Los Angeles waterfront gets help from Gov. Jerry Brown
Families enjoy the San Pedro Fish Market in July.
Reporting from Sacramento — California Gov. Jerry Brown signed bills Friday aimed at revitalizing the Los Angeles waterfront, reducing recidivism by convicts, saving more people who have heart attacks and allowing law enforcement to seize more ill-gotten gains.
In all, the governor signed 29 bills, including one supported by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti that would help his city rejuvenate its waterfront.
The bill will extend from 50 to 66 years the maximum term of leases approved by the city for its properties, making it more attractive for businesses to locate along the waterfront.
Sen. Isadore Hall (D-Compton) said his bill was needed because expansion of port operations over the years had resulted in the waterfront area having only isolated areas that are oriented to visitors and businesses. The city of Los Angeles is looking to revitalize the area, and allowing longer leases will help attract businesses, he said.
“This bill will support bold actions taken by the city of Los Angeles to improve and better connect the Los Angeles waterfront area to tourists and the community” and improve the local economy, Hall said.
The governor also signed a bill by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) to create the Second Chance Program, which is intended to reduce the number of former inmates who commit new crimes and become incarcerated again. The bill, AB 1056, uses savings from Proposition 47, which downgrades the seriousness of some offenses so fewer people are sent to prison.
The money will be directed to housing programs, mental health services and substance abuse treatment. In a statement, Atkins said the measure would “enhance the safety of our communities by ensuring that these former inmates have a place they can call home as they assimilate back into their communities.”
The governor also signed a bill requiring many large buildings built after 2016 to have an automated external defibrillator on the premises to help save lives
The bill applies to new buildings with capacities of 200 persons or more, including businesses, factories, schools and apartment buildings. Assembly halls with a capacity greater than 300 must also meet the requirement under the bill by Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego).
“Unfortunately, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States,” Hueso said. “The enactment of this bill will help save many lives by making AED’s readily available.”
The legislation, SB 287, was supported by the California Professional Firefighters.
The governor also put his signature to a measure by Assemblyman Matt Dababneh (D-Encino) that expands the list of crimes for which an offender’s assets can be seized by law enforcement officials to include piracy of recordings and videos as well as insurance fraud.
Brown vetoed one bill, which would have allowed each spouse in a marriage to submit a separate base-year property tax valuation transfer claim.
“I think this bill is too broad and allows an already generous property tax benefit to be allowed a second time on a larger scale,” Brown said in his veto message on AB 1378 by Assemblyman Chris Holden (D-Pasadena).
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