President Bush signed an amended military bill last week which negated an exemption sought by Orange County toll road planners in an attempt to avoid state environmental laws. The estimated $875-million project would build a toll way, which would complete Orange County’s network of turnpikes and would cut across San Onofre State Beach, which is a popular camping and surfing spot. Toll road officials claim that the project would be extremely effective in relieving traffic. Opponents, however, argue that it would affect campgrounds, wild lands, Native American burial sites and famous surf spots. Orange County toll road planners had obtained a federal exemption which had enabled federal law to have jurisdiction over lawsuits involving the agency and the Foothill South as opposed to state law which is much more inflexible. Members from the board that governs the Foothill-Eastern toll way explained that they sought the exemption not because they sought after special legislation but because they needed to determine which authority, state or federal, it was to follow for the proposed route.
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tollroad30jan30,1,5217670.story
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Marijuana from a Vending Machine/ Erica Quevedo
In 1996 California voters passed proposition 215 with over 56% approval rates; it was the first statewide voter initiative in the US supporting the approval of medical marijuana for seriously ill patients. Despite its contradiction to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which continues to regard marijuana as an illegal substance, Los Angeles has pioneered a new way for soliciting this drug.
Los Angeles inventor and owner Vincent Mehdizadeh has created a line of 24-hour medical marijuana vending machines. Mr. Mehdizadeh contends that these machines which he has patented as PVM (prescription vending machines) provides, “convenient access, lower prices, safety, and anonymity." These PVMs are computerized and require finger print identification scanning as well as prepaid magnetic striped cards; once the the fingerprints and prepaid card are verified a green envelope is dropped with the marijuana inside.
Store owners of these PVMs have said that they provide greater accessibility and convenience of these prescription drugs to patients who are serioulsy ill, as well as reduces the risk for raid or theft for workers in the dispensaries. While the DEA has argued that there is a possibility of “unplugging” this new invention as it violates federal laws, this new innovation continues to demonstrate the struggle for power between state and federal jurisdiction, with once again California at the forefront.
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-potmachine30jan30,0,5042929.story
Los Angeles inventor and owner Vincent Mehdizadeh has created a line of 24-hour medical marijuana vending machines. Mr. Mehdizadeh contends that these machines which he has patented as PVM (prescription vending machines) provides, “convenient access, lower prices, safety, and anonymity." These PVMs are computerized and require finger print identification scanning as well as prepaid magnetic striped cards; once the the fingerprints and prepaid card are verified a green envelope is dropped with the marijuana inside.
Store owners of these PVMs have said that they provide greater accessibility and convenience of these prescription drugs to patients who are serioulsy ill, as well as reduces the risk for raid or theft for workers in the dispensaries. While the DEA has argued that there is a possibility of “unplugging” this new invention as it violates federal laws, this new innovation continues to demonstrate the struggle for power between state and federal jurisdiction, with once again California at the forefront.
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-potmachine30jan30,0,5042929.story
"Big Brother" Changes Your Thermostat?/ Pete Peterson
In a plan leaked and destroyed before it could even go before a Legislative committee, the California Energy Commission recommended changing new building construction codes to mandate the usage of "smart" thermostats. These pieces of hardware are "smart" because they can be controlled remotely...like by the utilities.
The plan was to give utilities the power to regulate energy usage during peak and/or emergency situations. The Energy Commission calls this eerie idea one of their "demand-response strategies."
Upon learning of the proposal, legislators from both sides of the aisle rejected the idea as something bordering on a "nanny government" intrusion.
Link: http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_7992487
The plan was to give utilities the power to regulate energy usage during peak and/or emergency situations. The Energy Commission calls this eerie idea one of their "demand-response strategies."
Upon learning of the proposal, legislators from both sides of the aisle rejected the idea as something bordering on a "nanny government" intrusion.
Link: http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_7992487
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Santa Monica seeks to help the most vulnerable/ Karla Saia
A Santa Monica coalition comprised of nonprofit social service agencies and officials from Veterans Affairs and the County Department of Mental Health are engaged in an innovative effort to alleviate the city’s chronic homelessness.
Following a similar model pioneered by Common Ground – a New York City nonprofit that succeeded in reducing homelessness in Times Square – the endeavor aims to reach out to the homeless, rather than waiting for them to seek temporary shelter or emergency medical care.
In Los Angeles, community volunteers have previously collaborated with Common Ground to help the most vulnerable of the homeless on Skid Row. The task force created a “vulnerability score,” taking into account length of homelessness and physical and mental health.
Upon completion of the Skid Row study, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $5.6 million to house and provide medical services for those identified as the 50 most vulnerable. Volunteers expect the Santa Monica initiative, slated for completion this week, will yield similar tangible and actionable results.
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-homeless29jan29,1,7909262.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Following a similar model pioneered by Common Ground – a New York City nonprofit that succeeded in reducing homelessness in Times Square – the endeavor aims to reach out to the homeless, rather than waiting for them to seek temporary shelter or emergency medical care.
In Los Angeles, community volunteers have previously collaborated with Common Ground to help the most vulnerable of the homeless on Skid Row. The task force created a “vulnerability score,” taking into account length of homelessness and physical and mental health.
Upon completion of the Skid Row study, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $5.6 million to house and provide medical services for those identified as the 50 most vulnerable. Volunteers expect the Santa Monica initiative, slated for completion this week, will yield similar tangible and actionable results.
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-homeless29jan29,1,7909262.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
The Irony...Health Care Reform Dies in SAC/ Pete Peterson
Faced with a recent LAO report indicating possible massive revenue shortfalls and state Senators who wanted to put their own stamp on the legislation, California's famed health care reform bill never made it out of the Senate Health Committee. The bill, which was created in the Assembly through an agreement struck by Governor Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez didn't even see a floor vote in the Senate.
Many followers of this year-long effort believe the demise of the bill was a result of numbers and personalities. Numbers, which were revealed just recently by the LAO showing possible billion dollar deficits in the program by its 5th year. And personalities in the well-known friction between Speaker Nunez and Senate President Don Perata. Several senators on the Health Committee didn't like the fact that the bill was presented to them for an up or down vote with no chance to amend provided. Apparently, the "Year of Health Care Reform" has come to an end.
Link: http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/669021.html
Many followers of this year-long effort believe the demise of the bill was a result of numbers and personalities. Numbers, which were revealed just recently by the LAO showing possible billion dollar deficits in the program by its 5th year. And personalities in the well-known friction between Speaker Nunez and Senate President Don Perata. Several senators on the Health Committee didn't like the fact that the bill was presented to them for an up or down vote with no chance to amend provided. Apparently, the "Year of Health Care Reform" has come to an end.
Link: http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/669021.html
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