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Written by: Editor

Published: 05 September 2010

SACRAMENTO – Portions of San Diego and Sacramento counties have been added to areas of California under quarantine for the light brown apple moth.

Nineteen counties are currently part of the quarantine, totaling 5,147 square miles. It is one of the largest pest quarantines in state history.

In San Diego County, 10 square miles are under quarantine near Balboa Park in the city of San Diego.

In Sacramento County, 16 square miles are under quarantine in south Sacramento.

State and federal quarantine regulations prohibit the movement of all nursery stock, all cut flower, and all host fruits and vegetables and plant parts within or from the quarantined area unless it is certified as “free-from” the pest by an agricultural official; is purchased at a retail outlet; or was produced outside the area and is passing through in accordance with accepted safeguards.

Additionally, federal regulations apply to host commodities from the entire county if the commodities are moving interstate.

The quarantine applies to residential and public properties as well as plant nurseries, farms and other commercial enterprises. Residents of the quarantined area are asked to consume fruits and vegetables from yards and gardens on-site rather than removing them from the property.

Landscapers and yard maintenance companies will be among the businesses placed under compliance agreements to ensure that yard waste is disposed of properly. People who are unsure if they are within the quarantine zone are asked to assume that they are.

Treatment with pheromone twist ties is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Sept. 7, in San Diego County. The pheromones create mating confusion for light brown apple moths and actually prevent them from mating during their lives.

The light brown apple moth is native to Australia and is also found in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Hawaii.

The range of host plants is broad with hundreds of plant species known to be susceptible to attack by this pest, including more than 250 crops.

State agricultural officials said the moth threatens California’s environment – including cypress, redwood and oak trees – by destroying, stunting or deforming young seedlings and damaging new growth in the forest canopy.

The moth also feeds on host plants favored by a number of endangered species; spoils the appearance of ornamental plants; and damages citrus, grapes and deciduous fruit tree crops.

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Written by: Editor

Published: 04 September 2010

SACRAMENTO – The total value of state-assessed and county-assessed property declined to $4.371 trillion for 2010-11, a drop of $78.2 billion (1.8 percent) from the previous year, Board of Equalization Chairwoman Betty T. Yee announced Thursday.

This is the second consecutive year-to-year decline in the statewide total, and the second decline since the BOE began keeping records in 1933.

The value of county-assessed property fell by $81.1 billion (1.9 percent) to $4.292 trillion. The value of state-assessed property, mainly privately owned public utilities and railroads, totaled $79.0 billion, an increase of $2.9 billion (3.8 percent).

Year-to-year percentage changes ranged from a high of a 4.6 percent gain in Kern County to a low of an 11.9 percent decline in Calaveras County.

The increase in Kern County is largely related to oil and gas assessments (which comprise about one-third of the county’s assessment roll) and was driven by higher oil prices, the addition of new reserves, and new construction.

Forty-eight counties posted year-to-year declines, with nine of them declining by five percent or more. Only two counties (Kern and San Francisco) grew by more than 2 percent.

The assessed valuation in California’s 15 coastal counties (which account for nearly 60 percent of total assessed valuation) fell 1.1 percent. In contrast, the assessed valuation in the 43 inland counties fell 2.8 percent, about 50 percent greater than the statewide average.

The decline in assessed valuation was especially concentrated in the Central Valley. Assessed values dropped by 4.2 percent in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, and 3.3 percent in both the Greater Sacramento Area, and the remainder of the Sacramento Valley.

Influenced by the 4.6 percent growth experienced by Kern County, assessed value actually grew by 1.4 percent in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. Southern California declined 1.9 percent, roughly in line with the statewide figure. The drop was milder in the San Francisco Bay Area (1.3 percent).

Of the 12 counties with rolls exceeding $100 billion, only San Francisco (4.3 percent) posted an increase in assessed valuation.

The assessed valuation in the other 11 counties declined: Riverside County (-4.4 percent), followed by San Bernardino (-4.3 percent), Contra Costa (-3.0 percent), Santa Clara (-2.4 percent), Sacramento (-1.8 percent), Alameda (-1.6 percent), San Mateo (-1.6 percent), San Diego (-1.5 percent), Orange (-0.5 percent) and Ventura (-0.3 percent). Los Angeles County, with the largest assessment roll at $1.063 trillion, declined by 1.8 percent, down $19.8 billion over 2009-10.

For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit www.taxes.ca.gov.

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Written by: Editor

Published: 03 September 2010

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Californians are expected to take full advantage of the last gasp of summer.

A new travel survey from AAA Northern California predicts an eleven percent increase in the number of Californians expected to travel over Labor Day weekend.

AAA’s latest travel forecast predicts more than 4 million Californians will travel 50 miles or more from their homes this upcoming three-day Labor Day weekend. This represents an overall increase of 11 percent compared to last year.

“Despite the continued mixed feelings regarding the economic recovery, a strong comeback in travel is anticipated for this holiday weekend,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Cynthia Harris. “Compared to last year, fewer Californians are expected to pull back on discretionary spending, which will have a considerably positive impact on travel.”

this year, holiday trips by automobile are expected to be the preferred mode of transportation with more than 3.5 million Californians driving to reach their holiday destinations.

This represents an 11.6 percent increase compared to 2009. More than 315,000 Californians are planning to travel by air, an increase of 5.7 percent compared to last year.

Approximately 170,000 state residents are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, such as rail, buses and watercraft. This represents an increase of 7.9 percent over 2009.

Nationally, AAA projects just over 34 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the Labor Day weekend, representing a 9.9 percent increase compared to 2009.

The AAA Leisure Travel Index shows that airfares over Labor Day weekend are expected to rise by nine percent, with an average cost of $179 per ticket. Hotel rates at AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to average $139 per night and weekend car rentals are forecasted to increase seven percent, with a new average rate of $46. The expenditures of a West Coast family of four is expected to average $1,016 over the weekend, and the average road trip is predicted to cover 726 miles.

AAA’s survey shows that visits with friends and relatives will be the preferred leisure activity for West Coast families. Other favorite activities over the weekend are expected to be touring and sightseeing, followed by dining out.

As part of AAA’s ongoing commitment to provide safety and protection to motorists, the AAA Tipsy Tow Program offers a free tow home for drinking drivers in Northern California, Nevada, and Utah from 6:00 p.m. on September 6, until 6:00 a.m. on September 7. Members and non-members alike can call (800) 222-4357 (AAA-HELP) for a free tow of up to five miles.

“Just tell the AAA operator, ‘I need a Tipsy Tow,’ and a truck will be on its way,” said Harris. “Service is restricted to a one-way ride for the driver and his or her vehicle to the driver’s home.”

To save money and improve gas mileage while on the road, AAA offers the following advice for motorists:

• Keep your tires properly inflated. Every pound of pressure that a tire is under inflated results in a two percent loss in fuel efficiency.

• Don’t use premium fuel if your car does not require it. Check your owner’s manual.

• Observe the speed limit. With speed above 55 mph, aerodynamic drag increases and fuel efficiency decreases rapidly.

• Avoid hard acceleration and drive defensively. Try to brake and accelerate smoothly.

• Idling unnecessarily wastes fuel. Most cars today do not need to be warmed up.

• Travel light. A loaded roof rack can decrease fuel economy by five percent.

AAA offers a variety of guides and maps for members, in addition to the TripTik Travel Planner, available free to all travelers at www.aaa.com/triptik.

Three iPhone apps offer access to AAA products and services. The AAA TripTik Mobile app provides information on gas prices, hotels, restaurants and attractions.

Travel projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed up with AAA as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.

AAA Travel is the nation’s largest travel organization. AAA Travel offers trips, cruises, tours and vacation packages throughout the world. Call (888) 937-5523 for more information or visit us at your local AAA Travel office or online at www.aaa.com/travel.