SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Senate Bill 1298, authored by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), was passed by the State Senate today with unanimous bipartisan support. The vote was 37-0. The bill would establish safety and performance standards for the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on California roads and highways. The bill now goes to the State Assembly for consideration.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Thursday, Mayor Edwin M. Lee joined by Supervisors Scott Wiener, David Campos and Christina Olague announced a total $6.6 million full budget restoration for HIV/AIDS care, treatment and prevention funding in FY 2012-13 to protect essential services to the City’s most vulnerable despite major Federal funding cuts.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointments of Jeanine B. Nadel and David A. Riemenschneider to judgeships in the Mendocino County Superior Court.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Judy Johnson to a judgeship in the Contra Costa County Superior Court.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointments of Allison M. Danner and Mary J. Greenwood to judgeships in the Santa Clara County Superior Court.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointments of Julian W. Bailey and Lewis W. Clapp to judgeships in the Orange County Superior Court.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointments of Debra A. Cole, Halim Dhanidina, Peter A. Hernandez, Bruce G. Iwasaki, H. Clay Jacke II, Virginia Keeny, David B. Walgren and Jeffrey K. Winikow to judgeships in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of David A. Thompson as associate justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three. Thompson, 55, of Costa Mesa, has served as a judge for the Orange County Superior Court since 1998.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Miguel Marquez as associate justice of the Sixth District Court of Appeal. Marquez, 45, of San Jose, has served as county counsel for Santa Clara County since 2009.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Thursday announced the following appointments: First, Steve Beneto, 74, of Carmichael, has been appointed to the California Horse Racing Board. He has been president of Beneto Inc. since 1979. Beneto was a member of the California State Fair and Exposition Board from 2000 to 2004 and 2005 to 2011.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. released a revised state budget today that protects funding for education and public safety while slashing $8.3 billion from government to close a $15.7 billion deficit and get California back on track.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck announced today that 1,673 firearms were collected during the 2012 Gun Buyback, bringing the total number of firearms collected through the program to 7,942.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments to the State Water Resources Control Board: Felicia Marcus, 56, of Emeryville, has been appointed to the State Water Resources Control Board. Marcus has been western director at the Natural Resources Defense Council since 2008 and was executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Trust for Public Land from 2001 to 2008.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, Don Dietrich, 54, of Scotts Valley, has been appointed to the 14th District Agricultural Association, Santa Cruz County Fair Board.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, Panorea Avdis, 33, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Avdis has been chief of staff to Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna since 2010.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — California Assembly Bill (AB) 2464, the Improving Personal Safety at Stadiums Act, authored by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles), passed two committees this week, both by a strong bipartisan margin. On Monday, the Act passed the Assembly Committee on Public Safety, and on Wednesday, it passed the Assembly’s Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee and Dropbox CEO Drew Houston today officially opened the new office of Dropbox, a tech company that provides a sharing service for users to store photos, documents, and videos. The company’s new headquarters is located at 185 Berry Street, occupies 87,000 square feet and provides space for future growth.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Tuesday, S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee and District 5 Supervisor Christina Olague today celebrated the arrival of seven new businesses in the Fillmore, announced a dramatic 21 percent decrease in the vacancy rate from 35 percent to 14 percent in the Fillmore and highlighted several City programs aimed at continuing the momentum in the Fillmore.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Monday, S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee joined Consul General of Japan Hiroshi Inomata and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to celebrate the United States-Japan Cherry Blossom Centennial by planting a ceremonial cherry blossom tree in Golden Gate Park’s Japanese Tea Garden.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — In a move that will shrink the state’s environmental footprint and save millions of taxpayer dollars, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued a sweeping executive order today directing agencies and departments to take immediate steps to green the state’s buildings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — California’s Senate Judiciary Committee today passed Senate Bill 1267, authored by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima). The bill would establish the California Genetic Information Privacy Act. The measure now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Monday announced the following appointments. First, David Cole, 45, of Roseville, has been appointed retail recruitment manager at the California State Lottery. Cole has been the owner of James David Cellars since 2007 and was business area manager for Wells Fargo Bank from 2003 to 2008.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — California Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) today announced that his bill, SB 1233 (Padilla) was passed by the Senate Elections Committee. The bill would require ballot initiative petitions to be provided in other languages. The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The Calif. Senate Education Committee today approved SB 1530 authored by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima). The bill expedites and elevates the dismissal process for teachers and other certificated employees whose misconduct is serious and egregious. SB 1530 won the unanimous support of the committee. The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee today passed SB 1160 and SB 1161 authored by Senator Alex Padilla with unanimous bipartisan support 13 to 0 and 12 to 0. SB 1160 would protect California consumers by preventing the arbitrary interruption of communications service. SB 1161 would affirm California’s growing role as the leader of the global Internet economy.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First: Catherine Kuhlman, 59, of Oakland, has been appointed assistant deputy secretary for oceans and coastal matters at the California Natural Resources Agency.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today released a list of more than 700 unnecessary bureaucratic reports currently required by law and called on the state legislature to eliminate them in order to streamline government and reduce waste.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — California Assembly Bill 1900, authored by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles), a bill that would change the state’s rules on Renewable Natural Gas, passed the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce on Monday by a vote of 11-1. The bill would change the rules for Renewable Natural Gas (also known as biomethane), a natural, renewable-energy source fuel. Current rules have been described by many as bizarre or simply counter-productive.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, Mark Cowin, 53, of Sacramento, has been appointed director of the California Department of Water Resources. Cowin has served as director and acting director of the California Department of Water Resources since 2010.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Shanda Chaudhry, 36, of West Sacramento, has been appointed assistant deputy director of legislation at the California Technology Agency. She has served as senior legislative aide to Senator Curren Price since 2008.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Edwin M. Lee today made the following statement as the California High-Speed Rail Authority approves and signs the MOU for Caltrain electrification, an early investment in high-speed rail in California.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed the Multiple Approvals Ordinance on Monday, cutting red tape and simplifying the development review process. Under the new ordinance development projects that require multiple approvals from the City of Los Angeles will now have one deadline rather than multiple expiration dates for individual entitlements.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, Dale Brodsky, 60, of Orinda, has been appointed to the Fair Employment and Housing Commission.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Tuesday announced the following appointments. First, Brian Annis, 43, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy secretary for transportation at the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The Senate Governance and Finance committee today approved Senate Bill 1128 (Padilla) on a 7 to 0 vote. The bill would encourage investment, job creation and economic growth in California by allowing sales and use tax exemptions on the purchase of manufacturing equipment in the advanced manufacturing sector. The bill will next be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — CA Senate Bill 1298, authored by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), passed the Senate Transportation Committee today on an 8 to 0 vote. The bill would establish safety and performance standards for the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads in California.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — A key water-conservation bill introduced by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) passed the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee today by a vote of 11-1.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — CA Assembly Bill (AB) 1658, a bill by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D–Los Angeles) that would allow car enthusiasts to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for ‘classic’ California license plates, passed its first legislative hurdle on Monday.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Friday announced the following appointments. First, Paul Slavik, 70, of Huntington Beach, has been appointed to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, where he has served since 2008.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Tuesday announced the following appointments. First, Tonya Blood, 41, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief of the Bureau of Electronic Appliance Repair, Home Furnishing and Thermal Insulation.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, Graciela Castillo-Krings, 31, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy director of legislative affairs at the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Friday, following through on his pledge to streamline state government, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today sent a far-reaching reorganization plan to the Little Hoover Commission that cuts the number of state agencies from 12 to 10, eliminates duplicative and unnecessary entities and consolidates those with similar roles and functions.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First: Darius Assemi, 51, of Fresno, has been appointed to the California Transportation Commission, where he has served since 2009.

GOLETA, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. joined with the California Public Utilities Commission today to announce a $120 million dollar settlement with NRG Energy Inc. that will fund the construction of a statewide network of charging stations for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), including at least 200 public fast-charging stations and another 10,000 plug-in units at 1,000 locations across the state.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Today, San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and Bay Area officials applaud the draft regional agreement with the California High Speed Rail Authority on the $1.5 billion electrification of Caltrain on the Peninsula corridor as a strategic early investment in a blended high speed rail system.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Wednesday announced the release of the Los Angeles Regional Export Plan and new funding for programs facilitating exports through the Los Angeles Regional Export Council (LARExC) during a keynote speech at the Inaugural Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase Global Cities Initiative (GCI) Forum.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles City Council will honor five Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) during the two-day 17th Annual Minority Business Awards and Conference ‘Fostering Strategic Business Growth for Job Creation’ to be held March 23rd and 27th.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, George Alexeeff, 57, of Walnut Creek, has been appointed director of the Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment at the California Environmental Protection Agency.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, Thomas Barry, 47, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the State Mining and Geology Board. Barry has been a senior geologist at Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure Group since 1997. Continue reading →

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — California Assemblyman Michael Allen (D-Sonoma County), Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles), and Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) have introduced Assembly Joint Resolution (AJR) 32, a measure that begins the process to amend the United States Constitution to nullify the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Continue reading →

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Today, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., Assembly Speaker John A. Perez, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and the Restoring California Coalition (the California Federation of Teachers, California Calls, the Courage Campaign and ACCE) joined forces on a new revenue initiative for the November 2012 ballot. Continue reading →

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Monday announced the following appointments. First, Gregory Ahern, 54, of Livermore, has been appointed to the California Lottery Commission. Ahern has been sheriff coroner for Alameda County since 2007, and has served in the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office since 1980. Continue reading →

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /Califonria Newswire/ — Mayor Edwin M. Lee today launched TechSF to train and reskill San Francisco residents for the City’s growing number of technology and IT jobs, announcing a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Technical Skills Training Grants program to jumpstart funding for the City’s major new workforce training initiative. Continue reading →

WASHINGTON, D.C. /California Newswire/ — Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa asked U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Friday to empower school districts to apply for Race to the Top grants and for waivers from No Child Left Behind’s rigid regulations. Continue reading →

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Friday announced the following appointments for March 2: First, Francis Johnston, 75, of San Rafael, has been appointed to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun, where he has served since 2008. Continue reading →

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee today swore in the following new appointments and reappointments to San Francisco’s Boards and Commissions at a ceremony in City Hall. Continue reading →

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, James Barthman, 77, of Castro Valley, has been appointed to the California Building Standards Commission, where he has served since 2000. Continue reading →

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Ruth Bermudez Montenegro to a judgeship in the Imperial County Superior Court. Continue reading →

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On February 17, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited the International Studies Learning Center (ISLC), a public middle and high school in South Gate, California, within the Los Angeles Unified School District. Continue reading →

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today joined Councilmember Jose Huizar and the CEOs of Fifth and Pacific Companies and Lucky Brand for the grand opening of the new Lucky Brand Headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. Continue reading →

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) on Wednesday introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 1900, a bill that would change California’s laws pertaining to biogas. Biogas (also known as bio-methane) is natural gas produced by decomposing matter. Continue reading →

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) today introduced SB 1160 to protect California consumers by preventing the arbitrary interruption of telecommunications service. Continue reading →

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First: Ashleigh Aitken, 36, of Anaheim, has been appointed to the 32nd District Agricultural Association, Orange County Fair Board. Continue reading →

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) announced today that he has been named Chair of the newly created Senate Select Committee on English Learners. The committee will focus its efforts on how to improve the academic success of California’s 1.5 million English Learner students. Continue reading →

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) has introduced Assembly Bill 1708, amending the California Vehicle and Insurance Codes, to give California drivers the option to carry their proof of auto insurance and vehicle registration in electronic form, such as on a smartphone or other personal electronic device. Continue reading →

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — In remarks today at a U.S./China economic forum, Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced his intention to form a China-California Joint Task Force to drive more collaboration, investment and trade between California and China.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, Janet Barentson, 49, of Rocklin, has been appointed chief deputy director at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Moving to increase direct investment in California and give the state’s businesses a distinct advantage in China, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced plans to open a new trade and investment office in China.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Wednesday announced the following appointments. First, Jim Evans, 42, of Sacramento, has been appointed deputy secretary for communications and strategic planning at the Business Transportation and Housing Agency.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Tuesday, Mayor Edwin M. Lee and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announced that the federal government has once again demonstrated strong support for planned improvements to public transportation in San Francisco.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued the following statement after Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Rating Services shifted California’s credit ratings outlook from stable to positive:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First: Lisa Barkett, 52, of La Jolla, has been appointed to the Race Track Leasing Commission as a representative of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, San Diego Fair Board.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Today, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) released a request for proposals (RFP) for up to 30 Super Low Emission Buses (SLEBs) and/or Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs) as part of a pilot program to evaluate burgeoning technologies for LA’s future bus fleet.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today issued the following statement regarding the resignation of Martin Gomez as City Librarian. Gomez will assume the post of Vice Dean of the University of Southern California Libraries on April 2.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First: A. Charles Crabb, 60, of San Luis Obispo, has been appointed to the designated local authority for the former Pismo Beach redevelopment agency, in San Luis Obispo County.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today reaffirmed their strong support for building High-Speed Rail in California.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Today S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announced that the number of people riding bicycles in San Francisco increased seven percent since last year and increased 71 percent over the past six years.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and community partners today launched the Greater Los Angeles Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Campaign Partnership, an annual effort to help qualified low and moderate-income families claim the tax credits they deserve.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued a Proclamation Declaring February 6th as Ronald Reagan Day in California.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the City Council, and business and community leaders launched a month of cultural events honoring African-American history and culture at the City’s annual African-American Heritage Month celebration. This year the City of Los Angeles honored Sheryl Lee Ralph, Walter Mosley, and Dr. Keith Black.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, Belia Bennett, 33, of American Canyon, has been appointed to the 25th District Agricultural Association, Napa Town and Country Fair. Bennett has served as councilmember for the City of American Canyon since 2010.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, Joseph Bielanski, Jr., 61, of San Francisco, has been reappointed to the California Community College Board of Governors, where he has served since 2011.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, Mark Ghilarducci, 51, of El Dorado Hills, has been appointed secretary of the California Emergency Management Agency. Ghilarducci has been a partner and managing director at Diamante Partners LLC since 2011.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Wednesday announced the following appointments. First, Kimiko Burton, 47, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the State Personnel Board. Burton has been a deputy city attorney for San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera since 2003.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Terri A. Mockler to a judgeship in the Contra Costa County Superior Court.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Charles A. Smiley III to a judgeship in the Alameda County Superior Court.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today named twelve individuals to serve on four governing boards responsible for dissolving local redevelopment agencies in cities and counties where local agencies elected not to manage the task.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Edwin M. Lee on Tuesday broke ground on the long-awaited Port of San Francisco’s James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27. Last week, the Board of Supervisors upheld the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the new Cruise Terminal and 34th America’s Cup events in San Francisco, allowing for construction to begin immediately.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — SF Mayor Edwin M. Lee on Firday appointed Bevan Dufty as the Mayor’s new Director of Housing Opportunity, Partnerships and Engagement (HOPE), addressing homeless services and better outcomes for individuals who are homeless or live in supportive housing.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Friday announced the following appointments. First: William Edgar, 72, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board. He has been the co-owner of Edgar and Associates, an accounting services firm, since 1999. Edgar was contract executive director for the Sutter-Butte Flood Control Agency from 2007 to January 2012.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. asks Los Angeles business leaders to stand with him on two major priorities for 2012: passing his balanced budget plan and persuading the legislature to enact his 12-point pension reform proposal.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced that businesses are beginning to take advantage of the City’s Central Market/Tenderloin Payroll Expense Tax Exclusion.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Edwin Lee on Wednesday announced that San Francisco received the 2012 Sustainable Transport Award from the Institute for Transportation and Developmental Policy, for the City’s innovative parking management system and cycling and public space improvements.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — As part of his ongoing efforts to spur job creation, streamline regulations and boost renewable energy, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today released a package of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reforms that will simplify and expedite the approval process for key job-creating projects in California.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Edwin M. Lee on Tuesday announced that he will make $1.5 million dollars immediately available to small businesses in San Francisco through the City’s successful Small Business Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to support business expansion and job creation.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced on Monday that six newly improved BusinessSource Centers are reopening across Los Angeles. The BusinessSource Centers are part of the Mayor’s strategy to create a healthy environment for job creation in Los Angeles.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced the formation of a Technology and Innovation Task Force at the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) that will demonstrate how cities can support growth of technology and new economy jobs and foster innovation in local governments through technology and transparency.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — In his 2012 State of the State speech, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. said California is “on the mend” and laid out an ambitious agenda for economic growth in the year ahead. The full text of the speech follows: (Remarks as prepared)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments. First, John Banuelos, 67, of Elk Grove, has been appointed to the California Boating and Waterways Commission. Banuelos worked at the California Conservation Corps from 1997 to 2004 and from 1977 to 1992 in multiple positions, including program and evaluation manager.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed an agreement to expand a state and federal partnership that has, over the last two years, paved the way for more than a dozen utility-scale solar energy projects and more than 130 renewable power projects in California.