Yearly Archives: 2016

A federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging seven California residents with conspiracy and fraud offenses stemming from an alleged scheme to defraud homeowners across the United States who were seeking mortgage loan modifications. The 14-count indictment was returned under seal on January 21 and all seven defendants were arrested this morning.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld announced more than $182 million in funding to California for investment in statewide improvements in local drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and the reduction of water pollution. Blumenfeld was joined by the City of Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall for the announcement at an event highlighting the $37 million in funding that is being used to expand the Carlsbad Water Recycling Facility and nearly double its capacity to generate water for non-potable uses like irrigation and industrial uses.

Tomorrow, U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld will be joined by City of Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall to announce millions of dollars in funding to the state that will improve local water infrastructure and control water pollution statewide resulting in significant public health benefits.

Mayor Eric Garcetti today announced new online tools that enable renters to more easily access information about their rights under the City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). Now, any member of the public can find out whether a property is rent-stabilized by visiting the City of Los Angeles’ Zoning Information & Map Access System (ZIMAS).

ZIMAS also now indicates whether a property owner has filed to remove a property from the rental market under the Ellis Act — a State law that allows owners of rent-stabilized properties to leave the rental business, usually resulting in tenant evictions. Units in properties for which an Ellis application has been filed cannot be re-rented for five years unless they comply with replacement provisions of the RSO. This additional Ellis Act flag will help the City and stakeholders better monitor properties that have been removed from the City’s rental stock

Genton Property Group (GPG) has selected Webcor Builders to begin construction on the exclusive Four Seasons Private Residences-Los Angeles, which will include 58 luxury condos and a top-floor penthouse that are expected to be the most exclusive, highest priced condos ever to enter the LA market.

Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) joined Secretary of Veterans Affairs Bob McDonald in meetings with public and private sector leaders working to address veterans homelessness in San Bernardino County. Secretary McDonald’s visit to San Bernardino County kicked off his four day trip to the Los Angeles metro area.

A man is scheduled to be arraigned today for starting a fire in a Stanton apartment causing residents of the complex to be displaced. Brandon Tyler Williams, 43, Stanton, is charged with one felony count of arson of an inhabited property. If convicted, Williams faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison. Williams is scheduled to be arraigned today, Jan. 22, 2016, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined

U.S. Representative David G. Valadao (CA-21) issued the following statement regarding the release of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s water proposal: "Six weeks ago, Senator Feinstein promised to introduce water legislation in the Senate. While she was finally able to put forward a proposal, there is significant work to be done. With millions of gallons of water flowing out into the ocean every day, throwing taxpayer dollars at this problem will not provide those suffering with the drought relief they so desperately need.

The 2016 president, officers, directors and advisors of the Asian Real Estate Association of America Silicon Valley (AREAA SV) were formally installed on Wednesday at Club Auto Sport in San Jose. Representatives from SILVAR, neighboring REALTOR® associations and other real estate professionals in the Bay Area, including AREAA officials from other chapters around the country, attended the event and congratulated the 2016 AREAA Silicon Valley leadership.

Global real estate investment and services firm Kennedy Wilson has negotiated a 10-year retail lease for Yellow Fever, an Asian inspired fast casual restaurant serving healthy customizable bowls, at the Plaza Marina shopping center in Venice, California. Located at 2570 Lincoln Blvd., the 1,500-square-foot location marks the restaurant’s second location and official entry into the Los Angeles market.

An arsonist was sentenced to five years in state prison today for collecting over $128,000 in insurance payments after filing claims for a series of fires, later determined to be arsons, and other fraudulent reports. The defendant also illegally collected over $18,000 in welfare, housing, and MediCal benefits, for which she did not qualify, after failing to disclose the income from her many insurance claims.

Rep. Pete Aguilar toured the Center for Employment Training facility in Colton where he met with students, instructors and administrators. Aguilar, an advocate for expanding job training opportunities in the Inland Empire, toured the campus, visiting the Automotive Program, Welding Fabrication, Green Building Construction Skills (Solar) and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) programs. The center also offers vocational and skills training for students studying CNC/Machinist Technology and Truck Driving.

Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) took part in a field hearing at Riverside City College on reducing homelessness among veterans. The hearing, titled “Finding Solutions for Veteran Homelessness in Southern California,” was hosted by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) and brought together representatives from the private and public sectors to discuss how local programs are helping to decrease the number of homeless veterans

A 24-year-old man was charged today with killing his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend at her Winnetka apartment building, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced

As the second session of the 114th Congress gets underway, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) today released information highlighting the casework services his district offices delivered last year on behalf of constituents in California’s 9th Congressional District. The Congressman’s offices handled over 1,000 constituent cases in 2015 and helped secure over $1,187,480.80 in money and benefits due to his constituents.

A “hard money” lender was convicted today of embezzling over $3 million from investors in a Ponzi real estate-mortgage investment fraud scheme. Thomas Franklin Tarbutton, 56, Newport Beach, was found guilty by a jury of 18 felony counts of grand theft, nine felony counts of forgery, 11 felony counts of using an untrue statement in the purchase or sale of a security, and one felony count of the use of a device or scheme to defraud

Following the Administration's release of the updated California Water Action Plan, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today spoke at the "CA Water 2.0 - What's Next for the California Water Action Plan?" event organized by the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), detailing the state's efforts to effectively manage water now and into the future

A 36-year-old man best known for his role in the Power Ranger series has been charged with the 2015 stabbing death of his roommate, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has executed agreements to purchase solar energy from a 9.5 Megawatt (MW) photovoltaic facility that will be built, owned and operated by SunPower Corporation on DWR’s property near its existing Pearblossom Pumping Plant in Los Angeles County.