gov. Schwarzenegger was met by dozens of hecklers in Pleasant Hill as he compared his budget plan to the path to heaven: “Everyone wants to get there, but nobody wants to do what it takes to get there.” [NBC 11]
State Senator Jeff Denham, R-Merced is facing a recall election after he failed to vote on the state budget last July. [Fresno Bee]
Mayor Newsom ordered all city agencies to cut payroll expenses by 8% which will likely result in hundreds of layoffs. [San Francisco Chronicle]
Are KFI’s John and Ken bigots? They’re getting some flack for depicting Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, an Italian-American, as a Mafia gangster in ads that complain of his call for higher taxed. [Calitics]
Its last week’s news, and I’m sure the media will move on to more important topics this week, but since it mentions our Governor I thought you’d appreciate this:
Top Ten Messages Left on Spitzer’s Answering Machine
10. “Hey, what’s new?”
9. “It’s Barack Obama. Remember our conversation about being my running mate? Never mind.”
8. “Ralph Nader here. Glad to hear I’m not the only politician who has to pay for it.”
7. “Hi, I’m calling from the ‘New York Post.’ Would you rather be known as ‘Disgraced Governor Perv’ or ‘Humiliated Whore Fiend’?”
6. “This is John McCain. If it makes you feel better, I once got caught having sex with Lincoln’s wife.”
5. “It’s Dr. Phil. Call me if you need any horse**** advice.”
4. “This is Sen. Larry Craig. Do you ever go through the Minneapolis airport?”
3. “It’s Wolf Blitzer. Call me if you ever want a hot Spitzer-Blitzer three-way.”
2. “Paris Hilton here. I would have done it for free.”
1. “It’s Arnold Schwarzenegger. Thanks, I’m no longer America’s creepiest governor.”
1,544,710 students served by Los Angeles County’s public schools. Cuts to five of the largest funding allocations for public schools in the county would equal $670 per student.
66,140 low-income children dropped from the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Program.
418,840 low-income seniors and persons with disabilities who would lose the state cost-of-living adjustment for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment cash assistance grants.
163,700 low-income seniors and persons with disabilities who would receive fewer hours of services through the In-Home Supportive Services Program.
5,170 fewer children enrolled in child care and preschool due to funding cuts to child development programs.
61,590 low-income children in 2008-09 – and a total of 112,140 children by 2009-10 – who would lose Medi-Cal coverage due to increased paperwork requirements.
2,261,650 low-income Medi-Cal recipients who may have reduced access to health care services because of payment cuts to health care providers.
249,220 children enrolled in the Healthy Families Program, which provides low-cost health coverage for children in low-income working families. The Governor proposes to increase family premium contributions and copayments and reduce dental services.
Visitors to five state parks in Los Angeles County, which the Governor proposes to close.
The California Budget Project is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that is intended to improve “public policies affecting the economic and social well-being of low- and middle-income Californians” through analysis and dissemenation of information to the public.
Is there a individual you'd like me to interview, or an under reported story you'd like me to cover, especially if related to Los Angeles or California related government and politics?
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About
California Faultline is KNBC's blog about local, state, and national politics that impacts residents of the Golden State, written and edited by Los Angeles writer David Markland.
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