1. Tree Huggers Succeed in Getting 4^th of July Fireworks Show Cancelled in Long Beach

Complaints to the woke Coastal Commission succeeded. They claim that fireworks harmed water quality and migrating birds.

Prior to the huggers’ complaints and for the past decade, organizers enjoyed an expedited application process. Now have a more robust application process that has to contain environmental studies. Process can take over six months and requires a Coastal Commission hearing.

CALLED BIG BANG ON THE BAY – this fireworks show was enjoyed by hundreds of thousands each 4^th of July. Over $1.7 Million Dollars raised by show funded local non-profits including Boy & Girls Club. Many of these non-profits relied exclusively on this yearly donation.

The huggers and Commission suggested a laser light show for future years to mitigate the loss of fireworks. What a great idea! I am sure people will drive from miles around to see laser lights instead of fireworks.

Comment: Have we had enough of the tree huggers’ crazy antics as well as the Woke Coastal Commission? Every coastal city has fireworks now except leftist Long Beach. Basta!

2. Rubio’s Mexican Grill Closes 48 Stores in California

Increased minimum wages stated as cause. Cannot make a profit. Heavy losses.

Comment: To be expected. Many more fast food chains will follow suit. This is what happens when government imposes regulations that are antithetical to the free market economy!

3. LA County May Require Landlords to Provide Air Conditioning for Units that Exceed a Yet-to-be-Determined Maximum Temperature

Supervisors approved a motion to further study the proposed ordinance.

Comment: If approved, many landlords will have to pay for increased electrical costs as well as purchase air conditioning units. Tenants will have no incentive not to run the AC all the time in warm weather.

Rent control ordinances prevent landlords from raising rents or to make tenants responsible to pay for increases in electrical bills.

What a nightmare if you own residential units in LA County. The libs just keep on making life miserable for landlords as well as running up the costs in which the landlords cannot recover from the tenants.

4. New Report Auditing Homeless Programs in California

$24 Billion Dollars spent in the past five years to “fight” the homeless situation. Estimated 171,000 homeless in California. Report claims the State is doing a very poor job in figuring out if the programs actually work to reduce homeless situation.

Comment: Just throwing money at the problem without a comprehensive plan never works. Leave it up to the politicians to screw things up but claim they are succeeding in fixing the problems. City of LA just “celebrates” a 19 story high-rise in skid row. Cost is $600,000 per unit!!

5. Another Class Action Filed to Stop Real Estate Commission Splits 5%-6% in California

This case was filed in LA Federal Court and involves an Orange County homebuyer. It claims that in other countries the commissions are roughly 2% of sales price (Australia and the UK for starters). Freelund v Redfin Corporation.

Comment: As I predicted, plaintiff’s lawyers will be all over these cases because they can generate big fees as class actions. Legal claim they assert is that this is a violation of antitrust laws and unfair competition.

About the Author

• 

  Scott Souders Attorney & Author

• J. Scott Souders P.C.
• 881 Dover Dr., Suite 390
  Newport Beach, CA 92663
• (949)718-3574
• (949)718-3582
• www.ScottSouders.com

Disclaimer:

Scott Souders is a real estate attorney who has practiced real estate law in excess of 45 years in Southern California. The Real Estate Law Update cites cases or statutes which are summarized and should not be relied upon without fully reading the cases or statute in the advance sheets and shepardizing the same and consulting with your own attorney.