Posted on February 22nd, 2010 by Carlo Capomazza
By WeHo News Staff, West Hollywood, California (February 22, 2009) In March, West Hollywood and American households everywhere around the world will receive their 2010 Census forms in the mail: an important civic milestone that happens only once every ten years. What makes this year’s Census even more historic is the unprecedented and welcoming outreach by U.S. Census leaders and managers to include the entire lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and allied community in these efforts, as a way to achieve the nation’s most accurate count possible. Dr. Robert Groves, Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, endorsed this initiative: “We are charged each ten years to provide Congress with a Census they trust to be accurate and complete. We are grateful to our LGBT community partners in helping us achieve this significant responsibility
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Posted on February 12th, 2010 by Carlo Capomazza
A record $3.47 billion was spent on federal lobbyists in 2009, according to a new study by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Ergo, fair now to say that Wall Street and K Street had a bull year, while Main Street suffered in recession.
The lobbyist boon times were tied to the legislative debates of the day: health care reform, financial reform and energy policy.
Still, 2009 looks not greatly different from 2008. There was about a 5% total increase in spending between the two years. But most of that increase occurred in the 4th quarter. And in the 4th quarter of 2008 there were those two mega events, financial crisis and the presidential election, likely tamping down spending. For example, the report finds that spending in the 2009 3rd quarter was up 3% compared to a 16% rise in the 4th quarter.
Nevertheless, it exhibits how disconnected the worlds of Wall Street and K Street are from the larger American experience. Both industries earned record profits the same year foreclosures shattered previous records.
Notably, with health care reform atop the 2009 legislative debate, the report found that federal lobbying expenditures for the pharmaceutical and health products industry were larger than any single industry ever. Health care lobby’s total 2009 bill: $266.8 million. Bloomberg reported last August that there were 3,300 health care lobbyists working Congress – six lobbyists for each of the 535 House and Senate lawmakers.
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Posted on February 12th, 2010 by Carlo Capomazza
Fully 62% of Americans say they are “angry” about the bank bonuses. Other subjects of public disgust: 48% say banking bailout, 39% say partisan gridlock and 37% say the budget deficit, according to a new Pew Research Center poll.
Bank anger transcends partisanship. Among those who say financial executives record bonuses make them angry: 72% of [...]
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Posted on February 8th, 2010 by Carlo Capomazza
By WeHo News Staff, West Hollywood, California (February 8, 2009) West Hollywood, the source of a number of natural springs with underground aquifers and rivers running below it, needs new gutters on one of its hill-climbing streets, Larrabee, to prevent run-off on the street surface.This water comes from the underground garages and basements that reach to the high water table and, until now, pumped the excess water directly into the street.With that in mind, construction begins today to install, along the curb of the street, a grated trench drain system designed to carry away the nuisance surface water.
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Posted on February 7th, 2010 by Carlo Capomazza
Important advice to anyone planning to contact their lender directly for a loan modification: The key here is to be tenacious. These lenders and servicers (lenders) are large with hundreds, and even thousands, of employees. Whenever you call your lender, you should plan on being on the phone for a long time (figure an hour [...]
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Posted on February 7th, 2010 by Carlo Capomazza
Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.
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Posted on February 5th, 2010 by Carlo Capomazza
Home Decor: After an extensive, two-and-a-half year interior renovation, Jennifer Aniston?s Beverly Hills mansion is finally picture perfect….
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Posted on February 5th, 2010 by Carlo Capomazza
Banish the clutter! Trim the bushes! Hide your Star Wars collection! Take down the family pictures! What things can you do to prepare a house for sale? You’ll find tips, hints, thoughts and ideas for sprucing up, cleaning out, decorating, staging, creating a great first impression and making a house appealing to buyers in this Updated Field Guide.
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