State Pollutants Below 1990 Levels For The First Time

Greenhouse gas pollution levels in the state have fallen below 1990 levels for the first time since peaking in 2004, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced today. While the economy has grown 26%, carbon pollution has dropped 13% since 2004, accord to the board. Having fallen 23% from 14 metric tons of emissions per person in 2001 to 10.8 metric tons per person in 2016, California emissions per capita are half that of the national average. In achieving these levels, the state has achieved a goal set out by Assembly Bill 32, passed in 2006, which required the state to reduce its emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The next target is to reduce greenhouse gas pollution levels to below 40% of 1990 levels by 2030, as required by Senate Bill 32, which was passed in 2016.

 

Tariffs To Increase Prices Of Top Selling Vehicles And Other Consumer Goods

Due to tariffs on imports, the 20 best-selling cars in the United States are expected to undergo price increases ranging from $1,784 to $9,361, according to an article published by Experian. For example, the Nissan Rogue is expected to increase in price by as much as $6,701. According to the article, tariffs imposed on imports from China, Mexico, Canada and European Union countries are expected to increase the cost to purchase consumer goods and borrow money. The consumer price inflation rate could rise by as much as 1.5% this year in part due to tariffs, according to the article.

 

Long Beach City Auditor’s Office Achieves Highest National Performance Standards

An independent peer review conducted from 2015 to 2017 found that the city auditor’s office achieved the highest performance standards for government auditing, Long Beach City Auditor Laura Doud announced today. The distinction recognizes the office for conducting objective audits of city government spending and examining taxes for appropriate use. This is the fourth triennial assessment by the Association of Local Government Auditors that found that the Long Beach office meets national standards.

 

Local Company Expands With New Hiring

Alta Environmental announced yesterday that the company hired 12 employees to work at its Long Beach and Oceanside offices. The new hires include project managers, engineers, consultants, specialists and interns that will work within various corporate teams. “These talented new hires bring diverse experience and valuable skills to the Alta Environmental team,” Lisa Kay, president of Alta Environmental, said in a press release. “We look forward to their future achievements and contributions to the workplace and in the environmental industry.”